Most companies in Germany start with the tax adviser as their bookkeeping department. At some point that is no longer enough: the monthly close arrives late, the bank wants figures, so does the investor. The question then is not who is better, but who takes on which task.
The tax adviser books monthly or quarterly, the report arrives four to eight weeks after month-end, and nobody in the company works with the numbers because they are too old. Or bookkeeping is in-house, but the only specialist is ill, on parental leave or gone – and the tax adviser cannot fill the gap because they do not know the day-to-day processes.
Common triggers: a first funding round with monthly investor reporting, a loan agreement with interim reporting obligations, a second entity, document volumes in the four figures per month, or a backlog that has built up over quarters.
Tax returns, tax planning, payroll, usually the preparation of the annual accounts, representation before the tax office. For small companies also ongoing bookkeeping at the firm's rhythm. Their strength is tax accuracy, their cadence is the tax calendar.
Ongoing postings in the company's system, weekly account reconciliation, receivables and payables management, a monthly close on a fixed working day, closing preparation for the tax adviser, backlog reduction. They work inside the team, know the processes and are available when numbers are needed – not when the firm has capacity.
The tax adviser makes sure the numbers are right at year-end. The interim bookkeeper makes sure they are there on time every month.
Interim financial accounting: EUR 850 per day, billed by days worked, from two days a week. Tax adviser: under the German fee ordinance for tax advisers (StBVV), often by object value or hourly fee, rising accordingly with high document volumes. A direct price comparison only works per task – for the tax return the tax adviser is unbeatable, for a monthly close on a fixed date usually not the right tool.
… document volume is small, nobody demands interim figures and management can steer with a quarterly report. For many small companies without external investors that is permanently the right set-up.
… a monthly close on a fixed date is needed, a bank or investor requires monthly reporting, several entities have to be consolidated, an internal specialist drops out or a backlog has to be cleared. The tax adviser stays responsible for tax and annual accounts – they simply get better data.
… bookkeeping is to be brought in-house permanently: own system, own processes, own accountability. The interim bookkeeper builds it and hands over to a permanent role or an ongoing service.
… nobody above the bookkeeping owns reporting, planning and liquidity. Then what is missing is not a bookkeeper but a head of finance or external CFO.
No. Tax returns, tax advice and usually the preparation of the annual accounts stay with the tax adviser. The interim bookkeeper works upstream: ongoing bookkeeping, reconciliations, monthly close and preparing what the tax adviser needs.
With small document volumes, when a quarterly or annual rhythm is sufficient for steering and nobody needs interim figures – no bank, no investor, no controlling. Typical for small companies without external investors.
As soon as a monthly close on a fixed date is needed, investors or banks require monthly reporting, several entities have to be consolidated or document volume outgrows the firm's rhythm. Then a backlog builds that the tax adviser did not cause and cannot fix.
EUR 850 per day as a reference rate for financial accounting, billed by days worked. Two days a week comes to around EUR 7,400 a month. Tax advisers bill under the StBVV, often by object value or hourly fee – with high document volumes that is not necessarily cheaper.
That is the normal case. The interim bookkeeper works in the company's or the firm's system, the tax adviser receives reconciled data instead of boxes of receipts. Many firms are glad of it.
Profiles usually within 24 hours, start typically within a few days – remote or on site, from two days a week.
The service: Interim bookkeeping. For the permanently outsourced variant see Interim Accounting & FP&A, day rates by role on the pricing page.
Related articles: Closing backlog and fast close, What outsourced bookkeeping costs in Germany and Changing your bookkeeping provider.
Related situations: Annual accounts overdue and Interim CFO or permanent hire?
All triggers for an interim CFO engagement at a glance: triggers overview.