Preparing accounts payable for audit week

Audit week fails when the first extract request lands as a surprise. AP leads who prepare a narrow set of artefacts usually spend less time in follow-up threads.

Have these ready

1. Population extract for the agreed period, with claim IDs that match the application
2. Current policy PDFs and the date each took effect
3. A list of approvers who left mid-period (orphaned queues are common)
4. Card feed reconciliation files if they live outside the main application
5. A quiet room or remote dial-in slot for walkthroughs

Protect the team’s calendar

Block two short windows for evidence pulls instead of promising same-hour turns all week. Auditors who respect those windows get better documents; AP staff who are not ambushed make fewer mistakes in the rush.

After fieldwork

Ask for the draft findings timeline in writing. You are entitled to factual review. You are not obliged to negotiate ratings — but correcting a misread merchant name early keeps the final letter accurate.