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A chief financial officer might sometimes be derided for his or her bean counting ways, but a new survey reveals the sometimes thankless work is a necessary defense against potential fraud.
CFOs nationwide cited some doozies when asked to name the most unusual items they've seen on an expense report request. The list includes cosmetic surgery, lottery tickets, pet food, and a trailer rental for a family reunion. Menlo Park, Calif.-based Robert Half International, a specialized professional staffing firm, conducted the survey. It polled CFOs in Canada and the U.S. of companies with at least 20 employees.
More eye-openers: Other expense report requests cited by survey respondents included a teepee; $12,000 for a family trip; a speeding ticket and a fine for crashing into a tollbooth.
“While these examples may seem incredible and in some cases humorous, they highlight a serious matter which can negatively impact a company's bottom line,” says Robert Half Management Resources Senior Executive Director Paul McDonald in a statement. “Employees who are unsure if an item can be expensed should not include it on a report and hope it gets approved. Companies can help the process by writing clear policies, making them easy to find and keeping workers informed of any changes.”
No doubt. The list of “are you kidding me” expense report requests even includes the following:
• A man lost his personal cell phone in the office, so he expensed a new one;
• Hotel charge for adult movies;
• Day at the spa;
• Cigarettes;
• Replacement cost for a suit the employee lost on his own;
• Pair of socks;
• Toilet paper;
• Hot tub supplies;
• Flowers the employee bought for his wife;
• Expenses for his son's birthday party.
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