Finance Director

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Germany.

📋 Description

• Develop and sustain annual and rolling financial forecasts (revenue, expenses, cash flow, headcount) for the organization.

• Convert company-wide objectives into departmental budgets and commercial targets, collaborating with department leaders to establish and monitor them.

• Track actuals against budget and projections; identify variances promptly and suggest corrective measures.

• Generate regular reports for the CEO and, when necessary, for investors/board — including KPIs, burn rate, runway, and unit economics.

• Assist in fundraising activities by preparing financial models, data rooms, and investor reporting as required.

• Oversee the entire billing and invoicing process for clients, including resolving issues and managing collections.

• Administer accounts receivable and payable, while monitoring cash flow and runway.

• Establish and enhance billing systems/processes as the organization grows.

• Execute monthly payroll (either directly or through a payroll service), ensuring accuracy and compliance with German and international employment and tax regulations.

• Maintain compensation structures and assist in salary benchmarking and negotiations for new hires, in collaboration with the CEO and hiring managers.

• Serve as the primary liaison with our external tax advisors (Steuerberater) and accountants concerning German tax returns, VAT filings, and annual financial statements.

• Ensure adherence to German GAAP (HGB) and pertinent statutory/regulatory obligations.

• Oversee bookkeeping and month-end closing, collaborating with external accounting support where necessary.

• Maintain internal financial controls, policies, and readiness for audits as the company expands.

• Establish scalable finance processes, tools, and systems suitable for a small but growing team.

• Provide guidance to the CEO and leadership team on financial strategy, pricing, and resource allocation.

⛳️ Requirements

• Experience in FP&A, finance management, or a comparable broad finance role — startup experience (preferably Series A/B) is advantageous.

• Strong understanding of German tax and finance regulations (HGB, VAT/Umsatzsteuer, payroll compliance) and experience collaborating with a Steuerberater or similar professional.

• Practical experience with billing/invoicing and payroll, beyond just budgeting and reporting.

• Excellent financial modeling and proficiency in Excel/Sheets; ability to create projections and budgets from the ground up.

• Fluent in German and possess professional working proficiency in English.

• Comfortable navigating the uncertainties of a startup: eager to develop processes and tools rather than inherit them, and willing to be hands-on rather than solely strategic.

• Bonus: experience with startup finance/payroll tools, and familiarity with fundraising or investor reporting.

🏝️ Benefits

• Fully remote work, allowing flexibility in how you manage your time.

• Direct collaboration with the CEO and the leadership team.