Countrywide Financial Corp. has begun a campaign to block a proposal to give shareholders a say in setting compensation for Chief Executive Angelo Mozilo.

An anonymous Countrywide shareholder submitted the proposal alleging the company has overcompensated Mozilo, citing payments of $230,452 in 2005 for personal use of the company jet and related “gross-ups” to cover tax liabilities. The proposal was disclosed earlier this week in a regulatory filling by the Calabasas mortgage lender.

Countrywide, in response to the proposal, defended its compensation of Mozilo, citing shareholder returns of 340 percent over the past five years and 561 percent over the last decade.

Shareholders of several public companies, including Los Angeles defense contractor Northrop Grumman Corp., have backed so called “say on pay” proposals to give shareholders a voting interest on the pay packages for top executives.

A Northrop proposal was introduced last month by the Service Employees International Union Master Trust. Northrop shareholders axed the proposal, but it did receive 37 percent approval.

Shares in Countrywide were down 53 cents, or 1.3 percent, to $38.50 in afternoon trading Thursday on the New York Stock Exchange.