Haven't posted on here for a long time now, but would like everyone's (anyone's) opinions/thoughts. I am winding down to retirement now, so only have four clients, one of whom I go to their office three times a week and the other three I work from home.
My question is, has anyone else got so entrenched with a client that they feel more of an employee (without the benefits) than a self-employed bookkeeper? The client whose office I go to, I have been working for for nearly 10 years now and more and more he is treating me like an employee (I'm sure he doesn't know the difference!) I do some admin work for him as well, answer the phone etc. too. He has a PA who is in the days that I'm not, except for Fridays when we cross over. He has now suggested that she take over doing some credit control and even some bank postings. When i suggested that this was really my job, he said that as long as the money comes in, who cares who does it. He has been rather stressed lately, for personal and work reasons and I sympathise, but I feel a bit like my toes are being trodden on and that I'm not doing my job properly.
Am I being unreasonable, especially given the fact that I am winding down? (Probably not retiring for another 3-4 years yet though).
you state that you are winding down for retirement so even though this is a bit of a slap with a wet kipper that someone else is getting work that should be yours, is that not a good thing in that the business is putting in place someone else for when you decide to close this one off.
Like yourself I can become a little entrenched with some clients but it's more from the perspective of treating them as though their companies are my own and getting seriously annoyed with the board when they don't do as I tell them. Lol, lets face it. We're the professionals and for the most part business owners are a bunch of four year olds who have somehow managed to find themselves in a boardroom. Don't let them upset you, but step back and think of the big picture that you are winding them down for retirement and if they depend on you for absolutely everything then it will be near imposssible to draw a line under the gig (been there, done that, got the T shirt, writing the book).
All the best,
Shaun.
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Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
Thanks for replying. You're right, I'm worrying too much. It did feel like this was a slap in the face with a wet kipper as you put it, but I think I would have been more upset if I had been an employee and not self-employed. So I will step back a bit and let things take their course It's a one director company but with a turnover of about £900,000 and he does rely on me for most things, except he's had a PA for the last year and a half, so she has taken a lot of the burden of admin from me!
Thanks for your thoughts and for making me see things a bit clearer! Can't retire just yet, maybe in 3-4 years.
Im maybe going to come at this from a slightly different angle from Shaun, given he has said what I would consider one half of the issue from the owner's perspective.
From your perspective - are you concerned that there might be a drop in your income due to this change?
Or is it just about relinquishing 'control' or taking the removal of tasks as some kind of criticism (we can all take these things personally!)?
I personally would happily always give up the credit control side of any job. Hate it. I might be a bit concerned about someone taking over part of the bank keying, especially if they have had no proper training. Depends on what parts she is keying. Consistency with such processes helps and if she is doing part and you are doing part it could get messy unless you organise it carefully. Depends on how much there is and what part she is processing. If its all the payment receipts after folling up the credit control this may well be logical, but if its other things that then involve decisions re VAT/whether to capitalise etc then I would challenge this. May be even counter it with suggesting she take more non bookkeeping stuff, so it doesnt look like you are being petty, whilst giving valid reasons as to why such may cause more issues than it resolves.
If there is still 3 days worth of work that is left with you and it just means you are less pressured I would be tempted to agree to the changes, but either way I would be having a frank discussion with the chap to find out his plans, explaining that you need to scope in any changes with looking to take on more work from other people if its too soon to mention your retirement plans. If he knows about your plans then its a great opportunity to have a discussion about succession planning with him - if he wants his PA to do it all in future then ensuring she gains the qualifications necessary and suitable training. It is your livelihood as well and sometimes they need reminding of that (gently of course) especially when you have bent over backwards to assist in the past by doing things outside of the usual remit.
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Joanne
Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017
Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.
You should check out answers with reference to the legal position
Well, he assumes I will be retiring at some point in the next few years, but I haven't told him a definite time....won't be for 3-4 years yet, so have not discussed it. I think all he's concerned about is getting the money in in a timely fashion and doesn't care who does it. Personally I love doing credit control She is already doing lots of non bookkeeping stuff, that's what he employed her for (and she is employed) as previously I was doing it all and the bookkeeping.
I think he plans for her to just do some receipts posting for now, so no question of making decisions re VAT etc, she wouldn't have a clue. I would have no problem at all with teaching her stuff if I was retiring in the next month or so, but I'm not. When I do retire he will probably get another bookkeeper anyway.
I had already thought about what would happen if I lost a certain amount of work and would have to take on a bit of other work. The trouble with me is that when I do a job, I like to make it my own, done in my own way and I'm very particular and a bit of a perfectionist, so don't want to end up with this as a job share, as I'd hate that, as she isn't so particular.
I'm just going to leave things as they are for now and see how it goes I think.
It's a one director company but with a turnover of about £900,000 and he does rely on me for most things, except he's had a PA for the last year and a half, so she has taken a lot of the burden of admin from me!
