Thoughts about the new AEL position
As a former MTL with success at leading offices to meet objectives, I have been curious about the newly created AEL position. Recent virtual meetings with DEL's and REL's have shed some light on my concerns with this job. First, the Regional has stated that the pay will be less than I was originally told, quite a bit less. Pay in this region is expected to start at 55k and perhaps go as high as 65k. I was originally told 60 to 90. STI bonus can be as high as 10% of the salary, IF you hit targets. Of course, they don't know what the targets will be based on as of yet. Second, some of my suspicions concerning this job have been confirmed. There will be phone calls. LOTS of phone calls. According to the Regional, if you felt we made a lot of phone calls last year, buckle up to make ten times more this next tax season. We had people complaining about all the phone calls and emails last tax season. Third, the answer to just about any other important questions is the same. "We aren't sure what that will look like at this time."
I have felt there is a bit of disconnect between Block leadership and the folks in the office actually preparing taxes. There is a real problem with lack of training. The company realizes they need to go in a different direction to remain relevant in a changing economical environment, but they can't quite figure out what that direction should be. How do you capture new, younger taxpayers without abandoning the older, established client while also earning their confidence to offer year-round financial services? I certainly don't know the answer and would not pretend to know it. What I do know is this: Anyone from an outside source that takes on this new AEL role has no clue what they are about to get into. I hope those that do take on this role have success and are able to build it into a career. How long will it be before Block decides to go in yet another different direction, and will this new role become extinct when that happens? Will this new role be a revolving door, as was the case with half of those that became ATL's and MTL's? There are a lot of uncertainties.
I would be curious to know the thoughts from others that have been monitoring this situation as it develops. Is this a company building for the future, or desperately clinging to remain relevant?