description != null):?> keywords != null):?> Accounts Payable Optimization | Highland Group Live (new)

Accounts Payable Optimization

NEEDS-BASED RESULTS

 

Accounts Payable Optimization

SITUATION

South American mine needed help to fix a fragmented Purchase to Pay process and reduce supplier and government fines resulting from late payments.

DRIVER GOAL

  • Clarify organizational and functional improvement opportunities.
  • Upgrade financial “cash and income” performance from payables.

RESULT

  • Reduced Supplier Fines by R$294 thousand.
  • Reduced Government Fines by R$2.9 million.
  • Consolidated the AP organization.
CS-369 large

Case Study

Consolidate & Optimize Accounts Payable at South American Gold Mine

Issue

A high-level assessment at a South American gold mine revealed a traditional mining culture focused on throughput—no working capital reports, targets, goals or key performance indicators (KPIs). Furthermore, the Purchase to Pay process was fragmented, giving poor visibility of cash requirements/forecasting and leading to poor cash management and supplier and government fines resulting from late payments. Accounts Payable (AP) activities were decentralized, with each mine having its own AP Department and following non-standardized procedures. Goods and materials were received at the mines without purchase orders, invoices, or contracts—no effective three-way match was in place.

Highland Approach

Detailed analysis produced a targeted action plan for cross-functional working teams. This personnel-engaging approach helped to change what had once been a “silo” culture into a collaborative one. Measurable financial results were obtained through the implementation of several initiatives, including reengineering several processes around the purchase order and payables functions, staff training and rationalization, and the development of a management dashboard with twelve key performance indicators—including previously non-existent working capital metrics—to ensure the sustainability of project results.

Actions Taken

  • Established “fiscal posts” at mine entrances.
  • Centralized invoices in fiscal area at mine sites.
  • Established electronic PO approval.
  • Consolidated Accounts Payable.
  • Implemented continuous flow.
  • Created electronic receipt of invoices.
  • Formalized P-Card processes.
  • Reduced government taxes and fines.
  • Renegotiated payment frequency.
  • Created a working capital KPI dashboard.
  • Modified floor area layout.
  • Standardized Accounts Payable policies and procedures.

Reduced fines by

R3.2m

by implementing a System for Managing and consolidating Accounts Payable

Related Information

industry-based

subject matter-based