Corporate Goverance issue - Bully boss!
Discussion
I made an internal move a year ago into a new division. It's been a challenging year trying to get up to speed with new processes and culture etc. I am the Financial Controller and have worked for the company for 12 years.
Mid-year I highlighted concerns about being under-paid against market, and my peers. The boss verbally agreed, and promised to sort it "as soon as possible". We agreed that a minimum of 10% would be a good starting point. This was discussed back in January and no action taken.
Back in the Spring there was a management meeting where profit issues were raised. My boss challenged me on provisions I'd made for some probable, and real financial claims coming our way. I explained that this is not a grey area and we must make the necessary provisions. He became VERY aggressive and started to make threats about getting me fired etc. This was in front of eight other employees; two of which are my staff. It became very awkward and ended with him storming out. The air has been very tense since. He has since told me that his bonus was impacted by these provisions, and that I need to do what he says and to stop challenging him.
Last month was my annual appraisal. I wasn't expecting an easy ride, but was shocked to hear a less than inflationary rise was proposed. He then went on to tell me that I should be happy with it. He then said I don't need any objectives to be set for the forthcoming year as I'm "in finance and should know what's expected of me".
I am in two minds of raising this to his boss. If I do, there's a risk that an ethical case will be opened, and it's subjective at best. He has already started to defend our recent run-ins by saying I lack integrity. He's not elaborated.
On Friday my Finance Clerk resigned. On the exit interview she cited his aggressive behaviour as her reason for leaving. She has said she won't put this in writing.
Any advice would be welcomed.
Thanks.
Mid-year I highlighted concerns about being under-paid against market, and my peers. The boss verbally agreed, and promised to sort it "as soon as possible". We agreed that a minimum of 10% would be a good starting point. This was discussed back in January and no action taken.
Back in the Spring there was a management meeting where profit issues were raised. My boss challenged me on provisions I'd made for some probable, and real financial claims coming our way. I explained that this is not a grey area and we must make the necessary provisions. He became VERY aggressive and started to make threats about getting me fired etc. This was in front of eight other employees; two of which are my staff. It became very awkward and ended with him storming out. The air has been very tense since. He has since told me that his bonus was impacted by these provisions, and that I need to do what he says and to stop challenging him.
Last month was my annual appraisal. I wasn't expecting an easy ride, but was shocked to hear a less than inflationary rise was proposed. He then went on to tell me that I should be happy with it. He then said I don't need any objectives to be set for the forthcoming year as I'm "in finance and should know what's expected of me".
I am in two minds of raising this to his boss. If I do, there's a risk that an ethical case will be opened, and it's subjective at best. He has already started to defend our recent run-ins by saying I lack integrity. He's not elaborated.
On Friday my Finance Clerk resigned. On the exit interview she cited his aggressive behaviour as her reason for leaving. She has said she won't put this in writing.
Any advice would be welcomed.
Thanks.
This is a difficult but sadly all-too-common scenario. Assuming your side of the story stacks up (just acknowledging that there are always two sides to any story), then you can do the right thing or do the (relatively) easy thing.
The easy thing is to walk; your immediate problem solved. I acknowledge you now need to find a new job. The difficult thing is to attempt to correct the current situation for your, your collegues, your boss and the organisation's sake.
I would arrange to meet with his boss and talk over your concerns. If he's good, he will promise to look at the issues and report back. How he handles this will be own to his own skills and judgement. My main concern is the state of mind of your boss. From your description, he lacks some key leadership traits neccesary for his current role, he comes across as stressed and may indeed have financial problems. These are all issues his boss would need to look in to to prevent anymore harm being done to staff or the business. Good luck!
The easy thing is to walk; your immediate problem solved. I acknowledge you now need to find a new job. The difficult thing is to attempt to correct the current situation for your, your collegues, your boss and the organisation's sake.
I would arrange to meet with his boss and talk over your concerns. If he's good, he will promise to look at the issues and report back. How he handles this will be own to his own skills and judgement. My main concern is the state of mind of your boss. From your description, he lacks some key leadership traits neccesary for his current role, he comes across as stressed and may indeed have financial problems. These are all issues his boss would need to look in to to prevent anymore harm being done to staff or the business. Good luck!
Thanks for the comments and advice.
My boss' boss is a decent guy. I would expect he'd take the claims very seriously, but at what cost! A good friend once told me that if you have a fight at work, make sure you kill the person (metaphorically) as you don't want someone walking wounded. I have enough red flags to raise concerns, but I doubt it will get him out.
My other option would be to request another internal move and wait for them to ask themselves why?
My boss' boss is a decent guy. I would expect he'd take the claims very seriously, but at what cost! A good friend once told me that if you have a fight at work, make sure you kill the person (metaphorically) as you don't want someone walking wounded. I have enough red flags to raise concerns, but I doubt it will get him out.
My other option would be to request another internal move and wait for them to ask themselves why?
Surely as an accountant your ethics would be questioned if you colluded with him to derecognise provisions so he achieves a bonus? The ICAEW has a helpline for moral and practical support - although I have never used it.
If your underpaid and badly managed it might be time to move on. Your unlikely to get a payrise internally - best way to inflate salary is to move. Thay said there are obviously many other factors.
If your underpaid and badly managed it might be time to move on. Your unlikely to get a payrise internally - best way to inflate salary is to move. Thay said there are obviously many other factors.
I hope he doen't read PH.
Was it clever to use your real name - or maybe you don't care.
Being a professional accountant does mean that sometimes one has to stand up for professional standards and ethics. Refusing to provide for known and undisputable upcoming costs would be in contravention of most accounting guidelines and standards.
Was it clever to use your real name - or maybe you don't care.
Being a professional accountant does mean that sometimes one has to stand up for professional standards and ethics. Refusing to provide for known and undisputable upcoming costs would be in contravention of most accounting guidelines and standards.
I sympathize with the OP. I've been in a similar situation with regard to my ethics been put to the test. But, luckily it did not affect my renumeration.
This situation is why people (boss not OP) will always want the books cooked if their salary depends on it. It does not matter how many volumes of corporate law are published, at the end of the day greed always wants to triumph and it takes a very strong person to fight it.
Cynical, moi?
This situation is why people (boss not OP) will always want the books cooked if their salary depends on it. It does not matter how many volumes of corporate law are published, at the end of the day greed always wants to triumph and it takes a very strong person to fight it.
Cynical, moi?
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