Patrick-Philipp Kasten joined Spread Group as Accounting Manager for Germany at the beginning of 2022. After 9 years in auditing, it was time for pastures new! With Leipzig being his hometown, he has followed Spreadshirt’s story from start-up to international e-commerce company Spread Group. Patrick chatted to us about his diverse tasks here, why he has chosen Spread Group, and how he balances office and personal life.
How would describe your job at Spread Group?
As Accounting Manager for Germany, I am responsible for the annual and monthly financial statements of the parent company and its German subsidiaries, as well as making sure our team of 6 continue to work together. It’s a very varied job in which I have to both be a manager and drive projects forward. For example, I am currently working with developers to automate more administrative processes. I am also the first point of contact for our auditor in the context of the single-entity audit of sprd.net AG.
Why did you choose Spread Group?
Before I applied, I had a look at the latest published annual financial statements. You could call that a symptom of being so long in the industry (smiles). And what I saw was there that the company had grown healthily and moderately – without any major fluctuations. In my eyes, that speaks for a promising business model. I was also very impressed about the fast application process. It felt like I had the contract within three days (laughs).
What’s the best thing about your job?
It’s got to be the collaboration with all departments in the company. In Accounting, we bring together a lot of information. Through this close contact, we know what the departments are working on or what projects are pending.
What talent and knowledge do you need for working in accounting?
A passion for numbers is important in accounting, but that’s not the only thing. It is also very important to be familiar with MS Excel and other relevant programs. As an interface to all departments, you should also be communicative and enjoy working with others. Personally, I also find it essential to be able to observe things critically. Invoices should not simply be processed, but also questioned. This also requires a general understanding of our corporate structure and purpose in order to understand the more complex invoice correlations.
What did you want to be when you were young?
When I was a kid, I wanted to be an archaeologist, digging around and exploring the world. To this day I’m still very fond of gardening; after accounting, gardening would be my back-up (smiles).
How do you like to spend your free time?
I like to keep active to balance out the challenges of an office job. This usually involves a saddle, either on my bicycle or the motorbike. Since I was a kid, I’ve played the accordion, but I must admit this sadly only gets brought out twice a year or so. More regularly, I go fishing. My tip: get up early! Around Leipzig there are many lakes with fishing spots perfect for catching perch or pike. But there are also some great spots right in the city, for example in Plagwitz on the Karl Heine Canal near the Spread Group headquarters.
🧮 Want to find out more? Patrick is looking for support for his team. If you like numbers, a welcoming team, flexible home office options and more fishing tips from Patrick, apply now!
GET IN TOUCH
