Every pound tied up in unpaid invoices is a pound that cannot fund growth, cover new expenses, or seize an investment opportunity when it appears. This Accounts Payable Management and Cash Flow Best Practices Course by the Arab British Fellowship Training Academy starts from that link between accounts payable and an organisation’s wider cash position, since a business cannot survive without healthy cash flow and managing what it owes suppliers is a core part of managing that flow.

The course benchmarks participants against how industry leaders run their accounts payable function, and draws on documented strategies – both successful and unsuccessful – used by large companies to make each process and approach concrete. It covers planning and organising payables, managing supplier relationships, using modern payment technology, reporting and compliance, and reducing costs while protecting working capital.

Who Should Attend?

• Financial professionals and executives.
• Accountants, accounts payable managers and supervisors.
• Accounts payable staff.
• Debt and collections staff and accountants.

Knowledge and Benefits:

After completing the program, participants will be able to master the following:

• Understand the importance of the accounts payable function in relation to supply chains and cash flow.
• Effectively manage cash and working capital to reduce costs and improve cash flow.
• Understand the impact of risks and uncertainties on workflows, accounts, and cash flow.
• Work effectively with the fundamentals of accounts payable and financial accounting.
• Review and comment on payment methods, cash management, and integrate risk into accounts payable analysis.

Module 1: Accounts Payable as a Cash Flow and Liquidity Lever

• Understanding accounts payable and the difference between accounts payable and accounts receivable.
• How accounts payable links to cash liquidity flow and overall financial performance.
• Improving working capital cycles, identifying optimal payment timing, and forecasting future liquidity needs.

Module 2: Setting Up Policies, Invoices and Payment Schedules

• Establishing payment policies, agreed supplier terms, and procedures for late payments or settlements.
• Organising invoices received from suppliers, and verifying them against purchase orders.
• Building an initial payment schedule and prioritising payments to keep cash flow stable.

Module 3: Managing Supplier Relationships and Outstanding Payments

• Building strong supplier relationships through timely payments and benefiting from discounts and agreements.
• Negotiating better payment terms and convenient payment schedules.
• Handling late payments, identifying the causes of delay, and resolving disputes with suppliers.

Module 4: Modern Technology and Automation in Accounts Payable

• Using advanced accounting software (e.g. SAP, Oracle) for managing accounts payable.
• Electronic payment technologies and ensuring security during financial transactions.
• Automating payment accounts to reduce human error and track invoices and deadlines automatically.

Module 5: Reporting, Monitoring and Financial Compliance

• Preparing periodic reports and analysing accounts payable data for executives and auditors.
• Internal control systems to prevent financial fraud and protect assets.
• Adhering to local and international regulations, and conducting internal and external audits.

Module 6: Reducing Costs and Improving Efficiency

• Reducing costs related to paid invoices and negotiating favourable terms to shorten payment periods.
• Adopting automation to increase data accuracy, reduce delays and speed up the payment cycle.
• Restructuring financial operations and integrating advanced systems to improve payment flow.