Insights

Contract work is no longer only for graphic designers and marketing consultants.

In the world of work, two themes have come together over the last few years: organisations’ need to rationalise costs to gain a competitive edge, and talents’ desire to explore avenues beyond salaried employment.

We’ve seen a growing trend of companies opting for contract-based hiring across traditionally conservative functions.

One of these is finance.

If ideas are the heart of business, finance is the brain. The modern finance professional is the bridge connecting heart and brain. They are not someone whose first reaction is “We don’t have the money for this”; their first thought is “How can we facilitate this?”

It’s this modern finance professional who has an instinctive appreciation of the demands of short-term roles. They know how to hit the ground running, they are adept at prioritising and they are keen on making an impact.

Indian talent is best placed to ride this secondment revolution in the finance function. CAs, CFAs, FP&A experts, fractional CFOs and fintech innovators from India are now sought after by companies looking for someone to steady the ship, steer it in uncharted waters or simply hold the fort while the company looks to fill a high-stakes vacancy.

Why should your company consider a finance secondment?

Fewer overheads and tax implications: You get all the skills and insights of an experienced financial professional without the recurring overheads of a full-time hire.

Scalability and flexibility: You have the flexibility to scale up according to business and workload, and also the ability to scale down if need be.

Immediate availability: One of the most underrated advantages of a finance secondment is being able to close a vacancy quickly and ensure continuity in financial operations.

Assessment period: A secondment or interim arrangement is a great way for both the organisation and talent to gauge whether they are a good fit for each other. Many of our secondments have extended. Many more have converted to full-time positions after a candidate has demonstrated the value they bring to the table.

Specialised skills: The finance secondment opens the door for bringing in professionals with niche and super-specialised expertise for a limited period of time—say, in instances where you may need someone to provide discreet advice on tax planning, investment analysis or M&A structuring.

Crisis management: In a moment of crisis, you can draft an interim finance professional to handle restructuring, audit or compliance issues—the assignment can last for the time it takes to correct the course.

Who can benefit from short-term finance professionals?

• Startups & SMEs needing cost-effective financial guidance
• Corporates & MNCs requiring interim CFOs, controllers or financial analysts
• Private Equity & VC Firms needing short-term financial due diligence support
• Businesses undergoing mergers, acquisitions or restructuring looking for specialised expertise
• Organisations managing regulatory audits & compliance challenges

Why Counselect?

Since 2019, we’ve pioneered secondments for the legal and company secretary functions in India.

Now, we’re doing the same for finance.

Here’s why you should consider working with us:

We get high-stakes: Impact-focussed recruitment for specialised, high-stakes, risk-related positions is our thing. We have a knack for identifying candidates who not only fulfil the double whammy of technical chops and soft skills but also have an X-factor that helps them deliver outsize value in fixed-term roles. And the bonus? Quick closings—you don’t have to wait weeks and months before the candidate can start with you.

We have a wide network: Our wide panel of active and passive talent comprises professionals who are looking for fresh challenges and levelling up.

We’ve earned our stripes: We’ve fulfilled a range of finance-related secondment mandates—from helping a Public Charitable Trust find a Finance Head to facilitating the hiring of a mid-level Equity Analyst at a portfolio management company. Many of the interim positions we have helped recruit for have been for a period of one year, with the possibility of extension or conversion.

We take care of the admin: We’re all-in at every step of the process—from understanding your needs to curating potential fits to helping you select the right candidates. Once you’ve made your choice and the ball is rolling, we take care of everything from compliance to payroll to feedback.

We’re genuine fun!: Our team is full of passionate folks who believe in building authentic relationships that last beyond mandates and terms. We believe high-performance cultures are nurtured in environments that afford moments for human connection and lightness.

Looking to hire a finance expert? Curious about how an interim finance expert can help bridge the gap in your team? Let’s talk! Drop us a note at [email protected].