CFO Germany, PE-backed Software Company, Fully Remote or Munich, Germany

PER; München; Hybrid; EUR 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

PER is a fast-growing, PE-backed software platform in Europe seeking a CFO Germany to lead the German finance function, including accounting, FP&A, controlling, tax coordination and reporting. You will work with the German segment CEOs as a trusted partner and co-pilot, while driving M&A integration and ensuring compliance with HGB.

The role is fully remote within Germany, requiring fluency in German and English, and a hands-on leadership style to build a high-performing finance team.

Qualifications

• Rising finance leader with several years of leadership experience, ready for CFO/MD role.
• Completed university degree in business administration, finance, accounting or equivalent.
• Ability to prepare complete annual financial statements.
• Experience in software/SaaS environment is a must-have.
• Strong knowledge of German corporate tax and VAT and working with tax advisors.

Responsibilities

• Take responsibility for the German finance function across accounting, FP&A, controlling, reporting and tax coordination.
• Partner with German segment CEOs to provide financial insight and challenge for decisions.
• Act as managing director of German entities and oversee statutory duties.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual statements under HGB and group standards.
• Lead planning, budgeting and forecasting for German entities with central teams.
• Improve Power BI dashboards for P&L, sales and HR and align KPI definitions.
• Drive AI-enabled finance processes with controls, compliance and audit readiness.
• Support M&A integration and collaborate with international finance teams.

Skills

Finance leadership

HGB accounting

German tax & VAT

DATEV

LucaNet

Business partnering

AI in finance

Revenue recognition

Education

University degree in business/finance

Tools

DATEV

LucaNet

Power BI

Job description

About our client

Our client is a fast-growing, private equity-backed software platform serving B2B service industries across Europe with €170m revenue and 1.000 FTEs. The group develops mission-critical software solutions that help customers digitize and optimize their core business processes, supporting a large and diverse customer base.

About our client

Our client is a fast-growing, private equity-backed software platform serving B2B service industries across Europe with €170m revenue and 1.000 FTEs. The group develops mission-critical software solutions that help customers digitize and optimize their core business processes, supporting a large and diverse customer base.

Backed by an operationally hands-on investor with extensive value-creation expertise, the business is pursuing an ambitious buy-and-build and scaling strategy. To support this next phase, the company is seeking a CFO Germany who combines strong technical accounting expertise with commercial finance leadership, business partnering and a hands-on approach to finance transformation.

Reporting to the Group CFO, the CFO Germany will work closely with the German segment CEOs as a trusted business partner and co-pilot in steering the business. The role carries responsibility for the German finance function across accounting, FP&A, controlling, tax coordination and financial reporting, as well as an active role in M&A integration. The role is fully remote, based in Germany.

What the job involves

• Taking overall responsibility for the German finance function across accounting, FP&A, controlling, financial reporting and tax coordination
• Acting as a strategic finance business partner and co-pilot to the German segment CEOs, providing reliable financial insight and challenge to support business decisions
• Serving as managing director (Geschütztag) of the German operating entities and fulfilling the associated statutory duties
• Personally preparing monthly, quarterly and annual financial statements under HGB and group reporting standards, including the notes (Anhang) and management report (Lagebericht)
• Acting as the technical authority on HGB accounting, including software-specific topics such as revenue recognition for subscription and service contracts and internally developed software
• Working hands-on with DATEV and LucaNet while strengthening bookkeeping processes, financial controls and reporting quality
• Acting as the primary tax contact in Germany and coordinating tax compliance, provisions, VAT and tax-group matters (Organschaft) with the Group finance team and external advisors
• Leading planning, budgeting and forecasting for the German entities in close collaboration with the CEOs, Group CFO and relevant central functions
• Continuously improving Power BI dashboards for P&L, sales and HR, aligning KPI definitions and reporting requirements with relevant stakeholders
• Ensuring timely and reliable performance steering through relevant software and SaaS KPIs, including ARR, retention and margin
• Identifying and implementing practical AI use cases across finance, including document and invoice processing, reconciliations, month-end close support, variance analysis and reporting
• Ensuring that AI-enabled processes are compliant, traceable and audit-ready, with appropriate controls, data protection and human review
• Building, leading and developing the German finance team, while remaining sufficiently hands-on and close to the operational detail
• Supporting the Group's M&A integration agenda and working collaboratively with international finance colleagues and other stakeholders

Who we are looking for

• A rising finance leader with a few years of finance leadership experience, for example as head of accounting, VP finance or deputy CFO, who is ready to step into a CFO and MD position
• A completed university degree in business administration, finance, accounting or a comparable field
• The ability to personally prepare complete annual financial statements
• Experience in a software or SaaS environment is a must-have
• Ideally experience in a high-growth, mid-sized business and preferably in a private equity-backed setting
• Strong, applied knowledge of HGB, including group reporting, consolidation and audit processes
• A solid understanding of German corporate tax and VAT, with experience working with tax advisors and relevant authorities
• Hands-on experience with DATEV and LucaNet
• A good understanding of software business models and recurring-revenue metrics, including ARR, retention and margin
• Experience with Big Four audit or advisory firms is advantageous
• Practical experience using modern AI applications, such as generative AI assistants and workflow automation, in a finance environment, together with a clear understanding of opportunities and risks
• The ability to lead and develop a finance team while remaining closely connected to the numbers and day-to-day operations
• A pragmatic, down-to-earth and reflective leadership style, combining technical depth with commercial judgement and a hands-on mindset
• Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to work effectively with senior management and international finance colleagues
• Fluent German and English, and willingness to travel occasionally to company locations in Germany and internationally