Final answer:
Noel discovered a $250,000 overpayment error in an invoice and took quick actions to prevent the payment by contacting the accounting department and sending a communication to relevant parties. The age of the original invoice itself is not specified in the question or the provided information.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question, 'what is the age of the first outstanding invoice?', involves understanding business accounting practices, specifically related to accounts payable and invoice management. In this scenario, Noel has identified an error in an equipment bill that would have resulted in a $250,000 overpayment to a supplier. By taking proactive steps, Noel contacted the accounting department, utilized group communication platforms like Slack and email, and stood ready to escalate the issue in person if needed. The swift action prevented the erroneous payment and highlighted the importance of vigilance in financial matters. Calculating the age of an invoice typically involves determining the number of days that have passed since the invoice was issued until the current date. In this scenario, however, the age of the invoice is not given, so the answer must focus on Noel's response to discovering the error.