Professional Certification Matters...Organizations are increasingly seeing the value of proper training and certification for AP, P2P, AR, and O2C professionals. Many are investing

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Professional Certification Matters

HOW FINANCIAL OPERATIONS PROFESSIONALS AND THEIR

ORGANIZATIONS BENEFIT FROM CERTIFICATION

2 IOFM.COM

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Professional Certification Matters HOW FINANCIAL OPERATIONS PROFESSIONALS AND THEIR

ORGANIZATIONS BENEFIT FROM PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION

Developed and Administered by

Institute of Finance & Management (IOFM)

IOFM Leadership Team

Brian Cuthbert, Executive Director

Josh Barrett, Membership & Certification Director

Becca Carifio, Membership & Certification Manager

Judy Bicking, Senior Trainer, IOFM

Jess Scheer, Editorial Director

Development Team

Royce Morse

Elaine Stattler

Institute of Finance & Management 121 Free Street, Portland ME, 04101IOFM.com

https://www.iofm.com/

http://www.IOFM.com

IOFM.COM 3

Certification opens up a new world of process

improvement. It teaches recipients how to look at reports and metrics—such as invoices keyed, discounts taken vs. lost, invoices paid vs. on hold, pricing mismatches, and receiving holds—to see how the department is doing month to month. There are so many ways to track the progress a department is making and make corrections before they bubble up into a bigger problem!”

—Amy Wells, APS

Table of Contents .............................................................................................................3

Introduction .....................................................................................................................4

Stepping Up and Standing Out .............................................................................4

How this Report was Created .............................................................................................5

IOFM Certifications ..............................................................................................5

Team Certification/Accreditation ...........................................................................5

Meet the IOFM Certification Panelists ................................................................................6

Job Requirements: Employers Are Looking for Skilled Professionals ......................................7

Are These Expectations Realistic? ......................................................................................8

IOFM Professional Certification Builds Skills and Confidence ...............................................8

Developing ‘Rock Star’ Performance ...................................................................................9

Managing the Vendor Master File ..........................................................................9

Enforcing Internal Controls ...................................................................................9

Staying in Compliance and Avoiding Penalties .....................................................10

Improving Processes ..........................................................................................10

Processing Payments .........................................................................................11

Optimizing Cash ................................................................................................12

Acing Technology and Software ..........................................................................12

Discovering the Path to Advancement ...............................................................................13

Considering AR and O2C Certification ..............................................................................14

Conquering Excel ............................................................................................................15

Maintaining Continuous Training ......................................................................................15

Listening to what Hiring Managers Have to Say .................................................................16

Conclusion .....................................................................................................................16

For More Information on IOFM Certifications .....................................................................18

Table of Contents


PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION MATTERS

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Introduction

Stepping Up and Standing OutBeing a financial operations professional is more than a job. It is a career.

Organizations are increasingly seeing the value of proper training and certification for AP, P2P, AR, and O2C professionals. Many are investing in certifying their existing staffs. Other organizations are including a certification requirement in their job postings.

In addition to the value that certification provides organizations, it ensures credibility and empowerment for recipients. With a certification in their portfolio, financial operations professionals broaden their opportunities for employment and promotion. Those who obtain a specialized credential are typically more in demand by employers, providing them an edge in hiring, compensation, and promotions.

The Value of Certification, a Pearson and Firebrand study, found that a certification credential assures companies that an applicant is competent and professional. The study maintains that with certification, all parties benefit, because:

• Certified individuals gain professional credibility and confidence;

• Companies that hire certified individuals gain “stand out” employees who can help them meet their organizational goals; and

• The public gains from the efficiency, innovation, and expertise of highly trained professionals.

“For hiring managers in any field, a certification demonstrates that an applicant is driven to achieve, shows commitment, and possesses validated knowledge and skills. For that reason, employers prefer to hire a certified candidate over one who is not certified,” reveals the study.

