What is Accounts Payable?

A fundamental question of accounting and finance is: what is accounts payable?

Accounts payable (AP) is an accounting term that means: “The money you owe for goods or services you have purchased but not yet paid for.”

Accounts payable also refers to the process, department, or people responsible for paying invoices.

First let’s take a look at how accounts payable works. Then we will dive into some accounts payable examples. After that we’ll explore the day-to-day tasks of an accounts payable department. Finally, we’ll discuss the importance of accounts payable and why it should be automated.

What is Accounts Payable?

When a company obtains a service, there are two ways to pay: upfront or by invoice.

Upfront payments mean that the price is paid before the good or service is delivered. For example, at a store, you will have to pay for the goods before you can leave with them.

But companies pay most business expenses on an invoice basis. This means the company takes possession of the goods on credit then pays on a later date – typically within 30 days.

In other cases, invoices come through in the form of a bill. Like for rent or utilities.

Invoices also reflect the goods or services that were specifically requested in either a purchase order or some other requisition request.

You can learn more about the difference in these types of accounts payable in our article What is the Difference Between a PO and Non PO Invoice?

Accounts Payable Examples

Accounts payable examples include any amount a company owes to its suppliers, contractors or vendors for goods or services it has received but has not yet paid for. Here are some common examples of accounts payable:

1. Raw materials and supplies: A manufacturing company may purchase raw materials, such as steel or rubber, from suppliers to make its products. The company records these purchases as accounts payable until they are paid.
2. Utilities: A business may receive bills for electricity, gas, water, and internet services and records these expenses as accounts payable until they are paid.
3. Rent: A company may rent a building for its operations, and the monthly rent payments are recorded as accounts payable until they are paid.
4. Wages and salaries: A company may owe wages and salaries to its employees for the work they have performed but have not yet paid. These amounts are recorded as accounts payable until the payment is made.
5. Consultants and contractors: A company may hire consultants or contractors for various projects, and their fees are recorded as accounts payable until they are paid.
6. Advertising and marketing: A company may run advertisements and engage in marketing activities and records the costs as accounts payable until they are paid.

These are just a few accounts payable examples, but hopefully they give you an idea of what accounts payable means: any amount owed for products or services already received.

How Do Companies Handle Accounts Payable?

A company’s finances show AP as a liability.

As you can see from the examples of accounts payable, accounts payable are bills and invoices that you must paid.

An accounts payable department or clerk’s primary responsibility is to process and pay invoices.

Firstly, they review transactions between the company and its vendors/suppliers. Secondly, they ensure that all legitimate invoices get approved, processed, and paid on time.

Processing an invoice includes extracting important data from the invoice and then inputting it into the company’s financial, bookkeeping, or ERP system.

The invoices then go through the company’s business process including invoice approval, filing, and payment.

Lastly, accounts payable pays the invoice.

What Does an AP Clerk or Department do on a Day-to-Day Basis?

The accounts payable process involves an enormous number of detail-oriented tasks.

An AP department must enter only legitimate and accurate invoice details in the accounting system. This information comes from:

• Purchase orders
• Receiving reports/packing slips/receipts
• Invoices from vendors and suppliers
• Contracts and other purchasing agreements

A well-run accounts payable process will also include:

• Accurate capture of data from these documents into the accounting system,
• Timely processing of only accurate and legitimate invoices,
• Obtaining approval for invoice payment from managers,
• Accurate recording of payments in the appropriate general ledger accounts, and
• Reports on obligations and expenses that are not completely processed.

In conclusion, that’s a LOT of time and effort. Moreover, a lot of room for mistakes!

Why Is Accounts Payable Important?

It’s critical to pay close attention to your AP expenditures. It’s the only way to maintain internal controls to protect your cash and assets and avoid paying for inaccurate or fraudulent invoices.

For example, maintaining an organized and efficient accounts payable process allows you to remain aware of the impact AP has on your bottom line.

Moreover, the efficiency and effectiveness of the accounts payable process will affect the company’s cash position, credit rating, and relationships with its suppliers. No-one wants to do business with a company that fails at making payments.

How AP Automation Can Maximize AP Processing Efficiency

Accounting teams use AP Automation (Accounts Payable Automation) to digitize and streamline the processing of purchase orders and invoices.

AP Automation software uses advanced optical character recognition (OCR) technologies integrated with robotic process automation (RPA) software to automate accounts payable PO, invoice, and payment processes.

The best AP automation solutions also use Verified Data Capture Services to achieve 99.9% accuracy of AP data automation.

AP automation replaces manual tasks around PO and invoice processing, approvals and payment. And then, importantly, it provides better visibility and control over your financial data.

For example, a full end-to-end AP automation solutions include:

• Purchase Requisition Automation – Automated purchase requisition and approvals.
• Purchase Orders and Confirmation Automation – POs are automatically generated out of purchase requisitions with built-in PO approval and acceptance automation.
• Receiving Automation – Automated receipt confirmation against an open PO upon delivery of goods or services.
• Invoice Processing Automation – Invoice process automation including  Verified AP Data Capture Service that delivers 99.9% accuracy of invoice data processing, automated 2 way and 3 way PO matching, and easily configurable invoice approval workflows.
• Travel and Expense Automation – Automating the travel and expense reporting process just makes employees happier!
• Payment Automation – The ability to automatically make electronic payments by check, ACH or wire transfer. Or why not use virtual credit cards and receive a 1% rebate on every payment you make!?

READ MORE: So, you’ve decided to automate your accounts payable process. Now what?

To sum up, we’ve put together a quick video about the process:

Bottom Line – What is Accounts Payable?

Accounts payable refers to several things:

• Firstly, amount of money you owe for products / services that you received, but not paid for.
• Secondly, the process of paying that money.
• Lastly, it’s the department and people who manage that process.

In other words, it is critical that your AP be timely, accurate, and free of fraud or waste.

As a result, the best way to achieve that goal is through AP automation using tools like CoreIntegrator Enterprise or A/P One.

Why not click or tap here for a free, no hassle demonstration of how we can automate your AP today!