About us

BeAS as part of the Bertelsmann Group

Bertelsmann Accounting Services (BeAS) is a subsidiary of Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA and part of the corporate accounting department. The Corporate Center assumes numerous tasks in all areas of the Group such as finance, legal, human resources and information technology as well as strategic communication and further development of the Group. The accounting departments of the various companies have been combined in a shared services organization and are an independent, internationally active company with currently three locations in Europe and the USA.

Our service is provided to all divisions beside RTL.

What is a Shared Service Center?

In a Shared Service Center, the internal services of a group company, accounting in our case, are combined into a single unit. The day-to-day business of the accounting department, the support of the operational departments and the implementation of new accounting regulations are greatly streamlined if specialized colleagues take care of the individual tasks and if recurring activities are supported by modern systems.

Accounting is highly influenced by requirements and processes that are the same in all group companies. The processes can be easily bundled and standardized across departments. This is the basis for continuously optimizing processes through specialization, harmonization and automation.

Organized in a network of regional accounting shared service centers, we are very well positioned to meet the requirements of the company and its employees.

Our locations in Germany

Rheda-Wiedenbrück

North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

In 2010, the first Accounting Shared Service Center was established in Rheda-Wiedenbrück for the accounting of the German group companies. In 2015, this location was expanded to become the Lead Shared Service Center for Bertelsmann's global shared services organization. Their colleagues are responsible for balance sheet accounting and other current accounts for German and other European companies. From this location, we also manage accounting issues worldwide, the optimization of our processes, our systems and applications, Project Management, Human Resources and Controlling.

Bertelsmann Accounting Services GmbH
Ringstraße 16-20
33378 Rheda-Wiedenbrück

Schwerin

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany

The Schwerin location was formed from Gruner + Jahr's accounting department in 2015. Together with our team, we are responsible in particular for Travel Expense Accounting and Accounts Payable for Bertelsmann companies in Germany and other European countries.

Bertelsmann Accounting Services Schwerin GmbH
Bleicherufer 25
19053 Schwerin

Our locations in US & UK

Westminster

Maryland, USA

At our site in Westminster, MD USA, Penguin Random House's Payroll, Credit, Disbursements and General Accounting teams for Bertelsmann in North America were integrated into the global Shared Services organization in 2017. This location provides accounting services which include General Accounting, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable and Travel & Entertainment for group companies in the USA and Canada. Additionally this location also provides centralized payroll services for North America as well as Credit & Collection services.

Bertelsmann Accounting Services Inc.
400 Hahn Road
Westminster, MD / 21157W

Colchester

Essex, United Kingdom

Our newest location is Colchester in England since 2018. This location is the result of the accounting department of Penguin Random House in the UK. The colleagues are responsible for balance sheet accounting and current accounts for the group companies in the UK and Ireland.

Bertelsmann Accounting Services Ltd.
Colchester Road, Frating Green, Colchester, Essex, CO7 7D