Work or Life ~ Presentation and Appreciation ~

Today I learned from others and myself.

The internal auditor requested backup documents for the warranty process, which contains 14 samples. My task was to download the source data and validate billing amount. I realized that I need access to three applications to retrieve the data. When I was running into the 2nd sample, something went wrong. The billing amount directly sent to client is blocked from the application. My mentor confirmed the same on his end. He then explained to me and the auditor that this piece is not allowed to distribute externally because of internal control. That's why I was not able to download the full memo to show the calculation.

We then agreed that I only provide online report data and monthly statement to show proper reconciliation as evidence.

It took me the next 3 to 4 hours to process the data. I highlight those validated amount, organized the paper by sample series, and clipped them together.

The auditor asked me a quick question after I submitted the batch to him. By that time, I thought the task was done.

30 minutes later, somebody knocked on my desk. It was the auditor. He looked at me so seriously, my first reaction was something not right again and what next... Well, very surprise,  he said, '...they are very organized, so easy to follow, thank you very much...' I immediately responded with smile, "thank you very much".

This special moment made my day. It is a very important to make the people feeling proud to work with. And the way to present what you have done is equivalent to getting the task done.

Landlord and Tenant Board hearing

8:30am, arrived Hamilton and parked. This route going into city was smooth as everyone was trying to get out.

8:45am, arrived the provincial government complex, where the landlord and tenant board locates.

9am, Registeration started by matching the file # with two digit seq#. Attendees uses this seq# to sign on the attendence sheet. On the same desk, L1 update sheet is available. Then the crowd gradually moved into the hearing room and waited for the official hearing to start @ 9:30am.

9:30am, board member welcomed everyone and introduced himself. The mediator explained the mediation rules and asked if anyone in the room would like to solve the case in private discussion to get a deal. At least 1/3 of attendees left. The board member then proceeded by calling the case # for both applicant and reciceipent to come upfront for formal hearing. It's typical that the board member asked each party represent themselves in order and then made a court decision. These landlords and tenants who reached a deal, came back with mediator and informed the board member whenever there was a gap. Board member made sure all parties understand their rights and responsibilities then closed the case.

10am, representative posted a sheet outside of court room and suggested expedite hearing next door for these cases without highlighted where only 1 party signed in. Half left the room this time. I guess 99% are landlords. Another board member introduced herself and started processing the file by calling each case #. Questions being asked: how much the tenant owed, including application fee, whether the tenant still occupies the property, if tenant has been notified, what's reason for eviction and etc. A notice with 11 days to move out the property is mailed to both parties.

Memories of South Africa ~ How lovely they are ~

In my common sense "Africa" and "penguin" are contradicted. actually African penguins, the smallest and cutest of penguin families,  do live in the South Africa coastline. They are the gifts of the earth! I never think about that I can watch them, any penguin at all, such close. So close that I really want to give them a hug. However, they are under protection where tourisms like us can get close enough to observe their live but far enough not to intefere them.  My friend told me that in the past their eggs were stolen. After that, the government set up conservation area and see tickets as protection fund. Fences were built along the coast. Now they can freely bask in the sun or rest under the rock on their private beach. See how many of these lovely creatures right now. :-)

All beings live well together.

Memories of South Africa ~ go to the seaside

I live in an area where has big lakes, green land in summer and white land in winter, while the city I grew up has fabulous tropical coastline. So I always has home sick of the scenery of blue blue blue ocean under the sun.

When I first standed our feet on the sand of South Africa seaside, I had a feeling coming back to my childhood. I walked and also ran on the sand, stepped into the water, picked up shells...tried to do everything I used to do as a kid...All of these were the best of the journey...

Work or Life ~ Never assume ~

'Never assume' is a word I learned a long time ago. Back to the year when I was working at the fabric technology firm, one of the key mottos the senior taught was never ASSUME during the work.

It took a long while then I realized how true it is. No mattter how a product is designed and completed by high-tech material and assembling process, a tiny component which is not fully tested or certified, would ruin the performance and kill the whole thing. I figured out from those past experiences that one should never assume until finding the fact to prove.

Since then, I always carry this word with while taking on jobs or projects. And I learned again after I finally completed the reconciliation this time. It usually cost me at most 2 full days to clear 5000 records in all accounts to be verified.

It seems after a long Christmas holiday, everyone had a good rest. We should all have high energy back on task. It shouldn't have any hard fruit for me to reconcile the bookings in January.

I was wrong. The 1st day was like walking in a jungle. I have a huge variance (over half million)with multiple mis-matches in the book. At first I found an incorrect transaction between business account and investment account, but the amount is very small - about 90 dollars. Several hours later, thanks for my mentor, he helped me clear the postdate error record for accrual payrolls. These two corrections reduced half million to a smaller amount. Then I begun to dive in deep ocean, because no more assumption proved helpful in searching any suspect numbers. I was drowned in the salty water. Lucky enough, before the day end, I found a duplicate booking, and successfully reduced the variance to several thousands.

Day 2, although I cleared out several minor errors, the situation was getting worse. Small amounts could be anything or everything. That means the only way to find out is to search line by line. Well, if that's the case, do it earlier is better than later. The whole morning I just sat in front of the screen without moving my butt, scanning all the SAP bookings, excel worksheets, payment details, wired details and statements. I tried to look through each number. Co-workers also helped randomly check their bookings in case anything in their baskets is a good match.

It's really the most difficult 4 to 5 hours since I have taken on this role until I finally realized the unusual wired out dollars. Nobody noticed that this invoice was a refund, instead of a payment, as indicated as a fine print at the bottom. The payable colleague just simply followed the summary approval sheet and wired the payment out of the pocket.

What a release on me after confirmation and adjustments on the entries.

To the point, what I learned a lot from this exercise including, firstly never assume, secondly never assume and finally never assume!

Memory of South Africa ~ Rain, Sun and Animals

This is a national safari in the Pilanesberg National Park next to the country's most famous gambling resort - the Sun City.

We took the long carriage jeep into the wild. Received sunshine blessing at the beginning, then pouring rain, and finally sunshine again~~~ well, we we were, a huge mountain area with grassland.

As the first time to touch the soul of Africa, I could not believe how beautiful the scenery it was, and I had those wild ones in my picture too! Let them tell the stories themselves~

Coffee or Tea ~ Taste of French

For the 2nd year in a row I have the honor to join the event - Winterlicious in Toronto. It's so nice that the team building organizer booked a table in the restaurant of AUBERGE DU POMMIER.

When we arrived the lobby, a waiter gently and nicely helped  hang our coat in the closet.  It was a good start and I was impressive. A little regret that I have more formal dressing like our leader, who is wearing suit for the lunch.

It was a proper French lunch in three courses. I ordered the carrot soup, chicken and Oliver oil cake dessert. Because of the atmosphere and the food I enjoyed a lot, when I footed my own bill, I said to myself, "what a Canadian experience, it's worthy!".......