Accounts Payable Training Course (1 Day)

Accounts Payable is a vital part of how any UK business runs — touching invoice processing, supplier relationships, cash flow, VAT, and the company’s financial reporting. Done well, it saves money and prevents errors; done badly, it costs both.

Our 1-day Accounts Payable Training course is built for the UK market and covers everything you need to manage an AP function confidently: invoice processing, supplier statement reconciliations, VAT considerations, fraud and error prevention, and the practical day-to-day controls that keep a finance team running smoothly.

The course is CPD-accredited and delivered as a live virtual classroom — so you join from anywhere in the UK — with the option for bespoke on-site delivery for teams. Every learner also gets a recording of the training and aftercare support, so you can revisit material long after the day itself.

This course can also be offered as on-site delivery. Please enquire for more details.

Key points that will be covered:

• Understanding the importance of your role
• Capital and revenue expenditure
• Setting up new supplier accounts
• Introduction to VAT in relation to the Accounts Payable role
• Key considerations when processing invoices and credit notes
• Spotting errors and mistakes promptly and avoiding duplicate payments
• Maximising supplier discounts
• Performing supplier statement reconciliations
• Reviewing the Aged Creditors Listing
• Internal checks and controls; error and fraud prevention and detection
• Understanding the role of auditors and what you can do to prepare for their visit
• Paperless AP technology

The Accounts Payable Training course is built for anyone working in — or moving into — an AP function in a UK business. It’s particularly suited to:

• Accounts Payable clerks and assistants new to the role, or in their first months and wanting to do the job properly.
• AP supervisors and team leaders wanting a structured refresher and current best-practice approach.
• Finance and accounts assistants taking on AP responsibilities for the first time, or broadening from sales ledger into purchase ledger.
• Bookkeepers and accountants handling AP for clients and wanting a deeper grounding in process and controls.
• Small business owners and finance managers who run AP in-house and want to make sure they’re doing it correctly — managing suppliers, VAT, and avoiding duplicate or fraudulent payments.
• Career changers looking to enter AP from a different role — no prior experience is required.

If you’d also like to cover Accounts Receivable / sales ledger management in the same course, see our Accounts Payable & Receivable course — a 2-day programme covering both sides.

By the end of the day, you’ll be able to:

• Set up new supplier accounts correctly and keep supplier records clean and accurate.
• Process invoices, credit notes, and expense claims with confidence — and spot common errors before they cost the business money.
• Apply the right VAT treatment to AP transactions, including non-deductible items.
• Perform supplier statement reconciliations and resolve discrepancies professionally.
• Review the Aged Creditors Listing and use it to prioritise payments and manage cash flow.
• Spot and prevent fraud, duplicate payments, and processing errors using sensible internal checks and controls.
• Maximise supplier discounts and identify rebates, credit notes, and overpayments to reclaim.
• Distinguish capital from revenue expenditure and treat each correctly.
• Understand the auditor’s role in AP and prepare confidently for an audit visit.
• Apply current paperless AP technology and modern process improvements to your day-to-day work.

You’ll also leave with a course recording, your own course material, and aftercare support — so you can revisit anything and ask follow-up questions as you put the learning into practice.

Virtual Live Classroom

• Enquire for pricing

• Lauren W: Great, we went through what to expect at the start and it certainly met all the criteria in great depth! It was great having the workbook and slide show to hand to read through as it was shared in the training as well. 
• Andy Steele: A very well done. Well presented course. with a knowledgeable and friendly presenter/trainer 
• Lauren Waldron: it was great having the workbook and slide show to hand to read through as it was shared on the meeting as well 
• Nicola Corbishley: The course was lead very clear and informative by Tara 
• Toyosi ibitoye: Keep up the good services

Q: How long is the course? A: One day. The session typically runs from 10am to 5pm, with breaks throughout the day.

Q: Is the course delivered online or in person? A: The course is delivered as a live virtual classroom — joining from anywhere in the UK over a video link, with a real trainer in the room. Bespoke on-site delivery is also available if you’d prefer the trainer to come to your team.

Q: What’s the difference between this course and the Accounts Payable & Receivable course? A: This 1-day course focuses purely on Accounts Payable (the purchase ledger side — managing suppliers, processing invoices, controlling outgoing payments). Our Accounts Payable & Receivable course (2 days) covers both AP and AR (sales ledger management, customer invoicing, credit control) — better suited if your role spans both.

Q: Will I receive a certificate? A: Yes — a CPD-accredited Course Completion Certificate awarded by Acudemy on successful completion of the course assessment (where applicable).

Q: Will the course cover specific accounting software? A: The course focuses on the principles and processes of Accounts Payable rather than a specific software package, so the skills apply whether your business uses Sage, Xero, QuickBooks, SAP, or anything else. If you’d like dedicated software training alongside, take a look at our Sage 50 Accounts or Xero courses.

Q: Can the course be delivered for my team at our offices? A: Yes. Bespoke on-site delivery is available across the UK and Ireland, and the content can be tailored to your specific processes and systems. Please enquire for details.

Q: Do I get to keep the course material and recording? A: Yes — you keep the course material and receive a recording of the session, so you can revisit it whenever you need a refresher. Aftercare support is also included if you have follow-up questions while applying the learning at work.