1400 Interim CFO Romania
About Our Client:
Our client is the Romanian subsidiary of a mid-sized international pharmaceutical and cosmetic group. The entity operates as a small, sales-focused trading affiliate with a lean back-office and administrative structure and no local manufacturing. It is integrated into group systems such as SAP and EPM tools and follows a structured reporting cadence with multiple forecast cycles per year. The organization is in a phase of leadership renewal in marketing and sales and is preparing for its first audit and upcoming year-end close. Governance is decentralized and consensus-led, with cooperative decision making between the group finance leadership and the local general management.
Project Description:
The project addresses an unplanned leadership gap created by the resignation and termination of the local CFO in Romania. The departure follows a period of toxic behavior, weak collaboration with newly appointed commercial leaders, and suspected internal alliances that risk undermining the finance function. There are concerns about obstructive conduct during the transition, including possible withholding of key operational knowledge, which could jeopardize business continuity, audit readiness, and the integrity of the year-end closing.
The client seeks to use this transition as an opportunity to reset and modernize the finance function. The objective is to ensure immediate stabilization of the finance team, secure and document critical knowledge transfer, and maintain uninterrupted performance reporting and compliance with group requirements. The interim CFO will be responsible for overseeing statutory reporting, year-end close, and preparation for a first-time audit, while safeguarding team morale and mitigating cultural and governance risks.
The operational environment is relatively low in transactional complexity, as the affiliate is a distribution-only business with a single supplier relationship and limited volume. The real challenge lies in addressing poor governance, internal toxicity, and a misaligned culture within a small team whose maturity does not fully meet group expectations. The interim CFO is expected to act as a neutral and trusted leader, rapidly assess the current setup, de-risk handover gaps, and provide recommendations on team structure, competence, and process improvements.
The assignment is time-sensitive, with the incumbent CFO departing within days and the client aiming to install interim coverage within one to two weeks. The initial full-time presence of the interim manager is considered essential to manage the transition, with potential flexibility for part-time engagement after key milestones are secured. The interim period is expected to bridge several months until a permanent CFO is recruited and onboarded, and may include support in the selection and integration of the new permanent hire.
Interim Manager Required Skills:
The interim manager must be a senior finance leader with proven CFO-level experience in international or regional environments and a strong track record in governance, statutory reporting, and audit preparation. Experience in high-margin-conscious, performance-driven industries such as consumer goods or automotive is preferred, as the client values a results-oriented mindset and cost discipline over traditional large pharmaceutical backgrounds.
The role requires the ability to quickly build trust with both local and group stakeholders, navigate dual reporting lines, and operate effectively in a small, sales-heavy subsidiary. The interim CFO must be capable of stabilizing a finance function under emotionally charged and politically nuanced conditions, managing transitions where the outgoing CFO may be uncooperative, and maintaining team engagement without triggering further attrition.
The ideal profile combines hands-on operational capability with strategic finance insight, including familiarity with SAP and group EPM tools, multi-forecast cycles, and group reporting frameworks. The interim manager should be able to document and formalize processes, identify and prioritize risks in a low-complexity but high-exposure environment, and ensure zero slip in performance reporting and compliance. Strong cultural intelligence, cross-border leadership experience, and emotional steadiness are essential, as is the capacity to impose financial discipline and tighten controls without alienating local teams.
Key Requirements:
Proven CFO-level experience in international, performance-driven environments
Demonstrated ability to stabilize and restructure small finance teams under toxic or high-risk conditions
Immediate or very short-term availability for on-site leadership during year-end close and first-time audit
Type of Assignment:
Interim
Scope of Interim Assignment:
Finance stabilization and audit readiness
Functional Area of the Interim Manager:
Finance
Location:
Romania
Duration:
Approximately two to three months, with potential extension over several months depending on transition and recruitment timelines
Start Date:
Within one to two weeks from decision date
Why work with us?
CE Interim delivers proven executive interim leaders within 72 hours across borders, cultures, and industries. We specialize in high-impact interim management for private equity firms, family offices, and global corporations facing moments of transition: digital transformation, market entry, operational turnaround, post-merger integration, or crisis.
What sets us apart is not just the speed or depth of our network, it’s how we lead. Every engagement is personally guided by a CE Interim managing partner: former CEOs, CFOs, or COOs who’ve been on your side of the table, steering organizations through high-stakes decisions.
With a global talent pool and operational reach spanning Europe, the USA, and the Middle East, we don’t fill roles, we build trust, lead transitions, and deliver outcomes.
As part of the Valtus Alliance, the world’s largest alliance of Executive Interim Management companies, we ensure seamless international execution through 25+ offices and 80+ senior partners in over 50 countries.
