Founders Associate (m/f/d) – Finance, Strategy & Ops
About forward earth
At forward earth, we envision a world where sustainability and decarbonisation are not just buzzwords but fundamental business practices. Our mission is to accelerate that transformation – fast.
We provide embedded carbon management software that empowers our partners to offer decarbonisation tools directly to their customers. From product-level footprints to actionable supply chain insights, our SaaS platform helps organisations reduce emissions at scale, backed by cutting-edge AI, high automation, and a deep focus on real-world climate impact.
We are a hybrid team working with ambitious companies across the world – and we are just getting started.
The Role
We are looking for a Founders Associate to act as the strategic and operational right hand to our founding team. This is a high-impact, "generalist-plus" role that sits at the very heart of forward earth. You will own the operational backbone of the company, moving fluidly between high-level strategy and hands-on execution across Finance, People, and Operations.
You won't just be "supporting" – you will be building. You will lead a small team of 2–3 people, establishing the systems and culture that allow us to scale. This role is ideal for an aspiring entrepreneur or a high-level operator who thrives on variety, loves to dive into the details, and wants to see exactly how a global climate-tech company is built from the inside out.
Your Responsibilities
Finance & Investor Relations
Own the Numbers: Manage our financial planning, budgeting, and controlling. You’ll maintain the financial model, refine forecasts (hiring, burn, revenue), and keep a pulse on our actuals.
Strategic Planning: Partner with the CEO to develop business cases for expansion and long-term profitability.
Stakeholder Management: Prepare concise, board-level reporting on cash, runway, and KPIs for our investors and advisors.
Compliance: Oversee day-to-day accounting with our external partners, ensuring we stay compliant with HGB (and IFRS where needed).
People & Culture
Talent Engine: Own the end-to-end recruiting process. You’ll scope roles, source top talent, and ensure a world-class onboarding experience.
Performance: Drive a high-performance culture by implementing structured OKR cycles, feedback frameworks, and growth paths.
Culture Stewardship: Ensure our values translate into reality. You’ll manage team rituals and the overall employee experience as we scale.
Leadership: Manage and develop your own team of 2–3 people, setting the bar for excellence.
Strategy & Governance
Orchestration: Lead our quarterly strategy process, facilitating workshops and ensuring all departments are aligned through OKRs.
Thought Partnership: Act as a sounding board for the founders on critical trade-offs, fundraising, and strategic pivots.
Operations & Infrastructure
The Engine Room: Keep the daily business running smoothly—from optimizing our software stack and IT workflows to managing vendor relationships and our Berlin-based infrastructure.
Scaling Systems: Identify bottlenecks before they become problems. You will build the documentation and automated processes that allow us to stay lean while growing fast.
What We Are Looking For
Experience: Several years in a high-growth environment (Start-up/SaaS), a Chief of Staff role, or a top-tier consultancy/investment banking background.
Financial Literacy: You are comfortable with financial modelling and have a solid grasp of accounting concepts (HGB familiarity is a must).
Builder Mentality: You have an affinity for automation. You don't just do a task; you build a process so it runs itself.
People Savvy: You understand that a company is only as good as its people and have experience in recruiting or HR-tech environments.
Precision & Drive: You are detail-oriented and never drop the ball, but you also have the "hustle" to get things done without being asked.
Communication: Excellent English is a must; strong German skills are required to navigate local authorities and compliance.
Why Join forward earth?
Direct Impact: You’ll be in the room where it happens, gaining first-hand exposure to fundraising, board meetings, and global scaling.
Ownership: Lead a small, high-autonomy team from day one.
Climate Mission: Work on a product that actually moves the needle on global decarbonisation.
Flexibility: Competitive salary, hybrid setup (Berlin-based), and flexible working arrangements.
Growth: This role is designed to evolve. Whether you want to become a COO or start your own company one day, this is the ultimate launchpad.
Skills Required
- Several years of experience in a high-growth startup or SaaS environment, Chief of Staff role, top-tier consultancy, or investment banking
- Experience with financial modeling and accounting concepts
- Familiarity with HGB accounting standards
- Affinity for automation and process building
- Experience in recruiting or HR technology environments
- Detail-oriented, proactive, and execution-focused approach
- Excellent English communication skills
- Strong German language skills
- Experience managing and developing a team
What We Do
Forward Earth develops embedded carbon-management software for businesses seeking to accelerate sustainability and decarbonisation. Its SaaS platform provides product-level carbon footprints and actionable supply-chain insights, enabling partners to offer decarbonisation tools directly to customers. The company combines artificial intelligence and high automation to help organisations measure and reduce emissions at scale, with an emphasis on compliant, real-world climate impact for ambitious companies worldwide.
