Connex

What Connex does

Connex Steuer- und Wirtschaftsberatung GmbH is a German tax, accounting, and business advisory firm headquartered in Halle (Saale), founded in 1991. The firm serves approximately 6,000 clients across 22 branch offices in Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt, providing core tax advisory, financial accounting, payroll processing, annual financial statement preparation, business consulting, and tax return filing. Each client is assigned a dedicated personal contact person, and the firm holds cooperation agreements with external audit firms (Wirtschaftsprüfer) and law firms (Rechtsanwälte) to deliver comprehensive annual audit and legal advisory services. Connex is positioned as one of the largest advisory firms in Central Germany (Mitteldeutschland) and is ISO 9001:2015 certified.

The firm's product suite centers on the "Connex Digital" platform, which includes an online client portal for secure document exchange, mobile reporting applications, digital tax file management, electronic invoicing in ZUGFeRD and XRechnung formats, automated document receipt management (Smart Connect), online payroll slips, and a digital cash book. The "Kanzlei 4.0" sub-brand explicitly targets digital-first tax consulting with process optimization. Core technology is built on a partnership with Addison, a tax and payroll software provider, supplemented by proprietary digital workflow tools. The firm segments its expertise across verticals including retail, hospitality, trades, gastronomy, healthcare, digital economy, agriculture, non-profits, real estate developers, asset management companies, municipalities, and cross-border clients (particularly Czech-German).

Connex operates as a private GmbH led by two managing directors, Dr. Michael Munkert (Steuerberater) and Karsta Harazin (Steuerberaterin/Wirtschaftsprüferin), with heads of commercial operations, IT/quality/marketing, and branch management. Revenue is generated through fee-based professional services billed per engagement; pricing is not publicly disclosed. The firm employs approximately 250 people, including roughly 30 qualified tax advisors, and pursues a sales-led, relationship-based go-to-market anchored in its physical branch network and digital client platforms. No private equity backing, institutional investors, or M&A activity is disclosed.

Name

Connex

Legal name

Connex Steuer- und Wirtschaftsberatung GmbH

Website

https://connex-stb.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Connex Steuer- und Wirtschaftsberatung GmbH is a German tax, accounting, and business advisory firm serving approximately 6,000 SMB clients across 22 branch offices in Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt, offering tax advisory, financial accounting, payroll, annual statements, and digital advisory tools under the Connex Digital platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Halle

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices22 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tax Advisory Services: Core tax advisory services including tax planning, tax return preparation, and representation before tax authorities
2. Financial Accounting: Financial bookkeeping and accounting services for clients
3. Payroll Processing: Payroll accounting and processing services
4. Annual Financial Statements: Preparation of annual financial statements for various legal forms
5. Business Advisory: Business and management consulting services
6. Audit Services (via Cooperation): Audit services provided through cooperation partners
7. Legal Advisory (via Cooperation): Legal advisory services provided through cooperation partners

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Connex is a regional tax and business advisory firm that provides tax advisory, financial accounting, payroll processing, annual financial statement preparation, tax return filing, and business consulting services to small and medium enterprises across Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. The firm operates through 22 branch offices with dedicated personal consultants and complements its advisory services with the "Connex Digital" platform, which offers an online client portal, mobile reporting app, digital tax file, e-invoicing, and online payroll/cash book tools for efficient document and information exchange.

Product overview

Connex operates as a comprehensive tax and business advisory firm with 22 branch offices across Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. The company offers a unified platform combining core advisory services with digital tools under the 'Connex Digital' umbrella. The digital suite includes client-facing portals for document exchange and payroll processing, mobile applications for financial reporting, and digital solutions for tax file management and electronic invoicing. These digital products complement traditional services including tax advisory, financial accounting, payroll processing, and annual financial statement preparation. The company also provides industry-specific expertise across sectors including retail, hospitality, healthcare, trades, gastronomy, agriculture, and the digital economy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Connex Digital: Digital solutions platform including online portal, mobile reports, digital tax files, document management, and electronic receipt management.
• Kanzlei 4.0