Thus, certification is a win-win proposition for both organizations and certification recipients. By passing the industry’s measurement of financial operations knowledge, individuals gain confidence in their skills and position themselves to step up for higher-level tasks within their organizations. This develops greater technical self-sufficiency resulting in increased productivity, decreased support costs, and improved customer service.

Earning one or more certifications positions individuals as highly credible professionals who are serious about their careers. It sets the bar for the profession. Most important, it allows a traditionally undervalued group of highly skilled individuals to step up and stand out!

Being recognized as an accredited department is

more than the plaque and the words. Having a team predominantly APS/APM certified changes the way we think, opens up challenging conversation, and helps during change management as well.”

—Doreen Smuda, APM


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How this Report was CreatedIn the pages that follow, we will examine and discuss the feedback and comments from a panel of IOFM-certified professionals who represent a cross section of organizations and industries. The Panelists discuss their certification experiences and competencies to illustrate how their IOFM certification helped their careers and benefitted their organizations.

The Panelists also share examples of the challenges and pain points that they encounter in their profession. They point out how their certification specifically helped them meet challenges head-on with state-of-the-art best practices and effective strategies.

IOFM Certifications Include: • Accounts Payable Specialist (APS)

• Accounts Payable Manager (APM)

• P2P Specialist (APPS)

• P2P Manager (APPM)

• Accounts Receivable Specialist (ARS)

• Accounts Receivable Manager (ARM)

• Order-to-Cash (AOC)

• Certified Payment Reporting (1099) Specialist (CPRS)

• AP Certification for Solution Consultants (APSC)

• P2P Certification for Solution Consultants (APPSC)

• Team Certification/Accreditation (AP, P2P, O2C or AR)

• Certified Excel Specialist in Accounting (CESA)

Team Certification/Accreditation Include: • Accredited AP Department

• Accredited P2P Department

• Accredited AR Department

• Accredited O2C Department

• Accredited Payment Reporting Department

• Accredited Excel Department

• Accredited Solution Consultant Team

Certification is one of many ways we provide

employees with the knowledge, discipline, and confidence to do the right thing every time and to have constructive dialogue with business partners to support the broader strategy. It is important for all aspects of transactional processing be it AP, P2P, AR or O2C to seriously consider department level certification programs to drive collaboration, reduce non valued added work, and perform better.”

—Niren Naidu, MBA, LSSBB, APM, APPM



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Meet the IOFM Certification PanelistsThe following professionals participated in the development of this white paper by offering their insights, feedback, and experiences. IOFM thanks them for their participation and for their noteworthy contribution to their profession.

NICOLE CALEY, MBA, APM Director of Accounts Payable, AAR

BEVERLY HAWKINS, APS Accounts Payable Associate, American Planning Association

LAURIE HEUSS, MBA, APM Accounts Payable, Finance, Baird

RYAN MCCLINTOCK, APM Senior Manager, Procurement Strategy and Planning, T-Mobile

NIREN NAIDU, MBA, LSSBB, APM, APPM PTP Solutions Manager, Bridgestone Americas, Inc.

ANDREA OLBERDING, CPRS, APMD, ARM, APPM Senior Manager, AP/AR, VSP

DOREEN SMUDA, APM Manager, Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable, Cameco Corporation

AMY WELLS, APS Senior Accounts Payable Specialist, Beaumont Health

ROBYN WINSTON, ARS, CPRS Senior AR/AP Operations Specialist, Commonwealth Commercial Partners

What I like about having my entire team certified is

that the department accreditation really cemented us together. We collaborate as a cohesive unit and work much more efficiently as a group than ever before. I believe it helped to increase motivation, pride, and confidence. It has helped others to appreciate the team’s contributions as well.”

—Andrea Olberding, CPRS, APMD, ARM, APPM


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Job Requirements: Employers Are Looking for Skilled ProfessionalsOn job posting sites across the country, there is no shortage of ads from organizations seeking skilled financial operations professionals. Many employers are requiring or preferring a candidate with an IOFM certification, since it demonstrates that a candidate has gone above and beyond to develop their skills to meet a rigorous training standard. Among them are:

• Cameco Corporation;

• Johnson & Johnson;

• MGM Grand;

• Memorial Health;

• SunTrust;

• Serta/Sealy/Simmons;

• Sutter Health; and

• Vanderbilt University.

