Manager abusing expenses

I work for a small Irish company (15 people) which is owned by a bigger UK company. My problem is this:

The general manager has decided to move his girlf over from UK (they are both married) and given her a job in our company. I didnt have a problem with that when it happened but now they are spending company money like there is no tomorrow. Hotel (2 rooms mon-fri) but staying in one. Breaks away during the week. Laptops eventhough they dont need them.. etc etc...

I overheard accounts saying that the company isnt making enough money but the expenditure is really high. Bookkeeper reckons company is financial trouble and can see it folding within a year.

The GM is near retirement age and I have a feeling he doesnt care about the company future.

Im looking for advice really. Should I contact UK office and voice my concerns or should i just put up and shut up. I dont want to get in any trouble but Im worried. So is everyone else in the company. Its the talk of the office at the mo.

PS he is very friendly with people in UK office so if i contact them it could backfire on me big time.

What's your role within the company? Sounds like it isn't really your place and as you say it could backfire badly.

Difficult situation. Really it's the financial controller who should be seeing this going on...he or she is signing the exspense forms.

If you are friendly with someone in a position of power within the company voice your concerns casually. Don't make a song and dance of it. Over lunch or something would be best.

Barring that...start looking for a new job when the company folds...f that is what's going to happen. These things happen...

Im not in any position of power at all really. Just overheard accounts saying what situation was. I might go to accounts person and say it at lunch time.

I am already making plans to look for another job. I think its a sinking ship. Its just sad really. thanks for advice.

whether the "perks" are tax compliant or not thats another problem. There is nothing surprising about them at all.

A GM moing over from abroad would quite commonly have a similar set up. There is no way all of this is going on without the CFO knowing - so I would guess they do.
Its all probably part of his package and hes not too concened about tax compliance on the expenses etc.....


How do you mean they dont NEED LTs if they work here and ever are based at home in UK they are entitled to a LT if the co allows or see benefit. If she has now got a job in the co too well there is no doubt that everyone knows what he is at and it is obviously AOK at director level.

You sound begrudging

If the company is in trouble a couple of laptops and hotel rooms aren't the biggest worries. It is unlikley that this expenditure is being incurred without someone in the company being aware of it.

You need to be careful about contacting someone else in the organisation - if it came down to a problem do you have a shred of hard evidence - because these things can turn very nasty and hearsay or quoting half a conversation you overheard won't be of any use.

I would say stay well out of it.

My brother in law was in a position of authority - he discovered a senior manager (on the board of directors) was abusing company funds.

Brought it to his attention discreetly, a week later my brother in law was fired. Just be warned if you do bring this up...

I reckon you're right and Im going to stay out of it. I suppose I dont know the whole story. I did think it was unreal that UK dont know about it. I was going to bring it up with accounts but its not worth the trouble.

Im definitely not begruding. Its not in my nature at all. There is a lot of back biting in work which I dont engage in at all. I suppose thats why I asked the question here because I dont really talk about personal work matters to colleagues.

Thanks

Hi

Wolfspeed is spot on here, you need to ensure you have plenty of evidence before you consider taking any action - without evidence, you'd be mad to take action.

Assuming you can show sufficient evidence to support your claims you could always drop an unsigned letter to the CEO of the UK operation and see if that gets a result - this way, you would not have had to give you name, get exposure for reporting your boss etc.

Food for thought, just be sure your' correct before you take any action.

Cheers

G>

I'd agree with everyone else above here too. I'd just do as you say you've always done, i.e keep schtum & don't engage in any conversation about it. You don't need the aggrevation and it's not your problem, it's the company's, so why should you get hassled about it. You work to live, you don't live to work! (Then again some people do )

pinkyBear said:

My brother in law was in a position of authority - he discovered a senior manager (on the board of directors) was abusing company funds.

Brought it to his attention discreetly, a week later my brother in law was fired. Just be warned if you do bring this up...

Click to expand...

That's mad...so much for doing the right thing

Why not send an anonymous note to the senior person in the UK responsible for financial control/or the managing director. Outline your concerns. Leave it at that . Try and give some useful facts and information. Then at least you have tried and not personally put your job on the line.

That's mad...so much for doing the right thing

Click to expand...

I know my BIL was a FC in a listed company, he found when auditing finances that one of the directors withheld company money that was given to him by a coleague from a customer... How serious was that!
When my BIL informed him that he had not returned the monies and could he do so the man in question became embaresed - returned the money..

A week ltr my BIL was called into an office and told he was being let go ... Oh there were solicitors and all that involved - it was a really tough time for the familiy....