SOX Financial Specialist @ING Hubs Romania

Discover ING Hubs Romania

ING Hubs Romania offers 130 services in software development, data management, non-financial risk & compliance, audit, and retail operations to 24 ING units worldwide, with the help of over 2000 high-performing engineers, risk, and operations professionals.

We started out in 2015 as ING’s software development hub, then steadily expanded our range to include more services and competencies. Now we provide borderless services with bank-wide capabilities and operate from two locations: Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca.

Our tech capabilities remain the core of our business, with more than 1800 colleagues active in Data and Analytics Tech, Tech Foundation and Channels, Retail Core Banking and Architecture, and Global Products and Technology Services.

We enjoy a flexible way of working and a highly collaborative environment, where fair and constructive feedback is encouraged. 

For us, impact isn't a perk. It's the driver of our work. We are guided and rewarded by a shared desire to make the world a better place, one innovative solution at a time. Our colleagues make it their job to do impactful things and they love doing it in good company. Do you? 

The Mission

The Reporting Control Management (RCM) Romania team is an integral part of Group Finance/Reporting Control Management in the Netherlands, the corporate staff department responsible for Internal Control over Financial Reporting.

In this capacity the team is the linking pin between Group Finance and the other corporate departments, local ING entities, shared service centers, and first line testers. This includes maintaining the day-to-day relationship with the local finance control officers and taking the ownership for implementing the requirements leading to a sound internal control over global reporting processes.

This is a dynamic environment as requirements in financial and regulatory environment are continuously increasing. The department supports Group Finance stakeholders by ensuring that processes, controls, and testing activities comply with internal and external reporting requirements. Other key stakeholders include enterprise risk management, and internal and external auditors.

The RCM team has a dynamic culture, characterized by open, direct and informal communication, with a focus on teamwork.

Your day to day

As a SOX Financial Specialist, you contribute to maintaining an effective framework for identifying reporting risks and supporting control awareness in your area of responsibility. You are a reliable, results‑focused team member who aims to deliver accurate work and supports improvement efforts within your assigned tasks.

You have a good working understanding of financial accounting and controls and are comfortable sharing observations or questions that help strengthen the process. You translate instructions and guidance into practical actions and can handle detailed tasks with accuracy.

You work well independently on clearly defined activities and collaborate effectively with team members when working on shared responsibilities. At times, you may support smaller parts of projects or initiatives led by more senior colleagues. This role may also assist with QA‑related tasks, such as preparing documentation, helping with testing steps, and supporting the consolidation of QA results.

You support the team in delivering high‑quality work across the ICFR/SOX framework and contribute to maintaining a sound internal control environment within ING. You contribute to the following activities:

• Develop, update and maintain the ING guidance on Internal Control over Financial Reporting (ICFR)
• Support the ICFR/SOX404 sign-off process:
  • Involvement in the local sign off from entities
  • Support the coordination and evaluation of an ING wide focus area (e.g. Loan Loss Provisioning, Financial Markets, or Disclosures), including QA of first line testing of these areas
  • Document and communicate QA observations and suggest improvements to strengthen testing quality and entity‑level controls.
  • Communication with internal stakeholders and the external auditor of the design, implementation and operating effectiveness of the ING ICFR control framework.
• Support entities with the implementation of internal controls in line with the guidance to ensure a sound control environment, resulting from:
  • New accounting standards under IFRS
  • Increase of Sox scope, new locations added that need to apply the Sox controls for the first time
  • Identified deficiencies throughout the organization, indication for attention areas where guidance needs to be improved or training should be given
• Contribute to deep dives into finance control and accounting matters:
  • Virtual and/or ‘on location’ site visits
  • Ad hoc requests for deep dives, coming from senior management
  • ICFR assessment of errors found in financial reporting and/or controls
  • Testing procedures and best practices for the first line testers
• Identify opportunities for control optimization and testing optimization
  • Suggest improvements that maintain SOX compliance while increasing effectiveness and efficiency
  • Support alignment with other control frameworks as a contributor/advisor
  • For QA activities: support the improvement of testing procedures by performing assigned reviews and documenting observations.
• Support preparation of documents for the ICFR governance meetings, such as:
  • Global Calls (e.g. Open Hours) with all FCOs worldwide, where all areas of attention raised by internal stakeholders or external auditors are shared. This is based on the involvement in a specific focus area.
  • Materials for the evaluation meeting at Group level
  • Materials for the decision making by the SOx Governance Board
• Support entities with the implementation of Control Standards regarding internal controls to ensure a sound reporting environment specifically for regulatory reporting.
  • Enhanced guidance for first line testing and QA procedures
• Contribute to training and knowledge-sharing activities:
  • Support development of training materials for SOX testers and the SOX community.
  • Assist in delivering parts of workshops or virtual sessions
• Perform Quality Assurance procedures for first line testing
  • Carry out assigned QA steps independently for defined tests, documenting results clearly and escalating issues when needed.

What you’ll bring to the team

We hire smart people like you for your potential. Our biggest expectation is that you’ll stay curious. Keep learning. Take on responsibility. In return, we’ll back you to develop into an even more awesome version of yourself.

You take a proactive approach to your work, show initiative in your tasks, and demonstrate growing awareness of the broader organizational context. You are open to feedback, willing to learn, and continue to build confidence in your analytical and collaboration skills. You work well within a team and maintain a positive, constructive attitude toward stakeholders.

In addition, you have:

• A university degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or a related field.
• 3+ years of work experience in external/internal audit, financial control, or a similar role in risk and control.
• A good working understanding of internal control concepts, such as SOX requirements and the COSO 2013 framework.
• Experience supporting process and control improvements, including documentation, testing, or assisting with implementation.
• Knowledge of banking business processes and relevant regulations, with willingness to develop deeper expertise.
• Exposure to financial reporting processes, such as closing activities, loan loss provisioning, or financial markets.
• Good communication skills and the ability to explain your work to colleagues in a structured way.
• A professional work ethic, sound judgment, and the ability to represent your work confidently in discussions.
• The ability to collaborate effectively with peers and contribute to supporting stakeholders.
• A constructive, respectful communication style that helps build trust and encourages productive collaboration.
• Openness to working in an international environment and interest in developing cultural awareness.

If you want to deep dive into the processing of personal data conducted by ING Hubs Romania during the recruitment process and your rights related to it, read the privacy notices on our website (make sure to scroll until you reach the Data Protection section/ Candidates tab).