Chief of Staff (m/f/x)

About Us

We’re Cortea, a Berlin-based startup rebuilding how audits are done.

Audits are still driven by spreadsheets, checklists, and manual reviews in one of the most regulated, high-stakes areas of business.

We use AI to automate audits end to end, so highly educated auditors no longer spend 60+ hour weeks on manual work and can focus on judgment, trust, and choices that matter.

With €10m+ in funding, a live product, and paying customers across Europe, we’re at a stage where your choices will directly shape Cortea’s future, and how audits are done.

The role

This isn't an administrative or "assistant" role. As Chief of Staff, you are a core member of the leadership orbit. You will work directly with Valentin (Co-Founder) to translate high-level vision into operational reality.

You will sit at the intersection of Growth, Strategy, Finance, and Operations. Your mission is to tackle the most complex, ambiguous challenges that don’t yet have a home, whether that’s architecting our international expansion, refining our AI-driven unit economics, or managing the machinery of a Series B fundraise.

This role is a springboard. You will gain a "CEO-level" view of building a category-defining AI company.

What you’ll do

• Strategic Initiatives: Lead high-impact projects from conception to completion (e.g., designing an AI-era pricing model, spearheading entry into new European markets, or optimizing the sales-to-onboarding funnel). 
• Financial & Operational Rigor: Own the company’s financial health. You’ll manage reporting, budgeting, and KPI tracking, ensuring the founders and the board have total clarity on our trajectory. 
• Fundraising & IR: Act as the primary engine behind investor relations and future funding rounds, preparing the narratives and data rooms that will fuel Cortea’s growth. 
• Scaling the Operating System: Build the repeatable processes, meeting cadences, and communication loops that allow Cortea to scale toward €100m+ ARR without losing speed. 
• Founder Force Multiplier: Act as a proxy for the founders in internal and external meetings, ensuring decisions are made and projects stay on track even when the founders aren't in the room. 

Who you are

• 4+ years of experience in high-velocity environments (Top-tier Strategy Consulting, Investment Banking, or a high-growth VC-backed startup). 
• Strategic Operator: You can think at 30,000 feet about market positioning, but you have the grit to dive into a spreadsheet or a legal contract to get a deal over the line. 
• Financial Fluency: You have a deep understanding of P&L management, financial modeling, and SaaS metrics. 
• Exceptional Communicator: You can distill complex AI concepts and financial data into clear, persuasive narratives for investors and the team. 
• High Agency: You don’t wait for a playbook; you write it. You are comfortable with the ambiguity of a "zero-to-one" environment. 
• Language: Native or professional fluency in both English and German (C1+) is essential for this Berlin-based role. 

How We Work

• Founder mindset: Everyone acts like a founder. You’re encouraged to take on any topic you believe is worth improving, with team and founder support. 
• Thoughtful decision-making: Collaborative problem solving, concise written thinking, and in-person discussions to reach the best result. 
• Speed over perfection: We value progress and learning, preferring strong 80/20 solutions over perfection. 
• Feedback & learning: We give and ask for feedback weekly. Not monthly. 

What success looks like

• In 3 months: You have taken over the financial reporting rhythm and successfully offloaded 20% of the founders' highest-priority strategic tasks. 
• In 6 months: You have led at least one major cross-functional launch (e.g., a new country or a major pricing pivot) and are the go-to person for our lead investors. 
• In 12 months: You have helped institutionalize the "Cortea Way," creating a scalable operational foundation that supports our next major funding milestone. 

What we offer

• Impact: A seat at the table during the most critical growth phase of a well-funded AI startup. 
• Career path: A direct path to a VP or General Manager role as the company scales
• Growth: Mentorship from experienced founders and close collaboration across the company
• Compensation: Competitive salary + meaningful equity. 
• Perks: Learning budget, team lunches, off-sites, flexible vacation, and a supportive in-office setup in central Berlin

Interview process

• Intro call with Leon (Founders Associate Growth)
• Strategy & finance interview, real-world scenario with Valentin (Co-Founder)
• Culture interview, Values and Collaboration Fit with Philipp (Co-Founder)
• On-site half-day (Berlin): meet the team and work through a real, current problem

We’re an equal‑opportunity team and strongly encourage women and underrepresented candidates to apply.