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How do I manage accounts payable and receivable?

Short answer

Record every bill and invoice in your accounting software, set payment terms, review aged payables and receivables weekly, chase overdue invoices promptly and schedule supplier payments around your cash position.

Detailed answer

Use accurate ageing reports

An aged receivables report is only useful if payments are allocated correctly and credit notes are recorded. The same applies to payables: duplicate bills or missing supplier credits can lead to overpayment. Review both reports against customer and supplier statements where available, rather than relying solely on the cash balance.

Build an approval routine

Send invoices promptly, set clear payment terms and follow a consistent reminder process. Before paying suppliers, verify bank-detail changes independently and match bills to approvals. Use a short-term cash forecast to schedule payments and flag disputed or uncollectible balances for review instead of silently removing them.

Country differences: rules, thresholds and terminology differ between the US, UK, Australia and Canada. Check the official source for your country below.

Official sources

Published by Expert Bookkeeping Services · Last updated 2026-11-01. General information only — confirm specifics for your situation with a qualified adviser.

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