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?

Credit to them for initiative! Job interviews go both ways.

I’m sure it’s been mentioned, but your personal address doesn’t need to be on Companies House. It’s easily remedied if you know what you’re doing.

I would be impressed with the thoroughness of their research. Just the sort of employee most would be happy with

He let DH know that he is a careful, thorough person who is also open straightforward and honest. Those are qualities a good employer appreciates.

A paranoid secretive irrational employer probably shouldn't hire a person like that. They won't fit in.

Your interviewee is showing a good grasp of due diligence op... You've got a potential hire who has good analytical skills, grasps the key things they might need to know and how to find them out. I always want to know about the company I might be about to move to, reputation, financial status culture etc...

I'd hire him. The candidate showed he was genuinely interested in your company and the job, proactively searched information and is less likely to have second thoughts if they did their due diligence. It is exactly the type of thing that would get you a job in my team.

I would absolutely research this before applying for a job!

I find it odd that you think what he has done is odd, it shows common sense and initiative.

@Aneley

I'd hire him. The candidate showed he was genuinely interested in your company and the job, proactively searched information and is less likely to have second thoughts if they did their due diligence. It is exactly the type of thing that would get you a job in my team.

Well, he's already been hired. Op might be the one getting the boot if she doesn't seriously clue herself in She sounds more of a company liability than an asset herself.

The bare minimum I'd expect from any management level employee is to read the company accounts. I'd also hope they'd made discreet enquiries about the company from anyone they knew in the sector.

Its not nosy. It's normal. In fact, it's desirable to have switched on employees who understand the financial health of a company. After all, you're there to make money!

I think your attitude is weird and more to the point if you're so sensitive about financial information get an accountant to advise you how you show the minimum of info.

You need to show cash but you dont need to keep surplus cash in the business if you dont need if. If you do need it, its not surplus is it? You need to show highest paid directors emoluments but you might be able to get away with less disclosure on this. Presumably you're large enough not to need to file abbreviated accounts. As for dividend you don't have to show total can't you show per share? It's not always that obvious what dividends have been paid.

Very odd.

I think everyone has said it, your attitude is odd and I say that as someone who had a Ltd company too. We have an open book policy with our staff, they are paid the going rate, receive profit related bonuses and are bright enough to realise as owners partners are paid more. Your fear of employees or potential employees understanding your income is suspicious.

@mylovelydd

Presumably the posters saying YABU and it's normal to tell you he looked up your financial information on Companies House don't actually feature on Companies House themselves Presumably they also like their home address being public knowledge and also tell people what they earn too...yeah thought not.

YANU at all Op. It's weird. I even had a potential employee look up on Rightmove our house and they commented that some friend used to live on our road...It might be one thing to look at the financial health of a company pre interview or supplying them but to tell a person to their face that they don't even know, that they know where they live and how much they earn is not normal.

Presumably you are unaware you could have registered the address as being that of your accountant for a few quid a year extra on your accounts?

Somebody getting snippy at me doing my research with public domain information and being absolutely open about - because that's why it's out there, transparency - wouldn't be somebody I wanted to work for anyway.

Maybe the OP is so naive that she doesn't know what is or isn't available via CH. (Clutching at straws here, aren't I???)

He has shown initiative. Personally I would do this too. He did and still applied for the position so surely it's only positive.

You sound highly strung.

I thought that as an interviewee, you had to look up information about the Company, and then bring it up in the interview. The employer likes to see that a prospective employee is interested in that particular company and is not just looking for any job.

I always look up products etc and I bring it up at the interview.

If employers are that private they should be a sole trader.

You can search Companies House records and look at filed business accounts for a very good reason.

It's the law.

@Feedingthebirds1

Maybe the OP is so naive that she doesn't know what is or isn't available via CH. (Clutching at straws here, aren't I???)

Most people wouldn't be able to interpret what they are seeing on a set of statutory accounts anyway.

They wouldn't know what to look for. You need to read between the lines

Seemingly someone who is sharp astute and above all openly frank and honest. Are these qualities in keeping with your business ethos or would you prefer an employee who is more indifferent in basic due diligence, relaxed and less exacting? Sounds like your average to slightly a cut above talent as possibly a good short to medium term acquisition return on investment. However if a typical rapid career climber may look to perpetually move on to the next bigger and better personal package and so not necessarily long term solution and team player.

Doing the due diligence on a company you are considering joining is smart, not nosy. What a funny attitude you have!

Surely everyone with half a brain does this? It is very weird you do not agree with it !

It’s public information. I’d be impressed with the candidate’s initiative. Change your company set up if you don’t want publicly disclosed accounts

So you don't mind him looking at the information but you don't want them to tell you? How odd.

I doubt the OP is coming back.

I would expect people to have looked at the accounts!

It’s your company accounts. Not your personal bank statement.

Of course a potential employee will look at company accounts of a small business. If they don’t, they’re a fool. See also suppliers..

It’s publicly available information, and it shows he has done his research on the company. Most employers would be impressed by that.

I say YABU as DH has his company's accounts on Companies House

I'm still laughing at this because I'm an accountant so reading a company's accounts before I speak to them is courteous not nosy.