Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

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CFO

PlanBlue was founded by former marine scientists and engineers in 2017. The company is dedicated to expanding nature-based solutions within our oceans as a means to combat the climate crisis effectively.

With an initial focus on the blue carbon and offshore wind sectors, the company employs cutting-edge technology, merging advanced imaging, underwater navigation, and artificial intelligence to offer unparalleled visualisation of the seafloor. This allows us to provide exclusive insights into the seafloor's actual economic and ecological worth, which is key for the sustainable utilisation of our oceans.

Full-time / Part-time · Bremen / Remote Possible

What you'll be doing

Your role is crucial in guiding and leading the company's financial strategy and operations. This senior role with mission-critical responsibility encompasses managing all aspects of the company’s financial management including building and maintaining a world-class best-practice financial management system to enable accurate real-time cash flow monitoring, accurate and timeous financial planning, forecasting and reporting, overseeing financial and administrative aspects of contracts, managing strategic investment, and actively assisting the CEO with capital raising. Leveraging your financial management expertise and experience, you will play a pivotal role in steering PlanBlue's evolution from start-up to fully-formalised scale-up.

On a day-to-day basis you will:

  • Lead and manage PlanBlue’s Administrative team responsible for accounting and finance, collaborating closely with other departments to ensure PlanBlue's financial strategies are well integrated with its overarching objectives.

  • Take charge of PlanBlue’s internal financial management, providing transparent and direct reporting to the Leadership team and board members. Your responsibilities include the meticulous preparation and oversight of financial statements, including balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements.

  • Craft and execute financial strategies aimed at securing PlanBlue’s long-term financial viability. This entails a comprehensive approach to budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow management, underpinned by thorough financial data analysis to support strategic decision-making.

  • Identify, assess, and address financial risks confronting the company, incorporating risk management strategies spanning insurance and regulatory compliance.

  • Manage the organization’s tax planning efforts to ensure adherence to tax laws and regulations across all jurisdictions where PlanBlue operates, optimizing tax positions and minimizing liabilities.

  • Ensure PlanBlue maintains adequate liquidity to fulfill its operational requirements and commitments, which includes nurturing banking relationships, managing accounts, and enhancing working capital efficiency.

  • Develop and implement strategies for capital and investment allocation, focusing on expanding PlanBlue’s footprint within the blue carbon and offshore wind sectors.

  • Provide robust support to PlanBlue’s CEO in matters related to private and institutional investments, including initiating and participating in discussions with investors, lenders and grant-holders, leading due diligence processes and managing relationships with financial stakeholders.

What you bring

  • 2+ years experience as a CFO (or similar senior financial management role), ideally in a startup environment.

  • 2+ years managing a finance team with multiple team members.

  • Demonstrate ability to produce risk assessment methodologies to identify, analyse and mitigate financing risks.

  • Prior experience successfully raising private capital (i.e., post-Seed).

  • Strong understanding of the German tax system and jurisdiction.

  • Working knowledge of relevant EU banking, finance and tax regimes and regulations.

  • Fluent in both German and English, with excellent writing and reading skills.

  • Ability to build and maintain relationships with investors, banks, and other financial partners.

What we offer

We hope the opportunity to protect our oceans already gets you excited. But there's more. We also offer: 

  • A base salary up to 100k per year

  • 28 days of annual leave

  • Free diving courses! 🤿 

  • Access to multiple fitness, yoga and other sports studios (Hansefit)

  • A bright office next to a park with free organic coffee, drinks & fruits

  • Good balance between work and private life with flexible working and home office hours

  • Play a pivotal role in building our mission-driven company from the ground up

  • Opportunity to learn and grow your skills and network through (personal) coaching and by attending workshops, conferences, international research projects

Ready to dive in?

By joining us you can play an active role in changing the way the world views the oceans. Excited by the idea that your work will have a huge influence on our growth? So are we! And we'd love to hear from you! 

→ Research shows that while men apply to jobs if they meet ~60% of criteria, women and those in traditionally underrepresented groups tend to apply only if they check all the boxes. So, if you think you have what it takes but don't meet every single point above, please still get in touch. We'd love to have a chat and see if you could be a great fit. 

→ We value the diversity of our colleagues. People with disabilities are currently underrepresented in our company. We want to change that. For this reason, we are part of the Inklupreneur project and strongly encourage people living with disabilities to apply. We have the facilities and flexibility. We will support you in the working environment.