Head of Accounting in Germany
in minutes from over 15,000 CVs with the power of AISupport for closing, ledger ownership, monthly reporting, HGB and IFRS alignment, plus team handover and audit preparation. Get fast, precise matching with vetted, available freelancers who know accounting leadership work.
Meet FRATCH Head of Accounting in Germany
Thomas Hellinger
Last position:
Interim Head of Accounting at F. X. Meiller Fahrzeug- und Maschinenfabrik – GmbH & Co. KG
- Leadership, management, and further development of an accounting team with nine employees
- Responsibility for the preparation, analysis, and quality assurance of monthly and annual financial statements according to HGB
- Ensuring structured intercompany reconciliation and minimizing reconciliation risks using LucaNet
- Coordination of annual closing work and audit preparation while meeting CFO deadlines
- Optimization of accounting processes in the SAP S/4HANA environment in close
Patrick Liedtke
Last position:
Director Tax & Accounting (interim) at GP Joule GmbH
- Ensure closing and audit of group financial statements
- Improve closing and audit structures & processes
- Transformation of finance & accounting structures
- Lead tax, finance & accounting teams (25-30 FTEs)
- Leading role initiating business transformation
- Support redesign of HR and payroll processes
Robert Fuhrmann
Last position:
Interim Director of Accounting at Foodspring
- Leading accounting team of 6 FTEs
- Training and development of employees
- Automation of accounting processes with SQL, Python and PowerQuery
- Owning year and month end close
- Taxation topics
- Audits
- Netsuite Admin and further development
Britt Barreras Wright
Last position:
Head of Accounting at VET Group Germany
- Location: Hamburg, Germany and Copenhagen, Denmark
- Invoice recording and posting in SAP R/3
- Preparation of monthly, quarterly, and monthly financial statements
- Account reconciliation, including analysis and correction of errors, reversal of postings, and troubleshooting
- Software: SAP R/3, DK-GAAP
Dieter Krist
Last position:
Manager Accounting at Aurelius Wachstumskapital SE & Co. KG
- Responsibility and operational tasks for the financial accounting including monthly closing for Aurelius Wachstumskapital SE & Co. KG and various holding companies of the Aurelius Group
- Support in consolidation
- Systems: DATEV
Martin Kenfack-Ninseko
Last position:
Accounting Manager at AGFA GmbH
- Setting up and leading the shared service center
- Material Ledger
- Provisions for pension and retirement bookings
- Analysis of forecast and actual costs
- Provisions and accruals
- Sales analysis
- Transfer price calculation
- IFRS and HGB closing activities
- Deferred tax calculation and VAT return
- Consolidation
- Reporting
- Contact person for commercial and tax auditors
Dirk Bannier
Last position:
Accounting Manager at Technology company in the sports sector
- Responsible for preparing annual HGB financial statements, including notes and management report
- Responsible for overall closing coordination
- Coordinating tax returns
Carsten Schoenberg
Last position:
CFO / Head of Controlling, HR, Accounting & Legal at Kabs Service & Logistik (Kabs PolsterWelt)
Fabian Walther
Last position:
Chief Financial Officer & Investor at Experimental Game AG
- Organization of financial accounting, controlling, HR, administration, and legal
- Investor reporting and annual financial statement coordination
- Legal form change from GmbH to AG
- Organization and execution of multiple financing rounds
- Development of business models
Katrin Centner
Last position:
Head of Financial Accounting & HR Department at NUNN GmbH & Co. KG
Dietmar Schneider
Last position:
Head of Finance and Accounting at Viastore GmbH
- Intralogistics (fully automated high-bay warehouses)
- SAP
- Lucanet
- IFRS annual financial statements
Johannes Reuß-Von Viebahn
Last position:
Head of Financial Accounting at Läpple AG
- Restructuring accounting departments and liquidity planning for various entities
- Managing a team of 10
- Preparing annual and monthly financial statements
Ella Ivanusec
Last position:
Accounts Receivable Accountant at Serrala Group
- Invoice creation in S4 Hana
- Backlog processing
- Support for dunning
Frank Bley
Last position:
Head of Accounting; Head of Sales Financing (Group, International Europe), Director Leasing (DK); Head of Commercial & at Fahrzeugwerk Bernard Krone GmbH & Co. KG
Jan Bergmann
Last position:
Interim Manager Accounting at Self-employed
Discover over 15,000 top freelancers
Head of Accounting statistics
Aggregated from the professional profiles of matched freelancers.
Experience
23 years
Position duration
1.9 years
Positions per freelancer
15
Top business areas
Accounting, Finance, Audit
Top industries
Professional Services, Manufacturing, Healthcare
Certification focus areas
Accounting, Finance, Audit
Bachelor's degree or higher
82%
Master's degree or higher
18%
Certifications per freelancer
2
Most common languages
German, English, French
Speak two or more languages
94%
Based on our profile pool as of 2 Sep 2026.
Daily rate distribution
The chart shows how the daily rates of freelancers in this role in Germany 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.
Average rates for Head of Accounting in Germany
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 2 Sep 2026. Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
About the role
Accounting control
A Head of Accounting keeps the books reliable and the close under control. This role sets the accounting rules, coordinates the team, and makes sure the numbers tie out across the general ledger, subledgers, and reporting packs.
