Head of Accounting & Financial Control (All Genders)

At ahead, we are on a mission to clean up the world's candy drawers. We make the snacks everyone actually craves, reformulated with less sugar and zero compromise on taste. We are 120 people strong, with 170+ SKUs and aggressive growth across D2C, retail, Amazon, and new European markets.

You have led an accounting function and know what good looks like. As our Head of Accounting, you will lead a small team and take end-to-end ownership of our numbers, from building the processes and controls we need as we scale to supporting directly when it matters. You are as comfortable setting direction as you are working through the detail, and you enjoy bringing structure to a fast-growing business where not everything is in place yet.

Are you a hands-on accounting leader who takes ownership of the close, builds processes from the ground up, and develops a team while doing it? If so, read on.

• Team Leadership: You lead and develop our accounting team of four, with clear responsibilities and high quality standards.
• Closing Ownership: You own the annual close, help finalise prior-year closings, and run a structured, timely monthly close.
• Balance Sheet & Data Quality: You reconcile the GL and balance sheet, reduce open items, and ensure data integrity in DATEV.
• Process & Controls: You close process gaps, build documentation and internal controls, bring AP and AR fully in-house, and use automation and AI where they add real value.
• External Partner Management: You guide our external DATEV accountant, tax advisor and other partners, including on tax and finance-related legal topics, while building internal capability over time.
• Financial Baseline: You deliver reliable numbers and analysis that support sound decisions and keep us audit- and investor-ready.

• You have several years of experience as Head of Accounting, building processes, controls and documentation, ideally in a fast-growing FMCG, food, retail or e-commerce company.
• Alternatively, you bring several years of HGB audit experience from a Big Four or similar firm, and you are ready to take hands-on ownership in-house.
• You know HGB and DATEV (or similar systems) inside out, and you have owned the monthly and annual close yourself.
• You are confident across GL, AP, AR and the balance sheet, including inventory and COGS.
• You have led a small team and worked closely with external accountants and tax advisors.
• You combine technical rigour with a pragmatic approach, and you can explain finance clearly to colleagues outside Finance.
• You are comfortable with change, you raise issues early, and you challenge decisions when needed.
• You are low-ego and accountable, and you hold yourself and your team to high standards.
• You communicate confidently in German and English.

• You hold a German Steuerberater or Bilanzbuchhalter (IHK) qualification.
• You have worked with multi-entity structures, consolidation or intercompany accounting.
• You bring exposure to international expansion, cross-border VAT, multiple currencies or IFRS.
• You have supported due diligence or financing rounds, or helped get a company funding-ready.
• You have experience with ERP implementation or finance automation.
• You studied Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Economics or a related field, or have equivalent experience - although your track record matters far more than the diploma.

Working at ahead is more than just a job - it’s your opportunity to develop as a professional and as a person, while shaping the future of snacking. Our mission is to make low sugar the new standard, and we pour that ambition into every product we create. You’ll become part of a team where international talent, startup drive, real impact, and true ownership come together.

• Hypergrowth Environment: If you're looking for greenfield, creative freedom, and real impact, you're in the right place. We're a team that is scaling fast - with purpose
• Amazing Team: Young, international, ambitious - inspiring colleagues who collaborate, support each other, and genuinely enjoy working together
• Career Growth: Develop through cross-functional projects, structured feedback cycles, and a steep learning curve in a dynamic, high growth environment. We offer a fair, attractive salary with role-dependent bonus opportunities
• Great Benefits: Fuel yourself with ahead snacks, drinks, and merch - we’ve got you covered. On top: a €50 monthly allowance to spend as you like - Urban Sports Club, mobility options, or vouchers from your favorite brands (IKEA, MediaMarkt, Lego and more)
• Vacation Days: Enjoy 28 vacation days plus two extra days off on December 24 (Christmas Eve) and December 31 (New Year’s Eve)
• Events & Offsites: Regular after-work hangouts and legendary annual team offsites you won’t forget

This role is based in Hamburg, with the flexibility of up to 2 home office days per week and the option to work from abroad for agreed upon periods. If this resonates with you, we'd love to get to know you! ahead GmbH is an equal opportunity workplace and is devoted to providing equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, or gender identity.