Finance Engineer

About the company

Clera is a talent-matching platform that replaces traditional job applications by connecting candidates and hiring teams through curated introductions.

About this role

ABOUT THE ROLE We're a fast-growing, Series A/B EdTech company with a global student user base, and we're looking for a Finance Engineer to join our Berlin team. This is a high-impact, hybrid role sitting at the intersection of finance operations and technology — you'll act as a strategic right hand to our Director of Finance & People, combining hands-on financial execution with a builder's mindset to automate, improve, and scale our finance function from the ground up. If you thrive in fast-paced environments, love eliminating manual work through smart tooling, and want your fingerprints on a growing finance organization, this role is for you. WHAT YOU'LL DO - Serve as a strategic force multiplier for the Director of Finance, preparing decision briefs and leading cross-functional initiatives. - Own and manage key financial processes — including monthly, quarterly, and annual close — and coordinate with external auditors. - Ensure continuity and integrity of financial reporting across multiple jurisdictions. - Drive operational controlling: budget planning, financial forecasting, and liquidity management. - Build and deliver monthly financial reporting; conduct data-driven analyses to inform growth and investment decisions. - Identify and implement automation opportunities across finance workflows using AI tools, low-code platforms, and smart integrations. - Support financial modeling for growth and innovation projects; act as a strategic sparring partner to leadership. - Manage relationships with external advisors (tax, audit, legal) across jurisdictions. - Serve as a key link between Finance & People and other functions such as Growth and Engineering. - Help lay the foundation for a digital finance backbone — including intelligent dashboards, predictive KPIs, and scalable ERP/treasury architecture. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR Required: - 1–3 years of finance experience, ideally from a Big 4 advisory firm, a high-growth startup, or both. - Degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field from a top-tier university. - Strong analytical skills and advanced Excel proficiency. - Hands-on experience across FP&A, budgeting, forecasting, controlling, and liquidity management. - Solid knowledge of German accounting standards (HGB) and familiarity with IFRS. - Demonstrated use of AI tools to enhance or automate finance workflows. - Fluency in both German and English (written and spoken). - Proactive, self-driven, and comfortable operating with autonomy in a fast-paced startup environment. - Strong stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration skills. - Willingness to work on-site in Berlin. Nice to Have: - Familiarity with BI tools (e.g. Tableau, Looker, Power BI) or low-code/no-code platforms. - Experience supporting or building ERP or treasury system architecture. COMPENSATION & BENEFITS - Salary: €50,000 – €60,000 per year, depending on experience. - Opportunity to shape and own the finance function at a high-growth technology company. - Direct collaboration with senior leadership and meaningful strategic impact from day one. - A dynamic, international team environment in central Berlin. Please note: visa sponsorship is not available for this role. Candidates must already hold the right to work in Germany. LOCATION This is a fully on-site role based in Berlin, Germany. We're looking for candidates who are already located in Berlin or able to relocate.