Meet our team
Radu Vacarelu has 20 years of professional experience in human resources, having worked for high profile companies from industries such as telecommunications, oil & gas, engineering, constructions and ship building. His experience includes a wide range of roles including HR management positions in large multinationals, executive search and management consulting.
Within the period 2004-2006 Radu was part of OMV’s HR Advisory Team responsible for the aquisition and business integration of Petrom, having both an active role at a corporate level by developing, restructuring and implementing different procedures and acting as Project Manager for the Exploration & Production Business unit.
He also has an impressive experience in recruitment and in the selection of personnel, tackled from two perspectives, both as a consultant and as a HR Manager. He was responsible for different projects in IT&C, automotive, financial services, retail, engineering and manufacturing. For several years Radu was responsible for developing the recruitment strategy regarding the selection of more than 150 engineers in the ship design industry. For the same company Radu ensured the co-sourcing of the HR Manager Role, starting with the HR department set-up and finishing by delivering and implementing the best practice of HR internal services.
Radu’s key projects include:
- Executive search for C-level finance positions;
- HR process re-engineering and organization design
- HR management, including management of human resources during the business transformation, recruitment of a high number of engineers, developing organizational development programs and training strategies.
- Extensive experience in recruitment and executive search during 2000-2002 when he worked for a Romanian executive search firm.
- Management of many HR projects including restructuring, recruitment and selection, labor relations, organizational development, performance and process improvement.
- Extensive experience in management consulting, covering performance management, business restructuring, cost management, sales and business development.
Oana Lemnete is a Managing Consultant at Ascentor. She has over 9 years of professional experience in management consulting working for companies in several industries. She has proven her ability to target key areas for improvement and initiate programs and procedures that facilitate a high level of productivity. She is experienced in internal audit, risk assessment, project management and coordination of transformation projects.
Before joining Ascentor in 2014, Oana was a Senior Consultant in the Advisory department of PwC Romania, specializing in business performance improvement and transformation.
Oana has comprehensive experience with internal audit, risk and compliance, commercial and finance due-diligence, business process design, market assessments, economic impact studies, as well as other market research in multiple sectors, such as: consumer goods, retail, hospitality industry, pharmaceutical, IT & Technology, Oil&Gas, etc.
She was directly involved in assessment and identification of key improvement opportunities, design of logistics strategy and development of strategic options etc. During the last year, she was involved in a range of management consulting project including internal controls and corporate governance improvement.
Educational background:
Oana has graduated from Ecole hotelière de Lausanne (EHL) with a Bachelor of Science degree in International Hospitality Management and a specialization after graduation in Finance.
Nadir Ali, ACCA, CIA, CISA has 19 years of professional experience and is the Audit & Advisory Partner at Ascentor. He joined Ascentor in 2011, after more than 10 years with PwC Romania, Advisory. Nadir is experienced in risk management, compliance, fraud and internal audit and was also responsible for a wide range of management consulting projects including business process re-engineering, finance function optimization, cost reduction, financial due diligence, commercial due diligence and corporate performance management.
Nadir is experienced in delivering complex transformation projects in finance and operations. He was responsible for various engagements in transactions, due diligence, forensic investigations, compliance optimization, risk management, fraud investigations, anti-fraud procedures, implementation of anti-bribery procedures, operational audits, procurement reviews and various special purpose audit engagements.
He is also a judicial expert accountant and has been involved in several expert witness accounting engagements in Romania. He was also involved as a financial expert in an international arbitration at ICSID.
Nadir is passionate about data analytics and fraud detection.
His clients include large Romanian and multinational companies from various industries including technology, pharma, manufacturing, healthcare, telecommunications, food, retail energy and automotive.
Professional qualifications:
- ACCA (2005) and member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
- CISA – Certified Information Systems Auditor (2007) and member of ISACA
- CRISC – Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (2011)
- CIA – Certified Internal Auditor (2008) and member of The Institute of Internal Auditors
- CRMA – Certified in Risk Management Assurance (2011)
- Financial Auditor (2006) and Member of the Romanian Chamber of Financial Auditors – CAFR
- Expert Accountant (2004) and member of the Romanian Certified
- Accountants and Expert Accountants Body – CECCAR
- Judicial Expert Accountant, CECCAR (2018)
George Popescu is a senior consultant with a professional experience of over eight years in financial audit, internal audit, financial reporting and advisory, who worked for companies from various industries such as telecommunications and technology, logistics and transportation, pharmaceutics, energy and retail. The main projects comprised external and audit engagements, end-to-end implementation of the IFRS 9, IFRS 15 and IFRS 16 in the telecommunications sector, and financial reporting process optimization.
