„What interests our clients? What interests us? What is the real benefit and what really moves us all forward? Not getting tangled up in narrow tunnels, but looking at the big picture is a top priority at Mundhenke & Partner.“
Mr Goldenbaum, what are the highlights of your career?
„When I was still an employee, my boss said to me: ‘Mr. Goldenbaum, what are you doing? You turn more sales than an equity partner’. And of course the very conscious decision to go into business for myself. With the result that it didn’t go well. It went very well.“
What are you particularly good at?
„Acquiring clients and making them happy. This is well described by a core sentence I hear from clients again and again: `No one has ever explained it to me like this before, thank you very much´.“
Why did you choose this profession?
„I didn’t choose him, it found me. I was already studying mechanical engineering when my father got me an internship with a tax consultant friend. The realization that tax consultancy is about much more than bookkeeping piqued my interest, and so I switched to business studies. In retrospect, the right decision.“
Why move from the Big Four to self-employment?
„I am not a corporate type. And because I said to myself, I don’t have to make an appeasement policy with the tax office. We prefer to stand up to them and ensure hygienically clean results. If necessary, with a diversion via the tax court. Nevertheless: It is and remains an absolutely fair game with mutual respect.“
Three arguments why I should be a client of Mundhenke & Partner?
„We put ourselves in your shoes. We offer security through our 6-eyes principle. We think ahead.“
What do you appreciate about your colleagues?
„That we have a common and very strong basis of trust even with our eyes closed. Moreover, we do not have partner committees or majority votes, but only unanimous decisions. The staff team is just as important. Everyone has to be involved – e.g. with exciting tasks and recognition.“
The perfect working day?
„To have made the right predictions in complex matters and to have achieved a great result together. And when I look at a smiling client face at the end of the day.“
Do you sometimes get combative?
„Yes. Towards completely incompetent tax officials and when I feel something is absolutely unfair.“
What do you think an applicant has to bring to the table?
„Someone who is hands-on, who doesn’t have to constantly distinguish himself, but who wants to help push and thus make progress. In addition, professional skills and the ability to work in a team are the be-all and end-all.“
Katrin Jensen
„If Mundhenke & Partner were a person, she would be educated but not conceited, friendly but not tame, relaxed but not as harmless. And clever she certainly is. I think that in such a person you have a very good advisor.“
Ms Jensen, what are the highlights of your career?
„First of all, the time directly after my studies in the audit department of the Big Four. I was thrown in at the deep end, had to swim my way out and learned an incredible amount in a short time. That is something I still benefit from today. Later, the time at Mundhenke & Partner. I always found medium-sized businesses with their hands-on mentality much more interesting than large companies – so I immediately felt ‘at home’ at Mundhenke & Partner.“
What are you particularly good at?
„Clearly in everything that concerns annual financial statements. Accounting is my professional hobbyhorse.“
Why did you choose this profession?
„That came about through the focus of my studies. The quick start in the profession then made it a no-brainer. I use my natural affinity for numbers for the job, my artistic talent is reserved for leisure time; although – when we moved into our new offices I could and can live it up a bit here and there.“
Why move from the Big Four to self-employment?
„In the big companies I often felt like I was in a factory. For me, the constellation of self-employment means less restrictive guidelines and more creative design, especially in advising medium-sized companies. The trusting relationship in an almost family-like setting also suits me personally better. This also applies to the good long-term relationships with my own clients.“
Three arguments why I should be a client of Mundhenke & Partner?
„We are the ideal partners for SMEs because we are SMEs ourselves and think like them. Accordingly, we can look ahead to what our clients really need. Thirdly, we always fight for the best result – even against strong opposition.“
What do you appreciate about your colleagues?
„I like it very much that we are different characters who can nevertheless talk openly about everything. We trust each other blindly. That is a great strength of our partnership. Our different professional qualities are also indispensably valuable and always refreshing. It is important to us that our staff team fits into this relationship and feels comfortable with it. When interviewing candidates, we take great care to ensure that both professional ability and personality match the character of the firm.“
The perfect working day?
„When I have received positive feedback from the client, whether with regard to my own work or that of our employees. Ultimately, it is the team and the result that count. That motivates and strengthens mutual appreciation – both among colleagues and in the relationship with my clients.“
Do you sometimes get combative?
„Yes, when I feel something is unfair, whether personally or professionally. “
What do you think an applicant has to bring to the table?
„Whoever works with us must enjoy independent action. And in exercising their own mind and spirit. We expect the entrepreneurial thinking that is ours to a certain extent from our employees, and we have always had good experiences with it.“
Michael Schulz
„We are advisors, i.e. more designers than administrators. The sustainable and above all personal support of our clients is our strength. In addition, we have a speed and flexibility that larger companies would not be able to provide.“
Mr Schulz, what are the highlights of your career?
