The Unexplained Line Item

On Monday, an agent starts comparing a renewal contract against a year of invoices. By Tuesday it has found a service nobody can explain. Nobody knows whether it’s still in use.

I’d ask for a Tuesday noon note: invoices checked, disputed line item, person who can answer. The finance lead can take the question to the department head while the agent checks the other charges, with the disputed one held aside.

If the answer hasn’t come by Wednesday, leave the line item unresolved. Don’t bury an unknown inside a polished savings figure. The finance lead should see the open question alongside the rest of the findings before approving any recommendation.