Bookkeeping for international companies in Germany
From Berlin, we support your German company with ongoing transaction posting, digital records, agreed reports and DATEV-compatible handover to your tax advisor. Support in English, German and Polish within the scope of § 6 StBerG.
Bookkeeping services
Ongoing bookkeeping
We post your ongoing business transactions using the agreed chart of accounts, such as SKR 03 or SKR 04. Documents are linked to the relevant posting and stored digitally.
Digital Document Capture
You provide invoices and other records through the client portal. We process the documents and contact you if information is missing.
Account Reconciliation
Regular reconciliation of open items in accounts receivable and payable, clarification of unclear postings, bank reconciliation.
Monthly reports
Monthly reports (trial balance, BWA management accounts) for your internal management and, where applicable, consolidation at the parent company.
DATEV-Compatible Data Handover
All accounting data is prepared in DATEV-compatible format and handed over to your tax advisor — for the annual financial statements and tax returns.
Intercompany Postings
Accounting treatment of intercompany services, loans, dividend distributions, and cost allocations.
Records for Your Tax Advisor
We prepare invoice and accounting data for your tax advisor and collect unresolved queries. Tax assessments of cross-border services and reverse-charge transactions, as well as advance VAT returns, are handled by an authorised tax advisor.
How we work together
Onboarding & Set-Up
Analysis of existing bookkeeping (if any), set-up of digital document workflow, agreement on chart of accounts, and familiarisation with sector-specific requirements.
Monthly Bookkeeping
You provide documents by the agreed deadline (scan or upload). We agree the processing period and delivery of monthly reports with you.
Open Items Management
Weekly or fortnightly reconciliation of open items on request — essential for payment reminders and supplier payments.
Tax Advisor Handover
Quarterly or annual handover of prepared bookkeeping data to the tax advisor. We coordinate queries and resolve discrepancies.
Year-End Preparation
We prepare the bookkeeping basis for the annual financial statements — account reconciliation, fixed asset schedule preparation, provisions list. The annual financial statement itself is prepared by the tax advisor.
Companies we support
Subsidiaries of foreign groups that need local HGB-compliant bookkeeping in Germany.
Foreign real estate companies with German properties and rental income.
Companies with a German warehouse, German customers, or German purchasing operations.
Construction companies with German construction sites and posted workers.
Companies that need proper bookkeeping immediately after company formation in Germany.
We provide ongoing bookkeeping within the scope of § 6 StBerG. Tax advice, tax returns and annual financial statements are handled by an authorised tax advisor. We coordinate the document handover with you and your advisor.
Bookkeeping enquiry: what to prepare
A brief description of your company is enough for the initial enquiry. We then agree how to transfer the records and exchange documents digitally.
Company and volume
Legal form, industry, activities in Germany and the approximate monthly number of incoming and outgoing invoices. Include your preferred start date.
Existing bookkeeping
Current software, chart of accounts and last completed posting period. The handover will cover relevant receipts, bank statements, open items and existing accounting data.
Contacts and reporting
Contact person, preferred language and existing tax advisor. What monthly reports does your management or foreign parent company need?
Questions about bookkeeping in Germany
Which documents are needed for ongoing bookkeeping?
The main records are incoming and outgoing invoices, bank statements and, where applicable, cash receipts. At the start, we agree which additional documents your transactions require and how you will provide them digitally.
Can Optima take over existing bookkeeping?
We plan a handover based on the latest posting period, available data and unresolved queries. The transfer date and data exchange are agreed with you and, where appropriate, your previous provider or tax advisor.
Does the bookkeeping service replace a tax advisor?
No. Optima records ongoing business transactions within the scope of § 6 StBerG. Tax advice, tax assessments, advance VAT returns, tax returns and annual financial statements remain the responsibility of an authorised tax advisor. We prepare the ongoing accounting data for handover.
How much does ongoing bookkeeping cost?
The scope depends on document volume, accounts, data quality and required reports. Describe these points in your enquiry; services and terms are agreed before work begins.
Can we communicate in English or Polish?
Support is available in German, English and Polish. Tell us your preferred language and your foreign parent company’s reporting needs. If you also need a Berlin business address, you can enquire about both services together.
Other services
Enquire about bookkeeping for your German company
Tell us your industry, monthly document volume and preferred start date. We agree the scope and coordination with your tax advisor before work begins.
Enquire about bookkeeping