In addition to requiring or preferring certified professionals, employers are looking for individuals who are willing to take on higher-level tasks and responsibilities. The following list of desired attributes are excerpted from a recent job posting:

• Assesses information and applies applicable laws, policies, and procedures. Considers the long-term implications of actions and advises employees appropriately.

• Demonstrates integrity: Holds oneself accountable; takes responsibility for failures as well as successes, recognizes that trust is required to hold a team together.

• Raises the bar: Is a proactive problem solver who is eager to learn and continue one’s personal and professional development and expertise.

• Collaborates: Demonstrates strong interpersonal skills and the ability to develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders. Volunteers rather than waits to be asked. Understands that almost no one works in a silo and that collaboration with others is essential in order to do a job well.

• Communicates proactively: Readily shares nonproprietary information and understands that strong communication is fundamental to the success of the team and the organization.

• Goes beyond the boundaries of the job description: Willingly takes on new challenges and higher-level tasks. Finds creative solutions.

Without an efficient Finance team, the entire

company would not be able to function properly. In the past, people viewed financial operations professionals basically as data entry clerks. Today, that cannot be farther from the truth. Financial operations teams are now expected to be critical-thinking problem solvers.”

—Nicole Caley, MBA, APM



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Are these Expectations Realistic?

The Panelists participating in this study acknowledged that the list of expected attributes was characteristic of what they are seeing in the field. They agreed that organizations are seeking motivated, well-trained, and enthusiastic team members who are willing to go above and beyond to achieve the organization’s vision and mission.

“In the past, people viewed financial operation professionals basically as back-office data entry clerks. That cannot be farther from the truth. Today, these professionals are expected to be critical-thinking problem solvers. Without an efficient AP, P2P, AR, or O2C team, the entire company would not be able to function properly.”


IOFM Professional Certification Builds Skills and ConfidenceCertification has been proven to make a difference in how financial operations professionals are perceived and how employers assess their skills. It leads to:

• Higher earning power. Completing the training program and passing a rigorous exam demonstrates a firm grip on the core principles of the profession.

• Sharper skills. Certification places recipients in an exclusive group of AP professionals whose skills meet a global standard of excellence. Receiving certification increases credibility and shows peers, supervisors, and the public a commitment to the profession.

• More respect. Certification raises awareness of the profession and the need to invest in training and career development. Employers see a certified professional as an asset, an expert resource, and a confident leader.

• Continuous learning. Certified individuals engage in continuing education for 15 hours each year, keeping them up-to-date on the newest developments in the field.

“My certification made me more confident in my financial operations knowledge, and management saw the certification as a validation of my expertise in the field. It also opened the door to a community that I was blind to how much I needed.”

—Ryan McClintock, APM

“Upon receiving my certification, I was given a bonus from my organization and have been tasked with more duties and responsibilities. This greatly increased my value to the organization—and my confidence.”

—Beverly Hawkins, APS

Today’s financial operations professionals

are nothing like they were 20 years ago when I began my career. They are actively participating in protecting the company’s assets and are driven by the need to optimize cash and drive cost savings. They are also contributing to the bottom line by implementing solutions that bring in cash rebates for the company.”



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Developing ‘Rock Star’ PerformanceThe IOFM Certification Panelists report that certification helped them introduce new—and more effective—processes and procedures in their organizations. In this section, we will talk about specific areas of financial operations in which the Panelists were able to institute best practices as a result of their IOFM certification.

