You need to prove yourself

A simple site visit to company A turned out to be enlightening.

FC of company A, Mr A greet me when i informed the receptionist of my appointment. 

Mr A and Ms B turned up shortly, smile curved on their face, ushered me to the board room.

Mr A :" Are you coming alone?" He looked behind me, disbelievingly.

"Ya, my boss couldn't make it, she tripped and injured her knees in a previous site visit." I replied in short.

The smile on Mr A face disappeared after hearing that.

 "ok lets start, so what's the questions?" he said wryly after i was seated.

I got used to such scenario. Imagine this, he who man the company in his late forties, with the finance manager Ms B in her late thirties, with this young "ciku" sitting opposite them, trying to get into some serious questioning.

Before that, there was a little embarrassment. I was led to this large room, upon seeing both of them settled down, I got to the nearest chair, which is next to Mr A. 

Suddenly he stopped me and pointed :" you don't mind to go to that side (opposite his place) to make our communication easier?" 

"OMG, han cie, how could you forget the standard negotiation seating arrangement?" i couldn't stop cursing myself while making my long way over the long table before sitting opposite them, forming a kind of 2v1 duel. 

As usual, the discussion started with financials performance, and it happened to be company A gave full provision on all trade receivables (means all their trade receivable cannot be collected). When i tried to probe on possibility of writing off the receivables instead of showing high provision.

"Why should i write it off? The high provision because the accountant don't understand our business!" Mr A grunted.

"But this provision had been there for quite some years, do you still foresee the collection this year?" I argued to get a clearer picture.

"You just need to follow the list i gave you for possible collection, and why you need to be concerned of the high provision, as long as i repay your money?" Mr A began losing patient.

The situation gradually turned tense, and i know the bad starter is not going to help me getting much info, let alone sourcing for new businesses. Nonetheless, i kept my cool, explained on bank's concern using layman terms as much as possible. Before i missed out, company A previously had a dispute with the bank over an retention sum, hence the nasty treatment and i happened to take over this acc. After several round of inquiries and explanations, the situation became less hostile. 

When the discussion ended, we began some small talk, Mr A was shocked to learn that me without accounting/ finance background was able to articulate the figures clearly. We ended up chatting about having badminton game together soon.

Moral of the story :  We can take more beatings, because we are young "ciku" and because we are young "ciku", the more we need to prove to others on our capability before you will gain any respect.