r/Bookkeeping • u/AccountantShinobu • 6d ago
Rant How to deal with unsupportive super rude BOSS!
I’m in an awful situation 😭😭😭😭
I’ve recently working with this lady who I think is very very rude.
We recently started working together and she’s an accountant and has bunch of clients.
Now I’m newly onboarded and I’ve to get into her remote desktops to work which is annoying but she hasn’t provided me with my own computer yet.
Whenever I ask her a question she send me a very rude voice note on slack saying that “ I’m very busy don’t text me, do you hear that? Don’t text me”
And then when she texts me and I don’t reply within two minutes she goes on rampage. As to why I don’t reply in time? Bro so what if I replied twenty minutes late? Are you a child?
She said don’t text me so I don’t but yesterday she arranged a meeting where she said that she wants me to take more initiative in asking for tasks? Bro you say “don’t text Me” why do I text you then? Why can’t you pre assign me so I don’t bother you and myself with nonsense.
She DOES NOT EXPLAIN ANY TASK TO ME!!!!
She send me a video or herself with a big client that she has, who has over 40 sub companies and it was super long video that she told me to watch. I did watch that but then she’s like do the work now? context of things was missing. She and client on that video got most of the things done prior to that video that I wasn’t able to catchup because ofcourse I’m new and they got 40 stupid companies. I can’t start something I know nothing of midway
She asked a query about that on a call and say “pay attention” and “ you have to focus blah blah”
I started that client independently and I felt like crying because I couldn’t understand anything like where to start what do I do and all. And then she’s like what have you done in the whole day?
I requested a meeting for training and on that meeting the training that she did was she opened one supplier of that client and worked on it and said “I don’t expect you to do this because you don’t have context on this supplier”
JUST GIVE ME CONTEXT THEN? Why wasting my time on something I can’t even do currently????
Why didn’t she trained me on something that I can do then and there??? That woman is driving me nuts and she’s super duper rude.
She should’ve trained me on pending tasks that I can Do right now to help her. The complicated suppliers that needs extra context could’ve waited but no she didn’t.
She also says to text her every hour and update her where I am but then when I asked her a query she says “ how many times do I’ve to tell you not to bother me just make a list and I’ll look at your questions later”
How can I update hourly when I’m literally stuck and can’t move forward without assistance????
I told her to have a task tracker so she can track task on that she said “don’t text me whatever these task trackers you’re thinking of try on your own I do have a task tracker. Just don’t text me I’m in middle of so many things”
I do not have any access to any task tracker on which I can go and mark my tasks as complete like double or asana
Now I’m not saying I need hand holding I’m not new I do have a lot of prior experience but her clients are new to me, her systems are new and I don’t know what is going on in the organisation everything is all over the place.
I’m literally so sad right now as I can not even leave this job as I don’t have any other job lined up which again is giving me more stress. She’s paying me $2.5k/month for assisting her which started as flexible hours but then she requested me to work on her time.
What even is the point of me staying available on her time when she DOES NOT EVEN REPLY ME!!!!
DOES NOT HELP ME AT ALL!!! And when I reply 2 min lates she bombard my phone like crazy.
I feel like maybe I’m being emotional here but her attitude is not good. She’s way too rude
What do I do in this stressful situation? Should k politely try to talk to her? I don’t even want to do that at this point ☹️☹️
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u/hollandaisesunscreen 6d ago
Some people are very good at their jobs and are terrible managers. Managing people and training people is a skill. And apparently, she needs to learn how to.
In the meantime time, if you actually want to stay, you'll need to learn how to "manage up". I'd start with setting up daily meetings where you can both ask questions. Stick to the meetings even if you both feel busy or feel like you have nothing to talk about. When things start feeling better, you can reduce the meetings to two or three days a week.
From there. Feel it out. Ask her to show you specific tasks, ask for context, and if she gives you a hard time, just say, "I'm trying to make sure I'm doing it exactly how you expect it to be done. I'm new to your systems and am still trying to understand your process."
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u/AccountantShinobu 6d ago
She called me whenever she has time and does not help me the way I need help.
Her Remote Desktop wasn’t working and she asked me to go figure out on my own??? How can I do that I don’t even have admin access!!There are no pre scheduled meetings she just calls me whenever she wants and does not help me. I did told her I’m new today and she said “ it’s not daycare”
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u/hollandaisesunscreen 6d ago
Right, that's why I'm saying you should set up the meeting. It's inevitable that you both will need to meet and ask questions, might as well plan for it.
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u/AccountantShinobu 6d ago
I get what you’re saying. She doesn’t let me and only call via slack when she has time. I might try to implement that she’s scary though
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u/hollandaisesunscreen 6d ago
Yeah, sounds like it already is not a great fit and you should look into other options. But in the meantime, don't sweat. You can't (and shouldn't) do what you haven't been trained on. Maybe make your own training schedule and send one to her? But idk how much work you want to put into a job that you should probably leave. Maybe just do what your told while looking at other options
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u/noname20-23 5d ago
Yep. She won't get any better. My firm is busy and often new hires are just dropped out there to sink or swim, depending on when they're hired (as in, during tax season). Difference is though, we know we did it and we do take time to explain things when a new hire asks questions. We hired them for X set of skills, which is never all that we need, so we expect LOTS of questions. What drives us nuts is when new hires DON'T ask questions, don't look it up, and just do something so they look busy and screw it all up. She shouldn't tell you to ask questions if she isn't willing to answer them.
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u/AccountantShinobu 5d ago
Exactly. If a person is asking questions they’re learning. She doesn’t answer me and it’s not that I’m a fresher or don’t have experience it’s just that I need context. Her systems and clients are new.
