Accounts Payable

When a company orders and receives goods (or services) in advance of paying for them, we say that the company is purchasing the goods on account or on credit. The supplier (or vendor) of the goods on credit is also referred to as a creditor. If the company receiving the goods does not sign a promissory note, the vendor's bill or invoice will be recorded by the company in its liability account Accounts Payable (or Trade Payables).

As is expected for a liability account, Accounts Payable will normally have a credit balance. Hence, when a vendor invoice is recorded, Accounts Payable will be credited and another account must be debited (as required by double-entry accounting). When an account payable is paid, Accounts Payable will be debited and Cash will be credited. Therefore, the credit balance in Accounts Payable should be equal to the amount of vendor invoices that have been recorded but have not yet been paid.Under the accrual method of accounting, the company receiving goods or services on credit must report the liability no later than the date they were received. The same date is used to record the debit entry to an expense or asset account as appropriate. Hence, accountants say that under the accrual method of accounting expenses are reported when they are incurred (not when they are paid).The term accounts payable can also refer to the person or staff that processes vendor invoices and pays the company's bills. That's why a supplier who hasn't received payment from a customer will phone and ask to speak with "accounts payable."The accounts payable process involves reviewing an enormous amount of detail to ensure that only legitimate and accurate amounts are entered in the accounting system. Much of the information that needs to be reviewed will be found in the following documents:

purchase orders issued by the company

receiving reports issued by the company

invoices from the company's vendors

contracts and other agreements

The accuracy and completeness of a company's financial statements are dependent on the accounts payable process. A well-run accounts payable process will include:

the timely processing of accurate and legitimate vendor invoices,

accurate recording in the appropriate general ledger accounts, and

the accrual of obligations and expenses that have not yet been completely processed.

The efficiency and effectiveness of the accounts payable process will also affect the company's cash position, credit rating, and relationships with its suppliers.