Financial Controller
in minutes from over 15,000 CVs with precise AI matchingHire specialists for month-end close, management reporting, cash-flow planning, budgeting, forecasting and financial controls. FRATCH connects you with vetted, available freelance Financial Controllers who match your project needs quickly and precisely.
Meet FRATCH Financial Controllers
Alexander F.
Last position:
Freelance Business Consultant and Interim Manager at A. Folch von Sydow INTERIM MANAGEMENT
Advising various companies in the areas of controlling, finance and planning, transformation, business partnering, management reporting and AI-driven forecasting systems
Garrett T.
Last position:
Transformation Advisor for SAP at Garrett Tedeman, CPA LLC
Independent practice serving clients in SAC-P and AI-enabled FP&A transformation, including financial model development for PE firm engagements, data cleansing with PowerQuery, workflow automation Claude Cowork, SAC-P scoping task-based assignments (Micro1.ai & Mercor.ai), and SAP partner network development.
- 2026 – Completed significant upgrade training for Positioning Business AI and SAP Cloud ALM Workshop (In-Person). Live Demos • SAC-P & Excel-Based Reports • Claude Partner • SAP Partner#: 1961209 (OE – Build)
- Fall 2026 – New effort to re-train/update past FI/CO, SAP BPC, SAP Platform to S/4 Finance & Core G/L Accounting
- 2026 – Upskilling for Transformation Toolchain. In-Person Workshops: Cloud ALM & SAP BTP • Joule Demo(s)
- 2025 – FP&A processes • Datasphere & Business Data Cloud • Team Workshops for AI • Toolchain & SAP Cloud ALM
- 2024 – Built key credentials on Deloitte S4 Experience • Group Reporting and SAC-P
Paul F.
Last position:
Controller / Business Partner at Migros AG
- Managed and optimized discount campaigns to boost sales
- Planned 2025 discount strategies to align with business goals
- Coordinated with key stakeholders, including category management, for campaign success
- Enhanced efficiency and profitability of discount campaigns at Migros Foods
Serkant T.
Last position:
Interim Manager, License Controlling at Tonies GmbH
- Prepared and reviewed quarterly royalty settlements for licensors across music, publishing and media brands, including minimum guarantees, recoupment, returns reconciliation and process optimisation.
- Reconstructed historical licensing data for an external audit by a major US studio, covering music publishing and recorded music across ROW and AUS, and coordinated the resulting statements with the licensor.
- Supported the reconciliation of music royalties with the German collecting society and its international hub for 2018 to 2024.
- Assessed licensing data for accruals and provisions, and structured metadata for contract negotiations.
- Designed target processes and SOPs for a royalty automation tool and accompanied testing during rollout.
Stefan D.
Last position:
BI Consultant in Controlling at Reutter GmbH
- Extraction, transformation, and cleansing of data from Microsoft Dynamics AX
- Creation of sales reports in Power BI
- Training employees in business intelligence
- Technologies: Power BI, SQL, SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS)
Thorsten O.
Last position:
Program / Project / IT Controller (ICT Controller) at Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport
Project Management Office: analysis and setup, master plan, standardized project planning (generic work breakdown structure according to HERMES), earned value management, milestone trend analysis.
Finance management at portfolio, program and project level.
Resource management and single point of contact for resource procurement (human resources / operating costs / investments).
Process management.
Implementation of a program management tool for unified program and project management.
Program controlling: finance management, earned value management, milestone trend analysis, consolidation of project budgets, actual costs and forecasts at the program level.
Variance analyses at program level.
Transition from total cost view to commitment credit view (federal administration terminology).
Calculation of available reserves (rolling), forecasts and scenarios.
Monthly, quarterly, half-year and annual reports, preparation of annual planning at program level, special analyses / ad-hoc reports.
Project controlling: support for project managers in project planning, earned value management, milestone trend analysis.
Review of projects for budget compliance, adherence to phases and schedules, deliverables, resource planning and deployment.
Variance analyses at project level, special analyses / ad-hoc reports.
