Interim Financial Controller · Hamburg
Your Finance Function Cannot Afford to Stand Still.
A key position is vacant. A subsidiary needs building. Reporting is overdue. Audit is around the corner. Whatever the situation, I step in within days, not months, to restore control and keep your finance function moving.
COMMON SITUATIONS
- Sudden vacancy in finance leadership
- New German subsidiary setup
- Audit preparation under time pressure
No obligation. You will know after one conversation whether I am the right fit.
Currently available
Remote across Germany
- Growth-phase finance build-up
- M&A or due diligence support
- IFRS transition or first-time reporting
- ERP rollout and process stabilisation
Is This Your Situation?
These Are the Situations Where Clients
Typically Bring Me In
Finance leadership gaps are expensive. Every week without a qualified controller costs you accuracy, compliance, and management trust. Here are the situations organisations across Germany typically engage me for.
🚪
"Our Controller just left — month-end is in two weeks."
Unplanned departures are the most urgent trigger. I can be fully operational within days, taking over the close cycle, reporting, and team management immediately — with no downtime.
🌍
"We're opening a German GmbH. Nobody here knows German GAAP (HGB) or DATEV."
I've built finance functions from zero for foreign-owned German subsidiaries. From chart of accounts to DATEV setup, tax registration to first statutory close — I deliver the infrastructure your group needs.
⏱️
"Recruiting a permanent finance leader will take months. We can’t wait."
Interim engagement is not a compromise — it's a strategic move. I maintain full continuity while you search for the right permanent hire, and I can help define the role and onboard the incoming executive.
📈
"We're growing fast. Finance can't keep up with the business anymore."
Scaling companies outgrow their financial infrastructure quickly. I step in as Interim Finance Manager to stabilise reporting, design scalable processes, and give your leadership team the data it needs to make decisions.
📋
"The auditors are coming and our books aren't ready."
I've led audit processes for German entities and international subsidiaries. I get your documentation, reconciliations, and financial statements in order — and I liaise directly with auditors so your team can focus on the business.
🔍
"Investors want investor-ready reporting. We don't have it."
Whether preparing for a funding round, PE transaction, or M&A process — I structure your financials, close reporting gaps, and ensure your numbers stand up to scrutiny.
Services
Flexible Finance Leadership
Tailored to Your Needs
Engagements are structured around your situation — short sprints, longer mandates, or ongoing fractional arrangements. No overhead, no long-term commitment required.
01
Interim Financial Controller
Full ownership of your controlling and accounting activities: month-end close, management reporting, internal controls, reconciliations, and the day-to-day structure needed to keep finance accurate, on time, and under control.
Month-End Close
Management Reporting
AP / AR
Reconciliations
Internal Controls
02
Interim Finance Manager
Senior leadership for your entire finance department. I manage the team, own the budgeting and forecasting cycle, and act as the bridge between finance and the rest of your business — including board and shareholder reporting.
Budgeting & FP&A
Team Management
Cash Flow
KPI Reporting
Cost Control
03
Finance Function Build-Up
For new subsidiaries or companies establishing finance from scratch. I design the chart of accounts, implement DATEV or NetSuite, define processes and controls, produce the first reporting package — and hand the function over to a permanent team.
Greenfield Setup
ERP Implementation
Process Design
04
Business Advisory for German Entities
Support for foreign-owned German entities and locally established businesses that need clear financial decision support — from business planning and profitability analysis to investment cases, restructuring topics, and due diligence preparation.
Business Plans
Profitability Analysis
Investment Cases
Restructuring Support
Due Diligence Prep
05
Financial Reporting & Compliance Support
German GAAP (HGB) annual accounts, IFRS financial statements, audit preparation, and finance preparation and coordination for VAT and tax workstreams — delivered in close coordination with external tax advisors and auditors. Direct coordination with auditors, tax advisors, and internal stakeholders to keep finance deliverables complete and on schedule.
German GAAP (HGB) / IFRS
Tax Coordination & Finance Support
Audit Coordination
Consolidation
DATEV
Systems & Environments
I work comfortably across established finance and ERP environments and can step into existing structures quickly.
