Well, the title
certainly says it all. I just got
promoted to Manager 3 (or Senior Manager) level! It’s great news for someone like me who is
considered a ‘returnee’. For those who
haven’t read my earlier posts, I went back to my former employer (where I
worked for 8 years before I resigned) after staying away for 4 years and
running my own accounting firm during those 4 years.
Actually, I only
found out the night before the formal announcement was made. Should have been earlier but my boss was out
of the country for several days and I think it just went out of his mind that
he haven’t told me yet. But what the
heck, doesn’t matter right? Great news
is still great news.
But really, and I
don’t want to put a damper on things, is getting promoted really great
news?
Well, it really
depends on the way you look at it.
It may mean higher
salaries, though I’ve gone through a promotion when my salary did not increase
the way one who just got promoted would expect.
So note to self, do not expect a very high salary increase.
It may mean a more
prestigious title as the Manager 3 level in my firm means a step away from
becoming a partner. But, it’s not a
guarantee that one will become a partner, no matter how many years one is stuck
in this level.
Believe me, I’ve
seen some people who are on this level who have been with the firm longer than
their partners. Why they don’t leave
beats me but that’s a different topic altogether.
It does mean more responsibility
and greater scope of work. When you’re a
senior manager, it means that you must be good all around – in the technical sense,
in audit stuff, in maintaining the relationship with your client, partners,
staff, etc. and in managing your people (and sometimes, even your clients). It also means the partner can get to pass on
certain things to you that they can’t pass on to junior managers and the
seniors. So more work for me (hurray – not!).
It also means more
pressure to perform well as a lot of partners will be looking at your
performance to assess whether they want you to become their co-owner of the
firm. To top it all, a lot of the
partners know that I just got back six months ago so they will be looking for
proof that my promotion is well-deserved.
So more eyes on me.
Oh well, enough of
those thoughts about more jobs and more pressure. I don’t think that will help my performance
as a senior manager so I’d better put those thoughts aside (until the next time
I’m reminded of them, that is).
Personally, it
means that, even if I was gone for 4 years, my partner still recognized my
ability to handle my job as a senior manager.
And that I am really grateful for.
I just hope I wouldn’t let him down.
So keep your fingers crossed for me and wish me luck!
Signing off now. Till the next post!
