Strategies for optimizing your accounts receivable - Deloitte
Make your working capital work for you
Strategies for optimizing your accounts receivable
Part of the Deloitte working capital series
The Deloitte working capital series
Strategies for optimizing your accounts receivable Strategies for optimizing your accounts payable Cash management Strategies for optimizing your inventory
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Given the cost of new capital, no business can afford to let their existing capital go to waste. However, some businesses don't realize how much cash is trapped on their own balance sheets. Freeing up that cash ? by optimizing their working capital ? delivers more than improved operational efficiency. It also gives companies the added liquidity they need to fund growth, reduce debt levels, lower costs, maximize shareholder returns and even outperform their competitors.
While there are numerous ways to free up working capital, this series focuses on four core strategies: accounts receivable, accounts payable, cash management and inventory. This first installment looks at accounts receivable.
Strategies for optimizing your accounts receivable 1
It is better to receive than to lend
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Most businesses have formal accounts receivable policies that dictate when to bill, how much to bill and when to collect. Unfortunately, not all businesses enforce those policies effectively ? or even adopt the right processes at all. In many cases, it comes down to culture. Businesses that prioritize sales often fall into the trap of extending credit to customers, offering discounts or ignoring payment terms if it means winning new sales. However, if management does not have a focus on working capital, no one will. The upshot? You end up unintentionally providing customers with free financing.
Some may argue this is no big deal, but the truth isn't so simple. If a company needs to borrow money to meet its obligations because customers are paying late, it could incur losses on the financing charges alone. Even if that's not the case, carrying overdue accounts receivable still has a cost. It puts you on a cash flow tightrope. Rather than having free capital to invest in growth opportunities, increase shareholder payouts, buy new equipment or introduce new products, your money is tied up on your balance sheet.
Common risks
While no company intends to adopt weak accounts receivable policies, lack of planning, poor enforcement or a failure to focus on the function can result in unintended consequences. These often arise when companies: ? Fail to follow up with customers in a timely manner when payments are past due ? Allow sales reps to override credit limits ? and end up suffering losses from bad credit risks ? Neglect to provide staff with appropriate training on how to deal with late paying customers ? Don't pay sufficient attention to the accuracy of their bills, invoices or credit terms ? Allocate cash payments incorrectly, making it harder to figure out which payments are outstanding
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