Constantly making mistakes in work

m-a-i-

OK this is one that has had me lose sleep and stuff I apologise for the ranting

I'm a high achiever and a bit of a perfectionist. I've been in my job 2 years and I love it but lately am struggling with finding the joy in it!
Part of my job requires doing a lot of financial stuff for month end. We all sit in a room and go through each project with scrutiny.

We had a new system put in place about a year ago of which I am the "expert" ( I use the quotes because I received no formal training)

As a result, most of the pm/financial stuff on this system is left to me, invoicing, moving time, submitting the final figures. etc...
It is after that final figure stage that it is checked and mistakes are found.

Lately, my mistakes have been stupid and maybe 3 or 4 mistakes overall which do affect the figures but it can be easily fixed next month. I feel that every mistake I make is not good enough and it is held under such scrutiny. I have a lot to do for month end and I feel I'm not getting the support I need. It was brought up that I can't be trusted with my numbers or work because of these inaccuracies whcih is fair enough but is it fair though?

I suffer from anxiety and its gotten to a stage where my anxiety has me thinking I'm expecting my p45 with this kind of things despite not really being given out to or put under performance review.

I feel like a dissapointment, that I can't do anything right and that I'm a complete idiot when it comes to work. I'm a grown woman and I feel like that's all I'm worth despite all the good things that I have going on in my life

I guess I'm putting this here to see if it is a) normal to make mistakes at "month end" type scenario b) if there is anything I should be doing to make this better. I've already sat with my boss and my line manager on several occasions expressing my frustration at how it is run and how I could be supported more but I feel it is falling on deaf ears.

Thanks for listening to me rant.

WIZWEB

You're only human. We all make mistakes. They appear specific to one area so training in an ideal world would be relevant. Your management has already dismissed that professional approach. Sounds like you've sheepishly taken on a lot of tasks. Strong personal boundaries would be relevant to encourage a more equal distribution of work with other colleagues.

I don't want to minimize your experience. However I've worked face to face with murderers in my career including formulating their Parole Board reports. If I feared the consequences of my actions as I read these over with them then I couldn't do my job. Not to mention the societal consequences. Put everything in context is my point. Work on your anxiety levels and seek a more supportive work environment elsewhere.

Mr. Incognito

Ask for support for someone more junior to check it before it is signed off by above.

Also- print if possible.

You are more likely to catch errors in hard copy not on a screen.

Try and put practical procedures in place instead of expecting perfection. Its not possible.

Tiddlypeeps

m-a-i- wrote: »

As a result, most of the pm/financial stuff on this system is left to me, invoicing, moving time, submitting the final figures. etc...
It is after that final figure stage that it is checked and mistakes are found.

Who finds these mistakes and can they come onboard at an earlier time in the process to look for them?

Rubberchikken

Everyone makes mistakes but without the proper support and training no one can be expected to produce perfect results month after month.

Instead of scrutinising your work after the errors have occurred or questioning your ability it would be better if you got this support and training.
My advice is ask for it. In getting it and then producing good results it should have a knock on positive effect on the anxiety.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

Xterminator

Hi OP

do you learn from mistakes made? if you just take a minute to examine why a mistake was made, and keep a log, it may reveal an underlying issue.

It could be as a previous poster said that there is a time of day where your not at your best possible due to environmental factors or habits like a big lunch making you sleepy etc, then that is something you can address.

If its training related eg unfamiliarity with aspects of the process or tool, (as you mention in your post that you have never had formal training) then perhaps this can be raised with mgmt, using the explanation that x hours a month are being spent rectifying mistakes and it would be cost effective to rectify this with formal training.

If its process driven, then perhaps you can suggest an improvement/simplification/checks into the process.

As a previous poster mentioned everyone makes mistakes. But in business you don't want to be making the same mistake over and over. if you can establish why, and suggest a solution, then that will be a 'win' for you.