FINANCE/ACCOUNTING CAREERS

Promotion? No, Thanks.

While many financial professionals are focused on making it to the top, not everyone wants to be promoted. Maybe you feel this way, too. Perhaps you want to remain in your current job because of the work/life balance it affords or you enjoy your day-to-day duties too much to alter them.

Whatever the case, you’re not alone: According to a survey by our company, 71 percent of workers polled said they don’t want their manager’s job. However, if you excel in your current role, it’s likely you’ll be offered a promotion in the future.

It can be especially challenging to turn down an opportunity with greater responsibilities and higher visibility without appearing to lack motivation or drive. Following are some common reasons people have for declining a promotion as well as some advice to help ensure your manager views your decision in a positive light.

 It’s bad timing. Balancing work and personal priorities today has become more important than ever for many professionals; fortunately, most managers are sensitive to this concern. Maybe you recently had a child, need to take care of an elderly parent, or simply have a lot going on outside of work and fear you’ll have less time to devote to these priorities by taking the promotion.

If you’re not sure you can take on the extra responsibilities but are interested in moving up, you might ask your supervisor if you could try taking the position for a set period of time. That way, you can better determine whether you can handle the various responsibilities; after a trial period, you can talk to your supervisor about the experience and whether it makes sense to remain in the new role for the long term.

If it’s simply not possible for you to accept the promotion right now, ask if you can revisit the idea at a later date. Your boss will likely move someone else into the job, but there could be another opportunity down the road and your manager will know you’re interested.

You enjoy what you’re doing. Perhaps a new job would require you to give up your favorite aspects of your current position. For example, you like preparing financial statements or meeting with clients – activities a new role won’t include. If that’s the case, ask your manager if he or she would be willing to alter the responsibilities of the job to enable you to continue working on your preferred tasks. Sometimes relatively simple adjustments can allow individuals to still enjoy a new position andmove up in the firm.

You’re not the management type. If you’re afraid you’ll fail at one aspect of the job, see if you can get some exposure to it before you accept the promotion. For instance, some people may not feel comfortable taking on supervisory tasks, such as evaluating other employees’ performances or dealing with conflicts. In this instance, you might ask if you could first mentor newer staff members, enabling you to gradually become comfortable with managerial responsibilities. It’s an approach that could serve as a transition to the new role.

However, if you know you would be truly unhappy in a new position, be honest about it with your supervisor. Make sure he or she knows you take the offer seriously, but emphasize how much you enjoy and excel in your current role. If you’d like just a bit more challenge in your position, you might ask to take on some new responsibilities. You also could suggest a lateral move, which would allow you to remain at the company but increase your skill set and contribution to the company. 

Deciding whether to accept a promotion that you don’t feel is in line with your priorities unquestionably presents a dilemma. However, perceptions at businesses are changing on the topic, and if you handle the situation with creativity, honesty and diplomacy, staying put doesn’t have to be career affecting.

Founded in 1948, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, a division of Robert Half International Inc., is first and largest specialized financial recruiting service. The company has more than 360 offices worldwide. Search for jobs now or learn more at www.roberthalf.com.