By:  John O’Rourke, Vice President, Host Analytics

‘Twas the night before year-end, when all through the company

The accountants were working, and starting to get grumpy,

The statements were ready, prepared with great care,

In hopes that the auditors soon would be there;
The staff were preparing, hunkered down at their desks;

While visions of New Year’s Eve danced in their heads;

And the controller in his sweater, and I in my vest,

Had just racked our brains for another year-end quest,

When out in the parking lot there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from my desk to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a kite,

I pulled up the blinds and turned out the lights.

The lamps shining down on the parking lot snow,

Gave a luster of midday to the cars in the rows,

When what to my wondering eyes did appear,

But a gleaming red helicopterwith jet engines in the rear,

With a well-dressed driver so polished and slick,

I knew in a moment he must be the partner – Big Nick.

More rapid than eagles his audit team they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:

“Now, Alan! now, Steven! now Michael and Johnny!

On, Robert! on, Richard! on, Conner and Donny!

To the top of the stairs! And on through the door!

Get in there and start auditing, away with you all!”

And then, in a twinkling, they came into view

And the sound of them running, with their shiny black shoes.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Through the door came Big Nick, in with a bound.

He was dressed all in Brooks Brothers, from his head to his feet,

And his clothes were all pressed, shiny and neat;

A brief case of papers he had slung over this back,

And he looked like a lawyergetting ready to attack.

But he had a red face and a little beer belly

That jiggled when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old chap,

And I was relieved when I saw him, and started to clap;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

Then he and his minions went straight to their job,

Reviewing our financials; and then gave me a nod,

And giving the signal and packing his case,

His minions all gathered and out the door they raced;

He ran to the chopper, and to his team gave the word

And away they all flew like a flock of migrating birds.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight—

“Happy Year End to all, and to all a good night!”