Santander logo

Financial Accountant (GL)

Santander

Utrecht
Full-time
5-10 years experience
Hybrid

Work Arrangement

Office Days per Week: 2 days

Key Skills

General ledger accounting
Balance sheet reconciliation
Month-end closing
Financial reporting
VAT filing
Corporate income tax
IFRS
Audit support
Analytical skills
Problem-solving
Microsoft Excel
Process improvement
Financial compliance
Stakeholder management

Job Description

Financial Accountant (GL)

Country: Netherlands

Financial Accountant (GL) | Open Bank, S.A., Branche Nederland

 

Your role and the team 
This role offers a broad and impactful scope within Financial Accounting, with a strong focus on supporting the Belgium branch. You will be responsible for ensuring the accuracy and integrity of general ledger transactions, performing balance sheet reconciliations, and overseeing month-end closing activities. In addition, you will play an important role in both internal and external audits, as well as tax reporting and compliance.

 

Beyond traditional accounting responsibilities, you will actively contribute to IT and business transformation projects that have a financial management impact. You will support the preparation of internal and external reports, collaborate closely with the payments team, and contribute to activities within the consumer finance business. A key part of the role is driving continuous improvement by optimizing existing processes and helping to establish standardized ways of working across entities.

 

You will join a dynamic, diverse, and enthusiastic team where collaboration, ownership, and results matter. We value both individual initiative and teamwork, creating an environment where people are encouraged to grow, contribute ideas, and make a tangible impact. In this role, you will report directly to the Manager Financial Accounting.

 

You are
This role is ideal for someone who is accurate, proactive, and driven to deliver high-quality results. You enjoy taking ownership of your work and are comfortable working independently, while also valuing collaboration and contributing to a positive team environment. With a strong analytical mindset and a structured approach, you are able to translate complex financial data into meaningful insights that support sound business decisions.

 

You have a strong sense of responsibility and take pride in ensuring compliance with accounting standards, regulations, and internal controls. Through reliable financial reporting and attention to detail, you help provide the business with a solid financial foundation.

 

In addition, you are a supportive team player who is willing to step in and assist colleagues when needed, including providing backup coverage during holiday periods and other absences. You actively share knowledge, contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, and help foster a collaborative and high-performing team culture.

 

Your duties and responsibilities in short:

·       Ensure the accurate, complete, and timely processing of financial data, including general ledger accounting, accounts receivable, accounts payable, subsystem reconciliations, and balance sheet account reconciliations.

·       Prepare and deliver high-quality internal and external financial reports, including VAT, Corporate Income Tax (CIT), and statutory and regulatory reporting requirements.

·       Coordinate and prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports in accordance with reporting deadlines and quality standards.

·       Prepare and maintain Belgian VAT and Corporate Income Tax filings, ensuring timely and accurate submission.

·       Provide balance sheet and profit and loss information to Head Office in compliance with IFRS and group reporting requirements.

·       Ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards, tax legislation, regulatory requirements, and internal policies.

·       Support internal and external audits by providing accurate documentation, responding to audit inquiries, and contributing to the timely resolution of audit findings and recommendations.

·       Collaborate with stakeholders to define financial data requirements and provide accounting support for projects, business initiatives, and activity settlements.

·       Drive continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to enhance existing processes, strengthen controls, and implement more efficient and standardized ways of working across entities.

 

You have

·       Bachelor’s degree (HBO) in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.

·       At least 5 years of relevant experience in a similar financial accounting role; experience within the financial services or consumer finance sector is considered a strong advantage.

·       Solid understanding of IFRS and financial reporting principles.

·       Knowledge of lending, credit products, and related financial processes is preferred.

·       Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.

·       Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, combined with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.

·       Good command of Dutch is preferred; proficiency in English is essential.

