Hire the best Finance Directors in Germany matched in minutes from over 15,000 CVs with the power of AI
Bring in senior finance leadership for budgeting, cash flow control, forecasting, reporting, and finance transformation. Ideal for interim cover, ERP-driven change, and investor-ready reporting, with fast, precise matching to vetted, available freelancers.
About the role
Finance leadership
A Finance Director sets the financial direction of a business and turns numbers into action. They align planning, reporting, treasury, and controls so management can make clear decisions. In German companies, this often includes work that sits between the Finance Director, Finance Head, and CFO remit.
- Own budgeting, forecasting, and rolling plans
- Improve management reporting and board packs
- Review cash flow, working capital, and liquidity
- Support audits, controls, and month-end quality
Typical projects
Freelance Finance Directors are often brought in when finance needs steady leadership during change. That can mean an interim gap, a restructuring, a new ERP rollout, a carve-out, or a business integration after an acquisition.
They are also valuable when a company needs senior oversight for a lean finance team or wants sharper performance reporting before fundraising, refinancing, or a board review.
Key skills
Strong Finance Directors combine commercial judgment with hands-on finance discipline. They need to read the P&L, challenge assumptions, and keep the close process reliable.
- Strong command of FP&A, cash management, and controls
- Clear communication with board, investors, and department heads
- Experience with SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, and Excel models
- Ability to improve processes without slowing the business
Tools and scope
The right freelance Finance Director should be comfortable working across reporting stacks, planning tools, and ERP systems. In Germany, that often includes IFRS or HGB reporting, multilingual stakeholder work, and close cooperation with local teams, especially in manufacturing, SaaS, industrial services, and PE-backed companies.
Good candidates do not just prepare reports. They connect systems, numbers, and decisions, and they know when a finance issue is really an operating issue.
When to hire
Hire a Finance Director on a freelance basis when speed matters, the mandate is defined, or permanent headcount is not the right answer yet. This role fits well for interim leadership, project-based finance transformation, and short-term stabilization after a resignation or acquisition.
It is also a smart choice when the business needs senior finance expertise without a long onboarding cycle. That is especially true for companies that need someone who can step in, assess the situation quickly, and set priorities from day one.
What good looks like
A strong Finance Director leaves the finance function more reliable and more useful to the business. They deliver clean reporting, practical planning, and controls that people actually follow.
They also know how to work with a CEO, controller, and FP&A team without creating friction. If you need an interim FD, a freelance Finance Director, or a broader finance lead, look for someone who has already handled pressure, complexity, and change.
Meet FRATCH Finance Directors
Jens Reichert
Finance Transformation Director
Last position:
Finance Transformation Director at Bauer Media Group
After several S/4 go-lives, structure, role clarity, and decision clarity were missing in Finance and IT; governance mechanisms, prioritization logic, and responsibilities were not defined well enough.
Unclear interfaces, high coordination effort, and inconsistent ways of working led to organizational instability and limited leadership and steering capability.
The existing operating model between Finance, Controlling, and IT was not working, which affected transparency, collaboration, and decision paths.
Designed the transformation and organization architecture for Finance and clarified roles, decision paths, and priorities.
Diagnosed and structured the Finance and IT organizations (DE/UK/PL), including collaboration, responsibilities, and interfaces.
Redesigned the Finance–IT operating model with a focus on governance, steering routines, and cross-functional collaboration.
Enabled leaders and teams, especially Global Process Owners, Key Users, and Finance Leads (systemic organizational development / leadership).
Steered the transformation portfolio, including clarity on risks, dependencies, and cross-functional decision processes.
Restored structural steering capability by clearly defining roles, decision paths, and priorities and anchoring them across the organization.
Strengthened governance and cross-functional collaboration in a systemic way - Finance, Controlling, and IT worked again in consistent, aligned structures; friction losses dropped measurably.
Harmonized working and communication logic, making coordination faster, more transparent, and less conflict-heavy.
Enabled the organization in a sustainable way, including the build-up of a strong Key User / Process Owner community and clearly defined steering routines.
