No one knows your organization better than you do. That's why you are in the best position to make process improvements for your own operations. But, sometimes you are too close to identify those problem spots that have crept into your procedures. That's where The Do-It-Yourself Accounts Payable Consultant Handbook comes in. It provides you the added perspective to see your operation clearly. It effectively lets you take that giant step back so you can look at your accounts payable function objectively. Use our straightforward problem-solving tools to uncover the weak spots in your processes. Once you've identified the problems, our commentary will get you started on the right path to fixing the problem by providing some best practice advice. You can use this to strengthen your controls preventing duplicate and erroneous payments and fraud. What's more, you might even earn a few more early pay discounts. Each section contains: * Several analytical checklists to help you scrutinize the your processes to identify those areas that need attention; * An explanation of why certain practices are not recommended and others are: and * The latest thinking to help you develop the solution that is right for your operations. With 35 diagnostic checklists, you're all set to evaluate your own accounts payable function. Table of Contents Invoices Invoice Handling Diagnostic Invoice Processing Diagnostic Do Your Processor s Know the Basics Convincing Vendors to Invoice Electronically And 3 Best Practice Articles AP Check Processes Exception Processing Diagnostic Check Request Forms Diagnostic Paper Check Safety Diagnostic Paper Check Elimination Checklist Dealing with Un-cashed Checks Getting Vendors to Accept e-Payments And 4 Best Practice Articles AP Interdepartmental Processes Identifying Problems in the Purchase-to-Pay Process Diagnostic Master Vendor File Diagnostic User-Friendly Accounts Payable Department Best Practice Checklist And 2 Best Practice Articles Payments Payment Control Diagnostic ACH Diagnostic "Identifying Problems that Can Be Eliminated with e-Payments" Diagnostic P-card Missed Opportunity Diagnostic ACH Fraud Convincing Management to Make ACH Payments And 3 Best Practice Articles Travel & Entertainment T&E Policy Diagnostic T&E Expense Policies that Meet IRS Guidelines while Combatting Fraud Diagnostic Avoiding a T&E Fraud Debacle Diagnostic The T&E Receipts Issue Diagnostic: Are You Collecting the Right Information And 2 Best Practice Articles Regulatory The Regulatory Diagnostic The 1099 Diagnostic Unclaimed Property Best Practice Diagnostic And 3 Best Practice Articles Management Issues: General Common Misconceptions that Get AP into Hot Water Electronic Accounts Payable Diagnostic The Worst Practice Checklist Hiring Best Practice Checklist And 2 Best Practice Articles Management Issues: Control Fraud Deterrence/Prevention/Detection Diagnostic Internal Control Best Practice Diagnostic Productivity Killer Checklist And 3 Best Practice Articles Management Issues: Operation Issues The Duplicate Payment and Recovery Best Practice Checklist Policy & Procedures Manual Launching a New Project Best Practice Checklist And 4 Best Practice Articles

Preparing for Year End in Accounts Payable is a quick-read book focused on issues encountered in the accounts payable department at year end, with the fiscal year end close being the biggest. Each of the chapters has a few review questions at the end to help reinforce the concepts. Answers to the questions along with an explanation are included. A copy of the articles that appeared in an issue of the Accounts Payable Now & Tomorrow newsletter are also included at the end of the book.

Internal controls are a framework of policies, procedures, analysis and strategies put in place by an organization to prevent fraud, ensure the veracity and reliability of financial and accounting information and to protect the organization's financial assets including - but not limited to - its cash flow.
When it comes to accounts payable, not only do strong internal controls help prevent improper and duplicate payments, they tend to lead to a more efficient procure-to-pay process. Controls are all in the details and this book walks professionals through the discrete tasks comprising and impacting the payment function.
Internal controls in your accounts payable function really do matter. Ignoring them could cost you in ways you never imagined.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1: Why Internal Controls Matter
Chapter 2: The Basics of Internal Controls: Theory
Chapter 3: The Basics of Internal Controls: In Practice
Chapter 4: Fraud Prevention Controls and Practices
Chapter 5: Internal Controls and Duplicate Payments
Chapter 6: Where Internal Controls Break Down
Chapter 7: Purchase Orders and Their Role in Internal Controls
Chapter 8: Invoice Processing: The Core of the Accounts Payable Function
Chapter 9: Invoice Related Control Issues
Chapter 10: When Paying by Check: The Internal Control Migraine
Chapter 11: Check Related Control Issues
Chapter 12: Corporate Procurement Cards: An Alternative to Paper Checks
Chapter 13: Electronic Payment Alternatives: A Better Payment Approach
Chapter 14: The Master Vendor File: Where It All Begins
Chapter 15: The Travel and Entertainment Component: Expense Reimbursements
Chapter 16: Computers, Tablets and Smartphones: The Often-Overlooked Control Component
Chapter 17: Controls to Prevent Bribing Foreign Government Officials
Chapter 18: Other Issues That Present Control Concerns
Chapter 19: The Policy and Procedures Manual: Tying It All Together
Glossary
Index