New job not working out

I am an accountant and recently changed jobs. The new job is a family firm. I was told at the interview that there would be a backlog of work. The last accountant left 2 months ago, and since then the owners family member has been doing the work. However, since I started over the last 2 wks, I have realised that there is a lot of new work coming in, and it is very hard to tackle the backlog and to keep the new stuff up to date. Also, the family member (who had been doing the work for 2 months) had made lots of mistakes which are only coming to light now.

I told the owner all this, but he seems to have no understanding of the work involved and the time it takes. He seems to think I will get all up to date in a week or two. From speaking with other employees, the old accountant had to do 8am to 6pm just to keep the work up to date.

I give the owner oral updates every day on how the work is progressing.

The family member was showing me how the pricing and software worked over the first few days. Even though I had not used their software before, I had done accounts and payroll in other software packages. The family member kept saying 'We need someone who has experience in THIS brand of accounts software', even though I was picking it up well. I found out how to do credit notes etc myself and was able to correct the mistakes previously made. The family member also told me on my 2nd day that they got a fellow for this job and he only lasted a week!!!!! The attitude of this person has since toned down, as I have shown that I know what I am doing.

The family member comes in often to help but I think they want to use me to put systems in place and get the work up to date, so they can do the accounts themselves.

Currently I am doing 45 hrs a week, even though 40 was agreed.

Going back to my old job is not an option as this was hassle with the other people (they nearly wanted me to do their work for them, and just DIDNT CARE)

I would just like to know what should I do now. I know I will have to look for another job (maybe contract), but should I tell the agency who placed me about this. I am afraid if I don't say anything, the owner & family member might let me go when all work is up to date, and might tell the agency that I didn't work out.

I just don't want to put in lots of effort, if I may not be kept on. I don't relish doing 8 to 6 just to keep the work done, even if I am kept on. Also, I resent the fact that they might be trying to pick my brains to learn the job.

Should I have first of them and tell the agency. Or should I just do the 40-45 hrs and wait for the owner to let me go (meanwhile looking for work). Often it is nearly easier to be called for a contract job if you have no work, and sometimes contract work can turn into permanent work.

I'm not clear why you think the situation is a lost cause. Have you considered having an open, honest conversation with the owner to outline your concerns. Can you document & agree clear roles & responsibilities for yourself & the other family members. To be honest, a 45 hour week in the early days of a new job doesn't seem all that unreasonable or unusual to me.

If I had two jobs in a row which didn't work out and I felt other were to blame then I would probably at least consider the possibility that I was perhaps contributing to the situations just to double check my assumptions.

I was in the previous job for 2 yrs. The previous job was fine until a few months ago. It was always very busy but new people started a few months ago. These new people regularly forgot things, even after a few months, and just didn't seem to have a great interest. They looked on me to sort everything out, even though one of them was senior to me, and I was very busy.

I want to give this job a chance, but at the same time I don't want to put in effort, and be let go at the end of it . Also if I have to work 8 til 6 just to keep up to date, how will I manage with hols & bank hols.

In my last job for the 2 yrs, I found it easier to take my hols in 1 week slots, as if I took 2 wks it would be too hard to catch up. Also, I was the only one able to do wages and I would have to do 2 wks wages before going on hols. As the staff worked on rosters, I would have to estimate their hours, and correct any over/underpayments when I came back from hols.

I think I have a problem, as I get anxious if I see a backlog. I have always liked to keep up to date in a job. I don't seem to be able to relax, work through the things steadily and just hope for the best. I feel that I am a bit too conscientious, and I know I need to develop a more relaxed attitude towards work. I feel quite stressed about the backlog even when I am not working, and a bit resentful that I didn't cause it, yet I have to deal with it. Also, I had left everything bang up to date for the new person in my previous job, together with handover notes. I know I will have to try and change my attitude towards work in the long term and chill out a bit more, easier said than done.

