BestPracticeFinancialProcesses:AccountsPayable2PwC175b(1)AccountsPayableObjectivesOrganisationPeopleProcessesControlsMeasuresInformationSystemsTomaximiseprocessingefficiencyToensureinvoicesareprocessedtoagreedtermsToensurepaymentsmadeonlywhendueandpayableToensureliabilitiesarefullyrecordedanddistributedcorrectlyToachieveeffectivebalancebetweenextendingcreditandmaintaininggoodrelationswithsuppliersTotakefulladvantageofopportunitiestorecoverVATCentralisedprocessingOutsourcingpotentialMaintainingsupplierdetailsProcessvouchersProcesspaymentsPeriodendprocessingandreportingAuthorisationrulesSystemaccesscontrolsUserproceduresValidationandmatchingrulesSpeedofprocessingsupplieramendmentsInvoicesprocessedInvoiceprocessingtimeNumberofpaymentsPeriodendclosuretimeInterfacebetweenAccountsPayableandotherrelatedprocessesSharedemployeeandsupplierdetailsSystemvalidationandapprovalchecksSupplierrelationsCreditorcontrolAccountsPayable-BestPracticeObjectives3PwC175b(1)AccountsPayable-BestpracticefeaturesAuthoriseandsetupnewsupplierspaymentdetailsMaintainsupplierpaymentdetailsSegregationofdutiesbetweensuppliersetup,voucherprocessingandpaymentprocessingAccountspayableprocessvouchers:invoices,expenseclaims,creditnotes,debitmemosandprepaymentrequestsSuppliersrequiredtousePOnumberonalldocumentsandthreewaymatchwhereverpossibleConsolidatedperiodicinvoicingforhighfrequencysuppliersProcessFeaturesMaintainsupplierdetailsProcessvouchersOptimisationofearlypaymentdiscountsPaymentrunsproperlyauthorisedProcesspaymentsAlltransactionscompletedbeforeperiodclosedReconciliationofAccountsPayableactivityandreconciliationwithGeneralLedgercontrolaccountManagementreportsrunonceperiodisfinallyclosedPeriodendprocessingandreporting4PwC175b(1)AccountsPayable-BestpracticefeaturesSinglesupplierdatabaseSingleemployeedatabaseAudittrailofchangestosupplierpaymentdetailsPurchaseinvoicestransactedviaEDIwithmajorsupplierswhereverpossibleElectronicvalidationandapprovalofinvoicesAutomaticmatchingofinvoicetoorderandgoodsreceivednote(GRN)InterfacewithGeneralLedger,Purchasing,FixedAssetsandProjectAccountingUseofworkflowsoftwaretoresolvequeriesandmonitorprocessSystemFeaturesMaintainsupplierdetailsProcessvouchersElectronicpaymentsDefaultpaymenttermsheldonsupplierfilewithmanualoverrideatP.O.andinvoiceProductionofforwardpaymententryschedulestoaidcashflowmanagementInterfacewithGeneralLedger,FixedAssets,ProjectAccountingandCashManagementFacilitytosuspendpaymentsProcesspaymentsIntegrationwithGeneralLedgerminimisesreconciliationadjustmentsTransactionprocessingpreventedforclosedperiodsPeriodendprocessingandreporting5PwC175b(1)AccountsPayable-Measures/CostdriversNumberofinvoicesreceivedpermonthNumberofsuppliersNumberofdifferenttermsandconditionsComplexityofauthorisationprocessProportionofinvoicesautomaticallymatchedwithPO'sNumberofsupplierqueriesProportionofinvoicesreceivedelectronicallyProportionofpaymentsmadeelectronicallyMedian16days90percentile49days90percentileMedian10percentileNumberofpurchaseinvoicesperFTEperannum15,0007,0003,000orlessCostperpurchaseinvoiceprocessed10percentileMedian90percentile£2£6£1710percentile6daysInvoiceprocessingtimeindaysCostdriversSource:statisticstakenfromBenchmarkingdatabase21January19976PwC175b(1)AccountsPayable-TrendsFromToSeparateAPmodulePaymentbychequeManualmatchingPerformedbyfinancedepartmentIntegratedsystemsElectronicpaymentOn-linematchingSharedServiceCentresoroutsourcedservices7PwC175b(1)AccountsPayable-CriticalSuccessFactorsTheseareasummaryofthekeybusinessrequirements,whichmustbemettoachievetheobjectives.SinglesupplierdatabaseStafftrainedinAPprocessandhaveclearrolesandresponsibilitiesPaymenttermsdefinedandagreedwithsupplierEffectivecommunicationandfeedbackmechanismsinplacetohandlequeriesEstablishandmaintaingoodsupplierrelationsProcessinplaceformonitoringthestatusofinvoicesandpaymentschedulesAPcalendarinplaceandcommunicatedtostaffAuthorisationlevelsandpaymenttermsheldonthesystemAutomatedworkflowtoroutedocumentstorelevantpersonnelwhenproblemsneedtoberesolvedForwardpaymentscheduletocashflowmanagementFlexiblematchingcriteria8PwC175b(1)AccountsPayable-Appendix1:IDEFProcessFlowThediagrambelowprovidesakeytotheprocessdiagramsusedinthisdocument.Process/activityControls(i.e.ProceduresStandardsRequirementsforrework)Output(i.e.InformationMaterial)Resources(i.e.PeopleFunctionsITsystemsMachines)Input(i.e.InformationMaterial)9PwC175b(1)AccountsPayable-Level0ContextDiagramGroup/Mgt.teamFixedAssetRegisterPurchasingGeneralLedgerSuppliers/EmployeesSupplier/EmployeeamendmentsInvoice/PaymentdetailsHumanResourcesCashManagementProjectAccountingAccountsPayable10PwC175b(1)AccountsPayable-Level1OverviewVoucherapprovedforpaymentNewperiodopenPaymentdetailsreadytoposttoGeneralLedgerPaymentandremittanceadviceVoucher:Invoice/expenseclaim/Creditnote/prepaymentrequestNotificationofchangesfromsupplieroremployeeMaintainsupplierdetailsAP1.1ProcessvouchersAP1.2ProcesspaymentsAP1.3Period