Promotion Or Quit?

Anonymous

November 2,2022 at 1:58PM UTC

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Promotion Or Quit?

I am in a situation that is driving my ADHD mind a little mad.(Yes I am actually diagnosed ADHD and take meds for it and see a Dr and Therapist regularly, I am managing it well, this was a very late life diagnosis, though not a surprising one)

I am currently a Senior Staff Corporate Accountant - AP Lead for my company.

I have been here for 5 years and had 3 raises and 2 promotions in that time.

During the past 3 years we have been working with a new investing company who has put us under an umbrella company along with another company whose products go hand in hand with ours.

The goal is to eventually create a single company of the 2. We are slowly combining departments and have several employees that even though they are paid by only one of the companies actually do work for BOTH companies.

I was approached about a year and a half ago by my Controller wanting me to head the AP department for both companies as the newly created AP Manager. I turned her down as I did not think I could handle the extra stress at the time. She approached me again about 6 month later and was talking like they were going to move me into this new position and I had to clarify for her, again, that I did not want this position.

She, AGAIN, approached me about 3 month ago and was really pushing me to take this position, telling me that she really thought I could do it and that I would be good at it. This time I told her that I was open to at least discussing the details and considering it because my metal status was in a much better place and I felt I could probably handle it.

We had a couple of short conversations and emails on the duties and my expected salary range as opposed to the potential salary range offer. The final discussion we had a month ago was that she needed to talk to her boss (CFO) as she couldn't approve any salary herself and they would get back with me. They were also angling for an AR Manager with another employee and they wanted to have everything figured out budget wise for both positions as well as bringing in another GL and/or Cost accountant or two to the departments. They would make all written offers at the same time.

I have heard NOTHING since then. That was over a Month ago.

During this time (even while discussing this potential role with her) I have been actively looking for a 100% Remote accounting role elsewhere. Part of my reason for this is that I enjoy the remote working (that is 95% of my role now, I only go to main office long enough to collect mail), and I have not said I would take this Managerial job yet, and if I turn it down, I will be the one to train the new manger that they hire and I feel that will be very awkward and that I will still be responsible for a lot of things that the new manager should be responsible for simply because of my experience and knowledge with the company.

Here's the kicker.... My boss (Controller), just let us know yesterday that she has put in her 2 weeks notice.

She assures us she wasn't looking, that this opportunity just "fell in her lap" and she couldn't turn it down.

Now my brain was already going crazy over this not knowing any final details about the Managerial position (causing lots of thoughts of doubt and insomnia), and I had pretty much decided to turn down the job at this point and was VERY actively looking for other remote work.

I am now second guessing myself and wondering if I should take it this position.

I am confidant that the conversation will be had before her final day as she actually mentioned in this same meeting that "Jessica" (i.e. ME) would be "changing positions into a more supervisory role". I am a little peeved she did this, as I have not had a formal offer, and have told her multiple times that I have not actually accepted this position yet, it is pending what their actual offer will be.

I am thinking maybe I should stick it out and take the promotion and see where it goes? I am not sure. Any thoughts or opinions? I have gone round and round on staying with this company since the end of last year. The company is good, the pay is good and I love my co workers (I know I would get along great with the employees I would end up supervising), but there has been a huge lack of Consistency and Organization. Part of that has to do with the work ethic of the Controller that is leaving.. she is very spastic and jumps around a lot from topic to topic and priority to priority. With her leaving, perhaps it will get better??

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AnonymousNovember 2,2022 at 4:30PM UTC
This is predicated on a decent offer and a firm job description because who knows.......?
Please have a conversation (or 10) with the outgoing controller and the CFO. There is no clarity on what was discussed between the Controller & CFO and now that she's leaving they may want you to stay put until her replacement has been hired, trained and gives their approval.
There is a huge disconnect on why this situation remains in flux and no real written offer has been put forth. Big red flags all around.
I would keep up your job search outside the company as a safety net. This situation is still very much evolving and may not turn out as you think.
AnonymousNovember 2,2022 at 5:27PM UTC
Thank you for the comment.
since I have posted this anonymously, I will state that my boss had come to me with a potential range of 57 to 67k (I currently make 63K as a Senior Accountant). I came back asking for 80k + an annual 5% bonus. She said that she was sure they would not approve the 80k and offered 73k, which I told her that my absolute lowest I would go is 75k plus the annual bonus. That was the last conversation on it.
I do have the conversations I had with the her documented in Teams and in emails so that I have have backup as to what was discussed in case the CFO comes back with any contradicting information.
The description is one of the things I do not know enough about. My controller actually asked me to write up a list of what the duties would be, and I told her I was uncomfortable doing that as I hadn't actually held the position before. So between the two of us we went through what i already do and made notes on what would be handed off and what some of the potential added responsibilities would be... mostly emphasizing the supervising of the other accountants/clerks.
I'm going to say that they are going to go ahead with the promotion considering she already mentioned it in the Accounting team meeting. I don't see how waiting until we had a new Controller would effect this.
AnonymousNovember 2,2022 at 6:29PM UTC
Nothing about this has been agreed upon by leadership. Only an outgoing Controller who is a bit all over the map with her communication.
Outgoing Controller has no authority or standing with the company.
AnonymousNovember 2,2022 at 8:37PM UTC
Yes you are correct. And I understand where you are coming from based on what I was able to explain above. But, she is leaving in good graces, and when we were discussing this position she had every authority to be talking about it with me as mediator between me and the CFO, who would just make the final say on the pay. I don't think the fact that they want me to take this position was ever in question. It's more down to the fact I still don't know what $ they are actually going to offer and IF I still want to take it.
I will say "a bit all over the map" is generous LOL! Very intelligent woman, and I like her a lot, but WOW... yes, that is an understatement!
Lara Ivey KauchakNovember 2,2022 at 5:52PM UTC
Ask her!!! Personally, I would take the new role as long as it meets what you had asked for and you can keep looking at the same time. If you have more control over the role, maybe you can help put in the consistency and organization!
AnonymousNovember 2,2022 at 6:07PM UTC
Yeah, I think this is probably what will happen.
There is just SO much to organize I guess that is part of my decision, if I WANT to tackle the project...
AnonymousNovember 2,2022 at 6:58PM UTC
Strange that the CFO hadn't reached out to get aligned with you.
The Controller has quit. Who care what she says?? She's gone in a couple of days
AnonymousNovember 2,2022 at 8:32PM UTC
yes, I agree. Though she just notified us yesterday. So there are 2 weeks worth of likely meetings that are going to be happening.
But, she was the only contact I had regarding this position. So, all the information and conversation that was had over it was with her as mediator(appropriately so at the time).
But, as I think I stated in another response, I do have all of our conversations.. whether Teams, Email or Text... documented and saved. Now, whether that will mean anything... or if it will even be an issue remains to be seen.
Liz MilneNovember 3,2022 at 12:33PM UTC
If you like the work and your colleagues (more important than you realise until you get bad ones!), and the one problematic element is leaving, I would be seriously tempted to take the promotion and stick around?
AnonymousNovember 4,2022 at 12:59PM UTC
Yes, I have been in a place where the environment was not as welcoming and family oriented as it is here (most of the time). And I walked out on that job in 6 months (not something I recommend, but was necessary at the time). I will probably stick around and see what happens while still applying elsewhere, I mean, I can't leave til I find something else anyway..