Do I want a temp-to-perm job with an organization that lost its CFO to a work-related criminal inquiry six months ago, and also uses accounting software I'm not familiar with?
Practically? It is easier to find a job when you already have one. So yes, you should take it, even if it means that you're just marking time while looking for the next one.
Unless you think there are long-term ethical issues involved. I mean, they can't pay you enough to break the law, or lie, cheat, and steal. They have had recent problems in this area. So if you think it's a systemic problem with their office then walk away. Otherwise, take the gig. (And be prepared to walk away if you find out after the fact that it's a systemic issue.)
The criminal investigation is not financial at this time.
I have a part-time job at the moment. It fills resume gaps, and gives me some breathing room, but it's not a well I can go back to if I leave it.
I can't switch jobs in under a year in my field, unless something major happens. It would be worse to take a job I can't keep than it would be to stay where I am.
What are your alternatives? What risks are you taking if you accept this job and what are the risks of turning it down? How heavily do you weight those risks? Does the job give you anything you want (other than the obvious income)? How much weight do you give to what else it offers?
We aren't always rational decision-makers, but it sometimes helps to have a good ingredient list to which we apply our gut feels.
Unless the org happens to be one that you *really* want to see succeed, and you feel like you (in particular!) would be instrumental in bringing it from here to there.
In such case, I'm confident in your ability to quickly become proficient in whatever accounting software they use; that's just a minor hoop to burn.
And, there might be some contamination of things left behind by the former CFO, but ... cleaning that up won't taint the cleaner.
So -- it'll likely be messier than many other opportunities, but that may just as well be a pro as a con.
Messy is fun. I mean, there's solid work to do there, and that's usually a good time. I have some background in forensics, and working in that area is often entertaining.
It kind of depends, though, on what the overall current structure looks like. It could look like the bad guy was bad only in non-financial ways, or potentially not actually bad at all, although I think these are outside possibilities.It depends how the organization is reacting. It's hard to ask all of these questions in a job interview.
Comments 11
Reply
Unless you think there are long-term ethical issues involved. I mean, they can't pay you enough to break the law, or lie, cheat, and steal. They have had recent problems in this area. So if you think it's a systemic problem with their office then walk away. Otherwise, take the gig. (And be prepared to walk away if you find out after the fact that it's a systemic issue.)
Reply
I have a part-time job at the moment. It fills resume gaps, and gives me some breathing room, but it's not a well I can go back to if I leave it.
I can't switch jobs in under a year in my field, unless something major happens. It would be worse to take a job I can't keep than it would be to stay where I am.
Reply
What are your alternatives? What risks are you taking if you accept this job and what are the risks of turning it down? How heavily do you weight those risks? Does the job give you anything you want (other than the obvious income)? How much weight do you give to what else it offers?
We aren't always rational decision-makers, but it sometimes helps to have a good ingredient list to which we apply our gut feels.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Unless the org happens to be one that you *really* want to see succeed, and you feel like you (in particular!) would be instrumental in bringing it from here to there.
In such case, I'm confident in your ability to quickly become proficient in whatever accounting software they use; that's just a minor hoop to burn.
And, there might be some contamination of things left behind by the former CFO, but ... cleaning that up won't taint the cleaner.
So -- it'll likely be messier than many other opportunities, but that may just as well be a pro as a con.
Reply
It kind of depends, though, on what the overall current structure looks like. It could look like the bad guy was bad only in non-financial ways, or potentially not actually bad at all, although I think these are outside possibilities.It depends how the organization is reacting. It's hard to ask all of these questions in a job interview.
Reply
Fun to skyhook about for a few minutes, though!
Reply
Leave a comment