Client wanting to see supplier invoices
Discussion
This is a new one! Public Sector client is introducing a new auditing policy requiring us to provide the invoices we receive from our suppliers for goods and services we buy as part of the projects we deliver for our client.
This obviously reveals our margins. I don't have a huge issue with this but it doesn't sit that comfortably with me.
The client is a good one and we have a good relationship with them but can they actually do this?
This obviously reveals our margins. I don't have a huge issue with this but it doesn't sit that comfortably with me.
The client is a good one and we have a good relationship with them but can they actually do this?
StevieBee said:
This is a new one! Public Sector client is introducing a new auditing policy requiring us to provide the invoices we receive from our suppliers for goods and services we buy as part of the projects we deliver for our client.
This obviously reveals our margins. I don't have a huge issue with this but it doesn't sit that comfortably with me.
The client is a good one and we have a good relationship with them but can they actually do this?
They can certainly ask, not sure why they would want to see them or why anyone would let them. The only invoices they should be interested in is the ones they get from you for goods and services.This obviously reveals our margins. I don't have a huge issue with this but it doesn't sit that comfortably with me.
The client is a good one and we have a good relationship with them but can they actually do this?
Why do they want to see the invoices? I assume it's to make sure you haven't bought stuff off books or from a dodgy source. In that case, redacting amounts may be the answer.
Who is doing the audit?
If it's a third party then maybe you could insist on an agreement around confidentiality.
Who is doing the audit?
If it's a third party then maybe you could insist on an agreement around confidentiality.
StevieBee said:
This is a new one! Public Sector client is introducing a new auditing policy requiring us to provide the invoices we receive from our suppliers for goods and services we buy as part of the projects we deliver for our client.
This obviously reveals our margins. I don't have a huge issue with this but it doesn't sit that comfortably with me.
The client is a good one and we have a good relationship with them but can they actually do this?
My first question then would be 'What for?'This obviously reveals our margins. I don't have a huge issue with this but it doesn't sit that comfortably with me.
The client is a good one and we have a good relationship with them but can they actually do this?
If it's to ensure the goods come from organic self-cleansing Andean sheep, remove the numbers and send.
If it's to find out how much you pay for stuff, I'd tell them it's confidential. If they complain, ask them how much they earn.
Cheers for your thoughts.
I've since established that it's part of some transparency drive. They just need paper evidence that something was provided. We can redact the price!
Begs the question as to the purpose of a delivery note but there you go! Public Sector! Creates a job for someone I suppose.
I've since established that it's part of some transparency drive. They just need paper evidence that something was provided. We can redact the price!
Begs the question as to the purpose of a delivery note but there you go! Public Sector! Creates a job for someone I suppose.
StevieBee said:
Cheers for your thoughts.
I've since established that it's part of some transparency drive. They just need paper evidence that something was provided. We can redact the price!
Begs the question as to the purpose of a delivery note but there you go! Public Sector! Creates a job for someone I suppose.
Also helps them identify suppliers where they can perhaps buy direct and cut out your margin. Might not be relevant to your sector, but certainly will in some.I've since established that it's part of some transparency drive. They just need paper evidence that something was provided. We can redact the price!
Begs the question as to the purpose of a delivery note but there you go! Public Sector! Creates a job for someone I suppose.
StevieBee said:
Cheers for your thoughts.
I've since established that it's part of some transparency drive. They just need paper evidence that something was provided. We can redact the price!
Begs the question as to the purpose of a delivery note but there you go! Public Sector! Creates a job for someone I suppose.
How does seeing an order from you to the supplier show that you delivered something to the client? As you say, that's what your delivery note does.I've since established that it's part of some transparency drive. They just need paper evidence that something was provided. We can redact the price!
Begs the question as to the purpose of a delivery note but there you go! Public Sector! Creates a job for someone I suppose.
Simpo Two said:
When did 'redact' replace 'remove'?
I think it's a legal term. Redaction obscures content so you can see that something is there but cannot see what it is. Removal removes the content so there is no way of knowing that something was there in the first place.Back in the day when I was a graphic designer (80s, early 90s) we'd produce prospectuses for companies floating on the Stock Exchange. We needed to know the quantity of text in order to work out the typesetting parameters but quite a bit of the info was embargoed so we'd receive redacted copy to work from. When the embargo was lifted, we'd get the un-redacted copy and apply the same typesetting parameters so the final copy all fitted nicely.
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