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Accounts payable and accounts receivable are the two most commonly outsourced finance functions in the world — and for good reason. Together they account for nearly 40% of all outsourced finance operations globally. The reasons are practical, not theoretical:
This guide is written for CFOs, Controllers, Finance Directors, Accounting Managers, Shared Services leaders, and procurement teams evaluating whether to outsource the AP and AR specialist function specifically — not finance and accounting broadly.
Ask any controller which part of the close is most likely to slip, and the answer is almost always the same: accounts payable and accounts receivable. Not because the work is complicated — it's because it's constant, high-volume, and the first function to fall behind when a role goes unfilled.
A mid-size distribution company processing 2,000 invoices a month doesn't need a strategist in that seat. It needs someone who shows up every day, keys invoices accurately, chases the right approvals, and reconciles the vendor sub-ledger without letting a backlog build. When that seat sits empty for even six weeks, the effects are immediate: vendors start calling about late payments, early-payment discounts get missed, and by the time someone is hired and ramped, the backlog is real work, not a hypothetical.
On the receivables side, the story is the same in reverse. A collections and cash application specialist who falls behind doesn't just create administrative mess — every day of delay in applying cash or following up on an aging invoice adds directly to days sales outstanding, which means real cash sitting uncollected on a customer's books instead of the company's.
AP and AR are unusual among finance roles: the work is genuinely high-volume and rules-based, which is exactly what makes them among the fastest and lowest-risk functions to move to a dedicated outsourced specialist — provided the vendor treats vetting and process documentation seriously.
In both cases, the approval authority, credit decisions, and write-off decisions stay with your team. The specialist executes the process; your organization retains the judgment calls.
Not every accounting function is a good outsourcing candidate. Highly judgment-intensive work — technical accounting research, financial statement preparation for a public filer, tax strategy — depends on deep familiarity with the specific business. AP and AR sit at the opposite end of that spectrum:
Lower cost per transaction
Manual, in-house invoice processing averages roughly $15 per invoice and about 14.6 days from receipt to posting. A dedicated outsourced specialist working inside a structured process, often supported by AI-assisted data capture, meaningfully reduces both figures without adding automation software your team has to manage.
Faster time to capacity
AP and AR roles have some of the highest turnover in accounting. Refilling the seat domestically routinely takes two to three months. A vetted outsourced specialist can typically be interviewed and working within two to four weeks.
Fewer errors, cleaner vendor and customer relationships
With close to 40% of manually processed invoices containing an error, a dedicated specialist focused solely on AP (rather than splitting attention across multiple duties) tends to catch discrepancies before they become vendor disputes or duplicate payments.
Improved DSO and DPO
A specialist solely focused on collections and cash application, following a consistent aging-based outreach cadence, is one of the most reliable levers for bringing days sales outstanding down — often the single fastest way to free up trapped cash without touching pricing or credit policy.
Scalability for volume spikes
Month-end, year-end, and periods of rapid growth all create AP and AR volume spikes. A flexible outsourced model absorbs that volume without the lead time of a temporary hire.
Continuity
A rapid replacement policy means the departure of one specialist doesn't stall your payment runs or your collections cadence for six weeks while a replacement is found.
"Will an outside specialist have access to our bank accounts?"
No engagement should ever require sharing banking credentials directly. A properly structured engagement uses role-based access inside your existing ERP or payment platform, with payment execution and release authority retained by your internal team.
"Will our vendors or customers know they're talking to an outsourced team?"
A well-run specialist communicates under your company's name, email domain, and processes — vendors and customers experience continuity, not a handoff.
"What about sensitive customer payment information?"
This is precisely why vendor selection should include a direct review of encryption practices, access controls, and confidentiality agreements — the same diligence you'd apply to any party with access to customer financial data.
"What if collections calls need a firmer or more personal touch?"
