Accounts payable (AP) is where a company’s money goes out the door, so AP professionals are trusted to pay the right vendor, the right amount, at the right time, and to stop fraud before it happens. It is a stable, in-demand career with a clear path from clerk to specialist to manager.
This course walks you through the full procure-to-pay cycle: accounting basics, invoice processing and matching, vendor master data, payment methods and terms, internal controls and payment fraud (including business email compromise), 1099 and other tax rules, travel and expense and purchasing cards, month-end close and metrics, and the automation and AI tools now common in AP departments.
The final module explains the Institute of Finance & Management (IOFM) credentials step by step: the Accredited Payables Specialist (APS) for AP staff and the Accredited Payables Manager (APM) for supervisors, and how to land your first AP role.
Note: This is preparation for a certification program and is not affiliated with IOFM. Tax content is general education, not tax or legal advice; follow your employer’s policies and current IRS guidance.
Features
- 11 step-by-step modules covering the full procure-to-pay cycle
- Three-way match, vendor setup and payment run walkthroughs
- Current 1099 rules, including the $2,000 threshold starting with 2026 payments
- Payment fraud and business email compromise defense
- AP automation and AI explained
- IOFM APS/APM roadmap with SQ3R study guides
Target audiences
- Career changers seeking an entry-level finance or accounting role
- Office, administrative and bookkeeping staff taking on AP duties
- AP clerks preparing for the IOFM APS certification
- Employers training new AP team members
Requirements
- Basic math (percentages and decimals)
- Basic computer skills; familiarity with Excel or Google Sheets is helpful
- No accounting experience required
Curriculum
- 12 Sections
- 43 Lessons
- 6 Weeks
- Module 1: The Accounts Payable Career Path5 ItemsWhat AP does, where it fits in finance, and the certification roadmap.
- Module 2: Accounting Basics for AP5 ItemsDebits and credits, AP as a liability, accruals and cutoff.
- Module 3: The Procure-to-Pay Cycle & Invoice Processing6 ItemsPurchase orders, receiving, invoices, matching, coding and approvals.
- Module 4: Vendor Master Data Management5 ItemsOnboarding vendors, W-9s and TIN matching, change controls and clean data.
- Module 5: Payments, Terms & Cash Management5 ItemsPayment methods, terms and early-payment discounts, and running payments.
- Module 6: Internal Controls & Payment Fraud Prevention5 ItemsSegregation of duties, duplicate payments, BEC and the 2026 Nacha rule.
- Module 7: Tax & Regulatory Compliance5 Items1099 reporting, backup withholding, sales and use tax, unclaimed property and records.
- Module 8: Travel & Expense and Purchasing Cards4 ItemsT&E policy and audit, and managing P-cards.
- Module 9: Month-End Close, Reporting & Metrics5 ItemsClose tasks, reconciliations, aging reports, Excel skills and KPIs.
- Module 10: AP Automation & AI4 ItemsInvoice capture, workflow, e-invoicing, AI anomaly detection and its limits.
- Module 11: Certification & Your First AP Role5 ItemsIOFM APS and APM step by step, study plan, and landing the job.
- Final Assessment1 ItemComprehensive exam covering all modules. Pass to complete the course.
FAQs
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