A Melbourne man fudged his resume to get into high paying jobs that variously had him redeveloping a hospital and running a chamber of commerce, a court has heard.
Jeffrey Andrew Flanagan, 46, allegedly organised dodgy references and falsified impressive work histories to secure the jobs.
In July, Flanagan was charged with fraud after he was found to have falsified his credentials to gain a $400,000 a year executive job at department store, Myer.
Flanagan was hired by the department store as group MD of strategy and business development last month but was fired shortly after as it emerged he had lied about his previous employment.
His fraudulent CVs secured him other positions including at clothing outlet Rivers, the Australian Arab Chamber of Commerce, North Melbourne Institute of TAFE, and Bendigo Health.
Once in the positions, he is accused of hiring mates, commanding his staff to go out drinking with him and sending them inappropriate text messages.
He was fired from each job following allegations of ineptitude or bad behaviour, including drunken fights with colleagues. Flanagan would have associates pose as fake businessmen to give him glowing references.
Rivers brand director, Jane McNally, told Melbourne Magistrates Court that Flanagan’s “very impressive resume” was the key factor behind his recruitment to a position in which he was paid $106,000 for two months work.
She initially described him as “charming, courteous, and presents smartly in a suit and tie”, because he impressed her during interviews.
But she said his disorganisation and drinking habits soon exposed his incompetence.
The Bendigo Health executive team also identified Flanagan as the best candidate to help lead the redevelopment of the city’s new hospital.
But Bendigo Health HR manager, Andrea Noonan, said he was fired just weeks later after a business trip to Brisbane, during which he got drunk and almost came to blows with a colleague.
Noonan said she had initial reservations about Flanagan’s suitability for the role, questioning why he would want to leave a major financial company in Melbourne to move to regional Victoria.
“But we thought it was a risk worth taking,” she said.
Flanagan, of Glen Waverley, is charged with offences including obtaining property by deception, obtaining financial advantage by deception and theft between 2011 and 2014.
His committal hearing continues.
AAP
