Manager retiring. Inheriting duties

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My manager is retiring. It looks like I will inherit most of his duties with some others being outsourced within the business.

When I started to do some of these duties 2 years ago I was given a small payrise for the increase in duty. I will now be doing these things with an increase in responsibility, plus more, alone, no supervision. Financial reports etc.

My manager has said t's up to me if I wish to take these on or not. My GM has said that X and Y will go to A and B and I will inherit the rest. No question of whether I am happy to accept this.

WIBU to expect some kind of remuneration for the increase in duty and responsibility? And if IANBU, would you ask or just see what pans out?

If your manager intimidates you, you need to write an email defining what you want. For the love of God, don't ask to reduce your hours at this stage - you would be shooting yourself in the foot.

Dear GM,

I am delighted to be asked to take on the extra responsibilities we have discussed. There are several areas that I have identified for improvement and streamlining which I know can save the team quite a bit of time and money, and I look forward to talking them through with you.

I am confident that I can bring considerable added value to this enhanced role. As you know, my current salary is £18k + approx £200 in quarterly bonuses, based on my current role and workload. In view of the extra duties on the table right now, and salaries in similar-sized businesses for this kind of position, I would like to discuss a raise to £28k + xyz bonuses.

Also, given the amount of accounts-related work now involved, I wonder if X company would consider sponsoring me to start ACCA training, as this will certainly enhance my contribution to the team.

I look forward to your thoughts.

Best,

Abcdefg

Don't sound like you're begging or wheedling him into giving you a raise to something pointless like 19k. Ask for a substantial boost, which gives you room to negotiate - he might come back and say £22k and you can then come back and say that you can go with £25k + ACCA training. He will respect you more for it - the last bloody thing he needs this month is to lose TWO long-standing members of his team. If you open with 20k he'll offer you 18.5k. DON'T BEG. Imagine he was writing the email. Would he beg? Would he apologise for asking?

Also, I think moving swiftly on from the matter-of-fact request for a raise to asking for added training makes you sound more confident and also demonstrates that you are dead serious about excelling in the new role AND that you're planning to stick around.

astoundedgoat Fantastic. I will definitely use your letter as a baseline.

I just don't know whats a realistic number

I just don't know whats a realistic number

Then do some research. The national average for a financial administrator in the UK is £20.6k but it sounds like you will have more final responsibility than that - that's what you're doing now. It looks like you should be on 20k NOW, to start with.

Junior Project Managers earn 28k - www.glassdoor.co.uk/Salaries/junior-project-manager-salary-SRCH_KO0,22.htm

Sign into Glassdoor and play around with it a bit to find the right sort of ballpark role in your part of the country and work from that. If you're in Manchester and the salary range for your projected new role is £24 - £29k, then you open with £29k and work from there, NOT £24k.

Im not far from there so thats a good figure

What's your current managers title? How many people is he a manager over?

The jump from admin staff to management is significant, so it warrants a significan raise. Don't allow them to belittle the role that the man you believe them to have been paying 60k just because they now want 'the little admin woman' to do it. That's why you take the emotion out of it, take the business of what car you drive or whether you shop in aldi or m&s out of it and just look at the job role and what compensation that commands.

Have you researched similar accounts/financial admin staff salaries?

What tasks does your current manager do that they are deploying elsewhere? Are they the more serious elements of his work?

What great advice astoundedgoat
That's a fantastic approach. Mumsnet at its best.

The EH&S, and internal standards will be going elsewhere I believe.

When he was fulltime (c3 years ago) he was Technical Manager. He managed a support team of around 10. He went to 3 days a week and a support manager was drafted in who took over the management of the team. He only has me as a direct report.

**I was only adding in about what cars we drive etc so you have an idea of who I am - not for the purpose of negotiations.

From the little research I have done, financial stuff seem to be on around the same salary. The information I will be reporting is collating of figures and not accounting per se - just what we have invoiced, have outstanding, etc etc

Adminstrative Manager - Perhaps this is more the title?

How much does a Administration Manager make?
The national average Administration Manager salary is £28,319.

resources.workable.com/administration-manager-job-description

I think £30k seems a good ballpark figure for negotiations, and it's a great idea to push for further training/qualifications as part of the package. It shows drive for the role which management will appreciate, and will make your cv look much better for future negotiations.

Good luck, we're all rooting for you!

There's been a programme on Channel 4 for the last 2 weeks about asking for a pay rise and how to do it. You should watch it for tips.

