What Accounts Payable Association does

Accounts Payable Association (APA) is a UK-based, privately held professional membership association that provides education, networking, and community support to Accounts Payable practitioners. Founded in 2014 and operated through Accounts Payable Limited (incorporated in England and Wales, registered office in Leamington Spa), the APA generates revenue through annual membership subscriptions, individual course and qualification fees (credentialed via Pearson BTEC), paid event tickets for its flagship Annual APA Conference & Awards, the AP & P2P Leadership Forum, AP Appreciation Week, and monthly masterclasses, plus Solution Partner sponsorship packages from AP technology vendors and recruiters.

Its product portfolio spans subscription membership with bundled access to events, an AP Tutor Helpdesk, an eLearning portal and an ACT assessment portal; events including the 300+ delegate Annual Conference and Awards (described as the UK's largest AP conference), the AP & P2P Leadership Forum, and AP Appreciation Week; educational offerings including the APA Technician Qualification, APA Update Course, and online learning modules; a resource hub of blogs, case studies, webinars, and downloadable packs; the annual AP Benchmarking Report covering 15+ industries; a Q Quality Program; a Late Payment Reform whitepaper with active government engagement; and a Solution Partner Directory connecting members with AP technology vendors such as Bottomline, Xelix, Esker, Yooz, Rossum, AppZen, Medius, and SoftCo.

The APA does not develop proprietary software products; its technology infrastructure is a digital platform (website, e-commerce journey, events calendar, learning management, and member login) supplemented by the ACT assessment and e-learning portals. Distribution is entirely direct to UK-based AP professionals and their teams across multiple industries, with no resellers or geographic expansion beyond the UK disclosed. The association is founder-led by CEO Jamie Radford, with Kat Moy appointed as Head of Education to formalise the curriculum.

Name

Accounts Payable Association

Legal name

Accounts Payable Limited

Website

https://ap-association.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Accounts Payable Association is a UK private membership association that provides education, qualifications, networking events, and resources to Accounts Payable professionals across multiple industries, monetising through subscriptions, course fees, event tickets, and technology-vendor sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Petersfield

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: The APA generates revenue primarily through annual membership subscriptions that provide access to events, courses, qualifications, helpdesk support, webinars, and the resource hub. Memberships are sold as subscription services with a defined term (typically one year).
2. Courses and Qualifications: Revenue is generated from individual course enrollments, qualifications, and online learning modules. Delegates or their employers pay fees for training programmes and certification. The APA offers courses such as the Fast Track Technician Qualification and APA Update Course. Fees can be found on the website or specified on invoices.
3. Event Tickets: Revenue from ticket sales for the Annual APA Conference & Awards, AP & P2P Leadership Forum, and AP Appreciation Week events. Tickets are sold at various price points including early bird rates and combined conference + gala dinner packages. For example, Conference & Awards Gala Dinner Early Bird tickets were £200 + VAT, Conference Day Tickets at £99, and standard Conference & Gala Dinner at £189.
4. Solution Partner Programme: Technology and solution companies sponsor APA events and gain visibility through the Partner Directory. Sponsors such as Bottomline (Headline Sponsor), Hays (Headline Awards Sponsor), and multiple solution partners (Xelix, SoftCo, Esker, OpenECX, Yooz, AppZen, WestgateMoore, Accountex, FIS, Symtrax, Documation, Medius, Comarch, CD, Rossum, ACT, Pagero, BofA, GRG) pay for sponsorship packages to access the APA's professional audience.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Accounts Payable Association (APA) is a UK-based professional membership association for Accounts Payable (AP) and Purchase Ledger professionals. It sells annual membership subscriptions that bundle access to flagship events (Annual Conference & Awards, AP & P2P Leadership Forum, AP Appreciation Week), expert-led courses and qualifications (including the APA Technician Qualification), an AP tutor-staffed Helpdesk, webinars and masterclasses, a resource hub and the annual AP Benchmarking Report. Additional revenue is generated from event ticket sales, individual course enrolments, and Solution Partner sponsorship packages.