Before joining Ascentor in 2019, George was an external consultant involved in IFRS and statutory financial process optimization and automation within the telecommunications sector. Additionally, he was involved in the redesign of internal control matrices and other specific audit engagements.
George’s areas of expertise also include organizational transformation, financial modelling, Big Data analysis and consolidated financial reporting in accordance with US GAAP.
George has a MSc in Management with a minor in Finance at the University of Edinburgh Business School, UK and a BSc in Economics at the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies.
Professional Qualifications
- ACCA member
- Member of the Institute of Internal Auditors – CRMA designation
Alexandra Costea (Rosculet), ACCA, CIA has 10 years of professional experience in management consulting, covering various areas such as finance, internal audit, risk & compliance, business process optimization, transaction support. During the last years she was directly involved in various audit, risk and compliance engagements for Romanian and multi-national companies. Her area of expertise also includes financial due diligence, business planning, accounting and tax.
Furthermore, she was involved in a wide range of management consulting projects including internal controls and corporate governance improvement. She has been involved in Sarbanes Oxley optimization and management testing projects for large multinational companies in Romania. Alexandra delivered complex projects in the area of compliance implementation, FCPA and Anti-Bribery / Anti-Corruption reviews.
Alexandra provided services to clients from a wide range of industries such as food, oil & gas, constructions, manufacturing, hospitality, real estate. Her key client’s portfolio includes: GSK, Europharm, Sanofi Aventis, Regina Maria, Clinnico Cardiologie, Nestle, Nespresso, Orange, Telekom, Steaua Romana Refinery, Tezaur IFN, Ana Hotels, Bunge, Bepco, Prime Telecom, New Kopel, etc.
Educational background:
She has a bachelor degree in Accounting and Management Information Systems with the Academy of Economic Studies of Bucharest. She completed a postgraduate master program in Accounting and Tax and she also has a bachelor degree in Law.
Alexandra is fluent in English and German.
Professional qualifications:
- ACCA (2016)
- CIA – Certified Internal Auditor (2018)
Geanina Stancu has a professional experience of 5 years in management consulting, covering various areas such as finance, internal audit, financial audit, transaction support, cost control and business process optimization.
Before joining Ascentor in 2018, Geanina worked for Genpact – one of the leaders in outsourcing industry, where she was involved in process optimization projects and business process re-engineering. She has proven her ability to assess facts and to target key areas for improvement.
She provided services to clients from a wide range of industries such as food, pharmaceutics, electronics, IT, healthcare, energy retail, hospitality, real estate, manufacturing, etc. Her key client’s portfolio includes: McDonalds UK, Abbott Laboratories Italy, Samsung, Bitdefender, Regina Maria, Ana Hotels, Bepco, Prime Telecom, Karelia Upofloor, etc.
Educational background:
Geanina has a MSc in Finance at the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies and BSc in Economics and Financial Administration at the University of Craiova.
Professional Qualifications:
– Diploma in Business Accounting (ACCA)
Nadir Ali, ACCA, CIA, CISA has 19 years of professional experience and is the Audit & Advisory Partner at Ascentor. He joined Ascentor in 2011, after more than 10 years with PwC Romania, Advisory. Nadir is experienced in risk management, compliance, fraud and internal audit and was also responsible for a wide range of management consulting projects including business process re-engineering, finance function optimization, cost reduction, financial due diligence, commercial due diligence and corporate performance management.
Nadir is experienced in delivering complex transformation projects in finance and operations. He was responsible for various engagements in transactions, due diligence, forensic investigations, compliance optimization, risk management, fraud investigations, anti-fraud procedures, implementation of anti-bribery procedures, operational audits, procurement reviews and various special purpose audit engagements.
He is also a judicial expert accountant and has been involved in several expert witness accounting engagements in Romania. He was also involved as a financial expert in an international arbitration at ICSID.
Nadir is passionate about data analytics and fraud detection.
His clients include large Romanian and multinational companies from various industries including technology, pharma, manufacturing, healthcare, telecommunications, food, retail energy and automotive.
Professional qualifications:
- ACCA (2005) and member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
- CISA – Certified Information Systems Auditor (2007) and member of ISACA
- CRISC – Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (2011)
- CIA – Certified Internal Auditor (2008) and member of The Institute of Internal Auditors
- CRMA – Certified in Risk Management Assurance (2011)
- Financial Auditor (2006) and Member of the Romanian Chamber of Financial Auditors – CAFR
- Expert Accountant (2004) and member of the Romanian Certified
- Accountants and Expert Accountants Body – CECCAR
- Judicial Expert Accountant, CECCAR (2018)
Radu Vacarelu has 20 years of professional experience in human resources, having worked for high profile companies from industries such as telecommunications, oil & gas, engineering, constructions and ship building. His experience includes a wide range of roles including HR management positions in large multinationals, executive search and management consulting.
