3 OKR examples for Accounts Payable Team
What are Accounts Payable Team OKRs?
The Objective and Key Results (OKR) framework is a simple goal-setting methodology that was introduced at Intel by Andy Grove in the 70s. It became popular after John Doerr introduced it to Google in the 90s, and it's now used by teams of all sizes to set and track ambitious goals at scale.
Creating impactful OKRs can be a daunting task, especially for newcomers. Shifting your focus from projects to outcomes is key to successful planning.
We have curated a selection of OKR examples specifically for Accounts Payable Team to assist you. Feel free to explore the templates below for inspiration in setting your own goals.
If you want to learn more about the framework, you can read our OKR guide online.
Building your own Accounts Payable Team OKRs with AI
How to create great OKRs for any scenario in seconds
While we have some examples available, it's likely that you'll have specific scenarios that aren't covered here.
You can use Tability's AI generator to create tailored OKRs based on your specific context. Tability can turn your objective description into a fully editable OKR template -- including tips to help you refine your goals.
- 1. Go to Tability's plan editor
- 2. Click on the "Generate goals using AI" button
- 3. Use natural language to describe your goals
Tability will then use your prompt to generate a fully editable OKR template.
How to improve existing OKRs with AI feedback
If you already have existing goals, and you want to improve them. You can use Tability's AI feedback to help you.
- 1. Go to Tability's plan editor
- 2. Add your existing OKRs (you can import them from a spreadsheet)
- 3. Click on "Generate analysis"
Tability will scan your OKRs and offer different suggestions to improve them. This can range from a small rewrite of a statement to make it clearer to a complete rewrite of the entire OKR.
You can then decide to accept the suggestions or dismiss them if you don't agree.
Using the free OKR generator to get a quick template
If you're just looking for some quick inspiration, you can also use our free OKR generator to get a template.
Unlike with Tability, you won't be able to iterate on the templates, but this is still a great way to get started.
Our Accounts Payable Team OKRs examples
You will find in the next section many different Accounts Payable Team Objectives and Key Results. We've included strategic initiatives in our templates to give you a better idea of the different between the key results (how we measure progress), and the initiatives (what we do to achieve the results).
Hope you'll find this helpful!
1. OKRs to improve invoice processing and payment efficiency
- ObjectiveImprove invoice processing and payment efficiency
- KRIncrease on-time payments by 30%
- Offer incentives for early or on-time payments
- Implement reminders for due payments through email or texts
- Improve payment platforms for easier transactions
- KRReduce invoice processing errors by 20%
- Regularly review and audit processed invoices
- Train staff thoroughly on proper invoice processing
- Implement a reliable automated invoice processing system
- KRReduce average invoice processing time by 15%
- Regularly review and improve invoicing processes
- Train staff on efficient invoice handling procedures
- Implement automated invoice processing software
2. OKRs to decrease days payable outstanding for better cash flow management
- ObjectiveDecrease days payable outstanding for better cash flow management
- KRImplement automation tools in 80% of payable systems
- Select appropriate automation tools for these systems
- Identify payable systems suitable for automation
- Train staff on the usage of these tools
- KRAchieve 25% faster dispute resolution for payable invoices
- Train staff in effective dispute resolution techniques
- Regularly review and streamline dispute policies
- Implement a centralized dispute management system
- KRReduce average invoice processing time by 30%
- Streamline approval workflows for quicker turnarounds
- Train staff on efficient invoice handling procedures
- Implement automated invoice processing software
3. OKRs to streamline vendor aging reconciliation and payment processes
- ObjectiveStreamline vendor aging reconciliation and payment processes
- KRAchieve 100% on-time payments for all vendor invoices within net 30
- Regularly review and update payment processes
- Implement a robust invoice tracking software
- Assign responsibility for all invoice payments
- KRImplement an automated tracking system for vendor aging within first two weeks
- Research best automated vendor aging tracking systems
- Train staff on using new tracking system
- Purchase and install suitable system
- KRReduce number of overdue vendor payments to zero by end of the quarter
- Ensure timely fund allocation for payments
- Regularly review and act on payment due list
- Implement a reliable automated payment system
Accounts Payable Team OKR best practices
Generally speaking, your objectives should be ambitious yet achievable, and your key results should be measurable and time-bound (using the SMART framework can be helpful). It is also recommended to list strategic initiatives under your key results, as it'll help you avoid the common mistake of listing projects in your KRs.
Here are a couple of best practices extracted from our OKR implementation guide 👇
Tip #1: Limit the number of key results
The #1 role of OKRs is to help you and your team focus on what really matters. Business-as-usual activities will still be happening, but you do not need to track your entire roadmap in the OKRs.
We recommend having 3-4 objectives, and 3-4 key results per objective. A platform like Tability can run audits on your data to help you identify the plans that have too many goals.
Tip #2: Commit to weekly OKR check-ins
Don't fall into the set-and-forget trap. It is important to adopt a weekly check-in process to get the full value of your OKRs and make your strategy agile – otherwise this is nothing more than a reporting exercise.
Being able to see trends for your key results will also keep yourself honest.
Tip #3: No more than 2 yellow statuses in a row
Yes, this is another tip for goal-tracking instead of goal-setting (but you'll get plenty of OKR examples above). But, once you have your goals defined, it will be your ability to keep the right sense of urgency that will make the difference.
As a rule of thumb, it's best to avoid having more than 2 yellow/at risk statuses in a row.
Make a call on the 3rd update. You should be either back on track, or off track. This sounds harsh but it's the best way to signal risks early enough to fix things.
How to track your Accounts Payable Team OKRs
The rules of OKRs are simple. Quarterly OKRs should be tracked weekly, and yearly OKRs should be tracked monthly. Reviewing progress periodically has several advantages:
- It brings the goals back to the top of the mind
- It will highlight poorly set OKRs
- It will surface execution risks
- It improves transparency and accountability
Spreadsheets are enough to get started. Then, once you need to scale you can use a proper OKR platform to make things easier.
If you're not yet set on a tool, you can check out the 5 best OKR tracking templates guide to find the best way to monitor progress during the quarter.
More Accounts Payable Team OKR templates
We have more templates to help you draft your team goals and OKRs.
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