About to start a new job a week on Monday but.......

PierremontQuaker03

So I am 90% the way thru my 3 months notice period - about to start a new job a week on Monday....however what are peoples opinions on this....
 I was offered a job three months ago and accepted and all seemed ok. Then about a month and a half ago I heard a new CFO had been appointed in my new company. Ok slightly concerning - but does not effect me, however they could make changes going forward.
Anyway about a month ago, before Christmas my new employer got in touch with me and said the new CFO wanted a chat and I thought ok, no problem. However, it was cancelled as they were sick. I got in touch with the CFO after Christmas just to make contact again and to wish them a happy new year and they said lets rearrange the call and we did. Anyway, the call happened recently and they said there was confusion over the job I was offered - and that I would still be starting as the job I applied for but I would be reporting directly to them instead of the Finance Manager - and basically would I be happy with that ???? I was completely baffled....of course I was going to say yes on the call, I am leaving my bloody job for Christ sake and I have a mortgage to pay! They then went thru all the work they want me to get involved in and I will be chucked in sink or swim style. Again, ok no problem, I don't mind a challenge and hate being bored. But it has left a real bad taste in the mouth - the Finance manager who interviewed me seemed lovely, and I did not get the same vibe from this person.
As far as I am concerned the goalposts have been moved......they could have told me this a month and a half ago instead of dropping it on me last minute....!  
Anyway, thankfully, as news dropped a month and a half ago about the new CFO, I kept my hat in the ring and applied for a couple of jobs directly and avoided all agency advertised jobs - as this job I had been offered was thru an agency, so I wanted to stay away from agencies as they all talk to each other in the finance world.
Turns out I potentially could have an offer early next week from one of those jobs (I know I am in the running) and I have said to that company that potentially might offer me the job that I have another offer on the table so it needs to be decided quickly if they want to offer me the job. And with the other job I applied for, I think I am thru to the final round which might happen next week - maybe its too late now for this one.
If I get offered this job early next week, I am going to take it and bin this other company off where I have been waiting three months to start - however, I am going to have to be without a job for a month, as I said I am on a months notice.....but of course I am leaving my job next week!
With this current job offer (the one I have been waiting for 3 months for) its 3 months probation, where I could leave within two weeks notice, so I could potentially start the job and give it a go, but continue to look, but then it now looks bad if I am looking to leave a job I just started !
I am so confused to know what to do, I know I have to wait until I get this offer from this company next week, but I potentially could be starting a new job a week on Monday, with bad vibes, and I feel like they have pulled the rug from under me!
What does everyone think?
 

Grumpy_chap

This is most likely your nerves kicking in and making you doubt yourself.  IIRC, you had several elements of anxiety about changing jobs as per your previous threads.  Changing jobs is always unsettling but the change of Manager personnel could happen at any job at any time - even if you stayed in the current job, the Manager could be someone else by the end of the week.  We just have to find ways to get through it and build new relationships with whichever individuals we find we need to engage with.  Do your best and good luck!

Emmia

A few years ago I started a new job with a lovely manager, he left 6 weeks later to take his dream job and I got a new line manager who, let's just say was not to my liking...

He then got a temporary promotion a few months later so I got another line manager - who was lovelier but by then I'd decided this place wasn't for me... So I left on a promotion after 9 months.

I think cold feet can be one explanation, personally I think you should give jobs 6 months. Either way OP you'll have a new job soon...

TELLIT01

The only movement of the goalposts I see is that the OP will now be reporting to somebody higher up the organisation.  That can been viewed as positive or negative.  It's possible the shortened management line will either require, or offer, more responsibility.  It will certainly provide a higher profile.

All the OP can really do is go in with a totally open mind and see where it leads.

I was in a single role during the 12 years I was with one company.  At various times I reported to the Finance Director, the Managing Director, the Accounts manager and the Development Director.  None of them really understood my job as they all had financial backgrounds and I was looking after all aspects of the IT systems.  

Who you are reporting to is possibly less important than the relationship you have with whoever that person happens to be.

penners324

Nothing to be concerned about. 

penners324

I'd take the original job offer. A change of reporting lines is nothing to worry about. May well be a better opportunity now.

The fact the new CFO has gone out of his to speak to you means they're keen on you starting 

EnPointe

TELLIT01 said:

The only movement of the goalposts I see is that the OP will now be reporting to somebody higher up the organisation.  That can been viewed as positive or negative.  It's possible the shortened management line will either require, or offer, more responsibility.  It will certainly provide a higher profile.

All the OP can really do is go in with a totally open mind and see where it leads.

I was in a single role during the 12 years I was with one company.  At various times I reported to the Finance Director, the Managing Director, the Accounts manager and the Development Director.  None of them really understood my job as they all had financial backgrounds and I was looking after all aspects of the IT systems.  

Who you are reporting to is possibly less important than the relationship you have with whoever that person happens to be.

i'd agree  reporting to a more senior person is generally a good thing , as you say for  visibility and  acknowledgement of your direct contribution ... 

what would be more concerning is a role where you  told your were to be line managed by the CFO and then  you  told that  formally and, documented as  such, you are line managed by a lesser manager. 

 It can all be academic  in a previous role i was 'just' an ordinary person on the top increment of the  none management pay   structure )  and technically  communication outside my  chain of command should have gone through a team manager,  Department (ops) manager   and so on,  but the reality was that senior managers in  a  couple of other teams who we dealt with regularly  knew to message me or  my  other shift opposite number cc'ing the  line managers because it  would be me or other shift Oppo who provided the defintive answer about  actual vs  system  stock levels  and the status and state of the physical stock...   

sheramber

You might find you not like the manager in the second job you hope to get offered.

Both jobs are unknowns.

PierremontQuaker03

Thanks everyone- d-day today / tomorrow- will let everyone know what happens 

MyRealNameToo

There is no guarantees in life, someone can be great in interview and terrible in reality (both candidates and managers). Similarly the manager may be great but the rest of the people terrible. 

Sure a new CFO may create change but thats going to be easier for you to ride than someone who's been there for 20 years. Assuming you are still wanting to progress in your career then being a direct report of a CxO is always something that increases the odds, if you want an easy life and just ride out to retirement then being more removed can be better. 

Sounds more like your nerves than any real issues 

stormCat99

This sounds like a positive change. Your role will now be reporting to a higher level in the organisation, which is surely an unexpected but good thing.