Within the period 2004-2006 Radu was part of OMV’s HR Advisory Team responsible for the aquisition and business integration of Petrom, having both an active role at a corporate level by developing, restructuring and implementing different procedures and acting as Project Manager for the Exploration & Production Business unit.
He also has an impressive experience in recruitment and in the selection of personnel, tackled from two perspectives, both as a consultant and as a HR Manager. He was responsible for different projects in IT&C, automotive, financial services, retail, engineering and manufacturing. For several years Radu was responsible for developing the recruitment strategy regarding the selection of more than 150 engineers in the ship design industry. For the same company Radu ensured the co-sourcing of the HR Manager Role, starting with the HR department set-up and finishing by delivering and implementing the best practice of HR internal services.
Radu’s key projects include:
- Executive search for C-level finance positions;
- HR process re-engineering and organization design
- HR management, including management of human resources during the business transformation, recruitment of a high number of engineers, developing organizational development programs and training strategies.
- Extensive experience in recruitment and executive search during 2000-2002 when he worked for a Romanian executive search firm.
- Management of many HR projects including restructuring, recruitment and selection, labor relations, organizational development, performance and process improvement.
- Extensive experience in management consulting, covering performance management, business restructuring, cost management, sales and business development.
Alexandra Costea (Rosculet), ACCA, CIA has 10 years of professional experience in management consulting, covering various areas such as finance, internal audit, risk & compliance, business process optimization, transaction support. During the last years she was directly involved in various audit, risk and compliance engagements for Romanian and multi-national companies. Her area of expertise also includes financial due diligence, business planning, accounting and tax.
Furthermore, she was involved in a wide range of management consulting projects including internal controls and corporate governance improvement. She has been involved in Sarbanes Oxley optimization and management testing projects for large multinational companies in Romania. Alexandra delivered complex projects in the area of compliance implementation, FCPA and Anti-Bribery / Anti-Corruption reviews.
Alexandra provided services to clients from a wide range of industries such as food, oil & gas, constructions, manufacturing, hospitality, real estate. Her key client’s portfolio includes: GSK, Europharm, Sanofi Aventis, Regina Maria, Clinnico Cardiologie, Nestle, Nespresso, Orange, Telekom, Steaua Romana Refinery, Tezaur IFN, Ana Hotels, Bunge, Bepco, Prime Telecom, New Kopel, etc.
Educational background:
She has a bachelor degree in Accounting and Management Information Systems with the Academy of Economic Studies of Bucharest. She completed a postgraduate master program in Accounting and Tax and she also has a bachelor degree in Law.
Alexandra is fluent in English and German.
Professional qualifications:
- ACCA (2016)
- CIA – Certified Internal Auditor (2018)
Alexandra Costea (Rosculet), ACCA, CIA has 10 years of professional experience in management consulting, covering various areas such as finance, internal audit, risk & compliance, business process optimization, transaction support. During the last years she was directly involved in various audit, risk and compliance engagements for Romanian and multi-national companies. Her area of expertise also includes financial due diligence, business planning, accounting and tax.
Furthermore, she was involved in a wide range of management consulting projects including internal controls and corporate governance improvement. She has been involved in Sarbanes Oxley optimization and management testing projects for large multinational companies in Romania. Alexandra delivered complex projects in the area of compliance implementation, FCPA and Anti-Bribery / Anti-Corruption reviews.
Alexandra provided services to clients from a wide range of industries such as food, oil & gas, constructions, manufacturing, hospitality, real estate. Her key client’s portfolio includes: GSK, Europharm, Sanofi Aventis, Regina Maria, Clinnico Cardiologie, Nestle, Nespresso, Orange, Telekom, Steaua Romana Refinery, Tezaur IFN, Ana Hotels, Bunge, Bepco, Prime Telecom, New Kopel, etc.
Educational background:
She has a bachelor degree in Accounting and Management Information Systems with the Academy of Economic Studies of Bucharest. She completed a postgraduate master program in Accounting and Tax and she also has a bachelor degree in Law.
Alexandra is fluent in English and German.
Professional qualifications:
- ACCA (2016)
- CIA – Certified Internal Auditor (2018)
Oana Lemnete is a Managing Consultant at Ascentor. She has over 9 years of professional experience in management consulting working for companies in several industries. She has proven her ability to target key areas for improvement and initiate programs and procedures that facilitate a high level of productivity. She is experienced in internal audit, risk assessment, project management and coordination of transformation projects.
