Interim Controller Services

Elevate Your Finance & Accounting

When your Controller exits unexpectedly or during a critical reporting period, it can create serious risk—missed closes, compliance gaps, and team attrition. 8020 Consulting delivers experienced Interim Controllers who step in immediately, bring operational rigor, and position your accounting function for long-term success

TRUSTED BY INDUSTRY LEADERS

Expert Interim Controller Leadership  

We combine Big-4 CPA expertise with operational excellence to enhance your finance and accounting functions. Our Controllers quickly assess challenges, implement solutions that can become permanent fixtures, and optimize processes while building team capabilities and delivering measurable improvements across your organization with excellence in action.

20+Years
Avg. Operator Experience

100+
Full-Time Consultants

12+
Years in Business

1,600+
Projects Completed


How is 8020 Different?

What Sets Our Interim Controllers Apart?

When your accounting leadership is in flux, we bring stability, clarity, and control and we do it fast. Our Interim Controllers don’t just keep the lights on. They improve processes, mentor teams, and prepare your organization for what’s next

Why Companies Trust 8020:

• Immediate deployment of experienced accounting leaders with enterprise and Big 4 credentials

• Proven ability to shorten close cycles, improve reporting accuracy, and enhance controls

• Objective assessment of your team, processes, and policies

What Our Interim Controller Services Deliver:

• Continuity in financial reporting, compliance, and daily accounting operations

• Mentorship and cross-training to upskill your accounting team and reduce dependency risk

• Clear, documented processes and a seamless transition plan for your next full-time hire

In The Middle of A Critical Transition? Speak With Us To Get Your Interim Leader Fast
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Interim Controller Services Benefits 

Bringing in an 8020 Interim Controller means more than covering a gap;  it’s a strategic step toward better financial oversight, stronger team performance, and smoother transitions.

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Add Decades of Operational Excellence


Elevate your strategy and your operations with an Interim Controller who delivers both Big-4 CPA expertise and robust operational experience. Quickly inject the specific, deep knowledge needed to enhance your processes, improve your functions, and elevate your team performance with proven experts who deliver from day one.

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Maximum Impact With Minimal Ramp-Up

Our Interim Controllers quickly assess your internal & external landscape to understand your challenges and then design tailored strategies to ensure your long-term financial success. And with minimal ramp-up time, they'll integrate quickly to deliver immediate impactful results with a sense of urgency.

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Stabilize, Evaluate, & Elevate

All of our Interim Controllers follow a proven playbook to personally deliver rapid improvement while stabilizing your finance & accounting function, evaluating the most critical issues, and optimizing your operations. All without handing anything off to anyone else..

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Proven Success From Trusted Partnerships

8020 consultants bring an average of 20 years' experience and work quickly to build trusted relationships with key stakeholders across all of your teams. As genuine connectors, this allows them to openly provide guidance while quickly building needed solutions, even in the most difficult environments.


How Our Controllers Help 

8020 Interim Controllers have deep expertise in many different Financial Management & Leadership Services. Read more about some of the other resources we offer:

We Operate Differently | We’re Built On Successful Outcomes, Not Just Theory

Our proven consulting model sets us apart from the market. Our core operating directives below make us different, better.

Proven Experts
Proven Experts
Our consultants are intelligent, engaged professionals with real-world technical and operational experience [ IQ + EQ ]
Accelerated Impact
Accelerated Impact
We always ensure that the right expert is placed to drive value and impact from day one, with guaranteed fast ramp-up time
Direct Execution
Direct Execution
The consultant working on you project is personally executing and driving all work, there are never any handoffs or downgrades

"8020 was crucial for RealD in developing a financial model for technology IP monetization and guiding our ERP selection process. Their work is thorough, executive-ready, and their team effectively implements recommendations."

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Jeff Spain | CFO, ReaID

"8020 was key in overhauling our budgeting process at 72andSunny and provided crucial support for system implementations like Workday and Oracle."

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Jordan Toplitsky | CFO, 72andSunny

"The team at 8020 have supported me across three companies, including managing our NetSuite implementation at Edgecast, integrating billing systems post-acquisition by Verizon, and overseeing our HQ relocation."

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | John Powers | CFO, Tithe.ly

"8020's consultant brought a proactive approach to every challenge, consistently exceeding expectations while strengthening our team dynamic. I highly recommend 8020 for their skilled professionals who deliver immediate value and elevate any team."

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Lindsay Terifay | VP, Controller - Fandango & NBC Sports

Meet Some of Our Experts

All the right skills, real-world experience, & high EQ leadership to ensure your success.

Interim Controller Resources

Access some of the powerful service-specific resources below to help you level up & win.

