Budgeting Blues
The Division Manager looked at me. “Don’t ask me why we didn’t meet budget. Those budget numbers aren’t mine. They’re way too high. I never agreed to that.” If you are a financial analyst, that quote might be very familiar …
The Division Manager looked at me. “Don’t ask me why we didn’t meet budget. Those budget numbers aren’t mine. They’re way too high. I never agreed to that.” If you are a financial analyst, that quote might be very familiar …
We were standing in “The Archives”, looking at twelve-foot high shelves mounted on rollers so that they could be crammed together. Each one was filled with row after row of filing boxes. I had just asked the silly question of …
Downsizing, right-sizing, layoff, restructuring, whatever word you use, accounting departments have been consistently trimming staff for decades. Computers are taking on more and more of the daily routine. While this is good news for cost control and efficiency, it’s not …
Early in my consulting career, an Accounts Payable (AP) Supervisor set me straight. She told me that AP is all about routine. Expense reimbursements go out on Monday. Domestic vendors on Tuesday. International on Wednesday. If this new system that …
What are some of the biggest headaches in accounting? I’m sure you have your favorites, but let me tell you about Doug. I called him last week to see if he wanted to go for a drink, but he was …
You, the software vendor, are making your pitch. It breaks down into three sections: Microsoft has amazing software, You are an amazing Microsoft representative, and Here’s how you would address my needs. It’s very logical, isn’t it? The problem is …
Small companies are nimble and respond quickly to their customers’ needs. Big companies can take on large projects and provide a wide range of products. But what happens when a big company downsizes to become a small company? Does it …
The picture on the screen was your average warehouse, but it wasn’t your typical Microsoft corporate shot, i.e. it wasn’t a perfect company with gleaming boxes on pristine shelves, where you’d swear you could eat off the floor. This one …
At 7,000 attendees, Microsoft Convergence was the biggest convention I have ever gone to. With that many people, connecting to the ones who are important to you becomes a challenge. The people going to Convergence are from different parts of …
Knowledge workers. The hype is everywhere, from Microsoft commercials to Gartner reports. This is the age of the knowledge worker. Just what does that mean? How has the job of the typical Accounts Payable clerk been transformed? Let’s take a …