„My first job at one of the world’s largest accounting firms. Everything on an international level (a few weeks in Chicago at the beginning), together with top people in a team specialized in medium-sized businesses. It was sporty, challenging and really fun. But my goal was always to become self-employed. Today, this highlight has been achieved with strong partners and strong clients.“
Three arguments why I should be a client of Mundhenke & Partner?
„We are consultants, i.e. more tax designers than tax administrators. The sustainable and above all personal support of our clients is our strength. In addition, we have a speed and flexibility that larger companies would not be able to provide.“
What do you appreciate about your colleagues?
„First of all, the friendliness, secondly the mutual trust, which is also based on the high qualification of all partners. I particularly appreciate the strong will that unites us at Mundhenke & Partner.“
What are you particularly good at?
„In advising on cross-border activities. The international arena suits me. And in the intensity of the advice. I simply like to use my knowledge in the interest of the client. Proactively and precisely. Often I already know what the matter is before the client expresses his concern.“
Why did you choose this profession?
„As I said, I have always aimed at self-employment. The business studies and special subjects such as tax law were, in my eyes, the sensible foundations for this. I knew that I could best achieve my goals with specialized knowledge. It worked.“
Why move from the Big Four to self-employment?
„I am very grateful for everything I have learned in the large companies. But it was always clear to me that I wanted to stand on my own two feet. In this profession, it is possible to do this on your own, but it is a lonely fight. That makes me all the happier in a partnership with like-minded people who – just like me – want to do a good job. Beyond all silo thinking, in close exchange with each other.“
The perfect working day?
„We brought something to a good end, nothing remained open. We talked to the clients and discussed the result internally. In a nutshell: a complex case has been concluded, everyone is satisfied, everything is round and good.“
Do you sometimes get combative?
„With the tax authorities, especially in the final meeting, things are sometimes combative – factual, but sometimes also personal. That is part of the advisory mandate. If we think we are in the right, we fight for it. With a broad chest, even in court.“
What do you think an applicant has to bring to the table?
„A good education and the ability to think along are already the key. In addition, the personality must fit in with us. If you have stature, are friendly, want to shape things yourself and want to get ahead, you’re right for us.“
Thomas Habermann
„It never ceases to amaze me how quickly some colleagues are on the subject and get to the heart of things. What we also all foster is the principle of the open door. The mutual exchange with the partners and the team is a very clear strength of this firm.“
Mr Habermann, what are the highlights of your career?
„Quite recently my partnership at Mundhenke & Partner. In my special role as a specialist lawyer for tax law, this is a great responsibility, but one that I have strived for and am happy to take on. Looking back, my professional career has been a constant highlight for which I am very grateful. “
What are you particularly good at?
„I like to measure this by real successes. I have already been able to achieve some of them with the support of transactions and in the run-up to tax clarification. Especially in the area of real estate transactions. Another strength is the communication with our clients. I take them with me and they feel they are in good hands.“
Why did you choose this profession?
„It came as it had to come. My mother worked at the tax office and brought a flyer from the university. After graduating from high school, I studied at the University of Applied Sciences for Public Administration in Hamburg. I also worked part-time in the administration during my later law studies. The civilian service I did before taking up my studies was important for me. I had time to think about what I wanted to do in life and decided on law and the special subject of tax law.“
Three arguments why I should be a client of Mundhenke & Partner?
„The flat hierarchy makes us very flexible and fast compared to large companies. In addition, we are able to communicate very complex issues in a simple and understandable way. It doesn’t make sense to overwhelm clients with technical terms that they ultimately don’t fully understand. We want to be clear and transparent.“
What do you appreciate about your colleagues?
„In addition to professional expertise, there is also life experience. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly some colleagues get to the heart of the matter and get to the point. With our only partner on board, I appreciate not only her professional cleverness but also her communicative manner. What we all cultivate is the principle of the open door. The mutual exchange with the partners and the team is a very clear strength of this firm.“
The perfect working day?
„Ideally, I have brought a project that I have been working on for a long time to a good end. Maybe I had one or two good conversations with colleagues. Not technical, but private – topics like stories from the holiday or a good restaurant tip.“
Do you sometimes get combative?
„It has to be done from time to time. I’m more the type who does the convincing, but if things are put off too much or agreements and deadlines are not kept, I sometimes have to verbally arm myself and formulate things more sharply.“
What do you think an applicant has to bring to the table?
„A sense of duty and incentive may sound a bit outdated, but they are in fact indispensable. Just like the willingness to integrate oneself – into our structure and into the middle of the team. Ultimately, we pull together on all mandates and projects. That’s exactly what a new employee has to want to pull along. Five days a week and sometimes beyond.“
