Management Accountant

Black Forest Labs seeks a Management Accountant in Fribourg to manage German accounting operations, ensuring compliance with HGB and US GAAP while coordinating with US entities.

This position acts as the central hub for financial operations within the German entity, blending daily accounting tasks with strategic oversight. The role is critical for maintaining alignment between German and US operations, ensuring that all financial activities adhere to both German and US GAAP standards while supporting cross-border business needs.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the complete billing cycle, including collections and accounts payable for the German entity.
• Handle treasury duties and cash management, specifically managing inter-company settlements.
• Process and reconcile financial transactions between the German and US branches.
• Collaborate with People Operations and European payroll agencies to ensure accurate payroll accounting.
• Audit payroll outputs from external vendors and record corresponding journal entries in the general ledger.
• Perform monthly reconciliations for payroll-related balance sheet accounts, such as accruals and statutory deductions.
• Keep financial records compliant with German GAAP (HGB).
• Manage dual bookkeeping systems (DATEV for statutory records and Rillet for global ERP), ensuring ongoing accuracy and alignment.
• Work with external tax advisors to prepare and file accurate VAT returns.
• Assist with annual tax compliance, including Körperschaftsteuer and Gewerbesteuer.
• Prepare and maintain documentation required for tax audits and statutory obligations.
• Stay updated on regulatory changes impacting German accounting and tax laws.

Requirements

• Completed vocational training as a Steuerfachangestellter or Steuerfachwirt, or an equivalent accounting qualification.
• At least three years of professional experience in accounting roles.
• Native-level fluency in both German and English.
• Advanced skills in Excel and general accounting software.
• Proven experience working with ERP systems.
• Current residence in or willingness to relocate to Fribourg, Switzerland.

Nice to have

• Hands-on experience with DATEV or modern cloud ERPs like Rillet or NetSuite.
• Understanding of both German GAAP (HGB) and US GAAP frameworks.
• Background in managing financial processes within dual-entity or international structures.
• Prior collaboration with German tax advisors and knowledge of VAT compliance.
• Experience coordinating payroll processes with third-party providers.
• Previous work in technology or SaaS sectors.
• Familiarity with inter-company accounting principles and transfer pricing basics.

What the company offers

• Annual base salary ranging from €70,000 to €100,000.
• Equity participation.
• Coverage of reasonable travel expenses for in-person meetings.

About the company

Black Forest Labs operates as a frontier research lab dedicated to scientific excellence and open science. The company focuses on developing technology that enhances human creativity. The team is distributed but utilizes physical offices, fostering a culture built on being obsessed with accuracy, maintaining low egos, acting boldly, and treating colleagues with kindness.

• Commitment to research excellence and open science.
• Values centered on scientific accuracy, shared credit, bold execution, and genuine warmth.
• Hybrid work model with accessible physical offices.