Chapter 21 - Peter Lang
Our CFO offered his resignation.
I refused it initially.
Then reconsidered.
Not because Peter was corrupt.
Evidence ultimately showed he had not knowingly participated.
But our treasury system had allowed high-value payments to move through approvals that relied too heavily on presumed executive legitimacy.
Peter said:
“That’s my failure.”
I answered:
“Mine too.”
We restructured.
Independent vendor verification.
Stronger separation between engagement creation and payment approval.
Direct validation of unusual executive authorizations.
No approval based solely on scanned signatures.
Temporary suspension procedures for transactions when acquisition status changes.
Audit alerts that do not disappear because a chairman is on honeymoon.
Peter stayed six more months to complete the transition.
May you like
Then retired.
He deserved to leave without carrying Vanessa’s crime as his identity.
