I interviewed for the Director of Finance position, first with the HR Director, then with an Operations Officer who was the prior CFO. Everything went great, then I got scheduled for interviews with the Accounting staff and also the CEO. Two days before the staff interview I received an email from the recruiter (they were searching with the assistance of a recruiter), they requested to see the audited financial statements and auditor's management letter for the last two fiscal years from my current employer. This I found to be extremely surprising. I called the recruiter and asked why, he stated that they wanted to see if the auditor's had made suggestions for process improvements for the company (it was indicated to me that they were seeking someone who could bring new ideas for process improvements, since the last Director had been there for 20 years, and I believe it was his only accounting position). Regardless, what they are asking is highly unethical, if not outright illegal. Essentially I would be stealing from my company (not money, but confidential information), and if my current employer learns what I did, most likely I would be terminated (at the least), possibly face legal consequences if they so decided. Not to mention my current employer does not know I am seeking employment elsewhere, and I could never ask to provide that information to another company. This for me was a HUGE RED FLAG. I cannot believe they made such a request. I asked why they could not review my company's Form 990 on GuideStar, the recruiter was going to ask but never got back to me by COB the next day, so I sent an email and withdrew my resume from consideration. Afterwards, I received a phone message from the recruiter and he stated he was surprised I withdrew. I find it very irritating that if I do the slightest thing incorrectly during an interview process, and my candidacy for the position is withdrawn. But then I get questions such as this. Granted it was not indicated that if I did not provide the requested information then I would be denied an offer, but I would not be surprised and I did not wait to find out. Who knows what they would expect me to do should I have received an offer and started working at the NSTA.
