Be inspired at our
AP & P2P Leadership Forum 2026
IET Birmingham: Austin Court
6th May 2026
What can I expect on the day?
In the midst of the AP Appreciation Week celebrations, the AP/P2P Leadership Forum brings together professionals for knowledge sharing, networking, and forward-thinking discussions.
Coinciding with the release of this year’s Accounts Payable Industry Benchmarking report,
the Forum’s educational panels will delve into it’s findings to provide attendees with support on the most relevant topics and challenges.
The event will also feature the prestigious APA Influencer Awards, celebrating the most impactful individuals within the industry. Winners will earn a coveted place on the exclusive APA ‘Key Influencer’ list, recognising their leadership and vision in shaping the future of AP and P2P.
9:00am
Registration / Networking
10:00am
Opening Address – Jamie Radford, APA Founder & Richard Ransom, Bottomline
10:15am
Panel One
The Modern CFO Office – Why AP is Now a Strategic Lever
As take on a more strategic role, Accounts Payable is becoming central to delivering visibility, control, and working capital optimisation. This session will explore how leading organisations are connecting AP, payments, and treasury to unlock greater value.
Discussion will cover:
> The evolving priorities of the CFO and the increasing strategic importance of AP
>The role of real-time payments, cash visibility, and working capital optimisation
>Connecting AP, payments, and treasury for greater efficiency and control
>The role of commercial cards and embedded payment solutions in modern finance
> How AP can transition from a cost centre to a driver of strategic insight
11:00am
Break & Networking
Informal networking and refreshments.
11:15am
Panel Two
AI in AP – Separating Strategic Value from Industry Hype
AI is rapidly reshaping the AP landscape, but where is it truly delivering value? This session will cut through the noise to explore how AI is being applied in practice to enhance accuracy, control, and visibility.
Discussion will cover:
> Where AI is delivering measurable impact in AP today
> Moving beyond hype: practical use cases and real outcomes
> Enhancing data accuracy, fraud detection, and process efficiency
> The role of AI in enabling smarter decision-making in finance
> What best-in-class AI-enabled AP looks like in 2026 and beyond
Shelsea Adrian,
Yooz
12:00pm
Lunch & Networking
13:00pm
Panel Three
Using AP to Plug Leakage and Demonstrate Business Value
AP teams are uniquely positioned to identify and prevent financial leakage, yet this opportunity is often underutilised. This session will explore how AP can drive measurable financial impact and demonstrate its value to the wider business.
Discussion will cover:
> Common sources of leakage across AP processes
> How to identify, prevent, and recover lost value
> Leveraging data and analytics to uncover insights
> Building a business case for AP-led value creation
> Demonstrating ROI and elevating AP’s role within finance
13:45pm
Break & Networking
14:00pm
Panel Four
From P2P to Payment – Unlocking Cash Visibility and Control
Creating a seamless connection between procurement, invoicing, and payments is key to achieving true financial visibility. This session will explore how organisations are integrating P2P processes to improve control, forecasting, and supplier experience.
Discussion will cover:
> Connecting procurement, invoicing, and payments for end-to-end visibility
> The role of supplier portals, e-invoicing, and automation in improving control
> Enhancing cash positioning and forecasting through better P2P integration
> Optimising payment methods, including the role of commercial cards
> Balancing efficiency, control, and supplier experience across the process
14:45pm
Break & Networking
15:00pm
Recognising Leadership Excellence: Key Influencer Announcement 2026
Join us for the Key Influencer Announcement & Closing Remarks, where we celebrate standout influncers shaping the future of AP and finance. This inspiring session will highlight key takeaways, recognise influential voices, and hopefully leave you with a powerful message to drive change in your organization. Don’t miss this impactful conclusion to an incredible event!
15:30pm
Event Close
Join us for this year's Leadership & Influencer Forum
May06
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IET Birmingham: Austin Court
Join us at this unmissable event to gain insights, connect
with peers, and be inspired to drive the next chapter of our profession. Don’t miss your chance to be part of it!
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