Invoice Leads To Raised Voice
I work in accounting. While doing invoicing, I come across a work order that has a higher expense amount than the invoice amount. Realizing we will be losing $100 on the job instead of at least breaking even, I decide to question the project manager about it.
Me: “Hey, I noticed this job has an anomaly. Can you explain it to me?”
Project Manager: “What are you talking about?”
He rips the papers from my hand.
Project Manager: “See, we charge a 20% markup right here.”
He points to the wrong spot and has the audacity to look smug.
Project Manager: “See, it’s fine.”
I calmly take the papers back and show him to two amounts side by side.
Me: “I see that, but you didn’t account for that over here for the billing amount. The total billing amount is less than that.”
Project Manager: “Look, it’s right, and I don’t have time to explain it to you. Just do it and stop bothering me.”
Me: “No problem, can you just initial here so when our boss asks me why this job is invoiced so low, I can—”
Project Manager: “—Sure fine, whatever.”
He signs his name next to the billing amount.
Project Manager: “Now get out of my space.”
I go back to my office and invoice the too-low amount. I sent it off, fully knowing this was going to backfire, and kept all backups and copies handy for when it did.
Next Monday, I have the boss in my office. The invoice in question is in his hand.
Boss: “Hey, you did this invoice wrong.” *Shows me the invoice.*
Me: “Actually, if you’ll look at the backup, [Project Manager] told me that was the invoice amount.” *I show him where the project manager had signed off.*
Boss: “I’ll be right back.”
He left my office. Roughly an hour later, I get called into the boss’s office. The project manager is there, looking uncomfortable, and my boss is on the phone with the sub-contractor. He waved me inside, and I sat down.
Boss: “Alright. We’re all here. Now, [My Name], please explain this to me.”
Me: “I noticed that the expenses on this invoice were higher than the billing amount. [Project Manager] told me that the numbers were fine, and to just do the invoice.”
Boss: “Hear that [Sub-Contractor]?”
Sub-Contractor: “Yup. So what are we gonna do?”
Boss: “Only thing to do is fire them. They’re either incompetent or cheating us. Either way, it’s bad for business.”
I am now very concerned for my job, but I sit silently. I know I don’t have the whole story yet.
Sub-Contractor: “I reckon you’re right. Good luck. And don’t worry about the park job. I got an opening up tomorrow, I can squeeze in.”
Boss: “Thanks [Sub-Contractor].”
He hangs up the phone and turns to the project manager, who has gone from nervous to mad.
Project Manager: “It’s not my fault she can’t do her job!”
Boss: “You signed your name right next to the wrong amount. Now you’re either working with someone in accounting over in [Sub-Contractor]’s company to steal from me, or you’re too stupid to work here. Which is it?”
He stands, as does my boss. I stood as well, not liking being the only person sitting. The project manager says nothing.
Boss: “You’re fired. Get your computer and leave.”
The boss turns to me.
Boss: “Go ahead and fill out the paperwork for his leave. Make sure to add that he attempted to embezzle money.”
I nod and leave. The project manager stays there. As soon as I leave, the office explodes in screaming. I stayed in my office, doing the paperwork my boss asked me to fill out. I saw the project manager leave later with his stuff thrown haphazardly into his bag. That was the last time I saw him. A friend saw him working at a cash register at a buffet place about a month later.
Turns out, both my boss and the sub-contractor had agreed to lower their markups for the job, so the invoice amount was STILL too high (not too low), but I didn’t know that until after the fact when my boss had me redo the paperwork for the entire job. Someone from accounting in the sub-contractor’s company had altered the invoice sent to the project manager, and they were planning on splitting the difference after we paid the altered bill.
