To think they're implying I'm a thief?

[BlauesPferd]

N/C as there are a few quite specific details here... Sorry if this is a bit unclear - I'm trying to keep it as vague as possible whilst including relevant information!

I don't work Thursdays, but keep an eye on my emails as it makes things easier when I go back on Fridays. Today, an email was sent to a group of people/departments, with details of figures for an account - a comparison between two time periods. For my department (and a few others), the figures are much lower for the second period - about 25% - which given other factors you might not expect.

I am the person responsible for retrieving, counting and banking this money in my department, but I am not the only person who has access to it - quite a lot of other people could get to it if they chose, and although it is covered by CCTV, that is not monitored. At all times when counting it, I too am under CCTV surveillance. I am fairly sure though that the CCTV is not stored as far back as the relevant time period, but probably covers the last few months.

The email was from our supervisor, who cc'd me in as part of my department. The text of his email basically highlighted the discrepancy, and then said that there was no external factor to explain this so: "as such I would suggest that this money has either been stolen or misappropriated". My direct boss then forwarded the email, to just me, with no added message from him, just "FYI".

DP thinks I should get in there now and reply to both, saying how upset I am at the inferred accusation and refuting it, based on the above (access to keys, CCTV etc). I'm generally less 'confrontational', and feel like a 'denial' could almost draw more attention to me, IYSWIM?

AIBU to think there is an implication here? And WWYD?

[lightrain]

I don't think there is an implication. I think your boss is sending it to you FYI as you're responsible for counting and banking the money.

Speak to your boss about it tomorrow, but remember that you have nothing to hide!

[EuroShagmore]

I don't read this as an accusation either.

[aufaniae]

I don't think it sounds like an accusation, no.

You say "I am the person responsible for retrieving, counting and banking this money in my department" therefore you should be informed that this is going on.

The correct response IMO is to reply, but the tone should be helpful. This is a time of crisis - if there is a their kn your team, and you should be helping to find out who it is.

If it was me, i would write back, remind them there is CCTV and suggest they look at the tapes. I would also suggest they get the police involved.

And ask your boss for a meeting, together explore what are the likely weaknesses in your system and how you can tighten up security.

[RyleDup]

No I don't think theres an implication either. He's sending it to you as you deal with the money. Don't be too hasty in your reaction to him. It looks innocent to me.

[BrianCoxandTheTempleofDOOM]

My first response when I read that your boss had forwarded the message to you, was that he was making sure you were aware, so it was a friendly 'heads up' rather than an accusation.

All you can do is go and speak to them tomorrow. Don't go in all guns blazing but calmly state what you do, how you account for your work and why you arent responsible.

Ultimately, you haven't taken the money so you have nothing to hide and only an investigation to fear, an investigation that will find no evidence against you.

Hope it all gets cleared up soon.

[CaptainVonTrapp]

I don't think they're implying anything. Just literally FYI. I would ask them tomorrow "how are you planning to address this?" or "Anything you want me to double check?" (if this is appropriate to your role) or "Do you really think someone has taken it or could there just have been a mistake?"

[aufaniae]

That should say, if there is a thief in your team!

Also FWIW I think denials and being defensive will make you look guilty, and be a pain for the management to deal with.

Demonstrate you're not guilty by offering your help and support.

[aufaniae]

What do you think happened to the money btw?

[RunnerHasbeen]

I think if they suspected you of anything they wouldn't be cc-ing you, but looking into it first before confronting you. I wouldn't send such an e-mail but would wait until you are face to face and discuss it then, you can never really get true inference from e-mails as well as you can in person. I think such a defensive e-mail on your day off would do more harm than good.

[BlauesPferd]

Thanks for all your responses - I think you're probably right, and I'm overreacting I guess it was the comment from my supervisor about it being "stolen or missappropriated" that got me worried.
I will suggest tomorrow that I go over the books and ensure that everything was banked under the correct account - although if the had been an admin error I would have expected it to bbe flagged by now.

[Montybojangles]

I wouldn't look at it as an accusation. Clearly you have been trusted to count it and bank it for some time, and it's not just your dept is it?
Talk to them about it at work tomorrow. Perhaps your boss is hoping you might have an idea of what might of happened, or how this can be avoided in future.
I certainly wouldn't email. Your off duty now, so no reason to expect you to reply before back at work.

[KobayashiMaru]

If you reply that you are "upset at the accusation" you could not look more guilty.

[BlauesPferd]

Yes - I agree that a denial/strongly worded email would look defensive and unhelpful. As I say, DH is more confrontational than me

Aufaniae - I'm guessing that there simply was less money - credit crunch and all that

[ArkadyRose]

I agree with PPs that it was simply a heads-up - obviously the next step will be a thorough auditing of the paper trail, which as part of the accounting/banking process you will obviously be a key worker in, so he's basically forewarning you that your workload is about to get significantly heavier, with a possibility of an outside auditing firm getting involved; all stuff I'd appreciate knowing in your position.