Accounts Receivable and Payable Best Practices

This day introduces key receivables concepts including working capital, cash management, and credit cost. Participants explore how effective receivables processes support customer service and identify under‑performing areas. The topics covered will include:  

• Working Capital and Cash Management
• Understanding “the cost of credit”
• The ‘order to cash’ process
• Understanding “risk” in “credit”
• Accounts Receivable and effective customer service
• Identifying under-performing areas to increase customer satisfaction

This day focuses on trading terms and financial analysis tools that support receivables decision-making. Participants examine performance measures and distress indicators. The topics covered will include:  

• Terms of trading
• Tools and techniques of financial analysis: ratios, trends, common size analysis
• The best performance measure – cash or profit?
• Financial distress and the Altman’s Z score-type analyses
• Trend analysis
• Value added analysis of financial statement

This day emphasises collection strategy development and escalation practices that improve receivables outcomes. Participants learn customer-sensitive approaches. The topics covered will include:  

• Identifying effective “pre-delinquency” collection campaigns
• Defining “post-delinquency” activities
• Customer sensitive collection strategies
• Collection techniques and letter cycles
• Appropriate internal and external escalation steps
• Using work flow management to maximize collector performance

This day strengthens practical collection skills such as payment barriers removal, negotiation, and relationship building to support successful collections. The topics covered will include:  

• Eliminating barriers to payment
• Recognizing excuses and delaying tactics
• Providing solutions to non-payment
• Telephone collection techniques
• Negotiation skills for successful collections
• Building relationships with customers

This day focuses on internal relationships and performance tracking to maximise receivables performance. Participants explore KPIs and current developments. The topics covered will include:  

• Developing effective internal relationships to maximize performance
• Setting targets and tracking performance
• Managing information that dazzles
• Defining meaningful KPI’s
• Latest Developments in Accounts Receivable

This day introduces the role of accounts payable in working capital and cash management. Participants explore how the accounts payable function contributes to financial stability and organisational success. The topics covered will include:

• The Important Role of Accounts Payable (AP)
• The Meaning of Managing Accounts Payable
• The Functions of Management
• The Functions of Accounts Payable Department and Role of AP Staff
• Accounts Payable Impact on Working Capital and Cash Management

This day focuses on the accounting foundations that support accounts payable operations. Participants examine core accounting terminology, ledger entries, and reconciliation practices.
The topics covered will include:  

• Accounting Essentials for Accounts Payable
• Accounts Payable Terminology
• General Ledger and Sub-Ledger
• Month End Accounting Entries and Accruals
• Control Account Reconciliations
• Developing a Reconciliation Plan for the Sub-Ledger

This day develops understanding of internal controls, audit value, fraud detection, and best practices in accounts payable management. The topics covered will include:  

• 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

This day emphasises organisational culture and team management within the accounts payable function. Participants explore communication, motivation, and departmental organisation. The topics covered will include:  

• Improving the Image of Accounts Payable Department
• Ways to Motivate Accounts Payable Staff
• Organizing the AP Department
• Closing the Communication Gap
• Dealing with Internal and External Disputes
• Providing Customer Service to Vendors

This day focuses on practical Excel applications that support accounts payable monitoring and performance analysis. Participants explore dashboard development and ageing analysis. The topics covered will include:  

• Interface between Accounts Payable System and Excel
• Using Pivot Tables to Extract Valuable Information
• Preparing and Analyzing Accounts Payable Aging
• Developing Your Accounts Payable Dashboard