Accounts Payable – Planning, Organising and Achieving Best Practice

Improving Accounts Payable Efficiency, Control, and Supplier Performance

Accounts payable is a critical part of financial control, working capital management, and supplier relationship management. When AP processes are inefficient or poorly controlled, organisations may face duplicate payments, processing delays, weak cash visibility, compliance issues, and strained supplier relationships.

The Accounts Payable – Planning, Organising and Achieving Best Practice course provides participants with a practical framework for strengthening AP operations across the full Procure-to-Pay cycle. Across five days, participants examine AP’s role within finance and supply chain operations, process design, invoice management, internal controls, automation, vendor data, payment practices, and stakeholder communication.

The programme focuses on practical improvement, helping participants reduce processing inefficiencies, strengthen financial governance, manage AP risk, improve payment accuracy, and build more effective relationships with vendors and internal stakeholders.

You'll Learn How To

• Explain the role of accounts payable within the wider financial accounting system.
• Understand how AP affects cash flow and working capital.
• Connect accounts payable with procurement and supply chain processes.
• Apply best practices across the end-to-end AP cycle.
• Analyse the Procure-to-Pay process and identify bottlenecks.
• Improve invoice capture, validation, approval, and payment processes.
• Reduce duplicate payments and processing errors.
• Manage low-value transactions more efficiently.
• Strengthen controls over petty cash, advances, and reimbursements.
• Apply risk management and fraud prevention measures within AP.
• Improve vendor master data management.
• Use automation and digital tools to enhance AP performance.
• Strengthen payment controls and authorisation processes.
• Improve communication with suppliers and internal departments.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement across AP and P2P operations.