Made the transformation structurally manageable - prioritized initiatives, clear risk and progress logic, and consistent decision formats increased execution speed.
Dennis Trawinski
Head of Finance / Commercial Managing Director
Last position:
Head of Finance / Commercial Managing Director at Lotsenbüro für temporäre Bauten und mobile Lösungen GmbH
- Responsible for Finance, Insurance, and Legal, including 3 department heads
- Leading and managing day-to-day accounting
- Preparing and reporting monthly financial statements according to HGB and IFRS
- Corporate controlling including budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis
- Point of contact for external authorities, banks, tax advisors, and auditors
- Implementing group-wide processes at the corporate level
- Preparing annual financial statements according to HGB
- Supporting the annual audit
- Supporting special audits and due diligence projects at the group level
- Insourcing of accounting, including ERP implementation and department development
Alexander Block
Interim Finance Leader I Industrial Performance & Transformation
Last position:
Finance Business Partner | Deputy Plant Manager at Speira GmbH
Overall responsibility for the financial functions of a production site with over 600 employees and more than EUR 500 million in annual revenue. Actively shaping the strategic and operational site development in close collaboration with plant management. Shared P&L accountability, including budget, forecast, and investment control. Leading the controlling, reporting, CapEx, and accounting teams, ensuring transparent and performance-oriented control structures. Since 05/2024, additionally serving as deputy plant manager with joint responsibility for overall performance, organizational development, and site strategy.
- Successful resolution of a complex insurance claim in the multi-million-euro range
- Active contribution in an interdisciplinary core team to secure a multi-year contract worth over EUR 150 million
- Successful negotiation of a restructuring program as part of a three-person corporate negotiation team
- Sustainable optimization of cost structures and investment prioritization to stabilize results
Olaf Martens
Interim Manager Head of Finance
Last position:
Interim Manager Head of Finance at Euromobil GmbH
- Bridging the Head of Finance position until it was filled again
- Use of SAP R/3
- Hybrid working model
- 10% English
Cordula Buss
Senior FiCo Transformation & IT Project Lead (Interim)
Last position:
Senior Project Lead Finance & IT (Interim) at Rolls-Royce Powers Systems AG
- Implemented a group-wide project management and project controlling framework (SAP PPM / SAC)
- Designed an earned value based control system (costs, progress, schedule)
- Integrated quotation, product and financial data into SAP
- Led interdisciplinary teams in agile and hybrid setups
Wolfgang Horlacher
Interim Commercial Manager
Last position:
Head of Finance and Controlling (Interim) at Kunert Fashion Group
Financial accounting: daily general ledger entries and month-end closing
Preparation of FY 2024 financial group statements (subunits KF, KNL, KAU, KCH)
Preparation of physical inventory for KF with inventory instructions for Logistic
Further development of ERP Finance processes integration with MS Dynamics BC 14
Implementation of electronic invoice verification and Multi Cash banking software
Expansion of sales and e-commerce controlling toolbox and processes
Preparation of budgets 2026, 2027, 2028, including investment plan, cost accounting
Preparation and commentary on monthly reports for sub-units and Group
Preparation of weekly financial plans, cash flow and liquidity plans
Further development of sales controlling, focusing on margins & product profitability
Creation and integration of accounting workflows for MS Dynamics
Leadership focus: Stabilization of the finance team and clear scope of work responsibility
Communication with banks, auditors, tax advisors, and tax authorities
Complete and accurate monthly reporting for each business unit and the KF Group
Preparation 2024 financial statements for KF Germany, KNL, KAU, and KNL with audit opinion
Detailed setup and preparation of the KF 2026 budget for the management and shareholders
Weekly cash flow planning coordinated with the management and shareholders
Turnaround in net sales and EBIT from September 2025 onwards – stable growth
Leadership & change through consistent, data-driven KPIs
Stefan Schröder
Interim Director Finance / CFO
Last position:
Interim Director Finance / CFO at Hemovent GmbH
