The role of the CFO is changing fast. No longer just number-crunchers, today’s finance leaders are expected to drive strategy, operations, and transformation — often under intense pressure in fast-moving markets.

The newly released 2025 Yorkshire & East Midlands CFO Report shines a light on how the landscape is evolving, and many of the findings underline the growing importance of interim and fractional CFOs.  Here, I have outlined a few highlights.  

Fractional CFOs Are on the Rise

According to the report, 1 in 5 new CFO appointments is now fractional. This trend reflects businesses’ appetite for flexible, high-impact financial leadership.

Far from being “part-time,” fractional CFOs deliver strategic, commercial, and operational expertise that is invaluable for SMEs, PE-backed, and scaling businesses. With day rates ranging between £500 and £1,250, they provide a cost-effective way to access top-tier financial leadership.

Diversity Gains Through Interim Leadership

The report highlights that female representation among permanent CFOs and FDs sits at 22.8%, while for interim roles it rises to 29.6%.

This suggests interim and fractional appointments are not only shaping the future of the finance function, but also playing a role in driving greater diversity at the executive level.

Where CFO Demand Is Strongest

Sector data from the report shows that Technology, Manufacturing, and Healthcare remain the most active industries for CFO appointments.

The reasons behind appointments are also telling:

• 51% due to churn or replacement

• 29% to support growth

• 14% to establish a brand-new FD role

This reinforces what many of us in recruitment see daily: interim leaders are often called upon to plug gaps, drive growth, or steady the ship during times of transition.

The Skills CFOs Need Now

The 2025 CFO Report shows finance leaders are being asked to do far more than manage the numbers. They are expected to:

• Guide strategic and operational decisions
• Implement automation and AI
• Deliver investor-ready management information
• Steer M&A, restructuring, or exit strategies

Interim and fractional leaders often excel in these environments, bringing specialist expertise to projects where pace, agility, and impact matter most.

What This Means for Businesses and Finance Professionals

The findings from the 2025 Yorkshire & East Midlands CFO Report are clear: interim and fractional finance leaders are no longer a niche solution — they are becoming central to how ambitious businesses resource their finance function.

For businesses, this means flexible access to talent when it matters most. For finance professionals, it means opportunities to deliver impact across multiple organisations and develop varied, high-value experience.

The CFO role is evolving — and the leaders shaping the future are increasingly interim, fractional, and strategic.

If you would like to receive a copy of the full 2025 Yorkshire & East Midlands CFO Report, feel free to email me.‍