Financial Interims ñ A Breed in Demand and Marks Sattin is helping...

With Marks Sattin Financial Interims Division now launched and growing in size, the results of our market research can be revealed with some interesting results.

The Marks Sattin Financial Interims Division covers interim senior financial appointments across all core Marks Sattin markets, including commerce, financial services, private equity and the public sector. Roles will range from 400 - 1500 per day incorporating CFO, COO, FDs and change managers.

A third of respondents told us that whilst they were working in an interim position they were re-employed directly into the firm or through external investors/advisors, 29% of those asked said they were offered a permanent position but turned it down for one reason or another.

When asked the question of what is preferred; permanent or interim position, an overwhelming 78% said that they preferred to use an agency that offers both straight interim roles AND interim to perm roles.

We also asked questions regarding the market, and in specific, does a down turn in the economy cause an upturn in the need for interim professionals. Somewhat surprisingly, the split was quite even with 46% of respondents saying that demand does not increase if the UKís economy is experiencing a downturn. We were given reasons such as:

ìInterims are used for a number of reasons not just to turnaround a company struggling in a down turning market. MandA and private equity transactions, growth strategies and implementation, consolidation of global activities, board and executive coaching, new system/process implementations are to name a few.î

And what areas do our respondents think will experience growth in the next 12 months?

ìPrivate equity and MandA transactions are buzzing. Any company who is thinking about listing on AIM (or similar) in the next 12 months. AIM companies facing IFRS compliance this year and havenít done the due diligence. The continued theme of call and support centre transfers to Asia - although this will tail off in the next 24 months. I think that telecoms (software and infrastructure) will rebound in the next 12 months and need interim consultants.î

Networking is important in the interim market and 57% of respondents indicated that they were part of a network but 75% of these said that they were informal networks rather than formal ones.

25% of our respondents revealed that their next job more often than not came from using an agency rather than their network that they have built.

* Marks Sattin asked 400 interim professionals in this market research