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
André G.
Last position:
Financial Reporting Consultant at Client anonymized (services sector)
Financial reporting as an MVP. Follow-up assignment.
- Reports on profit and loss, balance sheet and cash flow
- Budget and personnel metrics (FTE)
- Implementation as an MVP with a fixed scope
Oliver S.
Last position:
Interim Head of Controlling at Ströck GmbH
Food
I took over the leadership of the Controlling department at Ströck GmbH at short notice. Accounting and Controlling report directly to the management team. In addition to overseeing day-to-day Controlling activities, I was responsible for developing reporting and setting the strategic direction for Controlling. At the start of the engagement, the Controlling department had only four employees instead of eight. Given the staff shortage, I first ensured that key reports were delivered on time while developing a new reporting structure.
Another key focus of my engagement was introducing a Single Source of Truth. Existing reporting was based on numerous Excel files and different source systems. I therefore worked with IT to drive the introduction of a modern BI system. Reports will be generated automatically with Qlik Sense, providing a consistent data basis for management decisions. Together with the management team, I also developed a completely new production reporting system that enables weekly production management based on defined efficiency metrics. At the end of my engagement, I supported the search for my successor, trained the new Head of Controlling, and helped rebuild the Controlling department to eight employees.
Actions:
- Interim leadership of Controlling
- Ensured day-to-day reporting continued
- Introduced a Single Source of Truth
- Introduced Qlik Sense
- Built a new production reporting system
- Developed the reporting landscape
- Supported recruitment
- Handover to the new Head of Controlling
Achievements:
- Maintained Controlling despite a 50% staffing shortage
- Introduced a central data basis for reporting
- Digitized reporting with Qlik Sense
- Developed a new weekly production reporting system
- Successful handover to my successor
- Rebuilt the Controlling department to eight employees
Steven I.
Last position:
Lead Consultant Finance, Controlling & Real Estate Management
Greenfield – S/4HANA (since January 2026 Post Merger)
Functional responsibility at the interface between Finance, Controlling and Real Estate Management in an S/4HANA transformation in the context of an announced merger
Key areas:
- Introduction of Lease Accounting according to IFRS 16 as the initial focus
- Design of integrated processes in leasing, real estate and Finance integration
- Cost Allocation and cost accounting in Controlling
- Expansion of the role to serve as the functional link between Finance, Controlling and RE-FX in the merger context
Ilja G.
Last position:
Senior Business Controller at GBA Group
- Directly reported to the CFO and was responsible for operational support of over 30 units.
- Implemented Power BI in the reporting structure to improve real-time data visibility.
- Initiated the consolidation of HR and financial reports into a multi-level reporting system.
- Responsible for financial planning and budgeting in the MedDev/Pharma sector (100m€).
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
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
Markus R.
Last position:
Founding at Redelstab Advisory
- Restructuring & interim management: Leading and stabilizing R&D organizations during periods of change and growth, particularly during strategic realignment, M&A or to bridge leadership vacancies
- R&D operating models: Assessing and redesigning devel...
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
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.
Nikolaos D.
Last position:
Fractional CFO | CFO as a Service at Engagement: Coworking Space & Incubator (anonymized)
CFO as a Service for a coworking space and incubator (€2 million annual revenue, 15 employees), 1–2 days per week.
- Took over the full finance function: cash flow management, budgeting, forecasting, and building integrated financial planning
- Approval processes, C-level reporting and KPI tracking
- Communication with banks and tax advisors, C-level sparring
- Tools: Moss, re:cap; providing functional guidance to an assistant and accounting professional
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)
Florian S.
Last position:
Independent Strategy, FP&A & Performance Management Consultant
- Renewable Energy Client: Supporting the redesign of the Group FP&A planning process during a major transformation, strengthening planning governance, executive reporting and performance steering.
- Pharmaceutical CDMO Client: Redesigned commercial reporting and KPI governance, developed Power BI-based profitability and performance reporting, and supported finance transformation and transfer pricing initiatives.
Hans-Jörg S.
Last position:
Construction Manager and Acquisition Controller at Ericsson Austria AG
- UMTS Anticipation Program
- Cnnect UMTS Roll Out
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.
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
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, Information Technology
Certification focus areas
Accounting, Information Technology, Project Management
Bachelor's degree or higher
86%
Master's degree or higher
62%
Doctorate
7%
Certifications per freelancer
3
Most common languages
German, English, French
Speak two or more languages
95%
Based on our profile pool as of 13 Nov 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 13 Nov 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 (73%)
- Manufacturing (68%)
- Information Technology (54%)
- Banking and Finance (51%)
- Automotive (38%)
- Retail (36%)
- Energy (30%)
- Food and Beverage (29%)
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 116 €, which corresponds to a daily rate of about 925 € based on an 8-hour working day.
Of the freelancers working as Financial Controllers, 86% hold at least a Bachelor's degree, 62% hold at least a Master's degree, and 7% 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 (98%), English (95%), and French (25%).
The most common industries among freelancers working as Financial Controllers are Professional Services (73%), Manufacturing (68%), and Information Technology (54%).
The most common business areas among freelancers working as Financial Controllers are Finance (96%), Accounting (86%), and Business Intelligence (79%).
FRATCH Financial Controllers main locations
Our freelancers and interim experts are at home all over Germany — available on-site in Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and every major business hub, or fully remote. Choose a city to discover matched specialists, local market insights and up-to-date availability.
Berlin 
Hamburg 
Munich 
Frankfurt 
Dusseldorf 
Berlin Hamburg Munich Cologne Frankfurt Stuttgart Dusseldorf Leipzig Dortmund Essen Bremen Dresden Hanover Nuremberg In Austria our freelancers and interim experts support companies from Vienna to Graz — on-site where your project needs them, or fully remote. Choose a city to discover matched specialists, local market insights and up-to-date availability.
Vienna Graz Across Switzerland our specialists are active in Zurich, Geneva, Basel and Bern — working on-site or fully remote. Choose a city to discover matched specialists, local market insights and up-to-date availability.
Zurich Geneva Basel Bern Countries:
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FRATCH CEO