Resource management: resource planning based on program and project plans, review of timesheets.
Supply chain (until April 2022): single point of contact for resource procurement (human resources / operating costs / investments).
Change management: involvement in change management for cost-relevant changes (change requests), tracking of service contract price for contract-related changes, participation in change control boards / decision boards at management level.
Establishment of controlling structures in a new Swiss federal agency (becoming a federal office as of January 1, 2024) since April 2022.
Credit monitoring with validation of actual costs and commitment values.
Resource management: cross-project resource planning (HRP).
Earned value analysis and milestone trend analysis for key ICT projects of the federal government.
Participation in the introduction of the JIRA Tempo module.
Tools & methods: HERMES 5.1 / Agile HERMES, Sciforma 7, JIRA, Confluence, Tempo, Signavio, Microsoft SharePoint, Microsoft Office Prof., Excel-VBA.
Philipp H.
Last position:
Managing Director at Vishnu Artists GmbH
- Managing Director of Vishnu Artists GmbH in Berlin (since 01/2025, together with Benedikt Irsch).
- Responsible for the company's finance, planning and reporting; working with DATEV.
- Reporting with Power BI as well as planning and analysis models in Excel as a basis for management decisions.
- Selection, development and implementation of AI-supported tools in the company, including Flow Compass.
- Co-host of the Vishnu AI Freelancer Meetup, which takes place every four weeks on Miro; exchange about the practical use of AI applications in coaching and facilitation.
Hannes G.
Last position:
Interim Manager Controlling at Lindab GmbH
10/2025 – 03/2026 Lindab GmbH, Feldkirchen (GER) Interim Manager Controlling/Project Manager Project manager for implementations at Raab Lüftungstechnik GmbH:
- Implementation of Power BI as a reporting tool
- Design and implementation of a standardized inventory process
- Adjustment of contribution margin accounting in Microsoft Navision 2009
- Implementation of automated interfaces between the payroll program and Power BI
- Implementation of an interface between winKlimax and Navision 2009
- Setup of a new cost accounting (CM, cost centers)
- Introduction of supply chain controlling (stock levels, lead times, production KPIs)
Isabella S.
Last position:
Founder & Consultant at ISA ADVISE
- Independent consulting at the intersection of HR, Finance and IT
- Focus on People Analytics, HR Controlling, Pay Transparency, Compensation & Benefits and HR Transformation
- Analysis of complex HR and business data and development of reliable decision-making foundations for management and HR
- Design of KPI, reporting and BI solutions as well as data-based management models
- Consulting from analysis and concept development through implementation of transformation and optimization projects
- Focus on SAP Analytics Cloud, SAP BW and Power BI
- ISA = Insight · Structure · Alignment
Fred F.
Last position:
Managing Director & Shareholder at GFS Fenster- und Türenwerk GmbH (Marke Sageder)
- Restructuring during insolvency proceedings, continuation solution, reorganization and portfolio streamlining; return to positive EBT
- AI-supported controlling with Claude Cowork: Power BI dashboards for production and sales controlling, purchasing and procurement controlling, contract review and drafting
- Development of integrated month-end closing, plan-versus-actual and post-calculation processes
Christina J.
Last position:
Head of Digitalization at EVIM - Evangelischer Verein für Innere Mission in Nassau
- Reporting to the Head of the IT business unit
- Establishment and management of the digitalization unit – leading a team currently consisting of three employees
- Development of an organization-wide digitalization portfolio and digitalization strategy through 2030, including a mission statement, target vision, fields of action and specific work packages
- Analysis and structuring of the existing digitalization portfolio – creating transparency regarding initiatives, benefits, risks and dependencies
- Design of a consistent approach for recording, evaluating and prioritizing digitalization needs from the specialist departments
- Analysis and redesign of business and administrative processes – in cooperation with specialist departments, IT and central functions
- Development of structures for the digital office 2030, document and knowledge management – digital collaboration and sustainable integration of knowledge
- Supporting projects in the areas of HR, finance, M365, Power Platform, automation and AI
- Establishment of methods and formats for process management, change, participation and employee enablement
Kristjan R.
