How MJM Provided Operational Continuity When an Organisation Lost Its Manager
When a long-serving manager left an organisation after more than 10 years, the risk to its operations was immediate. The manager had been responsible for reporting, governance support, membership administration, and communications. Losing her could have meant stalled progress, missed obligations, and serious disruption for members and funders.
We had already been supporting the organisation with financial operations for several years. When the manager departed, we stepped in to provide full operational continuity, taking over her responsibilities (and more) at a cost lower than employing a full-time replacement.
The Challenge: Leadership Gap, High Risk
The organisation’s manager had carried critical knowledge built up over a decade.
Her departure risked missed reporting deadlines, unmanaged governance processes, lapsed memberships, and broken communication with stakeholders.
Leadership needed immediate continuity - recruitment wasn’t a short-term solution.
The Action: MJM as the Operational Backbone
We filled the gap and started working to rebuild the foundation of how the organisation operated, across every critical area:
Financial Operations – managing accounts payable/receivable, coding, reconciliation, GST, budgets, funder reporting, and year-end preparation.
Governance & Board Support – preparing board packs, minutes, registers, contracts, AGM/SGM administration, and strategic planning support.
Membership Management – processing registrations/renewals, invoicing, maintaining systems, supporting members, and accurate reporting.
Records & Information Management – restructuring their file database, version control, privacy compliance, and organised access.
Administration – inbox and calendar management, branded document preparation, stakeholder coordination, and membership communications.
Website Management – keeping the website current, posting updates, and coordinating with developers on technical needs.
We effectively became the organisation’s operations team. A single point of stability for leadership, members, and funders.
The Outcome: Continuity, Capability, and Cost Savings
Zero disruption — reporting, governance, and membership processes continued seamlessly.
Expanded capability — MJM delivered more than what the manager role had covered, including modernised systems, stronger governance, and proactive communication.
Lower cost — full operational coverage at a lesser cost than a full-time manager.
Resilience built in — no reliance on one person’s knowledge; systems and processes were documented, consistent, and scalable.
Why It Matters
For many organisations, the departure of a key manager can create instability and risk. Deadlines are missed, members feel neglected, and funders lose confidence.
MJM provides another path: operational continuity delivered by a team with expertise across finances, governance, membership, and administration. Instead of being vulnerable when staff change, organisations gain resilience, efficiency, and the confidence that operations will continue without disruption.
This wasn’t just about filling a gap, it was a shift in how the organisation thought about staffing and operational support.
