Head of Finance, PE-backed eCommerce Business, Frankfurt, Germany - #2741934

About our client

Our client is a fast-growing, private-equity-backed consumer business with an established market position and a strong focus on continued growth and operational development. Headquartered in Frankfurt, the company operates in a dynamic environment characterised by a lean organisation, short decision-making paths and a hands-on culture. As the business continues to scale and further professionalise its finance function, it is looking to appoint a head of finance to strengthen financial steering, reporting and processes.

What the job involves

• Lead and develop the finance team: Take responsibility for the finance team, providing hands-on leadership, coaching and guidance. Establish clear responsibilities, improve team structures and ensure effective resource planning and prioritisation, particularly during closing, audit and due-diligence periods
• Oversee accounting and financial reporting: Ensure accurate and timely monthly and year-end closing, including account reconciliations and accruals. Oversee accounting, tax compliance and liquidity management, while coordinating with external auditors and advisers to ensure reliable financial information and compliance with relevant requirements
• Drive management reporting and financial planning: Prepare and further develop management reports and financial KPIs covering business performance, profitability, costs and liquidity. Lead budgeting, forecasting, cash-flow planning and scenario analyses, providing management with actionable insights into financial performance, risks and opportunities
• Drive finance projects and process improvements: Coordinate finance-related initiatives from prioritisation through to implementation, identifying opportunities to streamline workflows, automate processes and enhance finance systems. Strengthen internal controls, reporting structures and data quality to improve the efficiency and scalability of the finance function
• Support audits and due diligence processes: Coordinate audit preparation and respond to external audit requests. Support potential due diligence activities, including the preparation of financial fact books and data rooms, ensuring accurate, consistent and readily accessible financial documentation
• Manage stakeholders and cross-functional collaboration: Work closely with senior management, investors, business functions and external advisers on financial performance, planning, reporting and process-related matters. Coordinate relevant international finance and intercompany topics, translating complex financial information into clear recommendations to support business decisions
  
  

Who we are looking for

• A degree in business administration, finance, accounting or a comparable qualification
• A few years of relevant professional experience in finance, audit or transaction services
• Experience in a private-equity-backed environment or working with PE-owned businesses, as well as practical exposure to due-diligence processes
• Strong accounting and financial reporting expertise, including year-end closing and audit preparation
• Good knowledge of German GAAP (HGB) is essential; familiarity with IFRS is an advantage
• Proven experience in management reporting, budgeting, forecasting, cash-flow planning and financial analysis, with the ability to translate financial data into actionable business insights
• Excellent Excel skills and confidence working with ERP, reporting and planning systems. Experience with BI tools, data visualisation or process automation is an advantage
• A structured, analytical and hands-on approach, combined with a strong sense of ownership and the ability to manage competing priorities, particularly during closing, audit and due-diligence periods
• Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills, with the confidence to work effectively with senior management, investors, external advisers and colleagues across different business functions
• Initial leadership, team-coordination or project-management experience, with the ability to develop colleagues, establish clear processes and drive initiatives through to implementation
• Fluent German and very good English, alongside a willingness to work five days per week on-site in Frankfurt