Last position:
Senior Group Financial Controller at Etribes Group GmbH
- Leading role within the controlling team in creating and integrating budgeting and reporting processes to support the company's growth strategy
- Responsible for introducing a group-level budgeting process (covering 4 subsidiaries) and preparing the budget in coordination with the subsidiaries, based on key financial and operational KPIs
- Lead role in the month-end closing process at both subsidiary and group levels, working closely with each subsidiary's CFO and tax advisors (account review, consolidation reconciliation)
- Monthly consolidation of the subsidiaries and intercompany reconciliation
- Developing and improving reporting standards for internal and external stakeholders (investors/lenders)
- Onboarding the controlling function of acquired companies after the merger to align and implement processes
- Implementing the financial planning software Lucanet
- Stakeholders in the company: management board, lenders, department heads
Daryoosh D.
Last position:
FP&A Data & AI Architect at Epta Group
Scope: Embedded as FP&A Data & AI Architect within the Finance function of a major European refrigeration manufacturer, leading the transformation of manual, fragmented financial reporting into an automated, governance-driven intelligence platform. Driving the shift from Excel-based controlling to structured data architecture, Power BI analytics, and AI-assisted financial operations.
Financial Data Integrity & ERP Governance
- Initiated and led GL vs. subledger reconciliation investigations, identifying and resolving structural mismatches between General Ledger and subledger data that had gone undetected prior to engagement
- Conducted asset analysis to identify items missing from General Ledger postings, surfacing gaps in fixed asset tracking and period-end completeness
- Validated SAP reports, establishing baseline data quality standards for Finance team consumption
- Established systematic SAP data validation framework ensuring ongoing integrity between ERP postings and downstream reporting outputs
Finance Reporting Transformation
- Designed and implemented a structured Transformation Project approach for converting manual Finance reports into fully automated processes
- Created and owns the Data Reporting Audit Log; a centralized tracking system capturing report owners, stakeholders, data sources, manual effort estimates, and automation opportunity scores across the Finance function
- Mapped the full reporting landscape identifying quick-win automation targets and strategic Power BI migration candidates
- Actively reducing manual Excel and PowerPoint dependency across FP&A workflows; replacing point-in-time snapshots with live, governed data models
Power BI & Analytics Enablement
- Introduced and presented Power BI as the strategic reporting platform to Finance leadership, building internal buy-in for the BI transformation roadmap
- Designed initial Power BI architecture aligned with SAP, Salesforce and Oracle data structures and FP&A reporting requirements
- Established report ownership, governance documentation, and data lineage standards enabling sustainable self-service analytics across the Finance team
Transformation Infrastructure & Collaboration
- Configured and deployed Jira as the transformation project management hub, establishing structured sprint workflows, backlog management, and progress visibility for Finance IT initiatives
- Proposed and initiated a dedicated FP&A Communication & Transformation Hub, a structured cross-functional forum aligning Finance, IT, and business stakeholders around the reporting transformation roadmap
- Positioned the Finance function as an active driver of data governance and digital transformation within the broader organization
Outcomes
- GL/subledger reconciliation gaps identified and investigation framework established within first two weeks of engagement
- Data Reporting Audit Log deployed; first structured inventory of Finance reporting landscape in company history
- Power BI transformation roadmap presented and approved by Finance leadership
- Jira-based project governance live; Finance transformation now tracked with full sprint visibility
Technologies: SAP FI/CO · Power BI · DAX · SQL · Excel (advanced) · Power Query (M) · Power Automate · VBA · Jira · Microsoft 365 · SharePoint · Salesforce (Sales Data) · Oracle HCM · Python
Hans-Jörg S.
Last position:
Construction Manager and Acquisition Controller at Ericsson Austria AG
- UMTS Anticipation Program
- Cnnect UMTS Roll Out
René S.
