Accounts Payable: From Accounting to Management

This DIXONTECH course bridges the gap between transactional accounting and strategic management in the accounts payable (AP) function. Participants will move beyond bookkeeping to understand AP’s role in financial strategy, cost control, and supplier relationship management. The course focuses on best practices, performance measurement, automation, and the leadership mindset required to transform AP into a value-adding business function.

TRAINING TOPICS

• Evolution of accounts payable from function to strategy
• AP’s integration with procurement and finance
• Key accounting processes and documentation
• Internal controls, audit, and compliance
• Performance metrics and AP leadership roles
• Automation, analytics, and continuous improvement

BY THE END OF THIS TRAINING COURSE, DELEGATES WILL BE ABLE TO:

Transform AP operations into a strategic business function.

• Understand AP’s strategic and financial roles
• Apply accounting best practices efficiently
• Strengthen internal controls and compliance
• Measure and improve AP performance
• Manage vendor and stakeholder relationships
• Implement automation and analytics tools
• Lead and develop an effective AP team

TRAINING IS TAILORED TO

Professionals responsible for managing or transforming AP processes.

• Accounts Payable Supervisors and Managers
• Finance and Treasury Professionals
• Procurement and Supply Chain Leaders
• Auditors and Compliance Officers
• ERP System Analysts and Accountants
• Business Process Owners and Controllers
• Operational Excellence and Shared Service Managers

TRAINING METHODOLOGY

The DIXONTECH methodology blends case studies, role-based simulations, and data-driven analysis. Participants will review real-world AP structures, assess efficiency gaps, and design management frameworks linking accounting activities to organizational strategy. Emphasis is placed on innovation, performance, and leadership in accounts payable operations.

DAY 1

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE FUNDAMENTALS AND STRATEGIC RELEVANCE

• Purpose and scope of accounts payable function
• AP within the financial management cycle
• Key accounting documents and records flow
• The AP control environment and segregation of duties
• Strategic link between AP, procurement, and treasury
• Evolution of AP from processing to performance management
• Common AP challenges and modern solutions

DAY 2

ACCOUNTING WORKFLOWS AND PROCESS INTEGRATION

• Invoice verification and three-way matching
• Purchase orders, receipts, and approvals
• Expense processing and coding accuracy
• Handling adjustments, credit notes, and accruals
• Month-end closing and reconciliation techniques
• Interfacing AP data with general ledger systems
• Practical workshop: AP process mapping

DAY 3

CONTROLS, RISK, AND COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT

• Internal controls in AP processes
• Fraud detection and prevention techniques
• Policy frameworks and approval hierarchies
• Regulatory compliance and audit requirements
• Documentation and electronic records management
• AP role in SOX, IFRS, and governance frameworks
• Case study: identifying and mitigating AP risks

DAY 4

PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT AND MANAGEMENT

• Key performance indicators for AP efficiency
• Benchmarking and cost-to-process analysis
• Cycle time, error rate, and productivity metrics
• Vendor satisfaction and dispute resolution performance
• AP dashboards and visual reporting
• Linking AP metrics to strategic outcomes
• Simulation: analyzing AP performance reports

DAY 5

AUTOMATION, ANALYTICS, AND AP LEADERSHIP

• ERP and AI tools for AP optimization
• Electronic invoicing and workflow automation
• Data analytics for AP insights and forecasting
• Continuous improvement and process reengineering
• Leadership competencies for AP managers
• Building high-performing AP teams
• Developing an action plan for AP transformation