First of all, congratulations! All that hard work, all that time working your way through the day to day processing and the vlookups, and the pivot tables, has allowed you to move into a leadership role. Well deserved! And welcome!
What do I wish I had known before I moved into an AP Manager role?
Leadership:
Some of the best leaders are not managers and just because someone has the title manager, it does not mean they are always leaders. Just because you got the role, doesn’t mean you have earned the followers. The most important part of my job is leadership. It isn’t the same technical skills you learned in your AP roles that will help you succeed in your Manager role. It is understanding what your team can do and how you can support them as they do their jobs.
Believe me, I tried to solve employee disputes with pivot tables and it does not work. I dare you to create connections with others when talking about OCR and Six Sigma- I mean, you and I’d be besties, but there are others who would prefer to NOT talk about excel during lunch… weirdos.
In other words, read leadership books meant for CEOs, not only will it give you insight into how to be a great leader but it will also give you insight into your company’s leadership preferences. There are different kinds of leaders but boiled down the essence of it is trust. As a manager, if you build trust in those around you, there will be less friction and they will do the best they can for you. The reason you should want to become a leader is to be of service to people. Be of service to both your boss and the people who report to you.
Know your worth:
Although you will want to be of service always know your boundaries!
Accounts Payable generally has no end. There is no “down time” for the AP department. You’ve got regular weekly deadlines to pay vendors, monthly deadlines to meet for accruals, and yearly deadlines for the IRS non-employee income. Knowing what you can take on as an individual will help you gage the company’s support of the AP department.
Never let vendor invoices take over your weekend or take you away from your family and friends. You are responsible for a functioning AP department, not to give up your free time to pay a $200 check to Larry from the tire store. If it is stalling the company’s income then the system needs to be reviewed, your hours shouldn’t need to be permanently increased. Knowing the difference between an urgent one off situation and a recurring issue will help you know where your department is most deficient.
Honesty:
Never lose your sense of humor. Being authentic is important. You can’t mask your authentic self away forever, others will not trust you if they can tell you are not being truthful. Listen more than you talk. Authenticity should not be TMI, your group does not need to hear about your crazy weekend in Vegas, unless they asked. If they ask, be sure you aren’t over sharing about your friend Tiffany’s hangover and smelly cheese cravings.
Authenticity also means knowing when to say “I don’t know”. The challenge with these words is that some people stop the sentence there. Instead, as a leader pivot to say “I don’t know, but I want to find out”. Be comfortable with not knowing and always being the student. The student grows with the company, the ‘know it all’ criticizes as others make the mistakes and find new solutions to problems. Be an innovator within your AP department.
Disclaimer:
I’m just a goofball chugging through life, trying to do the best I can for myself and others. I can’t say I follow my own advice everyday, but I do try to call myself out when I am not being authentic. Don’t look at your manager position as one you received because you checked all the boxes others would have checked to become a manager. Remember that your experience is unique and you will make your own story along the way.
Never discount your own story. You will fail. You will learn. Repeat until successful. I only hope you also try to enjoy the ride as you go- also, try to bring donuts on Fridays. Bosses who bring donuts are the best.
What is Accounts Payable? 