Last position:
Self-employed Interim Manager and Project Consultant at Energy utility company
- Analysis of the existing water price calculation for formal errors and gaps in the factual arguments with regard to the legal and regulatory framework (including AVBWasserV, KAG RP, statutes, NEV pursuant to BGH) and best practices in the water industry
- Operational assurance of controlling for the water division
- Regulatory optimization of the existing pricing strategy
- Factual assessment of existing legal proceedings in the water sector
- Professional support for all stakeholders in the water division
- Implementation and roll-out of a new water price calculation tool
- Knowledge transfer to the controlling department and professional training of new employees
- Bridging a vacancy by carrying out the water price calculation
- Review of the pricing strategy from a regulatory perspective
- Establishment of a PMO and assumption of PMO tasks
- Professional advice on preparing the annual financial statements
- Professional sparring for the Executive Board, Legal and Finance/Controlling in the water sector
- Optimization, adjustment and redesign of business processes in the Finance/Controlling environment
- Regulatory adjustments to the existing controlling system
- Advising the Executive Board of the holding company and working with subsidiaries
- Support with impairments together with the auditor
- Opportunity and risk analyses for existing legal proceedings and negotiations
- Drafting of price adjustment clauses and participation in arbitration proceedings
- Reorganization of investment structures
- Reporting to the Head of Legal, Head of Corporate Development, as well as CEO and CSO
Discover over 15,000 top freelancers
Financial Controllers statistics
Aggregated from the professional profiles of matched freelancers.
Experience
24 years
Position duration
3 years
Positions per freelancer
14
Top business areas
Finance, Accounting, Business Intelligence
Top industries
Professional Services, Manufacturing, Banking and Finance
Certification focus areas
Accounting, Finance, Information Technology
Bachelor's degree or higher
85%
Master's degree or higher
63%
Doctorate
6%
Certifications per freelancer
3
Most common languages
German, English, Spanish
Speak two or more languages
97%
Based on our profile pool as of 3 Oct 2026.
Daily rate distribution
The chart shows how the daily rates of experts in this role are distributed, based on recent contracts on our platform. Each bar covers a rate range — its height shows the share of experts charging within that range.
Average rates for Financial Controllers
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.
Calculated based on our freelancers’ daily rates as of 3 Oct 2026. Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
Financial Controllers experts industry focus
See which industries our matched freelancers work in most often — every figure is calculated live from the freelancers on FRATCH.
- Professional Services (74%)
- Manufacturing (69%)
- Banking and Finance (53%)
- Information Technology (52%)
- Retail (39%)
- Automotive (37%)
- Energy (31%)
- Food and Beverage (28%)
Please note that freelancers can work across multiple industries, so percentages overlap.
About the role
Financial control in practice
A Financial Controller turns financial data into reliable management information and sound decisions. They oversee month-end and year-end close, reconcile accounts, review cost allocations, explain variances and maintain a clear view of business performance. Depending on the organisation, the role may also cover group reporting, statutory accounts, cash management and coordination with auditors.
Typical deliverables include:
- Monthly management reports with commentary and variance analysis
- Budgets, rolling forecasts and cash-flow plans
- Balance-sheet reconciliations and close checklists
- Control documentation, audit files and remediation plans
Skills and specialisms
Strong Financial Controllers combine accounting expertise with commercial judgement. They understand accruals, provisions, revenue recognition, working capital, consolidation and internal controls. Many specialise in areas such as group accounting, project controlling, manufacturing finance, SaaS reporting, treasury support or finance transformation.
Useful systems experience depends on the environment. Common tools include Excel, Power BI and reporting platforms alongside ERP systems such as SAP S/4HANA, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Oracle NetSuite or DATEV. The right specialist can also improve chart-of-accounts structures, reporting logic and finance processes rather than only operating existing routines.
When to hire freelance
Companies often bring in a freelance controller during a finance leadership gap, a restructuring, an acquisition, an ERP rollout or a demanding reporting cycle. Freelance support is also useful when a permanent finance team needs capacity for a backlog of reconciliations, a forecasting reset or an audit preparation project.
