Accounts Payable Audit: What to demand?

How much money do companies across the globe lose from inefficient, outdated or faulty recovery audit software? It’s probably more than you think. Accounts payable audits are an increasingly popular way to eradicate human error in the realm of invoice and claims handling, by using incisive forensic technology to sniff out duplicate payments, overpayments and fraud.

Accounts payable is a frequently neglected area of large organizations. When company heads brainstorm ideas for curbing company costs and increasing profit, they often focus on how to reduce outgoings without paying attention to money lost actually while the payments are being processed. But companies, especially large, international, or rapidly-changing organizations often find after an audit that they have needlessly paid out millions of dollars in duplicate payments, over-estimated invoices, currency conversion errors or misapplied taxes or discounts. It’s natural that workers dealing with very large volumes of documents, in an area outside of context (i.e., accounts payable staff do not know what would be a reasonable fee for all services provided, from social media curation to window cleaning, or how frequently a department might need to order a particular product). However, in the digital age, dealing with large amounts of data works differently. The best recovery audit software can look at perhaps 20 or 30 separate data points within invoices to winkle out discrepancies that don’t add up.

While auditors cannot of course guarantee that overpayments will be found, there is a surprisingly large margin of human error involved in accounts payable departments which, over the years, often adds up to large sums. Luckily, a good accounts payable audit will include detailed recommendations for the future, to prevent future errors before they happen. Many software companies specializing in accounts payable tools are involved in constant research to improve the power and intelligence of their recovery audits. Because technology grows out of date so fast, companies often find themselves surprised that they are losing money with a system they assumed was in working order and because overpaid suppliers rarely raise the issue or spontaneously repay, errors go undetected until a reliable audit is conducted.

The ideal AP system would do away with any risk involved in exposure to fraud, human error or inefficiencies within different departments. It would also be future-proof, making sure that no change made to accounting processes within the company would let duplicate payments, overpayments or out of date payments slip through the cracks. However, as a company grows bigger, it will inevitably become more unwieldy and more difficult to manage. Regular accounts payable audits can use the most recent software to reclaim thousands or millions of dollars, providing a fantastic boost to each company’s bottom line.

Please visit https://fiscaltec.com/uk for further information about this topic.

London Schoolwear Supplier for a stress-free end to the break

School uniforms aren’t just expensive. They’re also time-consuming and stressful to buy, since they usually involve dragging unwilling children around the shops with you. The task of buying all the school clothes you need for the next term can easily take a day or more – that’s a day that you could be spending on holiday, working or getting ready for the new school term in other ways. Traipsing round the high street is probably low on your list of priorities. Fortunately, you can source clothes from a London schoolwear supplier online. You search the site from the comfort of your own home, at a time that’s convenient for you. Then you order with a few clicks and wait for the clothes to be delivered to your door – or, if you’ve left it really late, at the school door.

Some people have qualms about getting clothes online. After all, what if they don’t fit properly and you have to send them back? Firstly, find a store that has a good returns policy. Ideally, you won’t have to pay anything extra for this and they will exchange the clothes without hesitation. But you can also reduce the chance of a problem by preparing properly. Obviously, start by taking all the necessary measurements of your children. They won’t thank you for this, but if the alternative is a whole day at the shops then they’ll probably see sense. Armed with these, you can also use existing clothes to check that the sizes you see online match the measurements you have and are likely to fit. (Remember to go a little large, since they’ll need some growing space…)

The benefits of opting for a London schoolwear supplier over a physical shop for buying school uniforms are numerous. Buying school clothes is never a fun experience, but this lets you do it in your own time and wherever you want. You won’t have to take a day off. Moreover, you’ll find a wide selection of brands, all under the same virtual roof. The right supplier will be a one-stop-shop for clothes, sports and after-school clubs kit, shoes, even stationary and calculators. And it’s cheaper. Without the overheads of big high-street shops, online stores can sell at a discount. That works out well for you, and it works out well for your kids.