It sounds to me like you are anticipating problems which may not even arise like you are preparing yourself for the worst.
If this is not your ideal job then by all means look around for something else, but I would certainly give any job a few months in order to settle in and see how I felt then.
Why don't you sit down with your boss and give him/her a formal run down of what you feel needs to be done and a realistic time frame within which you see this work being done.
Then agree what tasks are expected of you routinely once the backlog is up to date.
I agree a 40-45 hour week at the beginning of a job isn't unreasonable but if you feel this is like this will become your normal working hours and you do not want to work these hours then say you are willing to work extra for the initial catch up period but want agreed hours, which can only be exceeded when particularly necessary, within a particular time frame.
Say give it your all for the first 8 weeks and then say you hope to have all the systems in place and up to date and you will then want to work set hours.
In most private business, at least anywhere my other half has worked long hours can be a necessary evil.
I would not necessarily contact the recruitment agency until you have at least given youself a chance to settle in.

I too would agree with the previous posters and give the job more time. You are probably just feeling a little overwhelmed at the moment at the task ahead of you but if you document exactly what needs to be done and put a rough schedule into place (allowing for day-to-day activities) and approach your boss with this outline i am sure he will be understanding. He doesn't need to know the minute details but a general overview of the work to be done and expected timeframes. Also clarify the family member's role and maybe work out a more formal arrangement of time for any necessary training. I bet as soon as you formalise a plan then you will not feel so daunted.

I work in IT but work alongside many accountants (my BIL is one too) and certainly not many can work a 40 hour week staight through without having to do some overtime at certain points i.e month-end,year-end, VAT returns. This would generally be reflected in the salary an accountant can expect to earn as for any professional 9-5 without flexibility is rare.

I would give any new job 6 months (usual probationary tmeframe) and then take stock unless extreme problems arose. Anyone starting a new job and taking over from someone else will have a learning curve whatever their experience or skills and you need to give this more time to settle. You must be proactive in this by having a planned schedule in place to get through the backlog and familiarise yourself with the business.

buzybee, Have to say i identify with your last paragraph. It's difficult when you're like that to wind down - leave work at work. It means if you are anxious and worried about the job then its mpact on the other parts of your life is far more that if you were the type of person who could shut the door on the job when you finish work. Its easy to say and i haven't managed it yet but as well as looking at your job situation perhaps you need to set aside time to address that issue, deal with work at work and then try and cut off and give yourself a break when you finish work

Thanks for the good advice regarding having a schedule, and aiming to do the ongoing work as well, instead of just concentrating on the backlog.

I didn't expect a 9 to 5 job. But as I work 40 hrs a week, and am earning 28k (newly qualified accountant) I don't feel like putting in 45 to 50 hrs a week ongoing, just to keep up to date.

I will work 45 hrs a week until Xmas. If the work still keeps falling behind, I will just have to say 'let it' and that I tried. I know there is a happy medium between putting in that bit extra effort at work, and getting sick due to long hours and stress. I know I need to keep healthy, because it looks REALLY bad to put in very long hours, and then go off sick for a week.

Try to relax a little, and keep things in proportion you can only do your best and once you feel you are giving it 100% then noone, not even you can ask more of yourself.

Don't know where I stand in new job

I posted a while ago under 'New job not working out'.

Since then I have been doing the work etc. I still feel there is a lot to get done.

The problem is the family member who had been doing my job. When this person was showing me a card which had to be renewed, they said that I can renew the card, if I am still in the job then. The card expiry date is Dec 05.

I didn't say anything to this person, but just continued on with the work.

Also, the family member comes to the office most days, and always seems to find something I haven't done, even though I am trying to keep all aspects of the job up to date. Also, the family member tries to bring out that I don't have the correct experience for the job, as I used a different computer package before. When I asked one or two things, the attitude was 'I should know that from my last job'. The things were about procedures, which would be slightly different for different companies. My family said that I was being bullied, but I just think that this person is difficult anyway.

