Pinpointing the issues.(extra credit)(Viewpoint essay)

Several years ago, upon changing jobs, I was confronted with a serious situation. My new company's largest customer was almost six months past due on older invoices, owing almost $5,000,000, yet, all current invoices were being paid on time. Year end was upon us and I was certainly not looking forward to explaining to the auditors and upper management why this outstanding balance was aging daily.

When I looked over the notes left by the former manager of the department, I found that proof of deliveries had been sent to the customer's accounts payable department. I found letter after letter asking for payment. What I did not find were any telephone calls nor any written responses from this company regarding the long overdue balances. I immediately made a telephone call to the accounts payable supervisor who referred me to the accounting manager, who in turn referred me to the controller. Needless to say, at this point I was frustrated, disheartened and just a little bit angry.

Knowing my company was in the right also made me very determined to obtain payment on the long overdue balance. I convinced my bosses that a face-to-face meeting was the only way to settle the matter and I was able to arrange a meeting with the controller for the following Monday morning.

Upon arriving for my meeting, I signed in at the reception desk and waited for the controller. As I waited patiently, I saw someone that had been the traffic manager at another large retailer with whom I'd had an excellent relationship. I soon discovered that he was now the traffic/distribution coordinator at the company from which I was presently trying to collect. I explained my problem and received a chuckle and a smile in return--he was there to assist the controller during my meeting. We were both called in for the meeting a few minutes later.

After going over all of the paperwork that I had presented, the traffic/distribution ...