Please visit http://www.uniform4kids.com/ for further information about this topic.

 

Sales Presentations that achieve their aim

The purpose of sales presentations is to secure bids, and PowerPoint design is nowadays key to this aim. The issue is that PowerPoint presentations are a double-edged sword as far as most businesses are concerned. In the minority of cases they are carried out extremely effectively. Unfortunately, this is by no means the rule. In most instances PowerPoint slideshows are deficiently constructed, with little concern for the way that the intended audience might engage with information, or for the narrative of the series of slides as a whole.

The result of this oversight is to put off whole audiences from the pitch you are making. People tend to think that PowerPoint shows will reinforce what they are saying: if someone isn’t listening well then they might take in the same information if it is presented on-screen. This is not so. The two media complement each other. This means that if you duplicate everything (often word-for-word – a common mistake) you only detract from the message, since this decreases attention and distracts from the message. A little training can teach effective design, which reflects PowerPoint’s unique capabilities and treats its contribution as very different from the spoken word.

Simply, people don’t absorb information in the same way. Some are more aural, liking spoken presentations. Others prefer visual input. Catering to both means allows you to multiply your effect. Additionally, there are things it’s almost impossible to show verbally. But a chart or graph can convey complex data quickly and simply, meaning your don’t have to try to articulate it yourself.

Effective PowerPoint design is not as simple and intuitive as many people say; the ease with which the software can be used is deceptive. PowerPoint presentations don’t need to be the remit of experts, but all too often it’s only too clear that sales presentations have been put together by amateurs. It doesn’t matter how competent they are in their area of expertise, or how important in the organisation. Communication is a specific skill, and communicating by PowerPoint is an even more specific one. Anyone can write, but firms hire copywriters to provide compelling words; anyone can add up, but you hire accountants and book-keepers to manage your budget. The same is true with PowerPoint: it’s not something you can leave to chance, and the rewards of a decent pitch are considerable.

Please visit http://www.eyefulpresentations.co.uk/

Document processing and the paperless business

Document processing is a fairly uninspiring phrase, but it refers to a suite of technologies that have the capacity to revolutionise how offices operate. Put simply, it means taking physical, paper documents and turning them into electronic copies. At its most simple, this means scanning them and turning them into straightforward images. But at its most sophisticated, it involves techniques as advanced as handwriting recognition software, which can be taught to ‘read’ different styles with a very high level of accuracy. The resulting editable documents can be kept on a document management system, which can be thought of as an electronic filing cabinet – though with some big advantages over the traditional metal monstrosities that sit in the corner of the office. Lastly, invoice processing brings the same advantages for the accounts team, so all the invoices an organisation receives can be dealt with in the same way.

Broadly, then, document and invoice processing shift you away from using physical documents and more into the arena of the electronic. Paperless offices are desirable for all sorts of reasons, both financial and environmental. Not only that, but bits of paper get lost. When memos and reports go astray, vital pieces of information are lost. When invoices are binned, suppliers don’t get paid on time. That can easily lead to bad feelings and a breakdown in relationship. Of course, emails, Word documents and other electronic communications can and do go astray too. But automated back-up processes mean that it is far harder to lose something forever, and when accounts are put through the computer then forgetting to deal with something is far less of a problem.

Document processing bridges the divide between old and new: the traditional, paper-filled office and the business which doesn’t use any physical documents at all. As more and more of what we do is being moved onto computers and online, it becomes more important not to overlook that part of our business which still takes place in the ‘real’ world. This is one reason that invoice processing is required: organisations will typically be used to paying invoices in one or other format, and may not settle as soon the ones they are less familiar with. Document management systems allow all employees with the right clearance to view files, making for greater transparency and ease of sharing information.

Please visit http://www.bottomline.co.uk/.