- Transition of processes from garage-style to series production
- Establishment of financial processes including monthly reporting to the Chinese parent company
- Development of long-term planning (5/10 years) and budgets for 2024 and 2025
- Ensuring sufficient financing
- Creation and implementation of a restructuring plan with over 60% reduction in staff and costs
Mario Montagna
Corporate Controlling
Last position:
Finance Director at Aluforge GmbH
- Commercial management: liquidity control, accounting, support for the 2024 and 2025 year-end closings, local and international reporting, strategy and financing, contract management
Harald Grayer
Head of Finance, Group HR function, Board Division
Last position:
Head of Finance, Group HR function, Board Division at Allianz SE
Reported to Holding Board Member, CHRO and Head of Transformation
Led a global matrix team of 5+
Assumed finance leadership for a €135M HR transformation program affecting 140,000+ employees
Built a global HR operating model and HR finance function
Managed and advised key stakeholders on global cost planning, cost allocation, transfer pricing, tax strategy, and transformation impact
Managed FP&A for a €100M board-division budget, including Compliance, M&A, Privacy, Legal and HR
Led the IT transfer of 113 HR staff during Corona lockdown, ensuring business continuity during transition
Contributed to an organizational streamlining project, implementing consistent management layers and spans of control for increased operational efficiency
Serhan Sezer
Senior Project Manager & Project Finance Lead
Last position:
Senior Project Manager & Project Finance Lead at Valmet Automotive GmbH (IONCOR GmbH)
- Responsible of managing project business case and cash-flow (from 2023-10)
- Responsible of Housing Task Force that focuses on supplier as well as project management in terms of all aspects of a business, from timing to costs (2023-06 to 2023-10)
Anocha Taejiw
Head of Finance | PMO
Last position:
Director at turn2value GmbH
As Director of turn2value, Anocha Taejiw supports companies in the implementation of complex transformations in Finance Department. He assists in the areas of controlling & reporting, forecasting and the implementation of holistic value-enhancing programs
Frank Hertkorn
Head of Finance
Last position:
Head of Finance at Sudarshan Germany Horizons GmbH
- Led the finance and controlling department at the Langelsheim site with 6 employees
- Prepared annual financial statements, served as contact for auditors and tax advisors
- Created monthly closing reports, commented on variances with recommendations for action
- Budgeting and forecasts for 3 companies, including P&L, balance sheet, cash flow, cost center and investment planning
- Integrated finance and controlling processes of the insolvent Heubach GmbH into the Sudarshan group
Jens Berger
Interim Head of Corporate Finance, M&A, Treasury
Last position:
Interim Head of Corporate Finance, M&A, Treasury at NürnbergMesse GmbH
- Consolidation of several interdisciplinary departments (responsibilities: Corporate Finance & Treasury, Financial M&A, Commercial M&A, M&A PMO)
- Redesign and establishment of the company-wide M&A process
- Operational management of (inter)national M&A projects
Massimo Garau
Finance Director
Last position:
Chief Financial Officer at Veganz Group AG
Financial restructuring of the company: extension of the bond after negotiating with creditors, crowdfunding financing, factoring, sale and leaseback, goods purchase financing, a convertible bond, two capital increases and an equity line, sale of a subsidiary
Achieved: increased the equity ratio by 12 percentage points and reached the first positive EBITDA
Prepared financial plans, presented them to investors, negotiated terms and handled the technical implementation
Reduced fixed costs by about 35% to lower the break-even point by identifying cost-saving opportunities, optimizing processes and implementing with the team
Agnes Reinsberg-Pollet
Head of Finance
Last position:
Head of Finance at Ecologic Institute
- Help executives and teams within the CFO environment master the growing number of complex and generally interdependent challenges they face
- Through all change phases, from the strategic concept to the operational implementation
- Focus on process improvement, organizational development and information systems
- Intervene as a coach, a consultant, a project manager or an interim manager depending on needs
Discover over 15,000 top freelancers
Finance Directors statistics
Aggregated from the professional profiles of matched freelancers.
