Told to do a different job...

[WendyHouse97]

Hi there, hope you can help.

I work as an audit consultant for quite a big company in Scotland. I've worked here for over 2 years.

Recently, there has been a change of Operations Manager, and he's making quite a lot of changes that I don't really like. My job is to do financial accounts for the clients of the company - I keep in regular touch with them and manage their financial audits. The new Operations Manager wants to give us sales KPIs, which is really weird. I've never done sales before and I don't feel as though I'm qualified - wants me to go to networking events as part of my role and bring on new clients? I'm not really comfortable with this - I'm quite introverted (that's why I'm in finance), and its just totally different to what my job is, and its totally not why I spent 4 years at university studying finance.

Is there anything I can do or do I just need to resign and find a new job? I just feel like this isn't what I signed up for.

[paulajayne]

What does your contract of employment say?

[WendyHouse97]

paulajayne - just that I'm employed as an audit consultant and that I'll perform the duties of an audit consultant. I can't imagine sales KPIs ever being part of an audit consultant's job.

[paulajayne]

You need to stand your ground and state that his request is not in your terms and conditions of employment and also not in your skill set. Perhaps speak to your HR department.

[ULA]

I would also check your job description

[atticus]

Whatever your contract says, your new manager may have expectations and demands that you are not comfortable with. You may need to seek a new job and move on at a time of your choosing.

[WendyHouse97]

Hi there, hope you can help.

Last week, I posted about how my new Operations Manager is bringing in sales targets for the finance team at my company, which includes me. I'm an audit consultant - I'm probably the farthest thing away from sales as you can imagine, but the Operations Manager wants the team to start cold calling and going to networking events to "plug a hole".

I've worked for the company for over 2 years, and I hate the idea of sales. My job is finance and audit - that's what I went to university to study for, for years!

So, I've made my objections known to the Operations Manager, and he's proceeded to make my job impossible to do - presumably to force me to resign. I spend around about 80% of my time using 2 systems: FreeAgent for invoice processing, and Excel for just about everything else. My manager has removed my access to both systems, citing "cost cutting", and reducing the number of licences, although as far as I can tell, out of the 8 of us in the department, I'm the only one to have had my licences and access removed.

The upshot of this, is that my clients are now making complaints into my inbox, which is a step towards disciplinary action, according to the company handbook.

I've spoken to the Operations Manager about this, and he says I "just need to do what I can with limited resources" and "if I can't make it happen, then we'll just need to assess my performance in line with the rest of the team".

I've considered whether this could be constructive dismissal, but I don't think it is, because the change doesn't affect my "terms" within my contract. It's the content of my job, which is non contractual. And we don't have job descriptions.

Is there anything I can do at all?

[echat11]

Keep a diary, dates / times, note down what happened, since you've spoken to him informally, you can raise the matter with HR / Directors? You could raise a formal grievance in writing, HR / Directors arranges a meeting to address your grievances with the Operations Manager. See how you get on, then you have other options.

'I've never done sales before and I don't feel as though I'm qualified - wants me to go to networking events as part of my role and bring on new clients? I'm not really comfortable with this - I'm quite introverted (that's why I'm in finance), and its just totally different to what my job is, and its totally not why I spent 4 years at university studying finance.'

I totally get this, if anyone has watched The Apprentice, the number of times, candidates say 'I'm not comfortable with Sales' from other backgrounds.

It could be 'detrimental' to the business, you can't do what you are meant to be doing and you can't sell.

No doubt ULA will advise.

[ULA]

WendyHouse97 I have merged your two threads to make it easier for those of us advising you. We appreciate everything being on one thread, with all the necessary detail, rather than starting a new thread for each question you have on the same issue.

Over time there may be a need for organisations to adapt and redefine roles, either based on business needs or new managers who may have been brought in to facilitate change. That said, since you feel you are being asked to do work you have not had training in and do not feel comfortable doing, then you should speak with the Operations Manager and or HR. I would suggest on an informal basis first and see what happens. Depending what happens you may need to consider a more formal approach as detailed by echat11 in post #8.

[dslippy]

Their choice is either to make you redundant or provide an opportunity to work for them in an alternate capacity. They are choosing the second alternative at the moment.

Redundancy need not be expensive.

[echat11]

In general when new management takeover, they want to make a quick impression.
It has it's positives / negatives, good management is the ability / skill to get people on board to share your vision.