DATEV
Microsoft Dynamics 365
NetSuite
Odoo
Addison
Logo
How It Works
From First Contact to
Fully Operational
Starting an interim engagement should be simple and low-friction. Here is how I work with clients from initial conversation to delivery.
01
Discovery Call
A focused 30-minute conversation about your situation, timeline, and what you need. No generic sales call — just a direct assessment of whether and how I can help.
02
Scoping & Proposal
I define the engagement scope, deliverables, and structure — on-site, remote, or hybrid. A clear service agreement, typically within 48 hours.
03
Rapid Onboarding
I integrate with your team, systems, and processes quickly. Most clients see me fully operational within the first week — often within days.
04
Delivery & Handover
I deliver against agreed milestones and, at end of engagement, ensure a structured handover — documented processes, trained team, zero dependency on me.
Who I Work With
Built for Organisations
That Need Results Fast
🏭
Small and Medium-Sized Businesses
Owner-managed businesses and established German Mittelstand companies that need a senior finance professional but cannot justify — or are not yet ready for — a full-time, permanent head of finance.
🚀
Startups and
Scale-Ups
Fast-growing companies that need to build finance infrastructure quickly, close their books properly, and present clean, investor-grade financials for the next funding round or due diligence process.
💼
Private Equity and Investors
PE-backed portfolio companies requiring a trusted senior finance leader during acquisition integration, performance improvement, or exit preparation. I stabilise, report, and prepare — on your timeline.
🌐
International Companies in Germany
Foreign groups establishing or expanding their German entity who need a finance lead that speaks the language of both HGB and IFRS, navigates German regulatory requirements, and reports fluently to an international parent.
Common Engagement Triggers
- CFO / Controller sudden departure or long-term absence
- New German GmbH — finance function built from scratch
- Backlog in month-end close or management reporting
- Preparing for external audit or financial due diligence
- IFRS transition or first-time adoption
- ERP implementation or migration (DATEV, NetSuite)
- Growth sprint requiring temporary senior finance capacity
- M&A preparation — investor-ready financials needed
- Permanent recruitment taking longer than planned
The Person Behind
the Engagement
Dedicated professional driving the success
Mert Ilter
I am not a firm. I am one person, and that is deliberate.
Frequently asked questions
Below are some of the questions clients typically ask before bringing in interim finance support.
Depending on the situation, I can usually begin discussions immediately and start an engagement within days rather than months. Urgent interim cover is possible where the scope is clear and priorities are defined quickly.
Both. I support clients remotely across Germany and can combine this with on-site presence when needed. The right setup depends on the urgency, the team structure, and the nature of the engagement.
I typically support SMEs, international groups with German entities, growth-stage businesses, and companies facing a finance leadership gap, reporting pressure, audit deadlines, or the need to build finance structures quickly.
Most engagements last between a few weeks and several months, depending on the situation. Some assignments focus on immediate stabilisation, while others cover a longer transition until a permanent hire or internal handover is complete.
No. I support finance leadership, reporting, close processes, audit preparation, and finance coordination. Where licensed tax, statutory audit, or legal services are required, I work alongside the appropriate external professionals.
Yes. I can support the build-up of finance structures for new German entities, including chart of accounts design, reporting setup, process definition, controls, and coordination with external advisors and internal stakeholders.
The first call is a direct assessment of your situation. We discuss what is happening, what is at risk, what kind of support is needed, and whether I am the right fit. No generic sales pitch — just a focused conversation about your situation.
Yes. My work typically combines hands-on operational finance support with management reporting, team coordination, and communication with leadership, auditors, and external advisors.
If I do not believe I am the right fit for your situation, I will say so directly. The goal is not to force an engagement, but to help you find the right solution quickly.
Purpose
Finance Without the Noise
Every engagement should end with a stronger team, clearer reporting, and a business that can move forward without dependency on me.
Let's Talk About
Your Situation
Every engagement starts with an open, no-obligation conversation. Tell me what's happening in your business — I'll give you a straight answer on whether I can help, how quickly, and what that would look like in practice.
I respond to all enquiries within one business day.