Controller's Report

In most years, the accounting department is the controller’s primary ally, as he or she tries to contain road-warrior spending on meals. But in 2009, the primary force containing these costs is certainly the recession, which has reduced the number of business and sales trips and made company travelers unusually cost conscious. Key point: Only numbskulls are going to spend heavily on meals, while top executives feel remorse about excellent and long-term employees losing their jobs.