A company may need this role when reporting is late, numbers are challenged in management meetings, ownership of controls is unclear or cash visibility is weak. A freelancer can define the immediate scope, stabilise the process and leave behind documented routines that the internal team can maintain.
What distinguishes strong professionals
The best controllers are precise without losing sight of the business. They test the source data, challenge unusual movements and make assumptions visible. They communicate clearly with finance colleagues, operational managers, auditors and senior leadership, adapting the level of detail to each audience.
When assessing a Financial Controller, look for relevant experience with the company’s reporting model, ERP environment and project context. Ask for examples of improved close processes, clearer forecasts, stronger controls or better management insight. A strong professional explains how results were validated and how risks were handled, not only which reports they produced.
Frequently asked questions
Need clarity? These are the questions we hear most often about Financial Controllers.
A freelance Financial Controller can own month-end close, management reporting, reconciliations, budgeting, forecasting, cash-flow analysis and internal controls. The scope may also include audit support, consolidation, ERP implementation or finance process improvement. It should be defined around the reporting needs, systems and condition of the finance function.
A Financial Controller is usually responsible for the accuracy, timeliness and control of financial information. A Finance Manager may manage a broader operational team, while a CFO focuses more heavily on strategy, capital, risk and executive decisions. The boundaries vary by company, so responsibilities should be agreed before the engagement begins.
A strong controller should understand financial accounting, management reporting, reconciliations, variance analysis, budgeting and cash flow. Experience with the company’s ERP and reporting tools is valuable, as are communication skills and the ability to improve controls. Sector knowledge matters when revenue models, inventory or project accounting are complex.
A freelance Financial Controller makes sense when the need is immediate, project-based or linked to a transition. Examples include an interim vacancy, an ERP rollout, acquisition integration, audit preparation or a close process that needs stabilising. A permanent hire is usually more suitable when the business needs ongoing ownership and team development.
Yes, much of the work of a finance controller can be performed remotely through secure accounting systems, shared reporting tools and structured review meetings. On-site time may still help with process discovery, stakeholder workshops, inventory checks or sensitive change projects. Access controls, data protection and clear communication routines should be agreed at the start.
A Financial Controller should be comfortable with advanced spreadsheet work, financial reporting and data analysis. Depending on the client, relevant systems may include SAP S/4HANA, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Oracle NetSuite, DATEV, Power BI or other ERP and consolidation tools. More important than a specific brand is the ability to validate data and produce dependable outputs.
Evaluate a Financial Controller through examples of accurate reporting, faster close routines, improved reconciliations and stronger control ownership. Ask how they investigate variances, document assumptions and handle conflicting data. References, a focused work plan and a practical review of the first deliverables reveal more than a list of systems alone.
A freelance controller should clarify reporting deadlines, decision rights, data access, accounting policies, system permissions and the condition of the existing close process. They should also establish who approves adjustments and how risks are escalated. A clear definition of deliverables prevents the role from becoming an undefined substitute for the entire finance function.
The average hourly rate for Financial Controllers is 115 €, which corresponds to a daily rate of about 923 € based on an 8-hour working day.
Of the freelancers working as Financial Controllers, 85% hold at least a Bachelor's degree, 63% hold at least a Master's degree, and 6% hold a doctorate.
On average, freelancers working as Financial Controllers have 24 years of professional experience, with a single engagement typically lasting around 3 years.
The most common languages among freelancers working as Financial Controllers are German (99%), English (96%), and Spanish (25%).
The most common industries among freelancers working as Financial Controllers are Professional Services (74%), Manufacturing (69%), and Banking and Finance (53%).
The most common business areas among freelancers working as Financial Controllers are Finance (96%), Accounting (85%), and Business Intelligence (80%).
FRATCH Financial Controllers 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.
Berlin 
Hamburg 
Munich 
Cologne 
Frankfurt 
Dusseldorf Request a free demo
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Philipp Thomaschewski
FRATCH CEO
