Online Class: Accounts Payable Management

Accounts Payable 101 covers a broad range of topics, from invoice handling and fraud prevention to leveraging technology and understanding high-level A/P concepts, aiming to develop well-rounded leaders adept at navigating the complexities of today's financial landscape. This course offers expert insights, practical tips, and real-world examples from seasoned professionals to ensure a thorough and practical learning experience.

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  • 14
    Lessons
  • 26
    Exams &
    Assignments
  • 5,194
    Students
    have taken this course
  • 7
    Hours
    average time
  • 0.7
    CEUs
 
 

Course Description

Managing Accounts Payable: A Comprehensive Guide for New Managers

Stepping into the role of a manager for an accounts payable (A/P) department requires more than just a familiarity with invoicing or check processing. In today's rapidly evolving financial landscape, it demands an integrated understanding of multiple facets, from customer relations and vendor management to the nuances of modern technologies shaping the field. This course aims to provide a robust foundation for budding A/P managers, enriched with expert insights and best practices.

Why This Course?

Accounts payable is the backbone of a company's financial operations. However, it's not merely about disbursing payments. It's about establishing robust internal controls, fostering healthy vendor relationships, ensuring seamless transactions, and navigating the intricacies of contemporary technologies. Our course goes beyond traditional learning, offering guidance from seasoned professionals who have navigated the complexities of the A/P world for years.

What You Will Learn:

  • Lesson 1: What Is a Manager?
    Dive into the realm of management, exploring the responsibilities and expectations from an A/P department leader. Understand the balance between leadership and teamwork, and the pivotal role a manager plays in optimizing operations.

  • Lesson 2: Handling Invoices
    Discover best practices in invoice management. From accurate recording to timely approvals, learn how to ensure a smooth invoicing process.

  • Lesson 3: Checks
    Understand the intricacies of check processing, from issuance to reconciliation. Explore modern alternatives and the evolving landscape of digital transactions.

  • Lesson 4: Preventing Errors
    Errors can be costly. Delve into meticulous procedures and checks that can be implemented to minimize discrepancies.

  • Lesson 5: Customer Service, Internal Controls, and the Annual Audit
    Grasp the importance of impeccable customer service, the establishment of robust internal controls, and preparations for the annual audit to ensure transparency and trust.

  • Lesson 6: Fraud: Vendor, Employee, and Check
    In a world where frauds are becoming increasingly sophisticated, arm yourself with knowledge and preventive measures to shield your organization.

  • Lesson 7: How Companies Use Technology in Accounts Payable
    From AI to automation, understand how modern technologies are reshaping A/P processes, offering efficiency and accuracy.

  • Lesson 8: Traditional Functions and the 21st Century
    While we embrace new methodologies, the core functions remain vital. Revisit traditional A/P roles and understand their relevance today.

  • Lesson 9: Using the Internet in Accounts Payable
    Harness the power of the internet for vendor communication, online transactions, and more, while ensuring security and compliance.

  • Lesson 10: Master Vendor Files
    Master the art of maintaining comprehensive vendor databases, ensuring seamless transactions, and optimizing vendor relations.

  • Lesson 11: Problems Caused by Discounts and Other Deductions
    Learn to navigate challenges posed by early payment discounts, rebates, and other deductions, ensuring mutual benefit and maintaining vendor relationships.

  • Lesson 12: Independent Consultants
    In the gig economy, working with freelancers and consultants is commonplace. Understand the financial nuances and compliance requirements associated with such engagements.

  • Lesson 13: 1099 Income Tax Forms
    Dive into tax implications and the importance of accurate 1099 form submissions, ensuring compliance and transparency.

  • Lesson 14: High-level Accounts Payable Concepts
    Wrap up your learning with a dive into advanced A/P concepts, preparing you for the strategic aspects of accounts payable management.

Expertise at Your Fingertips:
Benefit from the wisdom of our guest lecturer, a veteran disbursement manager with a wealth of A/P experience. Their expert tips, real-life examples, and best practices will provide invaluable insights.

Embark on this comprehensive journey and arm yourself with the knowledge and skills required to lead an A/P department effectively in the modern business world. This isn't just a course; it's your roadmap to success in the world of accounts payable management. Join us and shape your future as a competent, forward-thinking A/P manager.

