PAYMENTS • GLOBAL AP • SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa Opens Payment System to Non-Banks in Major Payments Reform

South Africa is preparing to give non-bank payment providers greater direct access to the country's payment infrastructure, a reform that could eventually create new options for how businesses send and receive payments.

By Accounts Payable Professionals Group
October 22, 2026

South Africa is moving ahead with a major overhaul of its national payment system that will expand participation beyond traditional banks.

Under the South African Reserve Bank's Payments Ecosystem Modernisation (PEM) Programme, non-bank organizations such as fintech companies, retailers and other payment service providers will gain greater access to the country's payment infrastructure.

The changes are intended to increase competition, encourage innovation and make South Africa's payment system more efficient and accessible.

For accounts payable teams, the reform is worth watching because expanding the number of organizations able to participate directly in payment infrastructure could eventually increase the number of payment options available to businesses.

WHAT AP SHOULD KNOW:
This is a developing payment-system reform, not an immediate change to AP procedures. Businesses should continue using their existing approved banking and payment channels while monitoring which non-bank providers become authorized participants as the new framework is implemented.

Moving Beyond a Bank-Only Model

South Africa's existing payment system includes banks, clearing participants, system operators and third-party payment providers. Direct participation in important parts of the infrastructure, however, has historically been centered heavily on banks.

The Reserve Bank's modernization programme is designed to broaden that structure.

A key part of the plan is the development of a national payments utility that will provide shared digital payment infrastructure to a broader range of participants, including non-bank financial service providers.

The Reserve Bank also plans an activity-based regulatory model that will allow qualifying non-bank organizations to perform payment activities and access clearing and settlement systems directly without relying on bank sponsorship.

What Changes for Accounts Payable?

For most AP departments, nothing changes immediately.

Companies should not interpret the reform as meaning that any fintech, retailer or telecom company can now replace a bank for corporate payments. Providers will still need to meet regulatory, licensing, operational and security requirements before participating under the new framework.

The longer-term implications could be more significant.

Greater competition among payment providers could eventually give businesses additional choices for supplier payments, improve payment speed and put pressure on transaction costs. It may also create new integration opportunities between payment providers, accounting systems and AP platforms.

That would make provider governance increasingly important. AP and treasury teams evaluating new payment channels will need to consider authorization status, security, fraud controls, reconciliation capabilities, payment visibility and how each provider integrates with existing financial systems.

A Reform to Watch Into 2027

The modernization effort will continue in stages. Initial non-bank participation is expected during 2027 as South Africa develops the regulatory framework and supporting payment infrastructure.

That makes the reform something AP leaders should monitor rather than something that requires an immediate process change.

The larger question is whether opening payment infrastructure to more regulated providers will ultimately give businesses faster, less expensive and more flexible ways to pay suppliers.

If that happens, South Africa could provide an important example of how opening national payment systems to non-bank participants changes the corporate payments landscape.

APPG Discussion

If regulated non-bank providers could connect directly to payment infrastructure, would your AP department consider using them for supplier payments, or would you prefer to keep payments with traditional banks?

Sources:
South African Reserve Bank, Payments Ecosystem Modernisation Programme
South African Reserve Bank, Payments and Settlements
Reuters, October 16, 2026

GLOBAL AP • PAYMENTS • AFRICA

Ethiopia Joins Pan-African Payment Network, Opening New Path for Cross-Border Payments

Ethiopia's participation in a regional payment system could eventually give businesses a simpler way to pay suppliers across African borders.

By Accounts Payable Professionals Group
Published October 21, 2026, 5:30 AM EDT
Updated October 21, 2026, 10:30 AM EDT

The National Bank of Ethiopia has joined the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), opening the way for Ethiopian financial institutions to connect with participating banks elsewhere in Africa.

PAPSS facilitates cross-border payments using local currencies, reducing reliance on foreign currencies such as the U.S. dollar. The system aims to simplify transactions that traditionally involve currency conversions, correspondent banks, additional fees, and longer settlement times.

What It Means for AP

For accounts payable departments managing suppliers across African borders, PAPSS could eventually offer a more efficient alternative to traditional international bank transfers.

However, Ethiopia's participation does not mean the network is immediately available to every Ethiopian business. Individual financial institutions must connect to PAPSS and meet applicable operational and compliance requirements.

The announcement did not identify the first participating Ethiopian commercial banks or provide a date for live commercial transactions.

WHAT AP SHOULD KNOW:
Companies paying Ethiopian suppliers should monitor which banks begin offering PAPSS transactions and evaluate the network's availability, settlement times, fees, and compliance requirements before considering changes to their payment procedures.

