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Accounting and Finance

Accounts Payable: Accounting and Management Best Practices

Accounts Payable (AP) is not just processing checks, mailing them, and filing backup paperwork. To 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 handling invoices, processing checks, preventing errors, conducting annual audits, and using 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.

F07Kuala Lumpur - MalaysiaAccounting and Finance
Course schedules
Upcoming dates Classroom
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Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia
€1,400 + VAT
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Rome - Italy
€2,125 + VAT
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Munich - Germany
€1,725 + VAT
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Barcelona - Spain
€1,925 + VAT
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Frankfurt - Germany
€1,625 + VAT
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Rome - Italy
€2,125 + VAT
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Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia
€1,400 + VAT
→
Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia
€1,400 + VAT
→
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5 - 9 October 2026 €1,050 + VAT → 16 - 20 November 2026 €1,050 + VAT → 7 - 11 December 2026 €1,050 + VAT → 11 - 15 January 2027 €1,050 + VAT → 8 - 12 February 2027 €1,050 + VAT → 8 - 12 March 2027 €1,050 + VAT → 12 - 16 April 2027 €1,050 + VAT → 10 - 14 May 2027 €1,050 + VAT →

Why Attend

Accounts Payable (AP) is not just processing checks, mailing them, and filing backup paperwork. To 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 handling invoices, processing checks, preventing errors, conducting annual audits, and using 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.

Course Objectives
  • Explain the function of Accounts Payable (AP) and its role in organizations
  • Create efficient Accounts Payable process
  • Utilize best practices to improve the AP function
  • Take a successful lead in the management of Accounts Payable
  • Evaluate main issues affecting AP staff to increase their efficiency and productivity
  • Play a real business partner role in your organization
  • Apply tools and techniques in Microsoft Excel to effectively manage and monitor AP performance
Designed for

This program is intended for professionals involved in Accounting and Finance.

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

This course demonstrates theoretical and practical core topics and introduces Excel for managing accounts payable. The course also features role-playing and presentations by participants.

Course content
Day1

The Important Role of AP

  • The meaning of managing Accounts Payable
  • The functions of management
  • The big picture: Accounts Payable and the financial health of organizations
  • The functions of the Accounts Payable department and the role of AP staff
  • Impact of Accounts Payable on working capital and cash management
Day2

Accounting Essentials for Accounts Payable

  • Accounts Payable terminologies
  • General ledger and sub-ledger
  • Preparing for month-end close and accruals
  • Assessing the AP department
  • Accounts Payable controls
Day3

Accounts Payable Processes and Best Practices

  • Invoice handling and routing
  • The three-way matching
  • Methods of payment processing
  • Maintaining the vendor master file
  • Travel and Entertainment (T&E)
  • Procurement Cards (P-Cards)
  • Electronic payment options
Day4

Key Topics in Accounts Payable Management

  • Continuous process improvement
  • Applying best practices in your organization
  • Identifying proper internal controls
  • The annual audit as an added-value
  • Impact of AP outsourcing
  • Detecting fraud in Accounts Payable
  • Disaster recovery planning
Day5

The Behavioral Side of Managing Accounts Payable Department

  • Improving the image of the AP department
  • Ways to motivate AP staff
  • Organizing the AP department
  • Closing the communication gap
  • Dealing with internal and external disputes
  • Importance of internal customer service
  • Providing customer service to vendors
  • Day 6: Accounts Payable department as a real business partner
  • When should we pay our suppliers?
  • Understanding the cost of funds
  • Evaluating early payment discounts
  • Pros and cons of early or late payments
  • Relationship with the treasury department
  • Day 7: Using Microsoft Excel to manage Accounts Payable
  • Interface between the Accounts Payable system and Excel
  • Using pivot tables to extract valuable information
  • Preparing and analyzing Accounts Payable aging
  • Role of Accounts Payable in improving suppliers' commercial terms
  • Using Excel to Perform Accounts Payable Reconciliations
The certificate

SPARK Training Certificate of Completion is awarded to participants who attend and complete the full training course.

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