Before joining Ascentor in 2014, Oana was a Senior Consultant in the Advisory department of PwC Romania, specializing in business performance improvement and transformation.
Oana has comprehensive experience with internal audit, risk and compliance, commercial and finance due-diligence, business process design, market assessments, economic impact studies, as well as other market research in multiple sectors, such as: consumer goods, retail, hospitality industry, pharmaceutical, IT & Technology, Oil&Gas, etc.
She was directly involved in assessment and identification of key improvement opportunities, design of logistics strategy and development of strategic options etc. During the last year, she was involved in a range of management consulting project including internal controls and corporate governance improvement.
Educational background:
Oana has graduated from Ecole hotelière de Lausanne (EHL) with a Bachelor of Science degree in International Hospitality Management and a specialization after graduation in Finance.
George Popescu is a senior consultant with a professional experience of over eight years in financial audit, internal audit, financial reporting and advisory, who worked for companies from various industries such as telecommunications and technology, logistics and transportation, pharmaceutics, energy and retail. The main projects comprised external and audit engagements, end-to-end implementation of the IFRS 9, IFRS 15 and IFRS 16 in the telecommunications sector, and financial reporting process optimization.
Before joining Ascentor in 2019, George was an external consultant involved in IFRS and statutory financial process optimization and automation within the telecommunications sector. Additionally, he was involved in the redesign of internal control matrices and other specific audit engagements.
George’s areas of expertise also include organizational transformation, financial modelling, Big Data analysis and consolidated financial reporting in accordance with US GAAP.
George has a MSc in Management with a minor in Finance at the University of Edinburgh Business School, UK and a BSc in Economics at the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies.
Professional Qualifications
- ACCA member
- Member of the Institute of Internal Auditors – CRMA designation
Geanina Stancu has a professional experience of 5 years in management consulting, covering various areas such as finance, internal audit, financial audit, transaction support, cost control and business process optimization.
Before joining Ascentor in 2018, Geanina worked for Genpact – one of the leaders in outsourcing industry, where she was involved in process optimization projects and business process re-engineering. She has proven her ability to assess facts and to target key areas for improvement.
She provided services to clients from a wide range of industries such as food, pharmaceutics, electronics, IT, healthcare, energy retail, hospitality, real estate, manufacturing, etc. Her key client’s portfolio includes: McDonalds UK, Abbott Laboratories Italy, Samsung, Bitdefender, Regina Maria, Ana Hotels, Bepco, Prime Telecom, Karelia Upofloor, etc.
Educational background:
Geanina has a MSc in Finance at the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies and BSc in Economics and Financial Administration at the University of Craiova.
Professional Qualifications:
– Diploma in Business Accounting (ACCA)
25 Years of Experience in Professional Services
Established in 1995, ASCENTOR is one of the first audit and consulting practices in Romania. We are a professional services organisation providing advisory, audit and recruitment solutions to medium and large companies across all major industries in Romania and South Eastern Europe. We contribute to the success of our clients by delivering substantial performance improvements, building trust and solving complex business issues.
Our 25 years history is presented below:
1995
ANB Consulting is established by Prof. Dr. Eden Ali (1946 - 2021), as one of the first Romanian audit and consulting firms.
2001
ANB Consulting becomes one of the first ten companies to become a chartered financial audit firm and member of the Romanian Chamber of Financial Auditors (CAFR), under number 10/2001.
2006
Radu Vacarelu establishes the Recruitment and HR consulting firm HR International Services.
2011
Nadir Ali joins ANB Consulting after a career of more than 10 years with PwC Romania, Advisory Services.
2011
Radu Vacarelu joins ANB Consulting to strengthen the HR Consulting and change management capabilities
2012
ANB Consulting is registered with ACCA under number 2545738
2014
The firm is rebranded as ASCENTOR. The new brand is launched officially as a firm providing consulting, audit, litigation support, HR consulting and recruitment services to medium and large organizations across all major industries in Romania and in the region.
2016
ASCENTOR formally develops the Transaction Services line of business. We provide financial due diligence and also IT and commercial due diligence services. We are also involved in data room preparation
2017
We are increasingly involved in litigation support services, including judicial expert accountant services in commercial and criminal cases.
”Our clients have access to quality services that are at par with major international consulting firm, while our commercial strategy reflects the realities of the local market. Our strategy is focused on the quality of our service and long term commitment to our clients.
Nadir Ali, Partner
