Growing up in post-communist Romania during the 1990s, I was surrounded by a wave of change and opportunity. As the country adopted capitalism, new professions began to emerge and gain prestige, and accounting was one of them. It was seen as modern and full of promise. The idea of becoming an accountant felt exciting and a great way to be part of Romania’s new economic future. Also, as I had always been good with numbers and drawn to logic, accounting seemed like a perfect fit.
In 2003 I started as an auditor with Deloitte, gaining broad experience of different industries and of international accounting standards. I moved into the corporate world in 2007 and joined PepsiCo. In 2008. I started as an internal audit manager for Romania, working my way through various control, reporting and internal audit roles across Central and Eastern Europe. Today, I serve as the control and reporting senior director for East Europe, overseeing a complex, multinational financial landscape.
Watching my team evolve into confident, capable professionals is most rewarding
Some of the key challenges Romania is facing are related to the geopolitical turmoil in the region, and labour shortage driven by an ageing population and talent migration. We also have some instability, with an unpredictable tax policy and high budget deficits, while the digital infrastructure is still lacking.
Romania still has great opportunities. We have high-skilled employees, excellent shared service centres, EU and green funding, and increased M&A activity.
I stepped out of my comfort zone when I took the challenging role of corporate audit director for our international business. But for three years this allowed me to travel frequently, see different business models and work with people from all over the world, seeing the fabulous cultural diversity we have in a global corporation like PepsiCo.
My favourite quote comes from Eduardo Galeano: ‘Many small people, in small places, doing small things can change the world.’
What I enjoy most about my job is having a meaningful impact, both on the business and on people. I take great satisfaction in driving results and contributing to the success of the organisation. However, even more fulfilling is seeing the growth of the people I work with. Supporting my team’s development and watching them evolve into confident, capable professionals is most rewarding.
True progress means leaving no one behind
My biggest achievement is, quite simply, my family. I am lucky to have a wonderful wife, who is an ACCA member as well, and an awesome teenage daughter.
If I had law-making powers, I would introduce a comprehensive Equity and Sustainability Act. It would focus on three core pillars: equity among people, support for vulnerable and disadvantaged communities, and protection of natural and cultural heritage. To me, true progress means leaving no one behind, socially, economically or environmentally. That is the kind of change I would strive to create.
If I weren’t a qualified accountant and finance professional, I would have pursued a career as a geographer or a researcher in linguistics. I’ve always been fascinated by how the world works, whether through the story told by the physical landscape or the complexity of human language. Both fields appeal to my curiosity, analytical thinking and desire to understand connections, so they are much like the world of finance.
Outside work, I enjoy traveling and exploring new places and cultures. It gives me a fresh perspective, broadens my understanding of the world and feeds my curiosity, which I value both personally and professionally.