 

We offer  

·       A personalized induction program so you can dream Open Bank, S.A., Branche Nederland and our way of working;

·       A unique international working environment where you will work with different nationalities both internally and externally;

·       A laptop

·       In addition to a competitive salary, you can count on a 13th month, annual performance bonus of up to 10% of your annual salary, 27 days of leave and a collective pension plan with 5% own contribution;

·       Travel allowance EUR 0.23 per km with a maximum of 30 km one way or reimbursement of the entire journey by using an NS Business Card;

·       We encourage development and growth and offer various training opportunities;

·       The possibility to work partly from home with a home office allowance (€3,35) for the days you work from home.

 

About us

We are
Open Bank, S.A., Branche Nederland. We have been active in the consumer finance market in the Netherlands since 1985 (car financing and stock financing). In the Netherlands, we serve our customers from our office in Utrecht, and since 1992 also in Belgium from our office in Merelbeke (near Ghent). The leasing company Santander Leasing is also part of Open Bank, S.A., Branche Nederland. (in the Netherlands with offices in Den Bosch, and in Belgium from Merelbeke). Our Benelux team consists of approximately 350 colleagues. Together, we are part of the Santander Group, one of the largest financial institutions in the world.

 

What makes Openbank, Openbank?
We work with many different nationalities. Showing initiative is appreciated by us, just like humor. We stimulate creativity and spar with each other about new ideas. We have an open corporate culture with an informal working atmosphere.


What sets us apart:

·       We have an open-plan office with several bigger or smaller meeting rooms and focus rooms if you have the need for more privacy and focus.

·       We know how important mobile work is. Where it can be reconciled with the job, employees can work from home two or three days a week and are still connected to colleagues and customers via MS Teams.

·       For 7 years, we have been receiving the Top Employer Netherlands, Belgium and  Europe award.

·       The health and wellbeing of our professionals are a priority and a fundamental pillar of Open Bank, S.A., Branche Nederland value proposition, which is communicated internally and globally under the name Behealthy. At Openbank, we believe that the wellbeing of our employees is key to creating a positive, dynamic and innovative work environment. When people feel good, they have greater energy, creativity, and commitment, thus driving the success of the entire organization. In times of change and great challenges to achieve together, it is even more important to adopt healthy habits that help us prevent diseases and maintain physical and mental balance.

·       Our employees can get a sports subscription and Bicycle plan via our FiscFree offer.

·       Our Evermood programme offers a platform free of charge for employees about various matters – from support in the form of tips on financial problems to advice on childcare issues and help with conflict resolution at work. 

 

Enthusiastic?

Join the team! This is your chance to use your talent in a dynamic, international organization. Please respond via the apply botton:

 

*Screening is part of the application process. We check, based on the screening procedures in place within Openbank, whether new employees are sufficiently reliable to perform work at Openbank.

 

*We have a strong risk culture and expect all our professionals, regardless of their position, to have a proactive and responsible attitude towards risk management.


Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not desired.

 

 

Core Responsibilities

The Financial Accountant is responsible for ensuring the accuracy of general ledger transactions, performing reconciliations, and overseeing month-end closing activities. They also manage internal and external financial reporting, tax filings, and contribute to business transformation projects.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field and possess at least 5 years of relevant experience. Proficiency in IFRS, financial reporting principles, and advanced Microsoft Excel skills are required.

Benefits

  • 13th month
  • Annual performance bonus
  • 27 days of leave
  • Collective pension plan
  • Travel allowance
  • Training opportunities
  • Home office allowance
  • Sports subscription
  • Bicycle plan
  • Evermood programme

About Santander

Industry: Banking

Company size: 10,001+ employees

Banco Santander (SAN SM) is a leading commercial bank, founded in 1857 and headquartered in Spain and one of the largest banks in the world by market capitalization. The group’s activities are consolidated into five global businesses: Retail & Commercial Banking, Openbank, Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB), Wealth Management & Insurance and Payments. This operating model allows the bank to better leverage its unique combination of global scale and local leadership. Santander aims to be the best open financial services platform providing services to individuals, SMEs, corporates, financial institutions and governments. The bank’s purpose is to help people and businesses prosper in a simple, personal and fair way. In the first quarter of 2026, Banco Santander had €1.4 trillion in total funds, more than 176 million customers, 6,600 branches and 185,000 employees.

Added Today