Managing accounts receivable is a vital aspect of ensuring a company's financial stability, yet it often presents a myriad of challenges for small to medium commercial entities. This self-study CPE course addresses the critical task of optimizing the accounts receivable process, a key element often likened to the lifeblood of a business. It agitates the common issues faced in invoicing, pricing, and credit management, underscoring the mantra that a sale isn't complete until the money is collected. The solution lies in a comprehensive review of best practices in accounts receivable management. Participants will explore effective strategies in billing, pricing, and credit memo processes, delve into robust customer credit evaluation techniques, and learn how to use tools like the Altman Z Score for customer assessment. The course also covers innovative methods to secure customer payment when traditional credit is too risky and examines best practices in collection functions, account reconciliation, payment application, internal controls, and the utilization of modern banking technology. This course is indispensable for professionals striving to enhance their organization's financial health through efficient accounts receivable management.
Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:
Associate the importance of the billing, pricing, and credit memo process to accounts receivable best practices
Differentiate between customer credit evaluation techniques
Define and use the Altman Z score and other ratios in evaluating customers
Recognize nontraditional methods to secure customer payment
Recognize best practices to the collection function
Associate the importance of internal controls with the payment application function
Major Topics
- Written Policies and Procedures
Accounts Receivable Process Overview
Sales and the Accounts Receivable Management Process
Best Practices
- Sales Processes
Case Study
Credit
Best Practices
- Customer Credit Evaluation
Tier 1 Customer Credit Analysis
What Business Credit Reports are Available?
Tier 2 Customer Credit Analysis
Working with Internally Prepared Financial Statements
Financial Ratio Analysis
Altman Z Score
Credit Approval
Credit Monitoring
Best Practices
- Customer Monitoring
Case Study
- Tier 1 Customer
Case Study
- Tier 2 Customer
Methods to Secure the Sale
Methods to Secure the Sale Best Practices
Obtain credit insurance where it is available and makes commercial sense to do so
Factoring
Personal Guarantees
UCC-1s
Collections
Collections Best Practices
Account Reconciliation
Accounts Receivable Administration
Portfolio Review
Internal Controls
Payment Application
Bank Remittance Processing Options