To be gobsmacked that an interviewee openly told dh that he had looked at our accounts…

[ChampagneWorries]

On companies house?

Dh did an interview today via zoom and the interviewee openly told him that they had looked at our company accounts on companies house to see if we were a healthy company!

Our dividends are on there and I'm really shocked that he basically admitted to being so nosey.

I know they are public information (which i disagree with) but they do show the company income, how much cash was in the bank and our salary etc.

Dh wants to offer him the job as he had some good qualities, but this has really put me off him.

I know people do look at peoples companies on the companies house, but you don't bloody tell them surely?!

Would you still offer him the job?

Sorry this is completely normal for people to do this especially for people applying for financial roles. I remember at least a couple of interviewees saying they have done this.

A lot of company owners don't seem to realise what information the general public can see.

I'm amazed that you think it was out of order - either the deed or the admission.

Has anyone told the op about google earth yet??

You have a strange attitude OP. I'd take that as a positive, he's doing due diligence. I can understand being embarrassed about money, especially if the company has struggled, but I think he's an excellent candidate.

What’s your role in the business and what position are you advertising?
I could maybe understand your perspective if the role was p/t temporary on a checkout, but otherwise, it really doesn’t make sense.

I have no idea whether you are millionaires, but you are aware of the minimal disclosures for small and medium sized companies?

If interviewing for a management+ role I would expect applicants to be googling away furiously.

I'm guessing your dh is a little more business savvy than you appear to be, op, which is why he took no notice of your bizarre stance on this?!

Your attitude must be a reverse on here , it only makes sense if you are a very small family business with not much commercial experience. Because every candidate, business etc who deals with you mostly likely checks Companies house, normal companies would check their potential clients on there. Secondly why would you make your salaries visible on your accounts? Also, saying that company information should not be public shows a complete lack of understanding of business and commercial law. Also business accounts are not your personal account and if you think they are....Frankly, you sound very risky to work for due to lack of basic commercial knowledge and the risk you are probably putting your business under. You don't want to hire someone because they prepared for interview and/or didn't lie, Run candidate run...as fast as you can.

It’s public information for the public to look at . Get over it

Im gobsmacked that you're gobsmacked. 10+years ago my my DH was interviewed for senior roles in 4 similar companies the first thing he did was look at their accounts firstly to check how solvent they were and he discussed it with the MDs at the interview (he was offered 3 jobs out of 4). He then choose the company with the healthiest accounts their account significantly swayed his decision.
Anyone applying for a job should do this and would be mad not too particularly in the current market. I don't think you have to post your salary on the CH website my Dh (who now owns the company he was interviewed for 10+ years ago) doesn't but you do have to say how much money you have in the bank and any outstanding debts etc. Most of DH's clients will look into this before rewarding contracts.

It's good that he prepared, it's good that he wants to work for a strong company. As you say, it's public information. It would be weird if he hadn't looked. It's risky working for small firms.

You're being utterly unreasonable! They'd be negligent not to look.
Normal, advisable practice.

(Worked in recruitment for 20 years)

Hmmm you sound like a bit of a control freak TBH

If you're disclosing your salary you're actually not a small company or your accountant needs replacing.

Of course he should have looked. Surely that’s part of your interview prep. I wouldn’t ever go to an interview without checking out that I was happy the company was solvent and also to get an idea of the size and scale of it.

Tell him you are unhappy that he looked and why.
Then he can decide what other basic information you would be unhappy for employees to see. He could possibly come to the conclusion that you are at best a micromanager and at worst, someone who would be happy at hiding everything important.
How entitled and arrogant you are to expect him to take you on trust

"I know they are public information (which i disagree with)"

WTF? There's a lot wrong with UK, but you are very wrong there.

Candidate is being totally upfront & honest - qualities you (or maybe DH)should cherish.

Fine to look for your own security but i think it was off to admit it.

'Admit' implies he's done something wrong. He hasn't. At all. In any sense.

He did something sensible and mentioned it during an interview for a professional role.

Would it be unprofessional to look up the accounts / public financial news for a big company? No. It would be viewed as a savvy thing to do that showed a genuine interest in the company. You need thicker skin than you are showing in order to get the best candidates.

It's not like he showed up and said 'I looked on Facebook and saw you have a well nice new car so you must be doing fucking well' is it? It's business information in the public arena and he took the initiative to check out the company properly.

Why are you embarrassed or concerned about anyone knowing totally above board, public information? It's genuinely odd!

What a weird thread. YABVU and very strange in your thinking about this.

I always look up a company before an interview and often ask a question about them to show that I've done my homework. I wouldn't want to work for a company that wants to keep their accounts hidden.

You can do background checks on people you interview, employ so why do you have an issue with him looking at the company he is interviewing for. I would do the same, surly its a good thing he has gone to these lengths

You like the tax advantages and financial protections that come with being a limited company, the (very small) payback is that some financial information is public to give the people you're dealing with some information with which to decide whether to work with you. This is exactly what it's there for.

I see doing that kind of due diligence as a real positive

I would be very impressed to see that he had done his due diligence!!!

You are being ridiculous!!!

It's very sensible for a potential employee to asses the financial viability of a company they are thinking of moving to.

I do understand your squeamishness about lack of privacy - I am also a small business owner. But I've come to terms with the fact that probably half the people who meet me and know what my business is called look up my accounts on CH.

This guy has a genuine reason. You're a bit naive if you think he's the first person to do it.