Vouchers Payable System
Rather than using the AP procedures described in the previous section, many firms use a vouchers payable system.
Under this system, the AP department uses cash disbursement vouchers and maintains a voucher register.
After the AP clerk performs the three-way match, he or she prepares a cash disbursement voucher to approve payment.
Vouchers provide improved control over cash disbursements and allow firms to consolidate several payments to the same supplier on a single voucher, thus reducing the number of checks written. Figure 10.21 shows an example of a cash disbursement voucher.
Each voucher is recorded in the voucher register, as illustrated in Figure 10.22. The
voucher register reflects the AP liability of the firm. The sum of the unpaid vouchers in
the register (those with no check numbers and paid dates) is the firm’s total AP balance.