Managing the Vendor Master FileData entered in the vendor master file can drive efficiencies and ensure accuracy in the creation of requisitions, purchase orders, invoices, payments, and entries to the general ledger. A clear-cut vendor management program enables organizations to:

1. Catch and reduce fraud;

2. Validate vendors;

3. Comply with laws and regulations;

4. Know where money is being spent;

5. Reduce duplicate and erroneous payments;

6. Eliminate duplicate vendor records; and

7. Save money.

“I increased our controls with respect to how we manage and maintain our vendor master file. I learned from my certification training that a clean vendor master file is critical in our operations for many reasons, including mitigating fraud risk, ensuring accurate 1099 reporting, and decreasing the risk of duplicate payments.”


Enforcing Internal ControlsInternal controls safeguard the organization’s assets and ensure compliance with government regulations. The IOFM Panelists emphasized how IOFM certification gave them new tools and tips on:

• Types of internal controls;

• Internal control legislation and best practices;

• Fraud and fraud prevention;

• Separation of duties;

• Audits;

• Record retention and destruction; and

• Writing compliant internal control policies and procedures.

Before I was certified, I paid little attention to

suppliers, other than matching the invoice to the name. Now, I look deeply at the supplier name vs. the Tax ID name vs. the logo. It is all too easy to set up duplicate vendors, whether it be by a nonstandard naming convention or the vendor being set up using a DBA and a tax ID name.”

—Amy Wells, APS



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“I always believed I had a high level of understanding about internal controls and why they were necessary. After my certification, internal controls and strong policies and procedures became an even more critical component of every task I was involved in.”

—Laurie Heuss, MBA, APM

Staying in Compliance and Avoiding PenaltiesCompliance to federal and state laws and regulations is central to the Financial Operations function, and earning certification demonstrates that an organization is dedicated to achieving 100 percent compliance.

IOFM’s certifications offer deep immersion into compliance in the areas of 1099 reporting, escheatment, and sales and use taxes.

Any person who has responsibility for 1099 and state reporting is required to be up to date on all current regulations. The penalties and risks associated with non-compliance are onerous, and the burden is on the organization—not the IRS—to see that staff is educated about regulatory updates.

Ignorance of the law leaves an organization exposed to costly penalties and legal fees. In the AP arena, employees who have earned AP, P2P, and/or CPRS designations can play a key role in ensuring accurate reporting and fine avoidance—improving the bottom line and increasing their value to the organization.

“In order to improve compliance and reduce risk/fraud, it is critical that the entire team is on the same page—that it is thoroughly trained on an organization’s policies and procedures and is empowered in this aspect. Our team certification/accreditation establishes a mutual understanding of the risks of fraud and the expectation that the key to minimizing that risk is via an organization’s internal controls policies.

“Adding training for solution providers to the mix further mitigates the risk. That way, if any technological challenges are involved, a provider can quickly jump in to create a fix or introduce a new application for the system.”


Improving ProcessesAlthough an operation may appear to be effective and efficient, there are always areas that can be improved upon. Every financial operations professional should be involved in a process improvement plan that uses the following tools and strategies:

• Metrics;

• Benchmarking;

• Gathering and analyzing data;

• Process mapping;

• Process analysis; and

• Spend analysis

Certification made me aware that there were

potential fraud issues I hadn’t even thought about. Now, I can better see and understand the critical need for airtight policies and procedures. When I reviewed my organization’s policy manual after my certification, I was amazed at how much more I understood about the compelling need for strong internal controls.”

—Amy Wells, APS


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“Certification prompted new thinking for us—and new questions, such as: How can our objectives be better met doing it smarter? and How can we challenge the statement that ‘we’ve always done it this way?’ We learned to look at statistics to review processes and eliminate waste. As my team’s leader, I have implemented stream mapping and value graphs. These tools are especially helpful in defining the return on investment in dollars and reducing resistance to change.”


“Before I was certified, I used very basic and unsubstantial metrics and analysis. After I was certified, I learned the importance of key reports, what the data meant, and why the analysis was important. I also learned how to use the data to support change initiatives.”

—Laurie Heuss, MBA, APM

“Certification has helped me understand the overall workings of T&E, including the proper processes and procedures. This will help me design the right policies for T&E and create improved control and compliance. Certification has also increased my knowledge of the vendor master file and its importance. I now better understand how the process is to be designed and what controls and steps are important for compliance. In addition, certification has improved my knowledge of technology and what to look for when evaluating certain technologies.”

