Ask most finance teams where cash quietly leaks out of the business, and accounts payable is rarely the first answer — yet duplicate payments, missed discounts, and slow reconciliations add up fast. This course from the Arab British Fellowship Training Academy treats accounts payable as what it really is: a direct lever on an organisation's cash flow and working capital, not just a back-office processing task.

Participants benchmark their AP function against what leading companies do differently, then work through the systems, controls, and habits that separate a reactive payables department from one that actively protects cash. The course draws on documented strategies from both high-performing and struggling companies, showing how each approach plays out in practice.

Who Should Attend?

• Finance executives, accountants, and accounts payable managers, supervisors, and staff.
• Accounts receivable managers, staff, and revenue accountants who work alongside the payables function.
• Billing, collection, and AR specialists, and finance professionals who interact with accounts payable operations.
• Anyone looking to build their capabilities in accounts payable and cash management.

What You Will Gain

• A clear view of how accounts payable links to the supply chain, cash flow, and the general ledger through purchase orders, inventory control, and the purchase ledger.
• Practical methods for managing cash and working capital to cut costs and strengthen cash flow.
• An understanding of how risk and uncertainty affect accounts payable and cash flow, and how leading global companies handle it.
• The ability to apply accounts payable and financial accounting fundamentals, review payment methods, and manage cash effectively.

Module 1: Foundations of Accounts Payable Management

• Role and importance of AP in financial management, and the key components of the AP process.
• Legal and regulatory considerations shaping AP work.
• Overview of accounts payable automation and where technology fits into the process.

Module 2: Processing Invoices Accurately

• Receiving and reviewing vendor invoices, and matching them against purchase orders and receiving documents.
• Validating invoice accuracy, resolving discrepancies, and managing the approval workflow and invoice coding.
• Processing pro-forma invoices, VAT payment schedules, and handling non-deductible items.

Module 3: Payments, Discounts and Vendor Accounts

• Comparing payment methods and their benefits and drawbacks, including electronic payment systems and online banking.
• Setting up new supplier accounts, vendor file management, and setting payment terms and schedules.
• Claiming settlement discounts and rebates, and reclaiming credit notes and overpayments.

Module 4: Cash Flow, Budgets and Forecasting

• Cash forecasting and management, and optimising payment timing.
• Managing budgets and maximising supplier discounts.
• Capital versus revenue expenditure, and processing expense claims and credit card statements.

Module 5: Reconciliation and Error Prevention

• Performing supplier statement reconciliation and resolving disputes.
• Spotting errors promptly and avoiding duplicate payments.
• Journals, prepayments, accruals, and month-end closing procedures.

Module 6: Internal Controls, Fraud Prevention and Audit Readiness

• Internal checks and controls for error and fraud prevention and detection.
• Segregation of duties, authorisation processes, and compliance with accounting standards and internal policies.
• The role of auditors and how to prepare for an audit visit.

Module 7: Vendor Relationships and Communication

• Building and maintaining good relationships with vendors.
• Effective communication and negotiation with vendors.
• Monitoring costs and managing supplier statement reconciliations proactively.

Module 8: Reporting, Technology and Best Practice

• Generating accounts payable reports, aging analysis, and managing outstanding payables.
• Integrating accounts payable with the general ledger and financial statements.
• Benefits and challenges of AP automation, and best practices for streamlining invoice processing and payment workflows.