Maximising Success Before June 30: Strategically Utilise Interim Executives

As we move rapidly toward the end of the Australian financial year, organisations are feeling the pressure to finalise strategic priorities, deliver key outcomes, and prepare for the reporting season. For many executive teams, the list of “must-complete” tasks is growing longer — and the available resources can feel stretched thin.

If you’re wondering how to push vital projects over the line before June 30, bringing in an experienced interim executive could be the smartest move you make this year.  Interim leaders offer organisations immediate, high-level support to help them finish strong and set up the next financial year for success.

Here’s how to strategically leverage interim talent to boost your organisation before EOFY (End of Financial Year).

1. Inject Experienced Leadership to Drive Key Outcomes

The value of an interim executive lies not just in filling a temporary gap but in injecting expertise where it’s needed most.

Experienced interim leaders can quickly step into critical roles across finance, operations, clinical governance, HR, and risk management. They provide a fresh perspective on complex challenges and are often highly skilled in turnaround situations, change management, and project delivery.

Their focus is results-driven, with a natural bias toward action, making them ideal for helping organisations tick off major strategic objectives before June 30.

2. Increase Organisational Resilience to the Unexpected

Even the most carefully laid EOFY plans can be derailed by unexpected resignations, external disruptions and other unexpected challenges such as talent shortages, regulatory changes, and shifting market conditions. 

By bringing in interim executives, you bolster your organisation’s capacity to respond swiftly and effectively to these challenges. Interim leaders offer “plug-and-play” solutions that allow teams to maintain momentum, avoid overloading current staff, and ensure that vital reporting, governance, and project milestones are met without compromise.

3. Bridge the Gap Before Permanent Appointments

Sometimes, the timing of a permanent executive appointment doesn’t align perfectly with the organisation’s needs. Perhaps you’ve secured a fantastic permanent CFO or COO who isn’t available to start until July or August.

Rather than lose precious time, an interim executive can step in immediately to drive priorities, prepare thorough handovers, and deliver projects that can’t afford to sit idle. Bridging the leadership gap ensures continuity, minimises disruption, and strengthens the handover process, setting the incoming permanent hire up for a smoother and faster transition.

4. Get Long-Promised Projects Off the “To-Do” List

We all have initiatives that linger on the strategic plan year after year: long-promised risk reviews, operational audits, stakeholder engagement projects, IT upgrades. With deadlines looming, an interim executive can be tasked specifically to “own” one or two critical projects and make significant progress before June 30.

These focused assignments are often where interim leaders excel – bringing fresh energy, accountability, and experience uniquely aligned to projects that have struggled for attention among competing priorities.

5. Maximise Your Available Budget – the “Cinderella” Factor

Here’s the one that no one talks about openly: many organisations have budgets that must be spent before the financial year ends, or risk losing that allocation in the next cycle.

If you have funding available for leadership development, risk management, governance, or transformation projects, utilising an interim executive can be a strategic way to deliver meaningful outcomes rather than scrambling to use funds on less impactful initiatives.

Think of it as deploying a “Cinderella budget”,  before it disappears at midnight on June 30.

Final Thoughts

Organisations that thrive remain agile and responsive, particularly as the pressure of the financial year-end builds. Interim executives provide a flexible, effective way to maintain momentum, deliver outcomes, and ensure you start the new financial year from a position of strength.

At Brooker Consulting, we work with a network of strategically brilliant interim executives across CEO, CFO, People & Culture, Risk, Clinical Governance and more, who can be deployed at short notice to meet your unique needs.