I spoke to the person who hired me about the family members comment 'If you are still here by Dec 05'. The person who hired me said not to take it seriously, and that he would decide whether I would be let go from the job or not. The family member was not involved in hiring me, so they could feel a bit resentful.

Now, I don't know what to do. If the family member considers me unsuitable for the job, why don't they tell me to go. I don't want to be cheeky and tell the family member to fire me if they have a problem. At the same time I don't want to give the impression that I am all anxious and 'dying to be kept in my job'. Even though I am trying my best and am making progress, I would understand if somebody considered me unsuitable or not fast enough with the work. The last person worked 8 to 6 to get the work done. I am currently doing those hours also, even though I agreed a 40 hour week. I don't mind working longer hours to give myself a good chance at the job. At least if I am let go, I will know that I tried my best.


Do you think I should confront the family member the next time they say comments like this, or just let it go. What would be the best way to deal with this?

Re: Don't know where I stand in new job

Definitely confront - it's the only way to deal with bullies - But confront in a civil, assertive manner.

It might be pertinent to note that employees don't have any statutory protection against unfair dismissal (other than under certain discriminatory criteria) until they have been in the job 12 months. Just mentioning this in case it's relevant. If it was me then I would think seriously about making a formal (written) complaint to my manager about the other person's behaviour. On the other hand I'd probably also start thinking about looking for a new job too.

Depends what you want honestly whether to stay or not
best advice is this person is feeling threatened Probably did your job but didnt have the qualifications
Flatter them ask their advice not in a i dont know what im doing but in the manner of I believe you are the expert here could you share your experience
Usually works

The family member could do all the day to day stuff but couldn't correct mistakes e.g. credit notes to balance out the system. They did the work years ago, when the business was a lot smaller. They couldn't do the end of month figures, and that is why the person in charge hired me. The owner wanted figures, which the family member could not supply. I don't even think the family member knows I am an accountant, and I couldn't be bothered telling them. I know that being able to do the job is more important. When I first came the family member told me that my predecessor was an accountant 'you know'. I think this remark would have made me feel threatened if I wasn't an accountant and was conscious of lack of qualifications.

The family member is helpful and told me to ask them if I wanted help. The main help I would need would be pricing, which I ask from the sales and ordering person. It is handier to ask them, as they are in the office nearby the whole time.

I think it is just the family members 'way'. Some people are very untactful and will say an unpleasant thing out straight.

Too early to say whether I need to start looking for another job. It would be hard to explain to an agency that I was just in a job a month, and looking for something else.

It sounds difficult and I went through something similar.
you should NEVER stay in a job where you are not happy.
you should of course give it a fair shot, but there should be a cut off time for both parties. If after a time your still not happy. leave.
communication is crucial, but useless with Aholes.
There are tons of jobs out there and tons of employers who appreciate a hard working conscientious diligent person, like yourself.. go find them, it may take you 5 more change of jobs. Don't question yourself.. yet..
everyone else will probably tell you its you, and you think its you, but it most likely is the Ahole you are working for. THERE ARE MILLIONS OF AHOLE BOSSES OUT THERE.


A retired and very wise man once told me that if you are being bullied(and are sure of it) then play them at their own game.
turn up on time go home on time and do the minimum.
If they they make bullying types of threats then note them down.
i.e. being threatened with your job for no good reason.

Dear Busybee - I sympathise, I really do. My advice in a nutshell would be leave or stick it out till after Christmas and then leave. Tell the agency the truth - these things happen. I've been there - and busted my **** for people who make unreasonable demands regarding workload and are never happy in the end anyway. I left a c**p job like that this time last year - handed in my notice on 23 November. Not an ideal situation financially but we managed. I ended up so stressed I got sick. Have a nice job now - not perfect but what job is? Sounds to me like there are a lot of family politics going on there and it's not personal or to do with your experience at all. Don't let them undermine your confidence

The thing about doing the bare minimum, is that my days would be more stressful e.g. companies wondering why they arent being invoiced for goods, creditors wanting cheques, queries etc, not to talk about having proper figures for the owner. I am the only person in accounts. The other people are in different jobs.