Product overview

The Accounts Payable Association (APA) operates as a professional membership association providing a comprehensive ecosystem of products and services for AP professionals. The core offering centers on flagship events (APA Conference & Awards, AP & P2P Leadership Forum, AP Appreciation Week), supported by subscription membership packages that bundle access to education/qualifications, the Help Desk Service, eLearning Portal, ACT Assessment Portal, and Q Quality Program. The association also publishes the annual AP Benchmarking Report and maintains a Resources Hub with blogs, webinars, case studies, and whitepapers. A Partner Directory connects members with solution providers. All services are delivered through a recently redesigned website providing an integrated e-commerce platform, dynamic events calendar, and resource library.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• APA Conference & Awards Annual flagship event described as the UK's largest Accounts Payable Conference, bringing together 300+ AP professionals for a full day of panels, workshops and networking, followed by an evening Awards Gala Dinner celebrating excellence in the AP industry.
• AP & P2P Leadership Forum Industry-leading annual event held in May at IET Birmingham, bringing together AP and Procure-to-Pay professionals for knowledge sharing, networking, and discussion themed around education, advocacy, recognition and influence. Features the APA Influencer Awards and Key Influencer list announcement.
• AP Appreciation Week Annual celebration recognising the contributions of Accounts Payable professionals, featuring online events, webinars, team activities, social media engagement under #APAppreciationWeek and a Wall of Appreciation.
• APA Membership Package Annual subscription providing access to APA-led events (Conference, Forum, Masterclasses), the AP Tutor Helpdesk, educational resources, courses, online learning, webinars and the full suite of member benefits.
• Education and Qualifications Expert-led courses, qualifications, certifications and training programmes for AP professionals, including the APA Technician Qualification (delivered with Pearson BTEC as the awarding body), the APA Update Course and online learning modules.
• AP Helpdesk Service Query-response service staffed by AP expert tutors, available Monday to Friday 8:30am-5:30pm (excluding UK public holidays), with acknowledgement within one working day and response within three working days, via phone, email and online communications.
• AP Benchmarking Report Annual industry benchmarking report providing comprehensive analysis of the Accounts Payable sector, drawing insights from AP professionals across more than 15 industries.
• Resources Hub Online content library containing industry blogs, case studies, webinars, masterclasses, downloadable whitepapers and educational content covering AP compliance, digitisation, fraud prevention and best practice.
• APA Webinars / Masterclasses Monthly online masterclasses covering hot topics within Accounts Payable, featuring industry experts and partner organisations on subjects including compliance, digitisation, AI in AP, ESG, late payment reform and fraud prevention.
• Solution Partner Directory Directory showcasing industry suppliers, software vendors and service providers offering AP technology, automation and expertise to support AP teams; Solution Partners include Bottomline, Yooz, Xelix, Esker, FIS, Documation, Medius, Rossum, SoftCo, Pagero, AppZen and others.
• eLearning Portal Online portal delivering digital course materials, revision tools, webinars and training resources to members and course delegates; online materials typically valid for one year from course start date.
• ACT Assessment Portal Online portal for ACT assessments, used to evaluate AP professionals against defined competency standards, with specific terms and conditions of use.
• Q Quality Program Quality and best-practice community programme for AP professionals focused on industry standards and excellence within Accounts Payable operations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Record 341 nominations for APA Awards 2024 from over 70 organisations across multiple industries including hospitality, construction, manufacturing, shared services, and retail.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BottomlinecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBottomline is a Headline Sponsor of the APA Conference & Awards and Headline Sponsor of the AP & P2P Leadership Forum. As a payment technology and financial process automation company, Bottomline partners with the APA to engage the AP professional community and showcase its payment and AP solutions at flagship APA events.
• HayscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHays is the Headline Awards Sponsor of the APA Conference & Awards. As a leading finance recruitment firm with a team of 250 finance specialists, Hays leverages APA sponsorship to reach the AP professional community and demonstrate its expertise in finance talent strategy.
• YoozcoreTechnology or IntegrationYooz is a Solution Partner and event sponsor of the APA. It co-presents educational webinars with the APA on topics such as AP automation and compliance. Yooz provides AP automation software and leverages the APA's community for brand visibility and lead generation.
• O2C LabscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerO2C Labs (The Order to Cash Laboratory Ltd) is a Solution Partner of the APA. It hosted the APA CEO at the CICM Credit Awards and collaborated on content highlighting the synergy between AP and Credit teams. O2C Labs offers Autonomous AP: AI-Powered AP Inbox solutions and partners with APA on educational content for the AP and O2C communities.
• CICM (Chartered Institute of Credit Management)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe APA and CICM have an overlapping professional community with shared challenges between AP and credit management. The APA CEO attended the CICM Credit Awards as a guest of O2C Labs, highlighting the synergy and collaboration between the two professional communities.
• Pearson BTECcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThe APA offers qualifications that are partnered with Pearson BTEC as the Awarding Body. Some learner data is shared with Pearson BTEC for qualification administration purposes, as stated in the APA Privacy Policy.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA): Global accountancy body providing qualifications across finance and accounting functions; functions as an alternative professional home for many of the same AP and shared services professionals the APA targets.
• Institute of Financial Accountants (IFA): UK chartered body for finance accountants offering qualifications and CPD that intersect with the APA's course and membership proposition for early-career AP professionals.
• Institute of Management Accountants (IMA): US-headquartered association of accountants and financial professionals in management accounting; comparable operating model of membership, certifications and industry intelligence for a related audience.
• Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA): Global chartered body for management accountants that touches shared services and finance transformation audiences overlapping with APA's finance leadership segment; broader portfolio but competes for the same corporate training spend.
• ICAEW: Major UK chartered accountancy body covering finance, audit and corporate reporting; a broader incumbent whose member base overlaps with APA's CFO and finance director segment.

Direct peers

• Purchase to Pay Network (P2PN): UK-focused P2P community and information service running conferences, reports and roundtables that compete directly with APA's annual forum and conference offerings on P2P topics.
• Chartered Institute of Credit Management (CICM): UK chartered body for credit management professionals, with an overlapping organisational agenda with APA in P2P, late payment policy and shared member events (e.g., CICM Credit Awards attended by the APA CEO).
• Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT): UK professional body awarding accounting qualifications and serving a membership base that includes accounts payable and finance admin staff; an alternative credentialing route for the same end users.
• Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS): UK chartered body covering the procurement and supply side of the P2P cycle; APA's AP & P2P Leadership Forum crosses into adjacent territory and competes for the same corporate training wallet.
• Institute of Finance & Management (IOFM): US-based association that certifies AP and P2P professionals through the AP Fundamentals, P2P and Certified AP Professional credentials, representing the most directly comparable operating model to the APA's membership-and-qualifications playbook.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@accountspayableassociation
• Facebookfacebook.com/AccountsPayableAssociation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/accounts-payable-association
• Xx.com/AP_Association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Accounts Payable Association