Joining us at The AP Arms this week is Stewart Griffiths, a seasoned transactional manager and AP influencer, who shares his insights on the evolving role of Accounts Payable from a forgotten back-office function to a strategic position in the Finance team.
Watch the episode ▶️
Meet Stewart
Stewart is a Finance Operations Manager at Titron, a leading European mid-market sector-specialist investor. He has an extensive finance background, working across various industries including fashion, retail, confectionery and private equity.
Over the years, he’s led both large and small teams, building a reputation as an AP influencer committed to driving change and innovation within the industry.
When he’s not busy transforming AP functions, you might find him enjoying a pint of Guinness at his favourite pub, The Three Wishes in Northwood.
Shifting the perception of AP
Stewart has seen the role of AP change from an under-appreciated back-office function to a crucial arm of the finance operation.
“AP started in the dark ages with lots of paper shuffling and mundane admin,” Stewart explains. “But now, it’s all about engaging with the business and driving change.”
He emphasises that today’s AP professionals need confidence and technical skills to thrive in this evolving landscape.
“In the past, people kind of fell into AP, but now it’s seen as a career of choice. We’re attracting more graduates, and some employers are looking for people with AP qualifications or experience. It’s become more recognised as a solid entry point into finance.”
The role of technology
Stewart highlights two main areas where technology has elevated the AP process.
“Invoice ingestion: everything’s gone electronic now,” Stewart explains. Making the most of the OCR, EDI and email ingestion technology has changed the game and lifted the manual burden it once required.
The second area is approval process. Wet signatures are a thing of the past - it’s all about optimising workflows for your team. Additionally, having visibility and insights on these workflows is just as important. Managers are now able to fix issues at source and reduce the effect of bottle necks.
Roger combines this approach with regular follow-ups in bi-weekly sessions to ensure everyone understands their job. He also encourages staff share their learnings with the rest of the team for continuous learning.
Building a business case
As we look to the future, Stewart believes trends like e-invoicing and compliance regulations are set to shape the coming years for AP landscape.
On the people side, with the ongoing development of technology, the AP role will continue to be more about analysis and insights than just keying data.
“AP gives exposure to the entire business, especially in managing costs, which is crucial for aspiring accountants and finance professionals.
“AP staff are now using their creative and analytical sides to present insights and help drive change.”
Stewart thinks these developments will empower AP professionals to leverage their analytical skills and present valuable insights to drive change.
With the right training and a commitment to embracing new trends, AP professionals are poised to become key players in the financial success of their organisations.
We'd like to say a huge thank you to Stewart for featuring in this episode of The AP Arms.
If you’d like to feature alongside some of the industry’s finest at The AP Arms, please get in touch – we’d love to share a tipple with you down the pub!
