billeyler | Bonus points of sorts

University of New Mexico has something like 7,000 staff and faculty members, dozens of whom I interact with either daily or occasionally, and almost always by email, rarely in person (I hate that).

One of the ones I interact with is a UNM CPA named Joy, who moved from General Accounting to Taxation a few months ago. I figured it was a downgrade for her, but she's head of the department now. Another woman who had been in that department recently moved on to another area because she couldn't work with her. I have NEVER worked well with the woman, not liking her either by instinct or by the various email interactions we've had about UNM accounting topics as they directly affect my department. She's even snarkier than I am when she digs in and won't give on an issue. Nutshell is,I come away with any interaction with her thinking she doesn't have a clue. That may or may not be true, but that's as it is. I don't think just by being a CPA (I'm not) that bestows any godlike qualities.

Today, she had a meeting with my coworker Karen with a state taxation auditor and the Bookstore accounting manager in our multi-use office area. Note that I rarely see Joy; it's mostly edgy email interaction. Although I was working away on my own project in my corner, after their meeting was over, I brought up a recent discussion to Joy and (coworker) Karen about credit card fees and taxable sales postings from a recent email we'd had. She didn't have click on who I was, even though my nameplate is sitting by my desk.

In talking about the problem some of the departments have with taxable sales reporting, Joy said she has a terrible time getting reconciling information from the source of the ticketing sales. I thought that was odd, since Kim (the ticketing accounting person) is amazingly receptive about any issue brought to her. I told Joy I'd try to address the problem, and away everyone went on their own work mission. As she left, she clicked, "Oh, you're the FAMOUS Bill Eyler." No explanation. I was stymied. Ah, well, I was thinking I must be famous in a bad way.

With one email to Kim, I solved the problem in 2 minutes. This problem has been around for YEARS and no one had dealt with it.

I emailed Joy, letting her know the booking problem was solved as of this coming Monday.

She emailed back: "Bless You! Thank you for helping! Everyone has such good things to say about you in the BANNER project."

I think the fences are mended. At least for me.