Interim Senior Accountant - French Speaking

Interim Senior Accountant - France (with Payroll Coordination)

Location: Hybrid - Based in the Netherlands

Start date - ASAP

Duration - 6 months

We are currently recruiting on behalf of a multinational client seeking a Senior Accountant to oversee the accounting and payroll coordination for their French entity. The role combines core accounting responsibilities with French payroll oversight in close collaboration with both internal teams and an external payroll provider.

Key Responsibilities

Accounting

• Execute monthly and quarterly closing activities in line with group and local requirements.
• Prepare and post journal entries with appropriate accounting classifications.
• Support or manage VAT, income tax, and wage tax filings, as well as other regulatory submissions (e.g., statistical reports, R&D credits, grant reports).
• Coordinate with internal finance teams (R2R, P2P, O2C) to ensure accurate and complete accounting processes.
• Assist with external audit preparation and liaise with auditors during the annual French GAAP statutory audit.
• Support the Finance Manager with statutory topics such as taxes, social charges, and audit deliverables.

Payroll

• Collect and prepare monthly payroll data from internal stakeholders and submit to the French payroll provider.
• Review and validate payroll calculations from the provider.
• Serve as the main point of contact for the payroll provider and liaise with French authorities (URSSAF, CPAM, AGIRC, etc.) on payroll-related matters.
• Handle employee inquiries regarding payroll or tax questions, when applicable.
• Ensure accurate time and absence administration in Workday and maintain compliance with local requirements.
• Align HRIS data with French legal and administrative standards where needed.

Projects & Collaboration

• Participate in or lead ad-hoc local finance and payroll-related projects.
• Collaborate closely with the local Finance Manager, HR teams, BU Controllers, and Corporate Finance.

About You

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related discipline.
• Strong experience in accounting and French payroll processes.
• Native-level French (or equivalent) and fluent in English (written and spoken).
• Proficient in Excel and PowerPoint; experience with SAP and Workday is a plus.
• Hands-on, agile, and proactive mindset with strong problem-solving capabilities.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work in a culturally diverse, international environment.