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Poor Cashflow Culprits - Your Accounts Payable Process

Poor Cashflow Culprits - Your Accounts Payable Process

One cause of poor cashflow relates to when and how money is spent in your business, including your Terms of Trade with suppliers.

Do you have spending budgets in place? 

It’s best practice to prepare an overall business budget every year, usually before the beginning of your new financial year. It’s also best practice to make sure that team members who have authority to order products and services are doing so within the parameters of an agreed budget, and that controls are in place to ensure that department spending budgets are not exceeded.

Now is a good time to review (and document) your accounts payable process, from ordering right through to making payment.

When was the last time you reviewed your suppliers’ Terms of Trade and prices? 

Terms such as payment expectations, discounts for early payment, late payment implications, insurance, and warranties are all worthy of a closer look. What controls are in place to ensure supplier payments are made on time and discounts for prompt payment are maximised? 

Have you recently evaluated the pricing of your current suppliers and compared this with competitors’ prices? Your evaluation should include delivery charges, payment terms, and discounts.

There are many more strategies you can employ to minimise the risk of fraud and human error.

Talk to us about your plans to maximise cashflow. We can help you distil your goals and ideas into a concise, simple Cashflow Management Plan that will keep you focused on what’s important.

  Looking for more than just compliance?

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Looking for more than just compliance?

If you want proactive financial support, clearer visibility and an accountant who genuinely understands the pressures of running a growing service-based business, we'd love to talk.

We also know that business finances can feel personal and emotionally heavy at times.

Our approach is supportive, honest and human. We explain things clearly, avoid unnecessary jargon and create space for open conversations without judgement.

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