Bacs payments are faster but still not universal

Bacs has been around for 45 years now. Despite this duration, and its track record of being speedy, easy and secure, bacs software has not been universally adopted by companies and other organisations. It tends to be the smaller outfits who refuse the longest, for obvious reasons. However, instead of making bacs payments, many of these are still paying their bills with cheques or, in some cases, even with cash. This brings up a number of problems and makes for inefficient and even risky practices.

Times are changing, and now the vast majority of financial transactions happen in the virtual arena. The reasons for this are different, but speed and security are repeating ones. It is very convenient to transfer money with bacs, and because it includes multiple layers of safety measures it is very secure; should you – against all odds – run into a problem, you will almost certainly be insured and protected from any financial fallout, unless the issue is unarguably your fault.

Bacs transfers take a maximum of three working days to finish, but the new FPS (faster payments system) is almost instant, and costs no more. Effectively, when people talk about bacs nowadays, they are using it as a encompassing term for electronic transfers, including FPS.

All of this is important for organisations, even the smaller ones who are relying on cheques and cash. (Although there was an outcry at the time, quite recently the banks suggested that they would be eradicating cheques within the foreseeable future – reflecting the low regard in which they hold them…) No organisation, large or small, wants to have significant quantities of cash on the premises. Furthermore, cheques are time-consuming to complete, require counter-signing, and you have no idea when they will be cashed – which can cause cash-flow headaches.

So, if you haven’t already adopted bacs payments for your organisation, now is a good time. So many other outfits use bacs that it smooths the process of making payments – allowing you to budget more easily, and to allow time to other areas of your business that are more important. Everything can be automated, and bacs software can even be integrated with your accounts package, streamlining things further. Bacs is safe, secure, fast, and saves you time and money. At a time when every pound is important, this cannot be a bad thing.

Please visit http://www.bottomline.co.uk/ for further information about this topic.

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Shop for sale in London will attract new customers

The time has come to think about shops to rent in north London. Thus far, Camden, Holloway Road and especially the borough of Harringey, all of which are locations in North London, have yet to capture their retail potential. This is not to say that they don’t have their fair share of shops, but instead that the shops existing in these areas are somewhat tarred with a bad reputation. Camden, people tend to think, consists of a few a run-down streets that are heaven for tourists, teenagers and those fond of piercings and goth or emo-style clothes. Holloway road, meanwhile, possesses rather too many shabby chain stores and could do with an input of independent outlets. Harringey finds itself in the same boat, though to its credit it does possess a few good finds in terms of second hand clothes and bookshops. As you can tell, the time is right for entrepreneurial types to bring their fresh visions into commercial property London. Many predicted that our shopping habits would shift into the online realm. But this has not been true: apart from when we are buying products with which we are already familiar, we delight in the physical experience of shopping because we can touch, try and talk about the things we want to buy. And because this preference for physical experience looks set to stay, a long-term plan of a shop for sale in london might also appeal to more experienced retailers.

The dining industry might also look seriously at moving to North London premises. Regardless of the financial recession, studies show that one of the last things we stop spending on is the experience of eating and drinking out. This is an understandable phenomenon: though our budgets have been cut, we still need respite from the monotonous daily grind of going from home, to the tube, to work and home again. Positive social experiences are what the majority misses most when the pressures of working life get too much. And because these are often best had while sitting around a table sharing food, conversation and smiles, commercial property in London is worth restaurateurs and pub landlords’ investment.

Commercial property London is also being developed into art galleries in some areas in London, particularly in East and South London. Shops to rent in north London could easily be converted into art galleries also: there is no reason why north London would not welcome an injection of visual stimulation on its streets. A shop for sale in london is perhaps less attractive for the art expert who knows that the market can be fickle. Fashion designers can meanwhile resort to their skills for catering to new trends and desires.

Please visit http://www.claridges-commercial.co.uk for further information about this topic.

