About Our Inside IR35 Head of Finance Contract Roles
What does a head of finance contractor do?
As a contract Head of Finance, you are hired to provide senior finance leadership within organisations where the Head of Finance role represents the most senior finance position, typically in mid-market businesses where the scale does not yet justify a full CFO. The role encompasses ownership of the finance function's operational delivery, including management and statutory reporting, financial controls, cash management, and team leadership, alongside more strategic responsibilities such as financial planning, business partnering with operational leaders, and providing commercial financial counsel to the CEO and board. Interim Heads of Finance are brought in when the permanent role is vacant, when the existing finance capability needs to be reset or strengthened, or when a specific financial challenge requires dedicated senior leadership.
The profile expected for an interim Head of Finance engagement combines the technical accounting rigour of a strong Financial Controller with the commercial acumen and stakeholder management skills of a Finance Director. Professional qualification with ACA, ACCA, or CIMA is expected as a baseline, alongside solid experience at a senior finance management or controller level in a business of comparable scale and complexity. The ability to quickly establish credibility with a CEO and board, provide clear and honest financial counsel, manage and develop a finance team, and deliver accurate and timely financial information during what is often a period of organisational uncertainty is the primary measure of success. Most interim Heads of Finance are found through specialist finance interim firms and the professional networks of finance leaders in the relevant sector.
What is the market like for head of finance contractors?
Interim Head of Finance contracting is an active segment of the senior finance interim market, most concentrated in the SME and mid-market, where the Head of Finance is typically the most senior finance leader and the consequences of a vacancy are immediate and material. Private equity-backed businesses, owner-managed businesses undergoing transition, and growing businesses where the finance function has not kept pace with the rest of the organisation are the most active buyers. The market is less deep than the interim FD or CFO markets in terms of absolute volume, but the demand is consistent and the ability to move quickly into a complex senior finance role from day one is highly valued. Rates reflect the seniority and breadth of the role.
What does Inside IR35 mean?
IR35 is UK tax legislation that determines whether a contractor is genuinely self-employed or working in a manner that resembles employment. When a contract is classified as inside IR35, income tax and National Insurance are deducted at source, typically via an umbrella company or agency PAYE. Headline day rates on inside IR35 engagements are generally higher than equivalent outside IR35 roles to account for the tax and employment cost structure.
Inside IR35 determinations are made where the working arrangements are considered to resemble employment, based on factors including the level of client control, the absence of a genuine right of substitution, and the presence of mutuality of obligation. Since April 2021, the end client is responsible for making this determination for medium and large private sector organisations. Many employers in financial services, government, and professional services assess the majority of their contractor engagements as inside IR35.
On QualityContracts.co.uk, approximately 49% of roles with a stated IR35 status are classified as inside IR35, making it the most common arrangement across the contract market. The proportion varies by sector and role type. Each listing on this page displays its IR35 status where provided by the hiring organisation.
What head of finance roles are usually Inside IR35?
Around 60% of interim head of finance contracts with a stated status are inside IR35, arising when the engagement involves running the finance function while a permanent hire is made. Chairing the finance team, producing board reporting, managing the external audit relationship, and overseeing month-end close are all activities that mirror permanent employment. Mid-market businesses, charities, and organisations experiencing leadership transitions are the typical hirers.
How much do head of finance contractors usually earn when working Inside IR35?
Contract rates for head of finance roles typically range from £650 to £1200 per day, depending on the scope of the role, required expertise, and the delivery expectations of the engagement. Inside IR35 rates are typically 15% to 30% higher than equivalent outside IR35 roles to account for tax and national insurance deducted at source by the fee-payer.
How many Inside IR35 head of finance vacancies are there on Quality Contracts?
Over the past twelve months, we have tracked over 100 head of finance contract roles across the site. Around one third of the roles currently listed on the site fall Inside IR35. Data reviewed up to May 2026.