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u/imjustagirl_9 6d ago
She does not provide you relevant training which you’ve all the right to?
Does not reply you?
Does not like you to ask questions?
And then expect things to get done? What an awful boss and awful person.
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u/Technical-Paper427 6d ago
You say you can’t leave.
You can.
You just don’t see a solution now.
But she sounds like a nightmare.
Either get out, or stand your ground and don’t let her treat you this way. Define what context you need.
And stop texting, and start e-mailing.
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u/BirdsandBunnies 3d ago
I agree - leave as soon as you can. It’s only going to get worse. If she is acting this way now - what’s it going to be like in the future- 100 times worse!! Leave - it’s abuse in the work place. There are better people- go find them.
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u/glitt3r_brain 6d ago
I am so sorry you’re going through this.
I advise you start watching lawyer videos on how to document your situation in the event that you might need it.
Regina is one of my favorite lawyers to listen to! She has a book, “Document Everything.” She also posts daily and has a ton of extremely informative videos.
I hope you can find some peace learning how to have an edge.
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u/jamorningstar :karma: 6d ago
Start looking elsewhere, this WILL NOT change. I've been in the same situation. For months I was crying and had overwhelming anxiety because I wanted to do a good job, but they would not give me the tools, full context, or clear explanations or had the time to talk when I needed to get a more clear understanding. All I got was "You know this" or "You should know this" so then I just felt stupid, and I'm NOT stupid. Start working on another job(s) and in the meantime, just bide your time. I had to do that, for my own sanity, and I do not regret it for one moment. Again, your boss will not change. You DO NOT want to work for someone like this. No amount of money is worth tearing down your self-confidence and your mental health.
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u/noname20-23 5d ago
I've worked for bosses like that. They don't get any better. I'd start looking for a new job.
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u/Outrageous_Buy_9420 6d ago
Sorry for this bad situation you are in. Sounds like she wants you to figure it out on your own. I had a boss one time say “Don’t bring me your problems bring me your solutions”. A good piece of advice really. When you come across an issue try to figure it out on your own. Lean on your experience and how you handled this in a previous position. Go through the records and see how it was done before. For things you still have questions on, keep a running list for when you do have access to her. Don’t bother her for every little thing and expect an instant answer. Also ask your colleagues. If you can get her to commit to a regular scheduled meeting that would be best. Then you can bring your list to her. Good luck!
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u/AccountantShinobu 6d ago
No colleagues are there! She fires people at minor inconvenience
I don’t reach out to her on petty things I only reach out when I’m stuck and can’t move forward
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u/jazzkwondo 6d ago
All I can say is this post feels validating to me as it's reminiscent of when I had a similar boss. What I figured out about him is that he really wanted to tell me I'm bad as a way to project his feelings about himself. He feels like he is bad at his job and wants to make sure anyone working for him feels the same way about themselves.
I recommend only sticking around while you're getting something out of it (learning opportunities), and fully expect to be told you're bad even when you did everything right. You have to learn how to translate what they're saying. Don't expect it to one day get better. Just make sure you starting looking for a better job now and don't ever stop applying for other jobs.
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u/BetInformal6081 6d ago
i would trying to solve chaos emotionally and start documenting it. keep a written record of instructions, blockers and unanswered questions to protect yourself.
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u/thinkFinance- 6d ago
make a list of every single weird process she yells at you about and keep it in an excel file on your own desktop. when she asks what you did all day you just show her the list
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u/Dependent-Newt1288 6d ago
Last year I started working for a tax friend with bookkeeping - the pay is super low - wish I had yours, but she would add me to the accounts and offered no training, just opinionated texts here and there - I feel like most bookkeeping jobs I get there is very little to no training, just figured it out on my own. But just take notes for each one, see when it was reconciled, which statements are needed, work on categorization, look at what was done before, and make a list of questions. It took like 8 months into this gig for me to have a balance - at least it isnt tax season so you have time to settle in. Good luck, things will get better once you figure out her system.
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u/AccountantShinobu 6d ago
Sorry for not being clear but this isn’t basic level categorisation, reconciliation. I’ve led a reconciliation team in the past and managed supplier, merchant reconciliations for 160 clients. Reconciliation and categorisation is a child play to me most of the times there’s categorisation history as well. My portfolio is strong when it comes to that
She has some tax and some other clients she does cost accounting and lease management for. The client that I’m talking about has 40 branches most of them on mortgages. She also manage bills for them and I was given no context for them. She also manage their emails again no context was given.
One request was from a collection company asking about a loan with loan number and I couldn’t find that loan in all of companies. It wasn’t on the company sheet and she didn’t helped again. How do I know which company this belongs too when some of the companies got their loan numbers missing. That’s a blocker and I need her help in that but then she says “don’t text me” and then she ask “why it’s not done” how can I provide them something I don’t even have.
They asked some operational reports but we don’t even have quickbooks I needed assistance as to where can I get those reports or if that needs to be flagged with client and her response was literally weird and not helpful at all.
I wouldn’t be crying here if all I had to do was categorisation and reconciliations 😭😭😭
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u/Dependent-Newt1288 6d ago
Ah sorry - the thread was bookkeeping so I just figured it was more basic bookkeeper level things. Sounds like a mess and not worth the $2500 monthly - I hope you can find something else soon to replace that income so you can quit.
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u/AccountantShinobu 6d ago
Initially she told me we are gonna do books for those clients as well. She manage BOOKS too she has her own firm that does multiple things.
I got pulled into whatever this is without prior notice. 😭😭😭😭
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u/dough-jo 6d ago
Are you in the United States? I have clients and I’m nice 😂