Cycle time in days from receipt of invoice until payment is transmitted

This measure calculates the number of calendar days (including weekends) that elapse from the receipt of an invoice until actual payment is transmitted. It is a Cycle Time measure that helps companies analyze the duration of the "process accounts payable (AP)" process from beginning to end.

Benchmark Data

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Measure Category:
Cycle Time
Measure ID:
100575
Total Sample Size:
2,226 All Companies
Performers:
25th Median 75th
- 15.0 -
Key Performance Indicator:
Yes
Sample image showing interactive filters for more detailed measure peer group data and an interactive graph.

Compute this Measure

Units for this measure are days.

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Cycle time in calendar days from receipt of an invoice until payment is transmitted

Key Terms

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Cycle time is the total time from the beginning of the process to the end. This includes both time spent actually performing the process and time spent waiting to move forward.

An invoice is a bill prepared by a seller of goods or services and submitted to the buyer. Generally, an invoice contains all pertinent information about the transaction including the date, price, quantity, item number, and credit terms. An invoice can be in either electronic or hard copy form.

The metric value which represents the 50th percentile of a peer group. This could also be communicated as the metric value where half of the peer group sample shows lower performance than the expressed metric value or half of the peer group sample shows higher performance than the expressed metric value.

Measure Scope

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Cross Industry (8.0)

  • 9.6.1.1 - Verify AP pay file with purchase order vendor master file (10869) - Matching records of bills to be paid with accounts. Check accounts payable entries with vendor's account for every payment made.
  • 9.6.1.2 - Maintain/Manage electronic commerce (10870) - Tracking all online transactions.
  • 9.6.1.3 - Audit invoices and key data in AP system (10871) - Monitoring and evaluating bills registered in accounts books. Check all invoices. Maintain records.
  • 9.6.1.4 - Approve payments (10872) - Processing payments for products/services.
  • 9.6.1.5 - Process financial accruals and reversals (10873) - Handling transactions for accruals and reversals. Record transactions in the books of accounts on an accrual basis (irrespective of the actual cash flow) and reversals basis (cancel out the adjusting entries) for balancing accounts.
  • 9.6.1.6 - Process payables taxes (10874) - Filing the amount of taxes that a company owes as of the balance sheet date. Prepare tax returns, including the income tax filing for an individual or business entity from earnings.
  • 9.6.1.7 - Research/Resolve payable exceptions (10875) - Resolving any atypical or inconsistent situation concerning payments to be made by the organization. Address any exceptional case of accounts payable on an ad hoc basis, by seeking counsel or carrying out any necessary research.
  • 9.6.1.8 - Process payments (10876) - Making payments for products/services on due dates (payment cycle) decided by parties involved.
  • 9.6.1.9 - Respond to AP inquiries (10877) - Clarifying or address queries relating to the particulars of AP such as date, discounts, amount, and installments. Coordinate with concerned parties about the fulfillment of bills payable.
  • 9.6.1.10 - Retain records (10878) - Keeping bills of every transaction for future reference.
  • 9.6.1.11 - Adjust accounting records (10879) - Rectifying for alterations occurred in accounts while recording.