The 2025 IIM Interim Management Survey reveals a market under pressure, yet rich with opportunity, for those prepared to navigate its complexity. The survey confirms what many executive interims and hiring organisations already sense: we’re in a more cautious, cost-conscious, and competitive environment. But for agile professionals and forward-thinking businesses, the interim route remains a powerful lever for transformation, resilience, and growth.

At Stanton House, we’ve reviewed the findings alongside our own 2025 Salary Guides across Accountancy & Finance, Change & Transformation, Finance Transformation, Data & Analytics, and Private Equity. Here’s our take on what this year’s results mean - and the advice we’re offering both interims and employers.

Tougher Market for Interims - But Also More Targeted Demand

The average number of days billed dropped sharply this year, from 147 to 133, while one in three interims ended the year without an assignment. Confidence has also taken a hit: 44% expect conditions to worsen in 2025.

Yet beneath this caution is a more strategic deployment of interim talent, particularly in:

• Private Equity-backed businesses seeking rapid transformation pre-exit.
• Finance teams needing ERP upgrades, AI capabilities, or cash-flow resilience.
• Organisations are accelerating digital change amidst AI disruption and rising payroll costs.

Our advice to interims: Market polarisation is real. You need a niche, a clear value proposition, and the flexibility to meet new IR35 realities. Interim is no longer a sidestep from perm - it’s a commercial product, and you are the service.

Our advice to hiring managers: Don’t sit on interim CVs. If you want top talent, especially those skilled in turnaround, transformation or data-led change, move quickly. The right interim will bring immediate value - but only if you secure them before your competitors do.

Day Rates, IR35 & Sourcing: Practical Frictions Remain

• Average day rates rose slightly to £894, but private sector gains masked public sector declines.
• IR35 confusion persists: 60% of interims say they still aren’t receiving an SDS (Status Determination Statement).
• Umbrella use fell to 58%, with more interims preferring consultancy models or FTCs.
• Direct sourcing declined, with more interim hires now coming via trusted partners.

Our advice to interims: Be prepared to flex. Understand the total comp picture, not just the headline rate. And always ask for an SDS if one hasn’t been provided.

Our advice to hiring managers: Clarity and compliance matter. If you don’t issue an SDS, your interim may walk. And if you’re unsure of the best route, outside IR35, umbrella, or FTC, we can advise.

Market Trends: Where Interim Talent Is in Demand

Across our specialist areas, we continue to see strong interim demand in:

• Change & Transformation: AI rollouts, cloud migrations, and cost optimisation are driving need for agile programme leadership. Transformation professionals are being tasked with delivering ERP consolidation, process redesign, and post-acquisition integration across sectors.
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  Accountancy & Finance: Many senior finance professionals are now exploring interim work as a way to diversify experience or secure greater flexibility. Our guide shows growing interest in fractional CFO roles, project-based mandates, and specialist FP&A work.
• Finance Transformation: With SAP S/4HANA, Oracle Cloud, and Workday rollouts continuing, interim demand is high for ERP project leads, finance operating model redesign, and automation specialists.

• Private Equity: In PE-backed companies, interims are often deployed at post-acquisition, value-creation, and exit prep phases, especially in Transformation and Senior Finance roles. Firms want professionals who can deliver results in fast-paced, high-stakes settings.
• Data, Analytics & AI: Interims in this space are being used to plug urgent skills gaps—especially in AI readiness, data governance, ESG reporting, and automation. Our 2025 guide also highlights the increasing role of data-led transformation across finance and operations.

Stanton House is proud to support interim hiring across all these functions, combining speed and sector knowledge to match clients with high-impact professionals.

Let’s Talk Interim

Stanton House was proud to be named a Platinum Tier IIM Interim Service Provider in 2024 and ranked 4th nationally. We’re here to help hiring managers and interims alike navigate this complex, evolving landscape Whether you’re hiring a Transformation Director, looking to become a fractional CFO, or considering Data & AI consulting, our expert teams can help. Get in touch with us today to explore our latest roles, projects, or talent solutions.

Thinking About Making the Leap to Professional Interim Working?

If you're in a permanent senior finance or transformation role and contemplating your next chapter, interim may be the move you’ve been considering - but not yet acted on.

Whether it’s for more flexibility, broader commercial exposure, or simply the chance to work on impactful projects, our guide will help you evaluate if interim is right for you.

It covers:

• What makes a successful interim
• Day rates you can expect
• How to get started - and stay in demand