Facing Challenges with a New Company Accountant: Should I Resign?
If anyone has experienced a similar situation, I would greatly appreciate your advice. I’m genuinely wondering if I should resign. Here’s my story:
I’ve been working as an Office Manager for seven years, managing basic Bookkeeping tasks like QuickBooks downloads, job costing entries, invoices, payments, and reconciliations. Though I’m self-taught and not professionally trained, I always consult with a CPA before touching the balance sheets or making journal entries. Our financial records have always been clean, synchronized with bank statements annually, and we’ve never faced any issues during audits.
Recently, my boss hired a new EA, promising significant tax savings and additional deductions. Without informing me, she made several unauthorized changes to the financial records. As a result, when I went to download and reconcile data, I found several accounts missing and our QuickBooks was out of sync with the bank by $7,000. Upon investigating, I discovered that prior reconciliations had been deleted.
I attempted to address the situation with a couple of polite emails, seeking coordination and outlining my findings. However, the new EA responded with a series of aggressive emails, copying my boss and all internal staff. She accused me of ruining the books, lacking Bookkeeping skills, and demanded I leave to take Bookkeeping courses. Despite having completed reconciliations, she claimed I had missed transactions, which I find perplexing since QuickBooks would have flagged even minor discrepancies.
Furthermore, she alleged that she discovered over $200,000 in unlogged income, which seems impossible if I’m consistently downloading and reconciling bank transactions monthly. When I questioned her methods, she insisted my approach was incorrect.
I’m working 40 hours a week and additional hours on weekends, leaving no time for courses. My bosses, eager for tax savings, dismissed my concerns, advising me not to take things personally. The emails, however, were abusive, accusing me of destroying the books and barring me from working on them. I’m now worried that I’ll be the scapegoat for any future financial discrepancies.
Has anyone else navigated a similar predicament? Should I consider resigning? Although I once cherished my job and colleagues, I’m now apprehensive about my future at this company. Your insights and experiences would be immensely valued.
One response
I’m sorry to hear about the difficult situation you’re facing at work. It can be really frustrating and demoralizing when someone new comes in and criticizes your work, especially if you’ve been doing it successfully for a long time. Here’s a detailed approach on how to navigate this situation:
Assess the Situation
Stay Calm and Objective: It’s easy to get emotional, especially when you feel unjustly attacked. However, staying calm will help you think clearly and respond more effectively.
Document Everything: Save all emails and written communications between yourself and the EA, as well as any pertinent communications with your boss. Document any changes the EA made to the books that you believe were incorrect.
Review Your Work: Make sure your previous Bookkeeping was accurate. If you’re confident that everything was correct before the EA’s changes, this could strengthen your position.
Understand the EA’s Changes: Try to figure out exactly what changes the EA has made to the books. If possible, request a meeting with her to review these changes and understand her reasoning.
Communication
Professional Dialogue: Reach out to the EA politely and request a meeting to discuss the changes. Even if the initial response was hostile, showing willingness to understand her perspective can sometimes diffuse tension.
Involve a Third Party: If direct communication with the EA fails, consider involving a neutral third party, like a mediator or another trustworthy colleague, to facilitate the discussion.
Communicate with Your Bosses: Once you’ve gathered your documentation and understood the EA’s changes, formally request a meeting with your bosses. Present your findings calmly and factually. Explain why you believe the accusations are unfounded and defend your Bookkeeping practices with evidence, if possible.
Consider Your Options
Seek Legal or Professional Advice: If the situation doesn’t improve, or if it escalates, consider seeking advice from a legal or professional standpoint, such as talking to a labor attorney or a professional accountant who can evaluate the situation impartially.
Reflect on Your Position: Assess if staying at the company is worthwhile given the current environment. Consider factors such as job satisfaction, potential to remedy the situation, and personal stress levels.
Plan an Exit Strategy: If you decide the situation is untenable and choose to leave, be prepared. Update your resume, start exploring new job opportunities, and line up references.