Concerns Regarding CECCAR’s Leadership, Financial Practices, and the Upcoming Congress
To:
- Mr. Philippe Arraou, President, European Tax Adviser Federation (ETAF)
- Mr. John Graham, President, CIMA & Co-Chair, Association of International Certified Professional Accountants
- Mr. Michael Schick, Managing Director, ETAF
- Mr. Lee White, CEO, International Federation of Accountants (IFAC)
- Mr. Eelco van der Enden, CEO, Accountancy Europe
- Mr. Jakub Bejnarowicz, Regional Director for Europe, AICPA & CIMA
- Representative of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India
- Other distinguished international leaders in the accountancy profession
Dear Esteemed Colleagues,
We, a group of CECCAR members and integrity whistleblowers, write to you with deep concern regarding the current governance and financial practices of the Body of Expert and Licensed Accountants of Romania (CECCAR).
While we recognize and respect your commitment to advancing the global accountancy profession, we believe it is our duty to inform you that your planned participation in CECCAR’s 2025 Congress may inadvertently lend legitimacy to an event organized under contested and abusive leadership – and that it could be met with public dissent from members who are demanding reform and transparency.
Background and Serious Concerns
Over the past months, multiple whistleblowers have documented and published well-substantiated evidence revealing:
- Illegal and illegitimate leadership candidacies that breach Romanian legislation governing CECCAR’s governance structure.
- Financial opacity and questionable transactions, including suspected misuse of member fees, lack of proper accounting software, and unexplained financial adjustments.
- Mass layoffs of employees on the grounds of “insufficient funds” – in stark contrast with the lavish spending on this year’s Congress, whose true purpose is increasingly questioned by members.
- Reasonable suspicion of money laundering risks, given the procurement of services and suppliers for the Congress without adequate transparency or oversight.
All these issues have been reported to the competent Romanian authorities – including criminal complaints, civil lawsuits filed by unlawfully dismissed employees, and petitions to supervisory bodies.
While legal processes are ongoing and can take time, the legitimacy of our concerns is clear: they are supported by documentation, published articles, and official filings.
Risks and Reputational Considerations
Your attendance at the Congress, under these circumstances, could:
- Be perceived as endorsing CECCAR’s current leadership, despite the unresolved legal and ethical concerns.
- Expose you to public protests or hostile reception from CECCAR members and staff who feel betrayed by the leadership.
- Risk the reputation of your organization by associating with a potentially abusive and non-transparent governance structure.
Our Appeal
We respectfully urge you to:
- Seek formal clarifications from CECCAR’s leadership regarding the issues raised by whistleblowers before confirming your participation.
- Reconsider attending or endorsing the 2025 Congress until these matters are properly investigated and resolved.
- Express public support for transparency, independent investigation, and fair governance within CECCAR – in alignment with the global principles of integrity and accountability that your organizations promote.
Our Commitment
Our goal is not to harm CECCAR as an institution but to restore its integrity and mission as a professional body serving the public interest. We remain committed to working constructively with authorities and international partners to ensure that CECCAR’s governance reflects transparency, legality, and respect for its members.
We are ready to provide all documentation, evidence, and legal filings supporting our claims, as well as English summaries of key articles and complaints.
With respect and in the interest of our profession’s credibility,
CECCAR Integrity Whistleblowers & Concerned Members
A Romanian version of this letter is available at:
https://www.ceccar.net/2025/09/scrisoare-deschisa-catre-comunitatea.html