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Mary Schaeffer 100 Episodes Aug 18, 2026

The AP Now podcast, hosted by accounts payable expert Mary Schaeffer, helps professionals stay current with best practices, fraud prevention, technology, regulatory changes, and new processes in accounts payable. Mary is joined by thought leaders and practitioners to discuss prevailing issues and trends. This weekly broadcast is designed for those who work in, manage, or provide services to the accounts payable function.

Episodes

5 AP Practices You Think You’re Doing Right… But Aren’t
5 AP Practices You Think You’re Doing Right… But Aren’t Aug 18, 2026 610 Every time someone says, “How complicated could Accounts Payable really be?” you can bet the organization is already losing money — through preventable errors, weak controls, and overlooked compliance risks. In this video, we break down 5 foundational AP practices that accounting and finance teams think they’re doing correctly… but often aren’t. More importantly, we dig into where AP processes act
Stop Supplier Invoice Errors Before They Hit AP
Stop Supplier Invoice Errors Before They Hit AP Aug 6, 2026 555 Supplier invoice errors are one of the biggest hidden drains on AP productivity — and they hit your workflow long before anyone notices. In this video, we break down the most common supplier invoice mistakes that create rework, slow approvals, and increase the risk of overpayments: duplicate invoices, missing PO numbers, invoices sent to the wrong place, vendors gaming payment terms, and suppliers
Why AP Automation Projects Fail — And the Simple Fixes That Prevent Disaster
Why AP Automation Projects Fail — And the Simple Fixes That Prevent Disaster Jul 28, 2026 1053 Most AP automation projects don’t fail because of the solution purchased — they fail because of a few predictable, easy to fix issues inside the AP process. Whether you’re looking for a new AP automation solution or trying to rescue one you already have, the same failure points show up again and again. Today, I’m breaking down the real reasons AP automation fails and the simple fixes that prevent
Master These 10 Accounts Payable Concepts Before Your Next Interview
Master These 10 Accounts Payable Concepts Before Your Next Interview Jul 22, 2026 1433 Most people can do Accounts Payable… but very few can explain the core concepts clearly. And that’s exactly what separates average AP staff from true professionals. In this video, I’m breaking down 10 essential Accounts Payable concepts that instantly reveal whether someone actually knows what they’re doing — from invoice processing fundamentals to vendor management, 3‑way matching, accruals, inte
Managing Accounts Payable: What They Never Tell You About the Job
Managing Accounts Payable: What They Never Tell You About the Job Jul 15, 2026 846 Everyone thinks AP is just “paying bills” — until they have to manage it. Then they discover how complicated and far reaching the function really is. Let’s take a quick look at the seven core components that make AP management far more challenging than it first appears. How important is it that you get what I’m about to discuss right? I know of several organizations that had their AP function so m
IRS Tax Forms in Accounts Payable: What You're Missing
IRS Tax Forms in Accounts Payable: What You're Missing Jul 8, 2026 716 you work in, manage or have responsibility for accounts payable in the US or for a US organization, you need to understand a handful of IRS tax forms. You don’t have to be experts – unless of course, they are your primary responsibility – but you do have to know what they are and when each should be used. And, I’m here to not only share that information with you but to tell you, it’s not that diff
The 8 Invoice Red Flags AP Teams Miss Every Day
The 8 Invoice Red Flags AP Teams Miss Every Day Jul 8, 2026 610 f you can read an invoice quickly and accurately, you instantly become one of the most valuable people in AP. They never miss the red flags that signal an inaccurate or worse fraudulent invoice. Here are the 8 checks the successful pros never skip. Link to 5 Quick Tips for Faster Invoice Processing https://youtu.be/ozS8bBmSL_4 Subscribe for more tips and insights like this: https://www.youtube.
Is Accounts Payable a Good Career? The Truth No One Tells You
Is Accounts Payable a Good Career? The Truth No One Tells You Jun 24, 2026 712 Stop viewing accounts payable as simple data entry. Learn why accounts payable is a vital function for cash flow and your finance career. Many professionals misunderstand the strategic value of accounts payable. This overview clarifies why this department sits at the center of company operations, rather than acting as a back-office task. If you are starting in accounting or looking to pivot, under
Accounts Payable Career Path Explained: Clerk → Supervisor → Asst Manager → Manager → Director → VP
Accounts Payable Career Path Explained: Clerk → Supervisor → Asst Manager → Manager → Director → VP Jun 22, 2026 702 Have you ever wondered if Accounts Payable is actually a good career path? Can you grow beyond data entry? And how do people move from entry level position in AP to Manager — or even into senior finance leadership? Or other roles. In this video, we’re breaking down the Accounts Payable Career Path from start to finish. And to be clear, not everyone starts at the same point. The truth is, Accounts
Check Fraud: Are Your AP Controls Actually Working?
Check Fraud: Are Your AP Controls Actually Working? Jun 17, 2026 616 Criminals are stealing checks from mailboxes, altering payee information, and using sophisticated techniques to drain business and personal accounts. The good news is that a few simple precautions can dramatically reduce your risk. In the next few minutes, we'll cover the most common check fraud schemes and the practical steps you can take to help protect your money and your organization Link to E
ACH vs Wire Fraud: What You Need to Know to Stay Safe
ACH vs Wire Fraud: What You Need to Know to Stay Safe Jun 15, 2026 842 very day, businesses of all sizes are targeted by increasingly sophisticated electronic payment fraud schemes. From fake invoices and business email compromise to account takeovers and payment diversion scams, cybercriminals are constantly finding new ways to exploit weaknesses in payment processes. The good news? Most payment fraud is preventable—if you know what to look for. In this video, we'll
NACHA 2026 Phase 2: Don't Get Caught Off Guard by These Changes
NACHA 2026 Phase 2: Don't Get Caught Off Guard by These Changes Jun 10, 2026 782 Nacha Phase 2 hits every company that originates ACH payments — even small Accounts Payable teams that previously had zero monitoring requirements in their accounting and accounts payable process. The impact is operational, technical, and compliance driven. We should all be talking about this – but sadly, I am once again marching to the beat of my own drummer – by myself … although at least this t

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