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Document management keeps confidential information safe

Up until the 1980s document management was better known as filing. Vast cabinets and storage units were filled with paperwork and other archival material awaiting dust, disintegration and often eventual disposal. In some cases, such as library and museum holdings, much of this sort of physical material is highly prized; relevant for future generations of students and historians or fragile to the extent that it would be unsafe to scan. Much of this material, however, is less precious, at least in cultural heritage terms. And much of it will still be in a state that will definitely survive computerisation through scanning. And once physical documents have been scanned they are just so much easier to process. In fact, document processing in this day and age can for the most part totally bypass the printer; it can all be done through computer management systems that create less daily waste and help keep offices in tip top shape. Invoice processing is almost certainly a job that can be done paper free. Clients will be glad of this; it means that their payments can be made and received quickly and in a totally transparent fashion.

Discovering how to manage documents efficiently is a skill of utmost relevance to almost everyone in employment and in particular those who run businesses. From the independent self-employed to the multinational corporation, few businesses can afford and certainly do not wish to waste time and money. For the freelancer, who can only take on the amount of work they have time for, and will not want to spend as much time making out invoices and storing data as they must dedicate for the task in hand, this would clearly be a false economy. As such, a document management system can be put in place, whereby computer files are appropriately labelled according to their subject matter and date. At the other end of the spectrum, a multinational corporation will have huge volumes of data and money incoming and outgoing daily. Balancing the books in this instance is therefore essential even for outwardly successful companies to ensure they stay afloat: if outgoings are delayed a false impression could be given of one’s profits and business could easily slide into decline.

Small and medium-sized businesses ensure their long-term survival by establishing excellent relationships with their clients, many of whom will trust them with private information. From banking details used for invoice processing, to health records requiring conscientious document management, client data must be safely stored and easy to retrieve. Good document processing practice will ensure information stays safe.

Please visit http://www.bottomline.co.uk/ for further information about this topic.

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Glass louvres for a Parisian cultural reference.

If you were around in the 1990s, the chances are you’ll have kept in mind Baz Luhrmann’s long running hit titled Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen). The song split audiences: there were those who loved its pop philosophical content and positivity, while others hated its patronisingly didactic nature. But whatever our criticism of this song, rarely did we think, well, it’s one thing for us as individuals to wear sunscreen but what about the buildings we all work in? The fact is that buildings need sun protection too if their employees are to stay comfortable. External louvres for buildings are an entirely different kettle of fish. Commonly known in varieties such as brise soleil and glass louvres, they protect buildings’ external shells as well as the things and people inside them.

Brise soleil perform their function by shading the outward façade of a building in a stylish and streamlined fashion in keeping with the rest of the existing building. Often modern in their design, they are brilliantly well-suited to public art galleries outdoors. In fact, the Yorkshire Sculpture Park gallery is one example of a building that makes use of a brise soleil to excellent effect. The shade is designed and positioned in a way that it works with the changing light and temperature according to the season. In summer, much of the large exterior window of the gallery will be kept in shade at noon. In wintry times, on the other hand, when the light is weaker and the temperature colder, only the top section of this window will be cast in darkness. A possible added feature (not so desirable in an art gallery but rather more so in a corporate space such as a lobby or reception room) with a brise soleil consists of a special design feature that allows special patterns of light into the room. If you’re the manager of a building that’s been specially built for a particular company, you might plan on trying to tailor the pattern of light to the company’s needs: why not reproduce the corporate logo or make a new design suggestive of their brand values?

Glass louvres and external louvres are a little different from brise soleil, meanwhile. glass louvres can practically function as independent edifices; think of the famous glass pyramid in the courtyard of the Paris gallery known as the Louvre. One difference is that in Paris, the pyramid actually links to the central part of the building and is visible when you look skywards from a position underground.

Please visit http://www.maplesunscreening.co.uk/ for further information about this topic.

