Marta Andreasen

Marta Andreasen
Name	Marta Andreasen
Birth date	1954
Birth place	Madrid, Spain
Nationality	Spanish
Occupation	Accountant, auditor, politician

Marta Andreasen is a Spanish-born accountant and politician who became prominent as the European Commission’s Chief Accountant and later as a whistleblower and public commentator on accounting standards, information technology, and transparency. Her career spans work in multinational British Broadcasting Corporation, Banco Santander, Siemens, and institutional roles at the European Commission and in United Kingdom politics, attracting attention from officials in Brussels, journalists at the Financial Times, and commentators at The Daily Telegraph.

Early life and education

Born in Madrid to a family with ties to Spain and Argentina, she studied accounting and finance before obtaining professional qualifications in United Kingdom and Spain. Her formative years included exposure to the corporate environments of Banco Santander, BBVA, and contacts with executives from Endesa and Iberdrola, leading to further training in systems auditing influenced by methods used at IBM, Siemens, and Accenture. She later pursued studies related to European Union institutions while interacting with officials from the European Commission, European Parliament, and the European Central Bank.

Career in accounting and audit

Andreasen’s early professional career involved roles in private sector firms such as Siemens, BP, and consulting engagements with KPMG and Deloitte. She worked on financial systems and internal control projects that interfaced with software platforms from SAP SE and auditing frameworks used by PricewaterhouseCoopers and Ernst & Young. Her expertise in ledger systems and audit trails led to appointments in United Kingdom corporate accounting circles and collaborations with officials at Her Majesty's Treasury and auditors from the National Audit Office.

In 2002 she joined the administrative apparatus of the European Commission as Chief Accountant, interacting with Commissioners from the Barroso Commission and senior staff connected to the Directorate-General for Budget and the European Anti-Fraud Office. Her remit required engagement with the European Investment Bank, budget committees of the European Parliament, and accounting practices influenced by standards from the International Accounting Standards Board and observers from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Whistleblowing at the European Commission

In her role at the European Commission, Andreasen raised concerns about the Commission’s planned transition to a new enterprise resource planning system, which involved vendors like Accenture and systems such as SAP SE. She warned Commissioners, civil servants, and members of the European Parliament that the system could allow manipulation of financial records, citing issues relevant to the European Court of Auditors and auditors from the National Audit Office.

Her public disclosure led to disputes with senior officials in the Barroso Commission, press coverage in outlets including the Financial Times, The Guardian, and The Daily Telegraph, and interventions by MEPs from groups ranging from the European People's Party to the European Conservatives and Reformists. The conflict culminated in her dismissal by Commission management, appeals to the European Ombudsman, and debates in committees of the European Parliament and hearings involving representatives from Transparency International and the Accountancy Age community.

Political involvement and public roles

Following her dispute with the European Commission, Andreasen engaged with political movements and parties in the United Kingdom, including contacts with the Conservative Party, the UK Independence Party, and figures associated with Brexit campaigns. She stood as a candidate in elections, worked with think tanks that included ties to the Adam Smith Institute and advocacy groups such as Transparency International, and participated in forums with politicians from Westminster and activists from Change UK.

She also advised media programs and participated in debates hosted by broadcasters including the BBC, Sky News, and Channel 4, appearing alongside commentators from The Telegraph, The Times, and The Independent. Her public profile connected her with international conferences featuring speakers from institutions like the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Publications and public views

Andreasen authored opinion pieces and reports criticizing perceived weaknesses in oversight by institutions such as the European Commission, the European Court of Auditors, and auditors influenced by the International Accounting Standards Board. Her writings appeared in outlets including The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, and specialist journals read by members of Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

She has argued for greater transparency, auditability of enterprise resource planning platforms like SAP SE, and reforms advocated by groups such as Transparency International and campaigners in the Open Data movement. Her positions prompted responses from officials in the European Commission, scrutiny from MEPs in the European Parliament, and commentary in professional circles including AccountingWEB and the Institute of Internal Auditors.

Personal life and honours

Andreasen’s personal life has intersected with public attention over her residency in Madrid and London, interactions with colleagues from Banco Santander and the European Commission, and recognition from advocacy groups promoting whistleblower protections, including Transparency International and civil society organizations in Brussels. She received acknowledgements in media lists and was invited to speak at events hosted by universities such as Oxford University, Cambridge University, and London School of Economics.

Category:Spanish accountants Category:Whistleblowers