- Own month-end and year-end close
- Review journal entries, reconciliations, and account balances
- Keep posting logic, accruals, and provisions consistent
- Align local reporting with group requirements
Core deliverables
Companies usually bring in a freelance Head of Accounting when the finance team needs immediate leadership, extra capacity, or stable coverage during change. Common assignments include process cleanup, ERP transitions, audit support, and backfilling during vacancy, leave, or reorganization.
A strong accounting lead also knows when to step in hands-on and when to delegate. In Germany, that often means balancing HGB reporting, internal controls, and communication with auditors, tax advisors, and group finance.
Skills that matter
- Strong knowledge of HGB and, where needed, IFRS
- Solid command of SAP, Oracle, or comparable ERP systems
- Experience with cash, fixed assets, receivables, and payables
- Clear coordination with auditors, controllers, and shared service teams
- Calm leadership during close, audit, or system change
When to hire
A freelance Head of Accounting makes sense when the work is important, time-sensitive, and too much for the current team. Typical cases are a delayed close, a messy handover, a finance transformation, or a need to stabilize accounting after growth, merger activity, or a new CFO appointment.
This role fits companies that want senior ownership without a long hiring cycle. It also helps when you need someone who can work on-site in Germany for sensitive close periods, while handling follow-up work remotely.
Good specializations
Not every Head of Accounting profile fits every setup. Some are strongest in international group accounting and consolidation. Others focus on standalone SME finance, Shared Service Center steering, project accounting, or industry-specific work in manufacturing, services, retail, or tech.
Searchers may also look for a Head of Finance & Accounting, Accounting Manager, or Accounting Lead. The best match is the person who can take ownership of both numbers and process, not just review reports.
What strong profiles show
A strong Head of Accounting does more than close the books. Look for clear thinking, clean documentation, and the ability to improve processes without losing control of day-to-day operations.
- They can explain accounting judgments in plain language
- They leave reconciliations and controls in better shape than they found them
- They work well with tax, audit, and controlling
- They can lead a team, a project, or both
The best freelancers bring structure fast, ask the right questions, and keep finance stakeholders aligned.
Frequently asked questions
Before you brief your next project: the most common questions about Head of Accounting.
A Head of Accounting takes ownership of the accounting function, from close routines to reporting quality and controls. That usually includes general ledger oversight, account reconciliations, accruals, provisions, audit coordination, and process improvement. In many projects, the person also leads or supports the accounting team directly.
A freelancer makes sense when the need is urgent, project-based, or temporary. That is common during a vacancy, parental leave, ERP change, audit pressure, or a finance cleanup that needs senior hands-on support. It is also a good option when you need a Head of Accounting before you are ready to make a permanent move.
Look for solid knowledge of statutory accounting, close management, and internal controls. A strong profile also knows how to work with ERP systems, especially SAP or similar tools, and can communicate well with auditors, tax advisors, and management. Leadership matters as much as technical depth.
A Head of Accounting focuses on accounting ownership, reporting integrity, and the close process. A Finance Manager may cover a broader finance scope, while a Controller is usually more focused on analysis, planning, and business partnering. In some companies the titles overlap, but the core work is not the same.
Much of the work can be done remotely, especially reporting, reconciliations, and process documentation. On-site time helps when the accounting environment is sensitive, the team needs direct leadership, or the close and audit phase requires close coordination. For companies in Germany, a mixed setup is often the most practical.
The most relevant tools are usually SAP, Oracle, and other ERP or financial close systems. Method-wise, the person should be comfortable with month-end close, balance sheet reconciliations, internal controls, and, where relevant, HGB and IFRS reporting. Experience with shared service setups is also useful.
Ask for concrete examples of closes stabilized, audits supported, or processes improved. A good Accounting Manager or accounting lead can explain what they changed, why they changed it, and how they kept the books accurate during pressure. Clear ownership, calm communication, and clean documentation are strong signs.
They want to understand the scope, reporting line, team setup, systems, and whether the role is hands-on or mainly steering. For a Head of Accounting, it also matters whether the work is local to Germany, how much German-language communication is needed, and how the handover will be handled. Clear expectations help them start quickly and deliver reliably.
The average hourly rate for Head of Accounting in Germany is 126 €, which corresponds to a daily rate of about 1,004 € based on an 8-hour working day.
Of the freelancers working as Head of Accounting in Germany, 82% hold at least a Bachelor's degree and 18% hold at least a Master's degree.
On average, freelancers working as Head of Accounting in Germany have 23 years of professional experience, with a single engagement typically lasting around 1.9 years.
The most common languages among freelancers working as Head of Accounting in Germany are German (100%), English (94%), and French (38%).
The most common industries among freelancers working as Head of Accounting in Germany are Professional Services (94%), Manufacturing (81%), and Healthcare (63%).
The most common business areas among freelancers working as Head of Accounting in Germany are Accounting (100%), Finance (94%), and Audit (63%).
FRATCH Head of Accounting 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 Stuttgart Dusseldorf Leipzig Dortmund Essen Bremen Dresden Hanover Nuremberg Request a free demo
Get in touch with the FRATCH team and we will get back to you within 4 hours.
Would you rather directly get in touch?
We always have the time for a call or email!
Philipp Thomaschewski
FRATCH CEO
