Head of Finance Germany

DATA4’s Mission To build highly connected, resilient, and sustainable data center campuses to support the growth of our clients across Europe.

DATA4 is a leading European operator and investor in the data center market. The Group finances, designs, builds, and operates its own data centers.

DATA4 Values At DATA4 we are driven by our values.

These are the core of everything we do – from the proactivity we show in delivering great outcomes for our clients, to the responsibility we show as a key contributor to the digital economy.

Our three values are

To be entrepreneurial – we are teams of doers who make things happen - with autonomy, energy and a sense of responsibility

To always take responsibility – for our impact on the people we work with, the society we are part of, and the environment in which we operate

To constantly be adaptable – our business is designed to adapt, answering not only today’s challenges, but also anticipating what’s coming next.

Key Responsibilities

The Head of Finance Germany will be responsible for structuring, managing, and consolidating the financial operations of the German entities to ensure the robust development of Data4’s activities in Germany.

They will support Local and Group’s Management by providing financial insight, performance analysis and accurate guidance to drive profitable growth and operational efficiency.

The role combines traditional financial controlling responsibilities with business partnering, ensuring that financial performance is understood, risks are managed, and strategic decisions are supported by robust financial analysis.

Responsibilities

• Accounting for Germany
• Structure the accounting organisation
• Ensure the quality of accounting entries in the system, covering suppliers, clients, payroll, income, Opex, Capex, and other transactions.
• Ensure accurate invoicing and cash collection.
• Complete monthly, quarterly and annual closings under local GAAP and IFRS (quarterly consolidation package)
• Contribute to Financial fast close set up
• Manage relationships with German auditors up to the issuance of audit reports (Group audit and local statutory audits).
• Lead tax declaration processes with the assistance of external accountants and challenge tax opportunities.
• Organize and ensure timely suppliers’ payments.
• Financial Control of German Entities
• Monitor monthly budget execution (Revenues, Opex, CAPEX) in close interaction with the relevant departments at the headquarters and in the campuses.
• Prepare and oversee the budgeting and reforecasting process in collaboration with the concerned departments.
• Optimise Capex, Opex costs and cash and propose any relevant action to improve entity’s financial performance.
• Produce monthly performance analyses, dashboards, and activity reports for the finance department and executive committee.
• Contribute to optimizing the use of the finance system and participate in automating dashboard production.
• Prepare monthly cash flow forecasts and propose optimization.
• Approve spending commitments in line with Group policies.
• Conduct ad-hoc analyses and studies, particularly supporting the sales department (e. g., customer profitability).
• Internal Control
• Organize the financing activities with a strong attention to internal control best practices and internal guidelines
• Approve spending commitments in line with Group policies
• Implement SOX procedures and documentation according to the yearly SOX group roadmap
• Management of the Finance Organization
• Organize and plan the team’s activities, including OSP
• Ensure scalability of the organization to support fast strategic development of the organization
• Set and monitor individual and collective objectives.
• Ensure team members’ skills development.

Certification Responsibilities

Health & Safety: Enforce hygiene, health, and safety rules.

Environment: Enforce environmental policies.

Information Security: Enforce information security policies.

Energy: Enforce energy reduction policies.

Desired Profile

Education and Experience

• Master’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or Business Administration.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in corporate finance.
• Managerial experience leading small teams.
• Experience in a Finance & Accounting firm.
• Technical Skills
• Excellent knowledge of accounting, taxation, and best practices in financial control.
• Familiarity with accounting, FP&A, treasury processes and software.
• Fluent in English
• Experience of Consolidation and reporting systems (One Stream, for example); Microsoft Office
• Experience in project and team management.
• General Skills
• Rigor and methodical approach, detailed oriented
• Adaptability and responsiveness.
• Business acumen.
• Open-minded.
• Entrepreneurial spirit.
• Organizational skills, with the ability to manage priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to synthetise
• Strong communication skills, both oral and written.