A messy accounts payable process quietly costs organisations more than most finance teams realise – late payments, duplicate invoices, and weak controls that leave the door open to error or fraud. This Accounts Payable: Best Practices in Accounting and Management course from the Arab British Fellowship Training Academy is built to close that gap, combining core AP accounting principles with the management practices that keep the function efficient and compliant.

Participants work through the full accounts payable cycle – invoice processing, vendor management, and payment disbursement – alongside internal controls that catch errors and fraud early, and the tax and regulatory requirements AP teams must stay on top of.

The course then moves into automation and ERP-driven processing, cost control, KPI-based performance measurement, and risk mitigation, giving attendees the tools to strengthen financial reporting, streamline workflows, and support the organisation's overall financial health.

Knowledge and Benefits

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

• Apply strong internal controls that reduce risk and catch errors or fraud early.
• Streamline invoice processing and the payment cycle from end to end.
• Manage vendor relationships and use ERP/automation tools effectively in AP.
• Track compliance requirements and use KPIs to measure and improve AP performance.
• Build an efficient AP function that supports accurate financial reporting and organisational efficiency.

Who Should Attend?

• Accounts payable and receivable officers, accountants, and finance officers.
• Procurement and purchasing officers, and ERP system users working with AP modules.
• Internal auditors, compliance officers, financial controllers, and budget analysts.
• Anyone involved in financial management, vendor payments, or internal controls.

Module 1: Accounts Payable Foundations

• Overview of the AP function, its importance in the financial system, and key responsibilities and reporting structure.
• Basic accounting for payables, double-entry, and journal entries.
• Reconciliations and closing procedures.

Module 2: Running the AP Cycle

• Steps in processing invoices, and matching purchase orders and receipts.
• Payment approvals and disbursements.
• Selecting and onboarding vendors, maintaining records, and managing vendor communication and performance.

Module 3: Internal Controls, Risk, and Compliance

• Designing effective internal controls, and detecting and preventing fraud.
• Segregation of duties within AP.
• Tax compliance (VAT, withholding, etc.), regulatory requirements, and audit preparedness and documentation.

Module 4: Automation and ERP Integration

• Benefits of automation in accounts payable.
• Using ERP systems for AP processing.
• Data security and system controls.

Module 5: Measuring and Improving Performance

• Setting and tracking KPIs for AP, and benchmarking against best practices.
• Continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strategies for efficient AP operations, managing cash flow and working capital, and aligning AP with organisational goals.