Course Motivation

The Key to Managing a Successful Accounts Payable Department

There is a key to managing an accounts payable department that will set you apart. It will set you apart from other accounts payable departments, it will set you apart from the managers who ran the department before you, and it will set you apart from other departments in the company. It is this: Remember that you are part of the sales and customer service process. Do not think of yourself as just a rubber stamp department that doles out money to invoices. Become actively involved in resource-saving (not "cost-cutting") measures to make your department valuable.
 
 
 
Many accounts payable department associates forget that they often serve as the face of the company. When your vendors receive a check from your department, you represent the company. When employees get reimbursement or, if applicable, their wages from your department, you represent the company. When a customer receives a check for an overpaid account from your department, you represent the company. In these ways and more, you touch the key players in your company and thus are part of the sales and service team. With this mindset, encourage your staff to improve systems within the department, answer the telephone quickly and in an upbeat manner, process invoices quickly and efficiently, and recommend resource-saving ideas in order to improve the overall finances of the company. 
 
 
You will go a long way toward gaining the respect of the owner and upper management in the company if you make sales and service your department's goal and mindset.
 

In today's fast-paced business world, few areas are as important to a company as having a successful Accounts Payable Manager.  More and more companies are understanding the importance of having a manager in Accounts Payable who go above and beyond what is normally called for.  For too long, businesses thought that having someone in Accounts Payable who was persistent and would keep at an account until it was caught up was what it took but that model is evolving.  As businesses are changing, the way that things have been done in the past is changing, as well.

Designed for the new manager of an Accounts Payable department, this course will help the student step into their new role and take a commanding and successful lead.  However, this course will also prove useful for anyone who is already in Accounts Payable and is seeking to expand their knowledge.  In other words, this course will take what you know and it will enhance it by adding proven management principles to your practices. 

In the marketplace today, Accounts Payable is more than just processing checks, mailing them and filing away mountains of back-up paperwork.  A good Accounts Payable manager understand all parts of the department everything from customer service and vendor management to check requests and purchase orders.

Finally, this course will show you how to handle invoices, how to process checks, dealing with audits and ensuring that your department operates as error-free as possible.  You'll be getting expert advice from a well-seasoned disbursement manager with extensive Accounts Payable experience. 

 
This course will provide you with everything that you need to know about being a successful Accounts Payable manager.  Some of the information might be familiar to you but there's a very good chance that you'll come across some invaluable new material.  If you are a new Accounts Payable manager or are about to become one, you might find yourself filled with reservations but after taking this course, you'll discover that the entire process was not nearly as frightening as you might have thought.

You'll learn what it is that a manager does and how to best operate an Accounts Payable department and you'll find ways to help motivate the people you manage into being the best possible performers.

This course will also discuss the following areas:

-     What is a manager:  You'll learn what a manager is, what a manager does, and the importance of always being on top of what is happening within your department.  You will also learn the key to managing your Accounts Payable department and how to best become a valuable asset to your company.

-      Invoice handling:  The student will understand the process of tracking invoices from the moment they arrive in the department until the final check is cut.  Students will also be walked through a step-by-step process to bring order to what might be a chaotic system.

-      Checks:  The lesson will address to core of the Accounts Payable department and will help the student to understand areas that might need to be examined and worked on.

-      Preventing errors:  Students will discover that duplication and missing invoices are among the most common problems in the Accounts Payable department and will be given real-world solutions that they can apply in reducing errors.

-      Customer service, internal controls and the annual audit:  Students will understand how the aspects of customer service apply to their department and will examine the concepts of internal controls and the annual audit.

-      Fraud:  Vendor, Employee, and Check:  This section of the course will instruct the student on the importance of overseeing things to ensure there is no fraud taking place, either due to a vendor or employee check mismanagement.

-      How companies are using technology in Accounts Payable:  The student will learn more information about using the information in the Accounts Payable department, as well as address software solutions that can make their department run more smoothly.

-      The importance of Master Vendor Files:  Students will see how Master Vendor Files are an important way to help ensure that vendors are paid in a timely manner and errors are avoided.  In addition, the files are invaluable tools to monitor fraud and error.

By the end of this course, the student will have a thorough knowledge of what it takes to manage a successful Accounts Payable department and how to implement changes needed in order to make it operate more efficiently.

