In accordance with the rules of our bonding insurance, we have our bank statement mailed to a vice president who doesn't have check signing authority. She opens the statement, reviews it, and initials it. No biggy, just sound financial oversight. If your president is a signer, she should not be the first one to see the statement, but then neither should you. I wouldn't have any problem with the president wanting to review the bank statement later. She signs all the checks and supporting transaction forms anyway. Not sure what she's interested in...gotta believe she'll tire of all the details when she realizes you have the job well in hand.

If she seems nervous about the handling of the books, maybe you could ease her concerns by describing all the financial controls you have in place. Hopefully, you require 2 signatures on every check, require a transaction control form for each check/deposit, reconcile the checkbook regularly, have an annual audit, have 2 people count every deposit, etc. Maybe she has experience in another situation with the risk of poor financial controls. Clearly, after 3 years, you know the job well. Maybe she just wants to ensure the system is secure so she can rest easy.

I told the new president this year (the 3rd or 4th I've been treasurer under) that I finalize the treasurer's report as close to our mid-month meeting as possible. It makes no sense to me to hand out a report that is 2 weeks out of date simply because it shows a "month-end" date. How can you make good financial decisions working off out of date information? Have you tried putting a big "PRELIMINARY" across the report? That way, if it gets handed out at your meeting, you can easily replace it with the final version which you bring.

You're in a tough spot, but not insurmountable. You know the treasurer job and feel like you're doing it well. Maybe you could clear the air a little by asking her what exactly she is concerned about. That you want to provide exactly what she needs to feel comfortable so you can both go forward doing your respective jobs. Good luck. I think I prefer a president who is aware without being intrusive.

[ 11-02-2006, 11:18 PM: Message edited by: Critter ]

I don't know how 'normal' my group is, but our treasurer pretty much takes care of everything independently. However, our statements are kept at school unless she is working from them at home. The checkbook is always at school.

Since I (the president) am at school more, and I handle the processing of disbursement requests, she always runs the reports by me to make sure no info is missing. She does a report for the board meeting a week before the regular meeting, so all board members get a chance at this, too, to make sure we don't miss anything in the report presented to everyone.

I don't see a problem with the other board members seeing copies of the bank statement, but don't they have their own duties? Are they going to do their own recs? Doubt it.

This is my 3rd & last year as treasurer. The previous president changed schools after 2 years of service. She was very laid back and easy to work with. I've never worked with any other president until this year.

The new president is very controlling and has her hands into every event. She takes over the jobs and starts coordinating the events instead of letting the chairs do that. When I run into her she just complains about what a horrible job everyone is doing and how she has to follow up to make sure that "everyone gets what they deserve". I assume that means that she thinks that the chairs will not do their job and the event will not be great for the kids. It's been very frustrating for me because I know if she so willingly speaks to me (I never knew her before this year) about other people she's also speaking that way about me.

She has questioned everything that I do and makes subtle comments about how I am doing the job. I have said that the books are open for inspection if she has any questions. She wants all of my reports before our meetings and then she will distribute my report even though I tell her that it is not final. I usually don't finalize my report until the day before or the day of our meeting, but she wants it several days ahead of time.

She just emailed me and told me that she wants me to GIVE her the bank statements every month so she can review them and then she will give them back to me. I am uncomfortable GIVING them to her since I am responsible for them. She's now asking for copies of them each month. Is it ok to give copies of the bank statements each month? I want the books open because I want everyone to know what is going on financially, but I am concerned about multiple copies of the bank statement (with our account #'s) being distributed. What if the other board members want copies also? Is it ok to say, "well, you're not the president so you don't get a copy?"

I am wondering what a normal president/treasurer relationship looks like. My previous president left me to handle the books, report the activity, and make recommendations. The new president acts like my boss and wants to tell me how to do the job of treasurer. I don't want her to feel like I am hiding anything, but I also don't want to be micro-managed all year. I am starting to get frustrated with the relationship and volunteering as treasurer is no longer fun. I want to enjoy this year, but I don't know how much longer I can deal with the snide comments (to me and about others) and emails demanding info by the next evening. I feel like it's always a power struggle and it hasn't been like that before.

Thanks for your help!