—Manish S. Pawnikar, APPM

Processing PaymentsCertification training provides a solid understanding of the impacts that payment methods can have from a cash optimization perspective. There must be alignment and consistent collaboration between Procurement and Accounts Payable in order to ensure that suppliers are onboarded in accordance to an organization’s payment policies in the following areas:

• Discount management;

• Paper checks;

• Electronic payments; and

• Card payments

“After I was certified, I was able to take a more holistic view of our payment policies and methods and help establish a playbook that Procurement can use when onboarding suppliers. This has resulted in huge cost savings for my company and earned cash rebates.”


“Certification reinforced how a collaborative relationship with Purchasing can open up conversation, allowing both AP and Purchasing to streamline work and become more effective for the P2P team—including Treasury.”


My CPRS certification prepared me to tackle

some of the biggest compliance challenges in payments reporting, including: determining what is (and is not) reportable; dealing with Form W-9; withholding on payments; payments to third parties; making settlement payments; reporting payments made through corporate credit cards; meeting documentation requirements; working with foreign vendors; and handling B-Notices.”

—Robyn Winston, ARS, CPRS



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Optimizing CashFinancial operations professionals, particularly those who are in a P2P organization, can contribute to successful cash management by increasing the amount of the organization’s spend that is under its control, decreasing the number and dollar value of non-PO purchases, and paying careful attention to payment timing.

The following areas should be considered:

• Cost of cash/working capital;

• Assigning appropriate payment method by vendor;

• Terms and discounts; and

• Supply chain finance

“Accounts Payable can contribute to the organization’s success by establishing a policy around how vendors should be paid. Certification, in addition to other IOFM learning opportunities, provides professionals with best practices around how to optimize cash. I learned that a payment policy that is agreed to by AP and Procurement needs to be established. Also, it is important to continually communicate to the organization and requestors across the organization the reasons behind those policies.”


“At my organization, we continue to look at our payment portfolio to see if there are things we can be more effective with through card programs and e-payments to optimize early payment discounts. I have learned that improving P2P improves our Days Payable Outstanding (DPO). A strong DPO supports stronger working capital. Knowing what is before and after your process allows your own process to be strong and can assist other areas significantly.”


Acing Technology and SoftwareSurveys reveal that the number-one priority when considering process improvements is to reduce costs. Automation offers organizations the opportunity to accomplish this goal. Best-in-class organizations are effective in leveraging technology in order to:

• Realize the benefits of automation;

• Evaluate automation solution types and functions;

• Select and implement technology solutions;

• Determine Return on Investment (ROI);

• Overcome resistance to change; and

• Ensure security.

“Before I was certified, I was more willing to work within the system in the way I was trained to, because that was ‘the way it was always done.’ After I was certified, I developed an appetite to look for different ways to manage work—not to be afraid to try new things or afraid to start over—and I am more comfortable with how to deal with resistance to change.”


Team certification tightened our department

and provides senior management with an even higher level of confidence about our operations. We are seen as the experts in our area and are often turned to by others within the company.”



IOFM.COM 13

“In order to make headway with the implementation of technology, I learned that managers need to inform themselves on what technology is available and what the potential benefits are. Financial operations professionals need to educate others, particularly those who release the funds. Certification provided me tips on how to seek approval and funds, how to tailor a presentation to a senior management audience, and how to focus on the benefits that will address their greatest concerns.”


Discovering the Path to Advancement Career advancement is not just about working hard; it’s also about being noticed for what you do. And becoming certified gets people noticed.

Here are just a few of the success stories that IOFM members shared:

• “Not only was I promoted to “Senior” AP specialist, but because of my recent certification, I am also now part of a hand-picked team leading our department into a paperless system that is being implemented this year. Thank you IOFM!”