Ethiopia's participation marks another step in the development of regional payment infrastructure for African trade. For AP teams, the practical impact will depend on how widely banks and businesses adopt the system.

Editor's Note (October 21, 2026): This article was edited for clarity and concision. No substantive changes were made to the original reporting.

Sources:
National Bank of Ethiopia
Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS)

AP OPERATIONS • INTERNAL CONTROLS

Petty Cash in 2026: Does the Cash Box Still Have a Place in AP?

Digital payments have replaced many of the small purchases that once required cash. But for organizations that still maintain petty cash, the basic controls remain just as important.

By Accounts Payable Professionals Group
October 20, 2026

There was a time when the petty cash box was a normal part of almost every accounting department. Employees needed a few dollars for postage, office supplies, parking, or another small expense, and petty cash provided a simple solution.

In 2026, many of those purchases can be handled with corporate cards, purchasing cards, expense systems, or other electronic payment methods. That raises a reasonable question for accounts payable departments: Does petty cash still serve a useful purpose?

For some organizations, the answer is yes. There may still be situations where a small amount of physical cash is the simplest way to handle an immediate, low-dollar expense.

But keeping petty cash should be a business decision, not simply something the company continues because it has always had a cash box.

AP CONTROL CHECK:
If your organization still uses petty cash, ask when the fund was last reviewed. Is the amount appropriate? Who has access? Are receipts consistently collected? And does the cash actually reconcile to the records?

The Controls Haven't Changed

The technology surrounding AP may have changed, but the basic petty cash controls have not.

Access should be limited to an assigned custodian. Every disbursement should have supporting documentation. Cash on hand plus documented expenditures should equal the authorized fund balance, and the fund should be reconciled regularly by someone with appropriate oversight.

Unexplained shortages, missing receipts, repeated reimbursements just below approval limits, and personal expenses should never become accepted simply because the dollar amounts are small.

Maybe the Best Control Is a Smaller Cash Box

AP departments should periodically review whether the size of the petty cash fund still reflects actual usage. A company that once needed $500 available may discover that only a fraction of that amount is regularly used.

Some organizations may decide to reduce the fund. Others may eliminate it altogether.

Petty cash does not have to disappear simply because payments have become digital. But in 2026, every cash box should be able to answer one simple question: What business need does this still solve?

APPG Discussion: Does your organization still maintain petty cash? If so, what expenses are still being paid from it? Join the discussion with the Accounts Payable Professionals Group.

The UAE has amended several requirements under its electronic invoicing system as larger businesses approach an October 30 compliance deadline.

Global AP • E-Invoicing • Compliance

UAE Eases E-Invoicing Rules Ahead of Major Compliance Deadline

New amendments provide businesses with additional flexibility, but a key October 30 deadline for larger companies remains in place.

By Accounts Payable Professionals Group
October 19, 2026

The United Arab Emirates has revised several requirements under its electronic invoicing system, giving businesses additional flexibility as the country moves toward mandatory e-invoicing.

The UAE Ministry of Finance announced Ministerial Decision No. 197 of 2026 on October 19. The decision amends portions of the country's existing e-invoicing regulations and took effect October 1.

What Changed

• Certain transactions between members of the same tax group receive a temporary 24-month exclusion beginning January 1, 2027.
• Electronic invoice data is no longer required to be stored physically within the UAE.
• Previous provisions governing notification of certain e-invoicing system failures have been removed.

One significant change concerns transactions between businesses belonging to the same tax group. Beginning January 1, 2027, these transactions will be temporarily excluded from the electronic invoicing system for 24 months.

The Ministry also removed a requirement that electronic invoices, electronic credit notes and associated data be stored within the UAE. Businesses must still retain required records and make them available to the Federal Tax Authority when required, but the location of the stored data is no longer prescribed by this provision.

A third change removes provisions concerning certain system failures, including the previous requirement to notify the Federal Tax Authority within two business days following a covered system failure.

What Hasn't Changed

For larger businesses, an important deadline remains.

Organizations within the first implementation phase with annual revenue of AED 50 million or more must appoint an Accredited Service Provider by October 30, 2026. Mandatory implementation for these organizations begins January 1, 2027.

AP Action Point

AP and finance teams affected by the first phase should confirm whether an accredited provider has been appointed, verify system integration readiness, and review invoice workflows before the January 2027 mandate begins.

The amendments may simplify implementation for some multinational organizations, particularly companies using international data-storage infrastructure and businesses processing transactions among members of the same tax group.

However, the changes should not be interpreted as a delay to the broader UAE e-invoicing program.

For accounts payable departments, the immediate priority is determining whether their organization falls within the first implementation phase and making sure the systems, providers and invoice processes needed for January are ready.

