Accounts Payable: From Accounting to Management

Accounts Payable (AP) is not just processing checks, mailing them and then filing the backup paperwork. To truly and effectively manage accounts payable, one must understand the AP department's building blocks including, but not limited to customer service, vendor management, check requests and Purchase Orders (POs).

This course will discuss how to handle invoices, process checks, prevent errors, conduct annual audits, and use technology in the department. You will also learn the best practices to adopt in your AP department and how to develop your department into an effective business partner.

This course demonstrates theoretical and practical core topics in addition to introducing Excel in managing accounts payable. The course also features role playing and presentations by participants.

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Identify the function of accounts payable and its role in organizations
• Use accounting principles related to accounts payable
• Describe how to take a successful lead in the management of accounts payable
• Assess AP operations and processes and recommend improvements using the latest best practices
• Evaluate main issues affecting AP staff in order to increase their efficiency and productivity
• Apply tools and techniques in Microsoft Excel to effectively manage and monitor AP performance

Managers of accounts payable, AP staff and professionals as well as clerks and specialists who wish to advance their career. The course is also beneficial to professionals in accounting, finance, purchasing and procurement who work closely with accounts payable.

• Examining the role of accounts payable
• Performing month-end accruals
• Realizing the value added of three-way matching
• Preparing and analyzing accounts payable aging
• Preventing accounts payable fraud
• Applying accounts payable best practices
• Implementing early payment discount
• Utilizing Excel functions