Products and services

• Steuerberatung (Tax Advisory) Comprehensive tax advisory services covering all areas of taxation including corporate tax, income tax, international tax matters, and representation before tax authorities. Designed for SMEs, freelancers, and individuals across all served industries.
• Finanzbuchhaltung (Financial Accounting) Ongoing financial bookkeeping and accounting services for businesses of various sizes and legal forms, using digital tools integrated through the Connex Digital platform.
• Lohnbuchhaltung (Payroll Accounting) Payroll processing services including salary calculations, social security administration, payroll tax filings, and digital delivery of pay slips via Online-Lohnscheine.
• Jahresabschluss (Annual Financial Statements) Preparation and review of annual financial statements and consolidated accounts for various legal entities (GmbH, AG, etc.).
• Steuererklärung (Tax Returns) Preparation and filing of tax returns for individuals, businesses, and tax-exempt organizations.
• Business and Management Consulting (Beratung) Business and management consulting services including corporate strategy, company form selection, business succession planning, and proactive advisory on correct corporate strategy.
• Connex Digital (Integrated Digital Service Platform) Integrated digital services suite enabling clients to manage tax and financial matters online, including document exchange, electronic invoicing (ZUGFeRD/XRechnung), cloud document archiving, mobile financial reporting, digital tax file management, online payroll slips, and online cash book. Bundled with the firm's advisory services.
• Steuerberaterwechsel (Tax Advisor Transfer) Assistance with switching tax advisors, including document transfer and continuity of services for new clients onboarding.

Named customers1 record

Segments15 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered supporting.

• Audit Firms (Wirtschaftsprüfer)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation with audit firms to provide comprehensive annual audit services to clients requiring external audits
• Law Firms (Rechtsanwälte)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation with legal advisors to provide clients with comprehensive legal and tax advisory services
• Addison (Tax Software Provider)supportingTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with Addison software provider for tax and payroll accounting software solutions

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• HLB Deutschland: HLB Deutschland is a mid-market accounting, tax, and advisory network serving German SMEs. Its service mix (tax advisory, financial accounting, payroll, annual statements) and Mittelstand client base closely overlap with Connex.
• RSM Germany: RSM is a global mid-tier audit and advisory network with a German practice serving Mittelstand clients. Direct overlap in tax advisory, accounting, and business consulting for SMB and mid-market clients.
• Forvis Mazars Germany: Forvis Mazars (formerly Mazars) provides audit, tax, and advisory services to mid-market companies in Germany. Comparable in target customer (mid-sized German companies) and service portfolio including tax compliance and advisory.
• Baker Tilly Germany: Baker Tilly operates as a mid-tier audit, tax, and advisory firm in Germany focused on Mittelstand and family-owned businesses. Comparable client profile, multi-service offering, and regional German footprint make it a direct strategic peer.
• BDO Germany: BDO is a global mid-market accounting network with full tax, audit, and advisory capabilities in Germany. Comparable in client segment (Mittelstand) and service breadth, though larger scale and integrated audit/legal create both overlap and competitive pressure.
• ETL Steuerberatungsgesellschaft: ETL is Germany's largest tax advisory network with a comparable multi-branch, regional Mittelstand-focused model. It competes head-to-head with Connex for SMB tax, accounting, and payroll clients in Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt.

Broad incumbents

• Deloitte Germany: Deloitte operates a broad tax, audit, consulting, and advisory practice in Germany. Its mid-market and Mittelstand offerings overlap with Connex's service portfolio but are part of a much larger global portfolio.
• KPMG Germany: KPMG is one of the Big Four with full tax, audit, and advisory capabilities in Germany. While Connex serves a smaller regional Mittelstand segment, KPMG's mid-market practice increasingly competes for the same clients.

Emerging players

• Lohnsteuerhilfe Bayern (Lohi): Lohi is Germany's largest income tax assistance cooperative, focused on consumer/employee tax return preparation at low fees. Different business model (membership-based consumer tax prep) but competes for the individual and small-filer segment of Connex's broader client base.

Others

• DATEV eG: DATEV is the dominant cooperative IT and software provider for German tax advisors. Rather than competing directly with Connex, DATEV supplies the underlying tax/accounting software (e.g., the Addison integration mentioned in Connex's partnerships) that Connex delivers to clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/connexstb
• LinkedInde.linkedin.com/company/connex-steuer--und-wirtschaftsberatung-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/connex_stb

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Connex