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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be furious and speachless at being told at work to stop contacting a senior manager.

50 replies

gigglepin · 20/09/2011 18:57

He is an acountant and i have emailed him regarding several issues that he NEEDS to be kept in the loop about.

BUT boss came to see me today and told me to stop contacting this accountant because he is " very very very senior".

In other words, too important to be contacted by me.

Fuck the fuck off...if i consider that he needs to be included in things then i will be including him in the loop and i wont be told who i can and cant speak to..im a professional ffs.

Am i right OR is he?
ps its not as if i send him 50000 emails a day, i last emailed him about 4 months ago!!!

OP posts:
worraliberty · 20/09/2011 18:58

If he's your Boss I think he's in the right because you should probably go through him instead of over his head.

heleninahandcart · 20/09/2011 19:01

You copy your boss in? If your boss thinks he needs to be kept in the loop, then your boss will forward your mails.

If you are not copying your boss in, then yes YABU. Sorry

troisgarcons · 20/09/2011 19:02

Do you not have structured reporting lines?

Can't see my line SLT being delighted if I started spamming the Head!

Original poster
gigglepin · 20/09/2011 19:02

I include him too...out of respect and because he also needs to know stuff.
Always include him too.
There is stuff i need advice about and the only person who can advise is this accountant, he's grumpy but quite amenable to passing on info.

OP posts:
LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 20/09/2011 19:05

Follow the rules, gigglepin, you've had your card marked by your boss, it would be folly, wouldn't it, to defy him? I expect your boss will forward information on to the accountant so everybody's kept in the loop. Formal reporting structures are just that.

suburbophobe · 20/09/2011 19:06

fuck the bosses

Do what you think you need to do....

Is he

Marshy · 20/09/2011 19:10

If my staff were emailing my boss and just copying me in, I wouldn't be happy about it. For me that would give the impression to my boss that I don't have a handle on things and for some reason my staff don't want to talk to me.

Is that the case?

Original poster
gigglepin · 20/09/2011 19:11

Na my job isnt in his hands, he is a director, i work for the NHS and so although he has some influence, he isnt the big boss or anything.

He said "oh its just friendly advice, but you need to stop emailing him"

WHY?? he needs to know stuff. He can ignore if he wishes....but i need a paper trail to show that i am communicating important information to every one that needs to be kept in the loop.

OP posts:
Original poster
gigglepin · 20/09/2011 19:14

Its all relevant to him...as an acountant, not to the director who cannot make decisions or advise on things that are acountanty iyswim.

I am not sure why this guy is so adamant, something MUST have been said i think.

OP posts:
amistillsexy · 20/09/2011 19:14

Is it possible that the senior accountant has had a quiet word with your boss and asked him to tell you to stop bothering him with emais asking for information?

amistillsexy · 20/09/2011 19:15

Sorry emails, not emais.

OpenMouthInsertFoot · 20/09/2011 19:15

What about asking your boss to put it in writing that you are not to communicate information directly to this man, but are to give it to instead, and to confirm in writing that there will be no comeback on you whatsoever for any breakdown in communication, or failure of this person to pass information on.

If he puts it in writing, your arse is covered, (sorry to reduce the whole thing to arse covering Grin) if he won't, then he can't complain if you keep on doing it yourself.

ImperialBlether · 20/09/2011 19:15

When you first started that job, were you told to email this man over certain matters?

AuntiePickleBottom · 20/09/2011 19:17

get him to put it in writing that you shouldn't be emailing the acountant.

Original poster
gigglepin · 20/09/2011 19:19

amistill..yes i think so. He must have done. Think i have rubbed him up the wrong way at somr point by asking for information that he wasnt happy divulging. hmmmm

But that was months ago and i NEEDED to know in order to push an important order through.

I asked him a perfectly reasonable question, he ignored me so i asked again. Then he answered mu questions. It was all ok.....actually saved my deot 21K for the coming year...thats gotta be good..or so i thought.

OP posts:
ginmakesitallok · 20/09/2011 19:20

Sounds as if you are contacting the wrong person - ask your boss which accountant you should be linking with for advice. One member of my staff was constantly going to the general manager which meant he was constantly coming to me to ask about things I hadn't been involved in - very annoying and very embarassing.

Also - re whether or not the senior accountant needs to be kept in the loop - the role of an accountant is to do accounts and provide a support service for managers who's job it is to manage. Are you sure the accountant needs to be involved in everything??

Original poster
gigglepin · 20/09/2011 19:20

sorry, saved my dept £21K

OP posts:
marriedinwhite · 20/09/2011 19:21

You keep your boss in the loop that gives you a papertrail without overstepping the mark. Are you saying you are a chartered, certified or citfa qualified accountant and so professionally you are justified to escalate beyond your boss? Often very senior people are very very politebut will raise an issue quietly from the sidelines without refeRring back to the insrtigator. You have been advised to back off unless you are more highly qual thgan your boss you should do so.

Gigondas · 20/09/2011 19:21

Is it an internal or external accountant? Just wondering if there is cost involved in asking him lots (ie your dept gets charged for his help) and that is your boss' issue

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 20/09/2011 19:21

OP.... you work in the civil service, not the trading floor. Big difference. Egos have been bruised and you ignore that at your peril.

Your boss does have your job in his hands, he could make life extremely difficult for you and is it really worth the hassle?

Original poster
gigglepin · 20/09/2011 19:22

Well, yes, the final paperwork for the completion of the order was with this accountant....and i needed it back. So i asked for it back so that the orders could be placed.

wasnt stepping on toes, was trying to save us money.

OP posts:
ginmakesitallok · 20/09/2011 19:24

oh and 21k might seem a lot to you in your dept - but to senior managers who are potentially responsible for making savings of millions its not really a huge deal.....

Original poster
gigglepin · 20/09/2011 19:25

internal accountant.

Its awkward isnt it. Boss could make things even more so.

Sounds like egos doesnt it.

Ahh well, i shall take the "friendly advice" and i shall not communicate with this man any further.

OP posts:
Original poster
gigglepin · 20/09/2011 19:27

oooh ginmakes this is a huge saving..its the equivilant of a nurses salary, which meant that we didnt loose one as there was talk of redundancies and closing beds.
Vital saving.

OP posts:
RitaMorgan · 20/09/2011 19:29

Next time you need to contact the accountant, email your boss and ask who you should address your query to.

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