Balancing HR and Accounts Work: Should I Accept Extra Duties or Stand My Ground?

Dear All,

I need one suggestion; please help me out. I am working as an HR Executive in a software company in Gurgaon for the past 3 months. This company has 12 employees, including the CEO and Director. My boss wants me to do some accounts work on Tally (TDS, Payments, Receipt, Balance sheet, etc.) along with HR work since there is no one in the accounts department. As an HR professional, I am not willing to take on the accounts work as it could have a negative impact on my profile. I have discussed this with my boss, expressing that I am unable to do accounts work. In response, he mentioned that it would simply involve data entry on Tally. Being a fresher at that time, I accepted to do the same, but now they want me to focus more on accounts. Even my colleagues mention that it's not part of my job role.

What should I do? Please advise quickly. Should I continue with this or should I directly refuse my boss?

Thank you.

Dipty, I would like to suggest that you start looking for another job that is purely HR-related. In the meantime, it would be beneficial for you to gain an understanding of Accounts, with a focus on the main and important aspect of TDS on salary. I am also attaching Form 16 for your reference. If you encounter any issues, please let me know. Accounts knowledge is valuable as it will benefit you in the future when you decide to start your own business.

Hi,

Obviously, I like HR, and I want to know if it would be questionable for my career if I were to switch jobs now. Why did I leave the job within only 3 months? Also, please tell me if there are any opportunities in your organization. My preferred locations are Hyderabad, Noida, Lucknow, or anywhere in North India.

Please help me! :(

Dear Dipti,

If you are comfortable doing both, you can negotiate salary with your boss as you are taking on extra work. There will be extra work, of course, but you will also earn and learn more, so there is no harm in it. You can also request your boss to provide you with a certificate mentioning both when you leave the job.

If you do not want to do this accounts job at all, then, as mentioned by others earlier, look for a new job and then resign. Do what you want; you don't need advice from others for this.

All the best.

Regards,
Viraj

Hi Viraj,

Thank you for your response. I am not at all comfortable with accounts. Money doesn't matter a lot to me, but the profile matters a lot as it's my startup. Let me tell you that I left my previous job within one month because I was not comfortable with my profile, and that one-month experience was not even counted here.

I am currently looking for a better opportunity and I plan to switch after January.

Dear Dipti,

Firstly, if you have previously agreed to assist them in Accounts along with HR, then it becomes necessary for you to stay true to your word. However, if the added responsibility is becoming overwhelming and you are struggling to cope with the unnecessary pressure, it is important to learn to say no.

When addressing the situation, try not to be too direct. Instead, you can tactfully mention that you have other pending tasks in HR. If there are no immediate pending tasks, consider creating some work for yourself that aligns with your interests.

Alternatively, if you believe you can manage the additional workload, you can express understanding of the necessity of the accounts work. Offer to help for a limited time while also initiating the search for an Accounts Executive to eventually take over the responsibility.

Combining experience in both HR and Accounts can be beneficial. If you view this situation positively, it could present an opportunity to negotiate during your next appraisal.

I encourage you to make every effort to address the situation before considering resignation, unless it is truly unavoidable. Remember to stay calm throughout this process.

Best regards,

I am not really sure whether leaving your job in 3 months would really help you. See if you could stay for some time and approach your manager to let you appoint an accounts person.

Dear Dipti,

All the best to you. You can avoid mentioning your one-month experience in your resume. Look for a new job and ensure that you brief the person whom you recruit in your place about this. Otherwise, we will have a similar post two months down the line from him/her. :) LOL

Take care.

Regards,
Viraj

Dear Dipti,

I understand the problem you are facing, and I suggest that you do not resign from your current job until you find the right opportunity. On one hand, it's commendable that you are managing multiple activities, but considering you only have 3 months of experience in HR, resigning from this position would mean losing that valuable experience. It's not advisable to restart your career from scratch. I recommend gaining at least 6 months of experience; since you already have 3 months, try to complete another 3 months to enhance your skills and potentially secure a better-paying position with more experience.

As you search for a new job, target reputable organizations that can add value to your career rather than smaller companies. Aim to work for a larger organization where you can develop and grow professionally. In the meantime, manage your current responsibilities efficiently. When updating your resume for the next job application, focus on HR-related tasks and omit any finance-related work. It would be beneficial to clarify your job description with your current boss to streamline your workload.

I will reach out to my contacts to explore potential opportunities for you. Please forward your resume to my email at chiru7991@rediffmail.com.

Best regards