Accounting-Department-Health-Check-1-1-Sep-26-2024-02-03-06-4149-PM

Accounting Department Health Check

Dive into 12 core disciplines of high-functioning accounting departments including behaviors, processes and optimization

Accounting-Process-Improvement-Strategies-Guide-3-1-Sep-26-2024-02-04-50-3953-PM

Accounting Process Improvement Strategies Guide

Get our guide to ESOAR methodology for streamlining accounting processes, featuring a case study on improving Sales Returns provisioning

210723-Speed-Up-Month-End-Close-Thumb-1-Sep-26-2024-02-05-11-8660-PM

Improve Your Month-End Close (Infographic)

Learn 5 things you can do to speed up month-end close, prepare timely financials, and make business decisions

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Our Promise

The 8020 Commitment

We’re committed to delivering meaningful impact, fast.

Our consultants bring the expertise and focus to create measurable value from day one. And if expectations aren’t met, we don’t stand still, we collaborate, adjust, and ensure we deliver on the value we promised.

Interim Controller FAQs

Answers to your most frequently asked questions.

Unlike traditional firms that rely on junior teams or contractors, we embed highly experienced operators directly onto your team.

Our consultants are chosen from the top 10% of the market and are our full-time employees who combine deep technical expertise with hands-on operational experience, averaging 20+ years in the field.

This means you get the perfectly chosen expert for your specific needs, who operates as an extension of your team, drives immediate results, and elevates your entire finance operation through their proven methodologies and industry knowledge.

We exclusively hire senior finance professionals who have both led and executed complex financial operations in many real-world scenarios.

Each consultant must demonstrate exceptional technical expertise, strategic thinking, and a proven track record of success across challenging business environments.

Our consultants have actually "sat in the seat" - meaning they've held senior finance positions and truly understand the day-to-day challenges of running finance operations. This combination of technical knowledge and practical experience matched to your specific challenges enables them to deliver superior results.

Our leadership & Client Services teams are made up of experienced finance and accounting consultants themselves, so they actually viscerally understand what your challenges are and who's best suited on our team to solve them.

We also use a precise diagnostic approach to match the right expert to your specific challenges by carefully evaluating project requirements, industry context, and technical needs to deploy consultants with directly relevant experience.

Our very selective hiring process maintains a diverse pool of specialists across many finance disciplines, ensuring we can address any financial challenge with the exact expertise needed. While out on a project, each of our consultants can leverage the collective knowledge & experience of all ~100 experts on the team whenever needed.

This strategic matching process, refined over years of successful engagements, maximizes project success and client satisfaction.

An Interim Controller provides financial leadership during times of transition or change, overseeing core functions such as month-end close, reporting, internal controls, and compliance.

They stabilize daily operations while improving systems, processes, and team capabilities, ensuring both continuity and long-term financial efficiency.

Interim Controllers can typically start within a few days to one week, depending on onboarding logistics and access to systems.

They integrate quickly to assess priorities, stabilize operations, and begin driving improvements across finance and accounting functions with minimal ramp-up time.

Interim Controllers differ from traditional consultants by taking a hands-on, embedded leadership role within the organization.

While consultants often advise from the outside, Interim Controllers lead daily operations, manage teams, and implement strategic improvements directly.

Their experience spans technical accounting, systems integration, and team development, offering both immediate impact and lasting operational value.

Interim Controllers typically begin making an impact within the first week by stabilizing key functions such as accounts payable, payroll, and reporting.

They quickly assess pain points, streamline processes, and implement early-stage improvements to improve efficiency, reduce risk, and support business continuity.

Interim Controllers are well-suited for companies undergoing leadership transitions, rapid growth, system changes, or audit preparation.

They are especially valuable in organizations that need both technical accounting expertise and hands-on operational leadership during periods of change or complexity.

These services apply across industries and company sizes.

Interim Controllers drive improvements in month-end close efficiency, internal controls, reporting accuracy, and cash flow management.

They also enhance audit readiness, manage complex transactions, and implement sustainable processes that support long-term financial performance across the organization.

Interim Controllers collaborate closely with internal finance teams to improve skills, share best practices, and document key processes.

They often mentor team members, conduct gap analyses, and ensure knowledge transfer to support sustainable improvements and build long-term capability within the organization.

Interim Controllers have experience with leading ERP and financial systems such as SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, and QuickBooks, along with payroll platforms like ADP, Paycom, and Workday.

They can optimize current systems, lead new implementations, and ensure controls and reporting processes are efficient, accurate, and scalable.






No, a controller is not higher than a CFO. The CFO (Chief Financial Officer) holds the top financial leadership position, responsible for overall financial strategy, planning, and stakeholder communication.

The controller typically reports to the CFO and focuses on accounting operations, financial reporting, and compliance.

While both roles are senior, the CFO has broader strategic and leadership responsibilities.

Additional Deep Learning

Read any of the related articles below to deepen your learning today.

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