They reviewed vendor contracts, investigated suspicious payments, strengthened approval procedures, and developed systems designed to protect employees who reported financial misconduct.
Clara had insisted that the division include a clear reporting channel for junior employees.
“No one should have to choose between telling the truth and keeping a job,” she had told her team during their first meeting.
It had become the principle guiding their work.
When she entered the conference room, Ethan was already seated at the table, reviewing a quarterly report.
He looked up.
“Good morning, Clara.”
“Good morning.”
“How is the division progressing?”
She placed a thick report in front of him.
“We’ve completed the first phase of the vendor verification overhaul. Every high-risk supplier has been reviewed, and we’re testing a new process that flags unusual payment patterns before funds are released.”
Ethan opened the report.
“And the results?”
“During the last quarter, we identified several billing discrepancies before payment. None involved a scheme on the scale of Harmon, but the controls worked exactly as intended.”
