marking time
I started a new job - temp to perm and not sure whether to laugh or cry. The job is a full charge bookkeeper and the job was open because the previous employee of 6 years left for more money. So, turns out no one was in the job for 6 weeks and this is a small ( 12 person) company with cash flow issues. They are supposed to be training me on the accounting software ( something call Job Boss-and it is an old DOS program). This should not be an issue, except the person training me doesn't understand accounting and doesn't know how the program works. So, they have me entering A/P totals into an excel spreadsheet and the other person is too busy to shift work over. The company has voice mail, but she does not like phone calls going to voice mail, so she doesn't take lunch. I guess from where I am sitting, I would take my lunch and let the phone calls go to voice mail - as that is the purpose of voice mail. She is also supposed to train me on answering the phones, but that hasn't happened yet. I guess today, I will continue alphabetizing the bills to be paid. I made that suggestion yesterday, and was told that might be the right thing to do, but that she wasn't sure. The thing is I know it is the right thing to do. I have 15 years accounting experience and I have done payables before. I guess I have never been in a situation where the other people don't know what needs to be done. Since year end is coming, I asked about 1099's, and this person did not know what they were. I did some digging, found that there were 4 issued last year. I asked how long to get up to speed, and caught up and was told by my co-worker ( the office manager) that she doesn't know. She is afraid to turn off the computer I am using as they do not know the log in for the person who previously used the computer. She is very obviously stressed out and feels overworked, but I have no idea how to help as she has told me she doesn't know where to start. The money is decent $18 an hour, and it is a part-time job, but if this continues for 6 months or a year, I am going to get really antzy, and I don't want to look like a job hopper, because this would be a short-term job. I just can't see myself staying in this job for 6 years like the previous person. I think I will be bored out of my mind and I am trying to figure what I want to do in my next career, because I think I have about had it with accounting. First off, it is a temp job so you don't have to worry about staying there forever if you don't want to. Secondly, I'd be inclined to either take more control of things or have a meeting with someone and get permission to take more control of things (whichever seems most appropriate here). I'd just say something like: "You may not realize but I have 15 years of experience in accounting. We're rapidly sinking and creating a huge accounting nightmare that is going to be a real problem at the end of the year and at tax time. What we need to do is (list what needs to be done...). I'm going to start doing that and you can let me know if you'd like something else as we go." Good luck! Tess
Tess, Thanks for the advice. I am going to try and see if I can pin down what can be done, and I guess beyond that it is out of my hands. I wondered about that with a temp to perm. I would guess the same goes for the employer- if they decide that I am not what they want, they could cut me loose, too.
update: The company let me go for asking too many questions that they couldn't answer! They had me typing envelopes, for crying out loud! When I went in on Monday, I was told "Oh, I am suprised you are here." I had no idea what that was about, except maybe a comment about how stressed everyone was. So, the office manager comes into the office I was assigned to and tells me she decided to cancel the job because she didn't feel it would work out because she couldn't answer my questions. Because the previous bookkeeper left six weeks ago and I was trying to assess a state of things, I asked things like 1) how long did it take to do a close (ans: Don't know) 2) How long will it take to get up to speed on the job, system (ans: don't know - probably never ). 3) Did you pay the sales tax ( was due the day I started, assuming sales tax was monthly). (ans: I think so.) I found out after some digging that the sales tax was semi annual. 4) How are you paying the payroll taxes, I do not see any 8106 forms. (ans: don't know- what's that) 5) Can you print 1099's from the computer system (ans: don't know - what are those) 5) Are W-2's printed from the software or typed by hand ( ans: don't know). I suggested that instead of tracking the cash balance on a ledger sheet, I could set up an excel spreadsheet for them and that this would also make it easier to do the bank rec. The office manager told me that her head hurt from thinking so much! That left me a little taken aback. So, I really don't know what they wanted, and she admitted to me that they could not find what they were looking for. I don't suppose there is anything I could have done differently. I feel very cheated, however, and kind of in a careerbind right now, as I am now the one out of work for doing what I am usually paid to do - ask questions and then get work done based on those answers!!! Cos, "So, I really don't know what they wanted, and she admitted to me that they could not find what they were looking for. " Neither did they, which is why you found the chaos you did. Pity the next person who walks in. | |
|
Career Tips
|