From the Inside Flap
As controller or CFO of your company, you may not realize the far-reaching impact of the decisions within the accounts payable (AP) process unless you are intimately involved in the particulars of AP's operations. You might be thinking, "What's the big deal? AP gets bills and pays them. How can that possibly take up a whole book?"
Controller and CFO's Guide to Accounts Payable demonstrates that there is much more to AP than merely paying bills. Drawing on her extensive experience in the corporate financial community, author Mary Schaeffer unveils the myriad of tasks involved in this department and reveals what it actually takes to get these tasks done in the most cost-efficient manner while strengthening internal controls. Her unflinching look at the problems—and their best-practice solutions—shows readers effective ways to tackle the issues encountered between AP operations and the controller's or CFO's office to move on to excellence as a corporate whole.
Controller and CFO's Guide to Accounts Payable is strategically divided into three segments:
- Part I focuses on the core functionality of the AP operation—the processing of invoices and ensuing payment
- Part II turns its attention to specialty functions such as T&E, 1099 Reporting, etc., that may or may not be handled by accounts payable
- Finally, Part III looks at management and oversight issues, explores the latest in fraud and financial crimes as well as the newest initiatives to put a stop to them, and the enduring impact of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
Refreshingly candid and witty in tone, Controller and CFO's Guide to Accounts Payable is required reading for any professional wanting to understand more about their organization's AP operations. It declares that AP is no longer a back-office function and underscores the reality that proper attention must be paid to this crucial department in order to run a leading edge and competitive company.
From the Back Cover
Praise for Controller and CFO's Guide to Accounts Payable"Ms. Schaeffer's book is an in-depth review of how an accounts payable department should be run, all from management's perspective. Her publications have been an invaluable guide to me in understanding the right way to run an AP department. I have relied greatly on her commonsense advice, especially on bringing AP into the twenty-first century."
—Judith D. Sherling, CPAController, R. W. Griffin, Inc.
"Just when you start to feel your team is running a tight AP organization, you read Mary Schaeffer's detailed action items and you can clearly see opportunities to improve processes—a key to sustaining rapid growth in a controlled manner. This guide is a great tool for any finance executive wanting a reality check for their cash and payment processes—providing a banquet of best practice ideas."
—Rebecca W. Holderread Chief Financial Officer, LMS Intellibound, Inc.
"Schaeffer's book was very helpful during the sudden, six-month absence of our accounts payable associate during a computer conversion. Using the book as a guide, I was able to quickly supervise temporary replacements on critical functions in the short term while establishing stronger standardizing procedures and internal controls in the long term."
—Debbie White, CPADirector of Finance, Augusta County Service Authority
Insightful and highly readable, Controller and CFO's Guide to Accounts Payable affords you a high-level view of your company's payment operations to become the best in its class, with authoritative tips, techniques, and advice from Mary Schaeffer, America's most accomplished accounts payable expert. This comprehensive work is the definitive resource for financial managers, CFOs, and controllers who demand an efficient and cost-effective operation.
