Advice on meeting a NED
Discussion
I work in a small but busy finance functions. There's three of us, the head of finance, the finance manager (me) and a finance assistant.
The head was initially hired as a finance manager. She supposedly 'set up' the function and was promoted to head. To be frank, she has little or no clue how to run a finance function. She is constantly asking me for support on dealing with different matters, be it on dealing with the senior management or technical matters. I asvise her on how to proceed. She takes my advice and it works. Management don't see this at all.
One of the NED's, who is also a qualified accountant, wants to meet with me to understand the finance function better. I appreciate i should sell what I can do. I was also a successful head of finance in my previous company. I want to express I don't have any recognition in the business as I don't meet seniors in my current role. I would love to say how naff the head actually is but I won't.
Any recommendations on how to structure my approach would be appreciated.
The head was initially hired as a finance manager. She supposedly 'set up' the function and was promoted to head. To be frank, she has little or no clue how to run a finance function. She is constantly asking me for support on dealing with different matters, be it on dealing with the senior management or technical matters. I asvise her on how to proceed. She takes my advice and it works. Management don't see this at all.
One of the NED's, who is also a qualified accountant, wants to meet with me to understand the finance function better. I appreciate i should sell what I can do. I was also a successful head of finance in my previous company. I want to express I don't have any recognition in the business as I don't meet seniors in my current role. I would love to say how naff the head actually is but I won't.
Any recommendations on how to structure my approach would be appreciated.
Countdown; have been in the business 6 months and to date I still have not seen the management accounts that are presented to the board by the Head!!!
Craig I think you are right. It's best not to highlight how lame my manager is. It won't look good on me.
Craig I think you are right. It's best not to highlight how lame my manager is. It won't look good on me.
Edited by Lostprophet on Sunday 26th March 11:09
Doofus, in many ways I am like you, which is why I thought it best to get a wider perspective.
My business is only 70 strong. We had a presentation from Paul Moore, the HBOS whistle-blower, I could see the NED writing a lot of his sentiments down. Paul was discussing the need for NEDs to be more actively involved in firms.
I have just sent an email thanking her for her time and asking for a brief idea of what she would like to talk about.
I will keep the above in mind. There's seems to some themes linking the posts however these is a divide on how open I should be with respect to honest opinion. Some respects opinion others think it will be counter productive.
My business is only 70 strong. We had a presentation from Paul Moore, the HBOS whistle-blower, I could see the NED writing a lot of his sentiments down. Paul was discussing the need for NEDs to be more actively involved in firms.
I have just sent an email thanking her for her time and asking for a brief idea of what she would like to talk about.
I will keep the above in mind. There's seems to some themes linking the posts however these is a divide on how open I should be with respect to honest opinion. Some respects opinion others think it will be counter productive.
Edited by Lostprophet on Sunday 26th March 13:28
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