The basic gist is that your first offer should be rejected out of hand, as if they accept it you will always wonder if you should have pitched it higher. So if you think you'd be happy with, say, £30,000 a year then ask for £35k. Also negotiate extra holidays if they won't offer more more money.

So.

My manager has now gone. I am inheriting a faior few of the duties I expected, but with my GM supervising/checking off before it is released to our head office. A fair bit of these tasks I have not really done before so it will be a learning curve for us both I think.

Am going to issue my GM an email as suggested above but am bricking myself about putting a figure on it. It seems astronomical to ask for 10k. But if I ask for 5 increase, they might halve that....

There were no discussions yesterday with regards to increased salaries just was I happy with the extra duties.

OP, you've weakened your position by agreeing to do it before locking in additional salary. Fortune favours the brave.

Selective memory is your friend. You were asked whether you would want the increased role and you said yes. Now you arrange a meeting to discuss your new role title and package. You say you want to do that ASAP so that you can take on the work ASAP.

Phrase the email/meeting request as if this was all obvious in the meeting. It is normal to discuss what the new role would be and whether you want it before discussing the money. Happily chatter away to colleagues about how happy you are about the promotion you've been offered.

Ok. Email sent. Had a chat with GM. In the current climate, due to our bigger group business, there isn't room for an increase and whilst he supports that I would need/deserve one, he can't guarantee this in 6 months either but has said as soon as there is the chance to seek an increase, he will be doing this for me.

He has also said they will happily fund an ACCA course for me. In the past, any request for education has never been declined so he would be happy for me to do this too.

Well done OP 👌

I was absolutely bricking it when he said "Pull up a pew, I've just got your email"

I know it's not, "Oh yes fine we'll up your salary with immediate effect" etc but it's a step in the right direction and at least shows my GM that I am seeing it as a new challenge

Are you getting a change in job title?
Could be important if in a year or so they are still not paying you priority and you want to move elsewhere.

Not sure yet Sarky He didnt seem to mention that at all.

Yeah, I'd definitely ask for a change in job title and make sure the training happens. You need to be setting yourself up to move on to something better.

That's a bit of a cop out by your GM as there obviously is room for an increase now your manager has left.
At least you've planted the seed OP (well done) and he agrees you need/deserve an increase.

I would email him now, documenting your discussion (paper trail) and ask for a review of the situation within a reasonable time frame. Show him you mean business.

We're part if a big group, Unfortunately, the larger group in our group is struggling. A lot. There have been cuts left right and centre. Bans on recruitment etc. So their main goal right now is cost saving. I know it sounds like a cop out but right now, they won't increase and I had already prepared myself for this.

What kind of finance degree/course could I do? It would obviously have to be part time

Get signed up for courses this week while the promise is fresh. Maybe send an email thanking him for the ACCA course funding and say you'll get back to him asap.

There are loads of courses and many distance learning.

Ask for a new job title. One that will make you more employable at a higher rate in your next job.

You need to at least ask for the job title or you've fallen into the rookie trap of accepting the first offer made.

Paid study days would be another good thing to request. Whether you use those for your distance course seminar/workshop/tutor days or just use them to revise before exams they are damn useful. Easy for GM to agree to because no extra cash comes out of his pocket for them although obviously your work will have to be covered.

Ask for those 2 things on top of the course in the hope of getting one.

I agree to get in an email that he will support your increased salary negotiations in future, etc. Also a change in title and formal acknowledgement of increased duties and courses to be paid for by them - and perhaps flexi hours to support your studies.

Get everything in writing. Even if you feel pushy or disloyal - document everything really clearly. Wouldn't hurt also to write something like you appreciate they have recognised your capacity for these additional responsibilities and all that.

Dear GM

Thanks for our discussion following the email I sent below. I appreciate that my capability for the additional roles has been recognised. I am ready to take up this new challenge and am looking forward to this.

As discussed, I also appreciate that whilst the business is not a position at present to increase my salary to demonstrate my enhanced duties, that this is in the forefront of your mind during the next round of pay increases.

I also appreciate your support with regards to obtaining further training to assist me in these new roles. I will look into courses on a part time basis surrounding the areas that I feel would benefit me and will come back to you with details for approval. Subject to the course being approved by the powers that be, I would anticipate this will be on a part time basis but I may need paid study days prior to examinations.

With regards to job title, perhaps we could agree on a new title - such as office administrator which reflects my change from being solely allocated to the sales adminstration.

Again, many thanks for the opportunity

Hows that?