By Chris Elmore Posted on

How Sexy Can Accounts Payable Be?

Maybe I have writer’s block…. maybe I am looking for the level of attention that any middle child deserves… maybe I have completely lost it.  Whatever the case, I am attempting to write about Accounts Payable being Sexy!

This all started innocently enough. I have written books, did some shameless self-promotion, put up a website and then someone suggested I should write a blog.  I thought, “That’s great!  I will use all my professional life experiences and all the knowledge from the books to make the ideas I have live and breathe!”  Then I got involved with Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter (this is where it take a turn – not good, not bad just a turn).  I started noticing that the stranger the topic – the more hits and comments I got. That’s when I decided to write about AP being sexy!

So, like any self-proclaimed nerd that loves a good Spreadsheet, I went to the Dictionary to define the word “Sexy” and to see if I could find a parallel between it and AP (I can’t believe I did it either).  Here is what I found:

sex·y

adjective, sex·i·er, sex·i·est.

1. concerned predominantly or excessively with sex; risqué: a sexy novel.
2. sexually interesting or exciting; radiating sexuality: the sexiest professor on campus.
3. excitingly appealing; glamorous: a sexy new car.
Well, I don’t think the first definition fits… Accounts Payable wouldn’t be like a “sexy novel”.  Definition number 2 doesn’t work either. I don’t believe AP is sexually interesting, however it can be exciting when there is that one invoice for the renewal of the website domain that mysteriously slips through the cracks, someone for IT races (in fear of losing their job) down to AP, drops to their knees and with arms to the heavens….. Oh, nevermind!  That’s more annoying than exciting.
Definition 3 is the only thing left… “excitingly appealing”…. huh… “excitingly appealing”… “glamorous”… I don’t believe I can connect the dots.
Let’s face facts!  Accounts Payable is a fundamental practice that needs to consistently operate quickly, efficiently and effectively.  If AP is doing their job correctly, or even going above and beyond, the outcome is that no one in the company knows we even exist. One of my long term AP friends like to say that, “AP only get noticed when something goes wrong.”
So, fellow Accounts Payable professionals… let’s raise our glasses and toast the unpaid invoice in the drawer of that manager that is two-weeks away from being fired.  Let’s salute that purchase order that has been unattached from an invoice for more than six years now.  And, on this 4th of July as we celebrate the United States of America’s independence from England, (oh – to my British readers… and I know there are a lot of you – I hope there are no hard feelings and please keep reading) let’s help people pay closer attention to the fact that someone had to approve the expense for the cleaning crew after the Declaration of Independence was signed….  because… it is sexy to be unseen and critical!

Happy 4th!  AP pros, you deserve a break!

Want to know more? Buy My Books!

To buy the book – The Argument to Automate – How Innovation Can INSPIRE Not Fire – click here to buy

(Also) To get your copy of The 8 Pitfalls of Accounts Payable Automation – click here to buy

How about a children’s book? The Princess and the Paper – click here to buy

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