• “My multiple certifications have greatly helped me evolve from processor/individual contributor role levels to management and subject matter expert roles. The evolution of my role has aided in the implementation of Shared Services, allowing for increased efficiencies, cost savings, consistency, and collaboration throughout the various lines of business we support.”

• “As a direct result of my certification and my demonstrated leadership skills, analytic skills, and process knowledge, I was chosen to lead our team through both of our SAP upgrades.”

• “I obtained my certification while working as an AP Coordinator at a bank. That bank went through a bank merger and my job was eliminated. My certifications helped me obtain a new job. At the new job, I received a promotion within the first year. I have since left that position, but my certifications again helped me obtain my current position.”

• “Studying about tax compliance helped me transition to my new role as backup for the 1099 process. I can now bring to the table an understanding of W-9s, vendor setup, and tax reporting that I did not possess before.”

• “Since I earned my certification, I have been promoted to Senior Specialist. I am now part of a small group in my department that handles all AP-related questions coming from the rest of our department of 38 AP clerks. I was also selected to be one of six in my department to learn the new paperless system we are moving to. Once we go live, our group will be training the rest of the department.”

I have been with my current company for

almost 3 years now and I have been able to streamline multiple process during that time frame.

One big change is we went from having only 54 EFT vendors to currently having 564.”

—Sherry Dixon, Account Specialist, City of Albany



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IOFM’s certifications have been of tremendous value

to our department. They have enabled management to empower our employees to expand their level of knowledge and expertise in addition to providing best-in-class customer service to our internal/external clients.”

—Dennis R. Cooper, PNC Financial Services’ Accounts Payable Operations Director

• “My certification gave me much greater confidence in my abilities as an AP specialist. I feel more confident when answering colleagues’ AP questions, and I feel that the certification hanging on my wall has made some fellow employees respect my opinions. Management is also very impressed and has given me more involved projects, knowing I can handle them.”

Considering AR and O2C Certification IOFM’s AR and O2C certifications cover a progression from the fundamentals of an AR operation to the advanced nuances of an end-to-end O2C operation.

Recipients of these certifications come away from the process with a thorough understanding of best practices and a commitment to accuracy and compliance. Both of these skill sets are necessary to excel in the field of Accounts Receivable.

As with AP and P2P certification, team accreditation is available and advisable in AR and O2C. Certifying the entire department unifies operations and gives the AR or O2C staff consistent core competencies and training to work smarter, not harder.

AR and O2C certification is also becoming increasingly important to Shared Services operations in which AP, AR, and Procurement work hand-in-hand. Some Shared Service managers hold both AP and AR certifications, and their teams are AP and AR accredited accordingly.

AR and O2C team designations are held by AR departments at leading Fortune 500 companies, nonprofit organizations, colleges and universities, and institutions around the world who value accuracy, efficiency, clarity, and transparency in the accounting function.

”ARM certification provides recipients with a higher level of expertise that supports an organization’s strategy. For my team, taking an equal interest in both AP and AR has helped to increase motivation, pride, and confidence. It has helped my team members see their contributions, interrelatedness, and expertise in these two critical areas.”


“Certification is one of many ways we provide employees with the knowledge, discipline, and confidence to do the right thing every time and to have constructive dialogue with business partners to support the broader strategy. It is important for all aspects of transactional processing be it AP, P2P, AR or O2C to seriously consider department level certification programs to drive collaboration, reduce non valued added work, and perform better.”



IOFM.COM 15

Conquering ExcelIt doesn’t matter whether a finance professional is just launching a career in AP, AR, or shared services, or is a well-established professional. The Certified Excel Specialist in Accounting (CESA) accreditation can help practitioners automate virtually any data-driven recurring task. It also provides an additional tool and a solid grounding to achieve leveraged performance.

Increasingly, finance professionals are called upon to analyze and create reports. Work must be accomplished faster and more efficiently. Metrics and benchmarking activities require accurate recordkeeping and tracking.

Excel is a platform that can be used to automate virtually any data-driven recurring task, and training pays off with a high ROI.