Experience
25 years
Position duration
3.1 years
Positions per freelancer
13
Top business areas
Accounting, Finance, Project Management
Top industries
Professional Services, Manufacturing, Banking and Finance
Certification focus areas
Accounting, Finance, Human Resources
Bachelor's degree or higher
86%
Master's degree or higher
59%
Doctorate
9%
Certifications per freelancer
2
Most common languages
German, English, French
Speak two or more languages
92%
Daily Rate Distribution
The chart shows how the daily rates of freelancers in this role are distributed, based on recent contracts on our platform. Each bar covers a rate range — its height shows how many freelancers charge within that range. Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
Average rates for Finance Directors & Seniority distribution
Rates are based on recent contracts and do not include FRATCH margin.
The average daily rate is the mean of all daily rates from recent contracts of comparable freelancers on our platform.
The median daily rate is the middle value of all daily rates — half of comparable freelancers charge less, half charge more. Unlike the average, it is barely affected by outliers.
Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
Frequently Asked Questions
Want to learn more? Find helpful information about FRATCH
A Finance Director typically owns budgeting, forecasting, reporting, liquidity planning, and financial controls. In many companies, the role also covers management information, board reporting, and coordination with auditors, controllers, and department leads. The exact scope depends on whether the need is interim leadership, project work, or a broader finance build-up.
A freelance Finance Director makes sense when the business needs senior finance leadership quickly but does not yet need or want a permanent hire. This is common during transitions, finance restructurings, system changes, or temporary cover. A Finance Director can stabilise the function first and help define what the permanent setup should look like next.
Look for strong FP&A, cash management, control design, and clear communication with non-finance stakeholders. A good candidate should be able to challenge assumptions, improve reporting, and keep month-end and planning processes reliable. In Germany, familiarity with local reporting expectations and cross-functional work is often important too.
Not always, but the titles are often used close to one another in practice. A Finance Director may report to a CFO, act as the top finance lead in a mid-sized company, or cover a broader Finance Head remit. What matters is the actual scope: decision-making authority, team responsibility, and ownership of planning and reporting.
Most companies expect confidence with Excel, ERP systems, and planning or reporting tools. Common environments include SAP, Oracle, and Microsoft Dynamics, plus Power BI or similar reporting layers when finance data needs better visibility. The exact stack matters less than the ability to work with it quickly and improve the output.
On-site time helps when the role needs close contact with local finance teams, plant operations, or senior leadership. In Germany, that is often relevant for manufacturing, industrial, or PE-backed businesses where fast alignment matters. Many projects still work well with a hybrid setup, as long as the Finance Director can meet the key stakeholders at the right moments.
Ask for examples of situations where the Finance Director improved reporting, solved a cash issue, or stabilised a finance team during change. Strong candidates explain their impact in practical terms, not just in process language. References, board-facing experience, and evidence of working across finance and operations are good quality signals.
Assignments often involve close work with the CEO, controller, and local finance team, sometimes in a mix of English and German. A Finance Director freelancer should be ready to assess the numbers fast, agree priorities, and lead with a calm, structured style. The best projects give enough authority to make decisions, not just produce reports.
The average hourly rate for Finance Directors in Germany is 131 €, which corresponds to a daily rate of about 1,049 € based on an 8-hour working day.
Of the freelancers working as Finance Directors in Germany, 86% hold at least a Bachelor's degree, 59% hold at least a Master's degree, and 9% hold a doctorate.
On average, freelancers working as Finance Directors in Germany have 25 years of professional experience, with a single engagement typically lasting around 3.1 years.
The most common languages among freelancers working as Finance Directors in Germany are German (100%), English (92%), and French (40%).
The most common industries among freelancers working as Finance Directors in Germany are Professional Services (76%), Manufacturing (68%), and Banking and Finance (60%).
The most common business areas among freelancers working as Finance Directors in Germany are Accounting (96%), Finance (96%), and Project Management (76%).
FRATCH Finance Directors main locations
Our freelancers and interim experts are at home across the DACH region — available on-site in the major business hubs or fully remote. Choose a location to discover matched specialists, local market insights and up-to-date availability.
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Philipp Thomaschewski
FRATCH CEO
