Would it sound arrogant if I asked my boss to?

Question

My boss is rarely at the office. I manage his personal & business money. I have a certain flexibility but if I need to move considerable amounts of money I always call him to tell him what I'm about to do and inquire if he approves.

Today he told me in the future I do not need to contact him and to proceed with any transactions I judge necessary.

For my own protection...I feel I need to have this written down at least in an email. I do not want him to jump at my throat in a couple of months because he disagrees with something I did.

We did have issues in the past because he did not remember giving me the go ahead on something.

I really don't know how to bring this up to him or if I should at all.

Thanks

Answer 1

when it comes to money, i'd get everything in writing.  people get crazy when it comes to money and things can get real ugly real quickly.

Answer 2

Based on your history with him, I think you would still do well to notify

him of all those transactions  in an email beforehand.

Answer 3

For certain you need this in writing, there is no doubt you need to protect yourself.  If he comes back and says that he wouldn't have approved something, there is a big possibility that you'll be held responsible or worse, investigated for embezzlement

Answer 4

You are being given fiduciary responsibility.  No, it is not at all arrogant to ask for something in writing.

Given that there have been misunderstandings in the past, you would do well to ask him for a Letter of Delegation that clearly spells out what you are and are not authorized to do, including a threshold amount below which you don't need explicit approval and above which you agree to call first.

Additionally, you should prepare a formal report every week of what you've done and why.  This keeps your boss in the loop and gives him an opportunity to give feedback.  It also demonstrates that you are adhering to the highest ethical standards.

You AND your boss need this sort of letter anyway.  If he has authority to handle large sums of money, he's putting his neck on the line by not having a formal delegation in place, and you're putting yourself at tremendous risk.

Answer 5

I would definately bring it up to him. You need to protect yourself, especially when you are dealing with someone elses money. I would just tell him that you would feel alot better about not calling him and asking for approval if he would put it down in writing that he authorizes you to make financial decisions on his behalf.