  • Completely Online
  • Self-Paced
  • Printable Lessons
  • Full HD Video  
  • 6 Months to Complete
  • 24/7 Availability
  • Start Anytime
  • PC & Mac Compatible
  • Android & iOS Friendly
  • Accredited CEUs
Universal Class is an IACET Accredited Provider
 

Course Lessons

Average Lesson Rating:
4.3 / 5 Stars (Average Rating)
"Extraordinarily Helpful"
(4,168 votes)

Lesson 1: What Is a Manager?

Accounts payable are the "veins of a business." Great accounts payable managers of any organization must know the fundamentals and have a solid understanding of how to run their department. 63 Total Points
  • Lesson 1 Video
  • Lesson discussions: Role Model; Reasons for Taking this Course
  • Complete Assignment: Introduction
  • Complete Assignment: Manager Role
  • Assessment: Manager

Lesson 2: Handling Invoices

This lesson and the next one form the core of a new set of skills that will help you in your new position. These two lessons cover the invoice-handling and check process that your department does. 103 Total Points
  • Lesson 2 Video
  • Lesson discussions: Unions
  • Complete Assignment: Invoice Process
  • Complete Assignment: Steps for an Invoice
  • Assessment: Invoices

Lesson 3: Checks

This lesson is about the core of your department's purpose: work flow-processing. Additional lesson topics: eChecks 103 Total Points
  • Lesson 3 Video
  • Lesson discussions: Organizational Chart
  • Complete Assignment: Steps for Check Processing
  • Complete Assignment: Rush Checks
  • Assessment: Checks

Lesson 4: Preventing Errors

Duplication and missing invoices are common problems in accounting departments. In this lesson, you will learn some of the ways you can reduce errors. Additional lesson topics: Reconciling Your Accounts 32 Total Points
  • Lesson 4 Video
  • Complete Assignment: Prevention
  • Assessment: Prevention

Lesson 5: Customer Service, Internal Controls and the Annual Audit

Internal controls and the annual audit are long-accepted concepts, but customer service may be a new one. Sure, you have heard of it before but rarely in relation to your department. 72 Total Points
  • Lesson 5 Video
  • Lesson discussions: Non profit vs Profit
  • Complete: Assignment 1
  • Assessment: Exam 5

Lesson 6: Fraud: Vendor, Employee and Check

This lesson will cover the aspect of fraud in relation to vendors, employees, and checks. Additional lesson topics: Preventing Accounts Payable Fraud 90 Total Points
  • Lesson 6 Video
  • Lesson discussions: Office Supplies
  • Assessment: Fraud

Lesson 7: How Companies Use Technology in Accounts Payable

The Internet was covered in a previous lesson. In this lesson, we spend some time talking about other uses of technology for the accounts payable department. 91 Total Points
  • Lesson 7 Video
  • Complete Assignment: Technology
  • Assessment: Technology

Lesson 8: Traditional Functions and the 21st Century

Reimbursement to employees is a large part of your job; and the larger the company, the larger it will be. 92 Total Points
  • Lesson 8 Video
  • Lesson discussions: Online payments
  • Complete Assignment: Reimbursement
  • Assessment: Lesson 8 Exam

Lesson 9: Using the Internet in Accounts Payable

In this lesson, we are going to look at the Internet. 2 Total Points
  • Lesson 9 Video
  • Lesson discussions: Online Accounts Payable
  • Complete Assignment: Using the Cloud

Lesson 10: Master Vendor Files

Master vendor files are one way to help ensure that vendors get paid and errors are avoided. These files will become valuable resources to your department to monitor for fraud and error and make sure that your vendors are happy. 72 Total Points
  • Lesson 10 Video
  • Complete Assignment: Master Vendor File
  • Assessment: Master Vendor

Lesson 11: Problems Caused by Discounts and Other Deductions

Everyone loves discounts. Everyone, it seems, but the accounts payable department! Discounts are great for buyers; but, if there is an overpayment problem, then your department gets involved and the process can be drawn-out and difficult. 60 Total Points
  • Lesson 11 Video
  • Lesson discussions: overpayment
  • Assessment: Deductions and Discounts