This is a legitimate consideration, and it's a fair question to ask a provider directly during candidate interviews: how do they train for tone, escalation, and difficult customer conversations, and can you speak with the specific person before committing.
| Factor | In-House AP/AR Specialist | Outsourced AP/AR Specialist |
|---|---|---|
| Time to fill the role | 6–10 weeks, higher turnover risk | 2–4 weeks with a pre-vetted candidate |
| Cost per invoice processed | ~$15 average, manual process | Meaningfully lower with dedicated focus |
| Invoice processing time | ~14.6 days average | Typically reduced through dedicated capacity |
| Coverage during peak volume | Overtime or temp staffing needed | Flexes within the existing engagement |
| Continuity if the person leaves | Backlog builds during the search | Rapid replacement from an existing bench |
| Reporting visibility | Varies by internal bandwidth | Structured weekly reporting by default |
| Approval and payment authority | Fully retained internally | Fully retained internally |
| Role | Typical In-House Annual Cost | Typical Outsourced Range |
|---|---|---|
| Accounts Payable Specialist | $48,000 – $62,000 | $24,000 – $36,000 |
| Accounts Receivable Specialist | $50,000 – $65,000 | $25,000 – $38,000 |
| AP/AR Combined Specialist | $52,000 – $68,000 | $27,000 – $40,000 |
Ranges are directional and vary by market, transaction volume, and complexity — intended to frame scale of savings, not serve as a quote.
| Stage | Domestic Hiring | Outsourced AP/AR Specialist |
|---|---|---|
| Sourcing and screening | 3–5 weeks | Immediate — pre-vetted bench |
| Interviews | 1–3 weeks | 2–4 business days |
| Onboarding to full productivity | 3–6 weeks | 1–2 weeks with dedicated onboarding |
| Total time to full productivity | 2–3 months | 2–4 weeks |
AP and AR functions touch some of the most sensitive data in the business — vendor banking details, customer payment information, and cash positions. A credible provider should demonstrate, not just claim:
MYCPE ONE provides pre-vetted accounts payable and accounts receivable specialists for businesses and enterprises that need dependable, high-volume transactional capacity without a lengthy hiring cycle.
Before any long-term commitment, the AP or AR specialist assigned to your account works inside your actual environment for two weeks — processing real invoices, applying real cash, following up on real aging accounts. You assess actual output: accuracy, speed, and communication.
If it's not the right fit, there's no obligation to continue. This matters more for AP/AR than almost any other role, because the cost of a poor fit shows up fast — in missed payments, duplicate entries, or a stalled aging report — and the evaluation period is designed to catch that in week two, not month three.
If invoices are piling up, payment runs are slipping, or your aging report has stopped getting the attention it needs, the next step is a direct conversation about your specific volume and process — not a generic proposal.
There is no obligation at any of these steps. The evaluation period exists so you can decide based on real output, not a proposal on paper.
Either function can be outsourced independently. Many companies start with one — typically AP, since invoice processing is the more immediately painful bottleneck — and add AR once the first engagement proves out.
No. Payment approval and release authority should remain with your internal team as a matter of standard practice, regardless of who processes the underlying transaction.
A specialist solely dedicated to collections and cash application — rather than splitting time across other duties — can follow a consistent, disciplined aging-based outreach cadence, which is usually the biggest single driver of DSO improvement.
A properly onboarded specialist operates under your company's name and existing communication channels. Vendors and customers should experience continuity, not a visible handoff to a third party.
Following the two-week risk-free evaluation, most engagements reach full production capacity within one to two additional weeks, assuming reasonably documented processes and timely system access.
Amrit Singh is a business leader with 10+ years of experience in continuing education. Helping accounting, tax, and finance professionals stay compliant with ease, he began his journey as a consultant. Learning across industries before stepping into a leadership role, he is shaped by both successes and failures. Amrit is passionate about problem-solving, building products, exploring technology, and mentoring future leaders. He is dedicated to transform continuing education, making it simpler, smarter, and more meaningful. Through his blogs and talks, he shares insights on accounting careers, CPA compliance, and the future of continuing education.
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