Dirk Hertzog

Senior Bookkeeping & Tax Compliance Advisor

Independent Reserve • Freelance

Jan 2018 - Present • 8 yrs 6 mos

Operate an independent bookkeeping and tax compliance advisory practice serving SMEs, freelancers, property investors, and ecommerce sellers across multiple jurisdictions. Provide end-to-end financial record management, tax compliance preparation, and management reporting across Xero, QuickBooks Online, DATEV, Lexoffice, MYOB, and Zoho Books. Key responsibilities and achievements: 1. Monthly bookkeeping and bank reconciliation for UK limited companies, sole traders, and LLPs across construction, hospitality, retail, automotive, and professional services sectors 2. Preparation of MTD-compliant VAT returns for UK businesses under standard rate, flat rate, and cash accounting schemes 3. CIS (Construction Industry Scheme) monthly return preparation (CIS300), subcontractor verification, and deduction statement production for UK contractors and subcontractors 4. TRONC scheme accounting for UK hospitality clients 5. Lexoffice and DATEV bookkeeping for German Freiberufler, GmbH, and Gewerbe clients: UStVA preparation, EÜR production, GoBD compliance review, §13b reverse charge application 6. Xero setup, migration, and cleanup for UK retail, wholesale, ecommerce, and property businesses 7. WIP journal entries and production cost accounting for UK and European manufacturing businesses in QuickBooks Online 8. Airbnb, rental property, and buy-to-let bookkeeping for UK landlords: Section 24 mortgage interest treatment, SA105 schedule preparation, multi-property P&L 9. Automotive dealership bookkeeping: vehicle stock accounting, HP commission reconciliation, VAT Margin Scheme compliance, floorplan finance reconciliation 10. Zoho Books setup and inventory management for retail and wholesale businesses

Junior Finance & Accounting Assistant

Manufactured Housing Consultants

Aug 2013 - Nov 2016 • 3 yrs 3 mos

Worked within the finance function of a mid-size German manufacturing business in the Stuttgart region. Supported the finance manager with DATEV bookkeeping, accounts payable and receivable, and preparation of monthly management reporting. Gained hands-on experience with German tax compliance, GoBD requirements, and UStVA preparation in a manufacturing environment. Key responsibilities: 1. DATEV bookkeeping using SKR03 chart of accounts: raw material purchases, production cost allocation, finished goods postings 2. Processing supplier invoices (Eingangsrechnungen) and customer invoices (Ausgangsrechnungen) in DATEV 3. Monthly UStVA (Umsatzsteuervoranmeldung) preparation and cross-check against DATEV Summen- und Saldenliste 4. Bank reconciliation (Kontenabstimmung) for business accounts held with Volksbank and Sparkasse 5. Intercompany transaction processing and intra-EU supply bookings under §13b UStG 6. Preparation of Betriebswirtschaftliche Auswertung (BWA) for monthly management review 7. Support with annual EÜR and Jahresabschluss preparation for handover to external Steuerberater 8. GoBD document management: receipt scanning, digital archive maintenance, sequential filing

Accounts and Finance Intern

Property Options & Developments • Meio período

May 2012 - Jun 2013 • 1 yr 1 mo

Completed a 12-month finance internship with a London-based property management and investment business managing a portfolio of residential buy-to-let, HMO, and commercial properties. Supported the finance team with landlord accounts, rental income reconciliation, and property cost management.