Bridget from Accounts

[Itsonlybridget1]

LIGHTHEARTED - Kind of 😂

I work for my brothers company, have worked her for 13+ years full time. Started out as general manager but am now company secretary (have been for a number of years).

Generally work very well with DB, we get on, we have the odd disagreement but on the whole it's a very good working relationship

My only peeve is that he keeps referring to me as "bridget in accounts" when asking people to contact me 😂 In the day to day running of stuff I don't really mind, but when I'm helping to deal with £1m+ contracts I would think it would give our customers a little more confidence that I know what I'm doing if he described me as our company secretary rather than just bridget from accounts

I honestly feel that he would laugh at me if I said anything. We do tease each other quite a bit.

YABU - you are being paid for a company secretary so what's the issue

YANBU - it's time to address me correctly when asking customers to communicate with me

I hear company secretary and think admin. Accounts sounds more important 🤷‍♀️

Start referring to him as “dogsbody Dave”? 😆

The people communicating with OP about £1m+ contracts will know what a company secretary is.

Ignorant people (see above) think the company secretary is a low level role. How about "head of finance", "finance director", "chief operating officer" or whatever explains your seniority in an unambiguous way.

ahhh misogyny dressed up at "banter" again

mmm I definitely don't deal with admin - I'm listed on companies house and most people who I deal with know that company secretary is an senior role

I know and if was anyone other than my brother I'd probably have it out with them.

It doesn’t matter he is your Brother, it’s a workplace, and he should behave professionally

Perhaps the approach with your brother might be that he is underselling the company prestige by not giving your correct title. ‘Check with Bridget from accounts’ sounds like a small family business getting by day to day and has a very different resonance to, ‘I’ll ask our company secretary to confirm these aspects of the account with you’. How seriously does he take himself and his business? How much is a professional image important to success in this context?

if he thinks company secretary sounds overly formal for the situation then something like finance director as suggested above could be a suitably senior alternative.

What qualifications do you have? Accountancy? Then you are The Accountant and should be referred as such or Finance Director.
Most Company Secretaries I know spend their time on Compliance and telling me I can't do something.
Is there an organisation of Company Secretaries that you can join?

I think this is a very well made point, and probably where he is coming from.