“I prepare a comprehensive Excel financial reporting package each month for senior management. Before my certification, the report took about 40 hours a month to prepare. After applying the features, functions, and techniques I learned in this certificate program, the process now takes me only four hours a month.”

—Shannon Smith, Accounts Payable Manager, American Outdoor Brands

Maintaining Continuous TrainingThe best way to keep up to speed and grow in your career is to stay up to date with certification and continuing education. Achieving and attaining certification requires continual learning. That means constantly staying on top of what is going on in financial operations, even if the leading opportunities are not within the current budget.

The challenge for financial operations professionals often lies in getting management’s buy-in for investing in their professional development. Here are some approaches that the IOFM Certification Panelists have used effectively to build a case for certification:

• “I built my case on the basis that the organization was growing and we needed to stay up to date on best practices in the industry.”

• “I wasn’t sure how I could convince my boss or HR to pay for my certification. IOFM provided me a template letter that emphasized the benefits of certification. That made things easy, and everything just fell in place.”

In some cases, the Panelists reported that once they received their IOFM certification, it opened the door for additional professional development. As a result, when they were ready to move forward with a degree program, their employers were open to it. Certifications raise awareness that investing in AP, AR, P2P, O2C, and CPRS will result in a more engaged, focused, and motivated team.

IOFM’s certifications have been of tremendous value

to our department. They have enabled management to empower our employees to expand their level of knowledge and expertise in addition to providing best-in-class customer service to our internal/external clients.”

—Dennis R. Cooper, PNC Financial Services’ Accounts Payable Operations Director



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Listening to what Hiring Managers Have to SayThrough certification and empowerment, financial operations professionals now have a viable opportunity for career growth and promotions. Certification training is ...

√ Real-world based and actionable;

√ Based on best practices learned from thousands of members and an Advisory Panel of more than 100 experts; and

√ Economically viable, since it results in increased productivity, decreased support costs, improved customer service, and strengthened vendor relations.

“To be a true financial operations professional, it requires more than good data entry skills, it requires a wealth of knowledge, skills and compliance training. This is what people gain when they become certified by IOFM.”

—Angel Ivery, Oppenheimer Funds’ Assistant VP Finance

“As a hiring manager, AP & P2P certification is something I definitely value in an applicant. I see it as an asset to an individual’s resume, and this is supported throughout our department’s progression”


ConclusionWith more than 25,000 certified financial operations professionals worldwide, IOFM’s rigorous certification programs set the global standard for excellence in the accounting professions. Earning a certification through IOFM demonstrates a firm grasp of the fundamentals, a thorough understanding of best practices, and a commitment to accuracy and compliance.

All of these attributes are necessary to excel in the financial operations field. IOFM’s designations are held by individuals and departments at leading Fortune 500 companies, non-profit organizations, colleges and universities, and institutions around the world who value accuracy, efficiency, clarity and transparency.

For more information on IOFM certifications—and to find out how to arrange a certification, go to iofm.com/certification. To learn more about the benefits of departmental certification, e-mail IOFM at [email protected].

Certification shows two important traits that I

personally look for when I am in a hiring role. First, it shows that the employee values continued learning and self-improvement. Second, it tells me that the employee has taken steps to become an expert in his or her field.”



http://www.iofm.com/certification

http://[email protected]

In order to make headway with the implementation of technology, team

managers need to inform themselves on what technology is available and what the

potential benefits are.

I would highly recommend that anyone in receivables become an accredited receivables manager because it is an

impressive certification that gets attention.

Certification empowers employees to have the knowledge, discipline, and confidence

to do the right thing every time and to have constructive dialogue with business partners

to support the broader strategy.

For more information on IOFM certifications, contact IOFM:

Call: 207-842-5557 or e-mail IOFM at: [email protected]

or vist: IOFM.com/certification

http://[email protected]

http://www.IOFM.com/certification

Documents

Professional Certification Matters...Organizations are increasingly seeing the value of proper training and certification for AP, P2P, AR, and O2C professionals. Many are investing