Financial Controllers in Germany

Advising various companies in the areas of controlling, finance and planning, transformation, business partnering, management reporting and AI-driven forecasting systems

• 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.

• 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.

• 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...

• Development controlling systems:
• Validate various Business Cases
• Develop organization, task description, processes and systems of the controlling system to improve activities
• Harmonize ERP software within the Group (IT-Procurement – Plan data – controlling – reports)
• Budget Master data and Planning:
• Set-up phase oriented project planning
• Monitor and validate projects: OPEX and CAPEX due to laws and concern dependency rules
• Validate regulatoric calculations
• PMO assistance activities
• presentations and reports Tools: SAP 4/HANA; SAP ERP Central Component (SAP ECC): SAP FI/CO; SAP MM; SAP PPM; BOARD; TABLEAU; MS Office 365;

• 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

• 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

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

• 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

CFO as a Service for a coworking space & incubator (€2 million in annual revenue, 15 employees), 1–2 days per week.

• Took over the full finance function: cash flow management, budgeting, forecasting, building an integrated financial plan
• Approval processes, C-level reporting and KPI tracking
• Communication with banks and tax advisors, C-level sparring
• Tools: Moss, re:cap; functional guidance of an assistant and accounting specialist

• 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

• Accounting, controlling and reporting, taxes, risk management, treasury, credit management, legal matters, internal control/SOX, HR, IT, cooperation with auditors, tax advisors and public authorities
• Logistics, production and HACCP, occupational safety and veterinary and hygiene regulations (food production)
• Due Diligence, M&A, company demergers, crisis management, project management

Selected interim projects:

• Twistcafe (Fastfood restaurants) – Interim CFO (worldwide): Resolution of problems with accounting and tax documents for the annual financial statements of the German and Austrian subsidiaries; standardization of accounting for intercompany transfers of raw materials and cash (CZ, SK, DE, AT, PL); automation of recharging discount campaigns and cashless payments; improvements to cost center accounting (200+ CCs)
• VIB Vermögen AG (Branicks Group, Real Estate) – Interim Head of Accounting (DE): HGB annual financial statements for 19 companies without complications; IFRS consolidated financial statements without complications; automation of consolidation measures (debt consolidation, expense and income consolidation); automation of reporting
• NTT (Telecommunications) – Interim Senior Controller (DE): Simplification, standardization and automation of month-end closing activities (accruals for customer and supplier rebates, order backlogs, accrued revenues, monthly GP adjustments), including SOX compliance documentation; balance sheet reconciliation; improvement of loyalty reporting
• Lilium (Aerospace) – Interim Senior Accountant (DE): Tax line corrections; asset migration from Datev to Infor LN for two companies, including improvement of data quality; automation of the processing of interim asset investments and asset additions; successful SOX closing audit for fixed assets leading to the US stock market listing
• Brose (Automotive) – Interim Head of Controlling (CZ): Successful Forecast III; simplification and automation of calculations and reporting (hourly rates, temporary workers, monthly reports, scrap and external rework, direct personnel costs); platform change for the monthly management board meeting
• LUST Hybrid-Technik (Pankl-SHW Industries, Manufacturing) – Interim Finance Controller (DE): Monthly and annual financial statements (including inventory valuation, cost and performance accounting), budget-to-actual comparisons, variance analyses, ad hoc evaluations, forecast preparation, automation
• Gebr. Bode (Schaltbau Group, Manufacturing) – Interim Head of Accounting (DE): Annual financial statements without complications; simplification and automation of liquidity planning; automation of the open items report, standardization of intercompany reconciliations; introduction and automation of the fixed assets report
• Hyva Georg Hydraulik (Manufacturing) – Interim Senior Accountant/Finance Manager (DE): Simplification and automation of VAT returns, Intrastat and other statistical reports; automation of the fixed assets report; introduction and automation of CC report/forecast and temporary worker accruals; master data correction
• Beiersdorf (FMCG) – Interim Finance Manager (DE/SK): Transfer from the local finance department in Slovakia to the SSC Hamburg
• Trèves (Automotive) – Interim Plant Controller/Head of Finance & Controlling (CZ): Identification of weaknesses; implementation of controlling processes for the purchasing process (PR/PO/GR), payroll, energy costs, ICO accounting, CC reporting
• Hella Slovakia Signal-Lighting (Automotive) – Interim Head of Controlling (SK): 10% reduction of receivables open items; automation of reporting (Capex, Cost Center, Maintenance Costs); standardization and automation of inventory and receivables impairment
• Tunap Cosmetics (FMCG) – Interim Finance Manager (DE): Reduction of DSO by 21 days in four months; balance sheet cleanup (fixed assets, provisions, prepaid expenses); reduction of unprocessed invoices in the workflow by 1.2 million EUR during the annual closing; automation of impairments, controls and reporting
• Hanon Systems Autopal (Automotive) – Interim Finance Controller (CZ): Identification of weaknesses; automation of CC report and orders; automation of inventory and receivables impairment
• Drägerwerk (Manufacturing) – Interim Finance Controller (CZ): FI/CO management, process audit, investment incentives, accounting accuracy, SAP settings (FI/CO, MM)
• Maxim Chicken (FMCG) – Interim Head of Finance and Controlling (CZ): Introduction of new products for gastronomy with increased sales; introduction of cash flow forecasting; reduction of variable and fixed costs (raw materials, real estate leasing); successful veterinary inspection
• Trelleborg Automotive Czech Republic (Automotive) – Interim Plant Controller/Head of Finance (CZ); Carbody Czech Republic (Automotive) – Interim Plant Controller/Head of Finance (CZ): Accounting correction; company demerger with SAP split; introduction of cash flow forecasting; factoring
• Kantar Media (WPP Group, Media) – Interim Finance Manager (CZ): Automation of the US GAAP report; reduction of fixed costs (supplier contracts, personnel costs); implementation of standard processes; successful SOX audit; relocation of production

• Independent accounts receivable and accounts payable accounting, including posting all incoming and outgoing payments
• Preparing customer invoices and monitoring open items and dunning
• Preparing and creating monthly and annual financial statements under HGB
• Preparing VAT returns and working with tax advisors and the tax office
• Preliminary payroll accounting
• HR administration including recruiting, applicant management, and conducting job interviews
• Preparing reports and business analyses for management
• Handling complaints and clarifying accounting issues

• Consulting on complex IT, accounting, controlling, and business intelligence projects from the analysis phase through implementation to go-live support
• Work as consultant, project manager, and subproject manager
• Focus on business process analysis and implementation
• Controlling: sales, marketing, project, financial, and cost controlling
• Accounting: General Ledger, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, asset accounting
• Implementation and training of SAP R/3 FI/CO
• Operational experience in controlling, sales, human resources, and commercial project management before my consulting work