Lesson 12: Independent Consultants

Independent consultants are a real part of the workforce and growing. Many people are taking their expertise and becoming independent consultants for a very good reason: Consultants are in high demand. 50 Total Points
  • Lesson 12 Video
  • Assessment: Consultant

Lesson 13: 1099 Income Tax Forms

This lesson covers 1099 federal tax forms for contractors. 2 Total Points
  • Lesson 13 Video
  • Complete Assignment: 1099 and master vendor list

Lesson 14: High-level Accounts Payable Concepts

There are many high-level accounts payable concepts, and they are always changing. As Generally Acceptable Accounting Practices are continually being refined, you will find that your compliance and upgrading requirements will keep you refreshed in some of 102 Total Points
  • Lesson 14 Video
  • Lesson discussions: Final Course Poll - Your Opinion; Program Evaluation Follow-up Survey (End of Course); Course Comments
  • Complete Assignment: Accounting for What I Have Learned...
  • Assessment: Accounting
934
Total Course Points
 

Learning Outcomes

By successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
  • Identify and summarize the Accounts Payable Management job.
  • Handle invoices correctly and employ the necessary checks and balances.
  • Process checks correctly while employing the necessary checks and balances.
  • Prevent errors and common mistakes.
  • Provide good customer service, create internal controls, and prepare the department for the annual audit.
  • Detect and prevent fraud from vendors and employees.
  • Use technology in Accounts Payable to make the job more efficient.
  • Identify ways to use the Internet in Accounts Payable.
  • Summarize the processes involved in Master Vendor Files.
  • Avoid problems caused by discounts and other deductions.
  • Know what to do with independent consultants.
  • Process 1099s.
  • Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
 

Additional Course Information

Online CEU Certificate
  • Document Your Lifelong Learning Achievements
  • Earn an Official Certificate Documenting Course Hours and CEUs
  • Verify Your Certificate with a Unique Serial Number Online
  • View and Share Your Certificate Online or Download/Print as PDF
  • Display Your Certificate on Your Resume and Promote Your Achievements Using Social Media
Document Your CEUs on Your Resume
 
Course Title: Accounts Payable Management
Course Number: 30873
Lessons Rating: 4.3 / 5 Stars (4,168 votes)
Languages: English - United States, Canada and other English speaking countries
Availability: This course is online and available in all 50 states including: California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Texas.
Last Updated: July 2023
Course Type: Self-Paced, Online Class
CEU Value: 0.7 IACET CEUs (Continuing Education Units)
CE Accreditation: Universal Class, Inc. has been accredited as an Authorized Provider by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).
Grading Policy: Earn a final grade of 70% or higher to receive an online/downloadable CEU Certification documenting CEUs earned.
Assessment Method: Lesson assignments and review exams
Instructor: Linda Zavadil
Syllabus: View Syllabus
Course Fee: $120.00 U.S. dollars

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Student Testimonials

  • "I Learned many things in this course which is very helpful for my career. All lessons were clear, well explained with example and addition link for advanced learning." -- Brandy R.
  • "I don't think any changes need to be made. The information is very useful and laid out in a way that helps someone who is not familiar with Accounts Payable to have a better understanding of how AP funtions." -- Lawerence R.
  • "I learned a lot from this course and I am now the manager of our Accounts Payable Department, Thank you!" -- Andrea R.
  • "Well planned, awesome material." -- Carol B.
  • "Over all after all is said and done I think this is a good course and the instructor is a fine instructor. In the future I might just take another course. I will never get to the point where I think I just too smart or know everything to take a class. I thank you for providing me with this excellent opportunity." -- Larry S.
  • "I really liked the procedure of accounts payable from receiving the invoice to cutting the check to filing." -- Larry S.
  • "The different process ideas were very helpful." -- SARAH B.
  • "I appreciated the promptness of the instructor's grading, and her comments were always encouraging and inspiring." -- Sylvia T.
  • "I actually found all parts very helpful, but I'd say overall, learning how to effectively set up and monitor an Accounts Payable system would be at the top of the list. Once the system is in place with proper log-in, signatures from the proper authorities/departments, payment processes, audits, etc., the whole Accounts Payable department is on its way to being one of the most structured parts of the organization." -- Sylvia T.
  • "This course was great!" -- Tabitha C.
View More Testimonials...
 

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