[foundation-board] FYI - update on Michelle

Wed Oct 22 21:41:31 UTC 2014

Hi Laura -

Thanks for the update.  If I may ask a couple questions,
- What is the legal/contractual deadline on the audit?
- What is the legal/contractual deadline on the year end accounts?

The reason I ask is that, if it is possible,I wonder if it would be
better to wait on some of those activities until we have some
continuity.  Unless there is a legal deadline, neither seems to be
pressing enough to require interim help, and while it will be good to
cross them off the to-do list, both of those are likely to be activities
that will benefit more from  context and continuity than immediate
action.  We may need to focus our limited resources only on those things
that are absolutely required until there is a little more slack in the
system.

thanks,
Jane

On 22/10/14 19:15, Laura James wrote:
> *
>
> All, 
>
>
> Just to let you know I spoke with Michelle today.  She is now
> returning to work part time starting with finance activities 1-2 hours
> a day.  This will ramp up as her recovery allows, staying just with
> finance for the moment.  We will look to add in other duties as and
> when and have no fixed plan for these yet. She will be avoiding the
> pressure of general email and general team meetings for now. I expect
> to have a clearer long term cover plan in 2-3 weeks as Michelle's
> recovery continues and we see how the part time tasks work out. I am
> prioritising that she continues to rest and is not placed under
> pressure at this time. I will also work up some alternative plans
> around different scenarios here and share with the board as soon as I
> can (speaking with Tom about this on 3/11). 
>
>
> An interim accountant starts monday (already has been getting up to
> speed with Xero etc) and I will be briefing him to handle [in priority
> order] (1) year end accounts, (2) audit (due end nov), (3) project
> financial management support.  I expect he will be with us for 4-6
> weeks in the first instance but we will review and see how things go.
> Cassandra and I have been getting matters ready for briefing him and a
> quick start on the accounts and audit.  He will be handling direct
> liaison with Buzzacott on the audit. 
>
>
> I am writing a role description for a grant manager who will take on
> financial management for projects especially grants, including
> tracking and reporting to funders. This will relieve the burden off
> Michelle and also our project managers.  The PMs are gaining in
> financial skill but this sort of tracking and reporting is not a
> strength or passion and we have enough work to justify a 0.6-1FTE
> appointment. This was anticipated by Michelle and I before her illness
> and so should proceed. 
>
>
> Cassandra has been getting & staying on top of bookkeeping, payroll
> etc nicely in Michelle's absence and Nigel, recently promoted to
> senior sysadmin, has IT under good control too. Meg in HR, who is
> still learning a lot about this sort of role as it is her first HR
> position, has a higher workload and is less good at prioritising,
> needing daily management support, which I am covering at present.
> Michelle's return to work will mean I no longer need to cover payrun
> and banking duties although I will continue to help with higher level
> finance work. 
>
>
> Laura
>
>
>
>
>
> *
>
>
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