Chief of Staff (m/f/x)

About Cortea

Cortea is a Berlin startup rethinking how audits are delivered. The company is using AI to replace spreadsheet-heavy, checklist-led, manual audit work so experienced auditors can spend less time on repetitive tasks and more time on judgment, trust, and important decisions.

The business is backed by more than €15 million in funding, already has a live product, and serves paying customers across Europe. This is a high-impact stage where the person in this role will help shape both the company’s direction and the future of auditing.

Role overview

This is not an administrative assistant position. As Chief of Staff, you will be part of the senior leadership circle and work directly with Valentin, the Co-Founder, to turn strategic direction into execution.

You will operate across Growth, Strategy, Finance, and Operations, taking ownership of complex, unstructured problems that do not yet have a clear owner. That could include planning international expansion, improving AI-driven unit economics, or coordinating the work needed for a Series B fundraising process.

The position is designed as a fast-track opportunity to gain a CEO-level understanding of how a category-defining AI company is built.

Key responsibilities

• Own strategic initiatives from idea to delivery, such as shaping AI-era pricing, leading expansion into new European markets, or improving the sales-to-onboarding journey.
• Support fundraising and investor relations by building narratives, assembling data rooms, and driving the preparation needed for future financing rounds.
• Create the company’s AI-native operating system by designing repeatable processes, meeting rhythms, and communication flows enhanced with automation and AI agents so the business can scale toward €100m+ ARR.
• Act as a force multiplier for the founders by representing them in internal and external meetings and ensuring decisions and projects continue moving forward when they are unavailable.

Who you are

You bring at least 4 years of experience in fast-moving environments such as top-tier strategy consulting, investment banking, or a high-growth VC-backed startup. You can think strategically at a high level while also being willing to get into the detail of spreadsheets, contracts, and execution work.

You are financially fluent, with a strong grasp of P&L management, financial modeling, and SaaS metrics. You communicate clearly and persuasively, translating complex AI and financial topics into messages that investors and internal teams can easily understand. You are highly self-directed, comfortable building structure in ambiguous zero-to-one situations rather than waiting for instructions.

For this Berlin-based role, you must have native or professional-level fluency in both English and German at C1 level or above.

Working style

Cortea looks for people who think like founders, take initiative on topics they believe matter, and work closely with the team and founders to improve the business. The company values collaborative problem solving, concise written thinking, and deep in-person discussion when making decisions.

The team prefers speed and learning over perfection, aiming for strong 80/20 solutions rather than waiting for ideal outcomes. Feedback is part of the weekly rhythm, not a monthly event.

What success looks like

Within 3 months, you should have reviewed the company’s operations, introduced workflow automations across the business, and removed around 20% of the founders’ highest-priority tasks from their plates.

Within 6 months, you should have led at least one major cross-functional initiative, such as a market launch or a major pricing change, and become the main point of contact for lead investors.

Within 12 months, you should have helped establish the “Cortea Way” and built a scalable operating foundation that supports the next important funding milestone.

Compensation and perks

The company offers a competitive salary together with meaningful equity. Additional benefits include a learning budget, team lunches, off-sites, flexible vacation, and a supportive in-office setup in central Berlin.

Interview process

• Introductory conversation with Liza, Founders Associate.
• Strategy and finance interview based on a real scenario with Valentin, Co-Founder.
• Culture and collaboration interview with Philipp, Co-Founder.
• On-site day in Berlin to meet the team and work through a live business problem.

Equal opportunity

Cortea is an equal-opportunity team and actively encourages women and candidates from underrepresented backgrounds to apply.