Financial Auditor – Product & Methodology

ABOUT CORTEA We're Cortea, a European audit-tech company, born in Berlin, rebuilding how audits are done everywhere. 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 €15m+ 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 is a role for an auditor with a deep interest in audit methodology: someone who knows the standards in detail, recognises where they leave room for interpretation, and wants to build the tools they always wished they had. Someone who is curious about the newest tools and tech trends entering the ecosystem, and has built a point of view on how the industry can best be served by tech, AI and innovation. Reporting into Philipp (Co-Founder), you sit closer to the product than a typical audit hire: you translate audit methodology into structured logic, write and refine the prompts that drive our AI workflows, and work day to day with our engineering team in Berlin to shape how audit logic is built, tested, and shipped. No programming background is required. What matters is rigorous process thinking and a deep understanding of how audits actually get done. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Product Shaping: Work as a standing part of the product process: join reviews and design sessions, give hands-on feedback on prototypes, and help prioritise the roadmap Methodology to Logic: Translate complex ISA (UK) and international auditing standards into structured, executable logic our product and engineering team can build directly into the platform Prompt Engineering: Write, test, and refine the prompts and decision logic that drive our AI audit workflows Documentation Quality: Ensure audit documentation quality aligns with ISA (UK) 230 and related documentation requirements, and that system outputs stand up to internal quality control and external review Independence & Ethics: Safeguard auditor independence and ensure the product complies with the FRC Ethical Standard and ICAEW/ACCA Code of Ethics Berlin Collaboration: Travel regularly to our Berlin hub to work in person with Philipp and the product and engineering team REQUIREMENTS - Minimum 5 years of financial audit experience (Big 4 or leading mid-tier firms preferred), including time at audit manager level with a solid understanding of engagement responsibility and audit risk - ACA (ICAEW), ACCA, or equivalent chartered accountancy qualification - A strong interest in audit methodology: you enjoy turning abstract standards into clear, reproducible logic - A tech-first mindset and a proven willingness to leverage, experiment with, or build new tools, with relentless curiosity for how AI and innovation can improve work and outcomes - Ability to sketch decision trees and define structured, unambiguous process outputs; comfortable writing and iterating on AI prompts - No programming background required, but you think in processes, dependencies, and system logic, and enjoy working closely with engineers day to day - Strong grasp of ISA (UK), UK GAAP (FRS 102), IFRS, and the Companies Act 2006 - Native in English, German is a plus - Right to work in the UK required; we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role BENEFITS - Competitive salary plus equity participation - The chance to build the tools you always wished you'd had as an auditor, with direct influence over product direction - Hybrid collaboration from our London office, with regular trips to our Berlin hub - 25+ days holiday allowance - Pension contribution - Private medical insurance INTERVIEW PROCESS - Intro call with Tim https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-tuesfeld/ (Founders Associate) - Technical audit & methodology interview with Philipp https://www.linkedin.com/in/philipp-hoevelmann/ (Co-Founder) - Strategic & Collaboration Fit interview with Valentin https://www.linkedin.com/in/valentinneumann/ (Co-Founder) - On-site session (Berlin): work through a "reviewer-first" interface design exercise, focused on transparency, traceability, and professional scepticism [https://app.ashbyhq.com/api/images/user-content/316125b8-3855-479e-a082-a30caf346d45/1ddbeed3-b4e6-4a47-8872-d5cfeee3e842/image.png]