I am looking for something else, but I know I can't get time off for lots of interviews. There are only so many excuses one can use. Also, taking an hour off here and there, every second week, looks bad.

I have got slightly faster at the work and am figuring out things. However, I still don't really want to stay there, partly because of this person and partly the workload. The owners are planning more work for me when I get faster at this work (They have a number of businesses). It is still taking me 45 hrs+ to do this work. Even if I get faster, it seems I will still be working long hours with the upcoming work. There is a culture of working long hours, and rarely taking holidays among the other workers.

I am a bit conscious of leaving if I have no job to go to. Everyone says it is harder to get a job if you have no job. On the other hand, if I was available for contract work, I might get something for a few weeks, and it could turn long term. At the moment the agencies are reluctant to consider me for contract work. Their attitude is that I have a steady job, and I may have no job when the contract finishes.

I am considering sticking it out for another while (it looks better on a CV to have stayed in a job a few months). I am considering leaving just before my wedding, and searching for contract work after the honeymoon. I don't want to leave now, search for contract work, and have to tell contract jobs that I need 2 wks off to get married. Contracts work month to month and mine may not be renewed if I'm taking time off.

I would like to stay at this job until I get another job, but what if I don't get another job for a year or two!! It took me a year to get this job (I was trying to move nearer home). This is ruining the build up to the wedding, and I don't want to think of a backlog, people at work etc, when I come back from honeymoon.

What would you think?

Hi Buzybee,
To reiterate.
you should NEVER stay in a job where you are not happy.
unless you have 10 kids and cant feed them.

I have seen that you have loads of posts with regards being unhappy at work.
Staying in a job where you are not happy is like staying in a relationship where you are not happy. its pointless! The longer it goes on the worse you will feel and i am sure it wont be helping your self condfidence.

you seem to be caught between 2 stools. 1. to work hard, get the work done and make the boss happy. and 2. getting the hell out and finding something else.
If you arent happy there, which you clearly arent, start making plans to leave. If you can stick it, then yes it is easier to find a job with a job, but if you are miserable then that doesnt even matter. you are better off unemployed than like the guy who said he was physically sick from the stress of the job.

Perhaps there are bigger questions, like are you happy in your chosen profession? perhaps( and i mean no offence by this) a less stressful job would suit? perhaps a different career?

It is very hard to think straight when you are in the situation you are in.
I think meeting a career counsellor may help you. like i say i was in your situation and changed job several times before i found the right one.

In my previous jobs, I could get the work done in the 40 hrs. In my last job, the new person rang me to ask about something, and they said that there was a lot of work (in my old job). I am newly qualified, but I have been doing similiar work for the past 10 yrs.

What I don't like about this job, is that they expect you to get a lot of work done in the 40 hrs. If they were accountants I would accept this, as I might be just slow to get the work done. However, they are not accountants and I think they don't understand about the volume of work to be done.

What I find stressful is the family member coming in asking me have I done this or that, when I am currently doing 45 hrs and barely getting the work done. I am only paid for the 40 hrs. Their attitude is that I SHOULD get the work done in 40 to 45 hrs. The family member is asking me if I REALLY had a certain type of experience in my last job (with the attitude of doubting me!!!) I know for a fact that the last accountant used to do 50 hr weeks, and used to take no hols to keep the work done up.


My family think the employer is just pretending that the work can be done in 40 hrs, so he won't have to pay overtime or employ another person.

I will stay on another while, try and keep the work done as best I can. I would like to stay on until closer to the wedding, then finish up before getting married, and search for something else after the honeymoon.

Tks again, all comments welcome.