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Community broadband providing improved business opportunities

Having good access to the internet has become nearly as essential to daily life as having a functioning heating system or constant water supply. Obviously, the latter have an impact on our actual potential to survive but when it comes to leading a healthy existence as responsible and curious people, the internet provides a fundamental service too. So many things are made more difficult if you are not online: from checking your bank balance and paying bills, to the more pleasurable social matters of keeping in touch with friends and family. This is why it is quite scandalous that, prior to the launch of community broadband projects concerned with improving ICT infrastructure, whole swathes of the nation were being deprived of technological wealth that should have been available to all from the start. It is little surprise that the areas worst affected were the regions: rural Britain is used by now to being low down on the list of priorities in comparison with London and other large cities. Happily though, the companies behind next generation access initiatives are making sure that broadband services are becoming more evenly distributed. Finally, we can look forward to a Britain that is both linked up internally as well as a Britain allowing its inhabitants to reach out to resources worldwide.

The narrowing of the gap between those able to obtain a good internet service and those who cannot is especially important in our present climate of austerity. While long-term contracts in established enterprises are proving difficult to secure for the young and mature alike, there is an ever growing possibility for individuals and small groups of people to be proactive and launch projects on their own initiative online. With the appropriate skills, a small idea can grow into something great once it has secured an online presence and appropriate audience. This is because the world wide web functions in a cross-border way: ideas, products and information are disseminated in a totally different way here than do documents and other physical entities reliant upon national and international postal systems or fax.

So, if you suspect that the area you inhabit is still being badly served in terms of internet provision, it is worthwhile contacting your local authority to ask when you can expect a positive improvement. ICT infrastructure does take time to improve but increased pressure will increase the speed with which next generation access is delivered. It’s time to fight for your community’s access to community broadband.

Please visit http://www.broadbandvantage.co.uk/ for further information about this topic.

http://www.broadbandvantage.co.uk/

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Join a kickboxing club to remain safe and get fit

There’s always far too much to do, and it’s often the case that exercise is the thing that gets pushed to the end of the list. When you can kill two birds with one stone, it’s always a godsend. Kickboxing offers just this: the chance to keep fit, have fun, and learn self-defence all at the same time. And with kickboxing London classes for all ages, you can take the kids along too. Go to a kickboxing club for a work-out that makes you safe, strong and fit.

Classes are on offer for all ages and abilities. This means that there’s no restrictions. You can go with a friend or partner, or take your children along to a kids’ class at the same time that you join in an adult class. It’s a great extra-curricular option for children, teaching them self-discipline and reinforcing positive behaviour. Whatever your working hours, whether you’re a professional or a student, there will be a class to match your needs and ability. Classes range from beginner to intermediate to senior, and almost all classes – unless you choose otherwise – are non-contact.  Whether you’re an amateur or a pro, there’s not need to feel intimidated.

The benefits of kickboxing are many. Not only does it keep you fit in body, but is beneficial for your mental and spiritual well-being. This is thanks to the really sociable nature of this sport. Working in a group is also fantastic for confidence building, and once you’ve picked up a few skills, your confidence will grow and grow.

Physically, this is a work-out that will motivate you and get you fitter more swiftly than a trip to the gym. This is aerobic exercise that improves speed, co-ordination and flexibility. It’s vital to be alert to your combatant’s next move, and to find your limitations and move beyond them.

This involves the self-defence element of kickboxing. Why not, as you’re active and fighting-fit already, be able to transfer these skills to your everyday life, if need be? This is another way in which kickboxing can increase your confidence. Walking down dark streets need not be such a intimidating prospect. Kickboxing teaches you how to defend yourself in real-life situations, and to deflect threats and violence effectively. Practising these skills in an interactive classroom creates invaluable life skills.

Once you’ve honed your skills, there’s the option of sparring classes, and technical theory lesson, which include the fascinating history of kickboxing. Women are increasingly looking to kickboxing clubs to assert their independence on the streets. Fit more into your life: sign up for kickboxing London today.

Please visit http://www.zendokickboxing.com/ for further information about this topic.

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