APChannel Newsletter

November 16, 2011

In this Issue
Editor's Note Whistleblower Protections Applying Metrics Continuing Education Just for Fun!

eInvoicing from a global leader in financial automation.

TAPN Webinar
Preparing for Year End 2011 Tax Reporting
November 17, 2011
Earns 1.5 CPEs & 1.5 CEUs
Register

TAPC Webinar
AP Automation Case Study: MetroHealth's Journey to a Paperless Environment
Tuesday November 22, 2011
2:00-3:00pm Eastern
Earns 1 CPE & 1 CEU
Register

TAPN Webinar
State Withholding and Reporting Requirements
December 1, 2011
Earns 1.5 CPEs & 1.5 CEUs
Register

DOL Gives Whistleblowers More Power

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act grants whistleblower protections to individuals who report financial wrongdoing in their organizations. If a publically traded company fires someone for blowing the whistle, then the business could face financial penalties.

This issue features information about recent changes to SOX's whistleblower protections that give more power to the whistleblower. Also in this issue be sure to check out TAPC's latest on-demand video on metrics and benchmarking practices.

Patrick Harbin – Editor

Whistleblower Protections

Last year's Dodd-Frank Bill made significant changes to the Department of Labor's whistleblower protections. The DOL recently amended SOX to reflect these changes.

See Whistleblower Protections: SOX, Meet Dodd-Frank on TAPC.

Applying Metrics

Identifying which accounts payable metrics your organization will track is difficult, so too is deciding what to do with the information once you have it. The following are ways to use metrics to improve your processes:

Review findings with internal customers: Show them how your company is doing compared to benchmark organizations. Explain how new processes affect the numbers.
Develop two-way SLAs: Use metrics to show that in order for AP to provide a specific level of service, other departments, such as purchasing, must also provide better service levels.
Track progress towards goal: Publish charts in a public area and communicate the progress towards achieving a process goal.

Be sure to check out TAPC's no-cost video education seminar, Metrics and Benchmarking in Accounts Payable, featuring Judy Bicking, TAPN Consultant, former Director, Accounts Payable European Project, Johnson & Johnson. The video earns 1 CEU.

Just for Fun!

Family films often have fantastic elements that take people into their fictional worlds. It can be particularly jarring to see an animation mistake or a member of the production crew. See The 20 Worst Movie Mistakes in History: Family Edition.

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