Source: UAE Ministry of Finance, October 19, 2026. UAE Ministry of Finance

A/P HALL OF SHAME

AP Hall of Shame: Contractor Collected Over $1 Million for Deliveries That Never Happened

Cubist inspired illustration. Obviously, not a depiction of the actual individuals or events.

A trucking contractor admitted collecting more than $1 million from the U.S. Postal Service for transportation assignments his company never completed.

By Accounts Payable Professionals Group | October 19, 2026

An Orlando trucking company owner has pleaded guilty to a fraud scheme that collected more than $1 million from the United States Postal Service (USPS) for transportation services that were never performed.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Khayyam Arif Oglu Farajov, 40, operated Talishco LLC, a trucking and freight brokerage company.

How the Scheme Worked

Between June 2022 and January 2023, Farajov obtained hundreds of contracts through the USPS Freight Auction program.

Instead of dispatching trucks, he repeatedly failed to perform the assigned routes. When USPS employees questioned the missing vehicles, he offered excuses involving delayed drivers or lost communication.

The Postal Service reassigned the work to other carriers. Farajov then entered false delivery confirmations into the system, triggering payments for transportation services never provided.

Prosecutors said the proceeds were transferred through shell-company bank accounts and ultimately deposited into personal investment accounts.

Guilty Plea and Restitution

On October 9, 2026, the Justice Department announced that Farajov had pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering.

He agreed to forfeit seized brokerage accounts and pay an additional $993,979 in restitution. A sentencing date had not been set at the time of the announcement.

The APPG Takeaway

A digital delivery confirmation is not necessarily proof of delivery. AP departments should require independent verification that goods or services were actually received before approving payment. Matching invoices to verified receiving records, investigating exceptions, and restricting who can confirm completion are essential controls against fraudulent payments.

Sources and Further Reading

• U.S. Department of Justice: October 9, 2026 Guilty Plea Announcement
• U.S. Department of Justice: March 16, 2026 Indictment Announcement

Editorial Note: This article was developed with the assistance of artificial intelligence and has been reviewed, approved, and edited by Robert Ruhno, Executive Director of the Accounts Payable Professionals Group (APPG).

APPG Leadership

Robert Ruhno

Executive Director

Robert leads APPG’s mission, editorial direction, member community, and efforts to advance the Accounts Payable profession.

Mariann Ruhno

Chief Education Officer

Mariann leads APPG’s education strategy, professional-development resources, and initiatives designed to help AP professionals strengthen their skills and careers.

Practical education, reporting, and community resources for Accounts Payable professionals.

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AP NEWS | GLOBAL COMPLIANCE

Poland's KSeF Mandate Brings New Requirements for Accounts Payable

Editorial illustration inspired by Polish painter Jan Matejko.

Poland's electronic invoicing reform will soon extend into supplier payment processing, creating new responsibilities for AP teams.

By Accounts Payable Professionals Group | October 16, 2026

Poland's National e-Invoicing System, known as KSeF, is introducing new requirements that connect electronic invoices directly with supplier payments.

Beginning January 1, 2027, active VAT-registered buyers making qualifying payments to other active VAT taxpayers must include a KSeF invoice number or collective identifier in the payment reference.

The requirement applies to bank transfers and other payment instruments that allow payment-reference information to be entered. Specific exceptions apply.

Connecting Invoices to Payments

Each electronic invoice receives a unique KSeF identification number. When paying a single invoice, businesses generally must include that number in the payment reference.

For payments covering multiple invoices, KSeF allows businesses to generate a collective identifier.

These requirements also extend to applicable payments made through Poland's split-payment mechanism.

What AP Departments Should Prepare

AP teams should examine whether their ERP and payment systems can capture, retain, and transmit KSeF identification numbers accurately.

Payment runs, supplier reconciliations, and exception-handling procedures may require adjustments, especially when multiple invoices are combined into a single payment.

Organizations should also review how they handle offline invoices, payments processed by third parties, and transactions involving suppliers outside the requirement's scope.

The APPG Takeaway

Poland's reform makes invoice identification part of payment compliance. AP departments should test their payment workflows before January 2027, confirm that invoice references transfer correctly, and establish procedures for exceptions. Accurate electronic invoicing is only part of the process. The connection between invoice and payment must also be reliable.

Sources and Further Reading

• Polish Ministry of Finance: KSeF Number and Collective Identifier
• Official KSeF Rules and Legal Requirements
• Polish Ministry of Finance: Extension of KSeF Penalty Deferral

Editorial Note: This article was developed with the assistance of artificial intelligence and has been reviewed, approved, and edited by Robert Ruhno, Executive Director of the Accounts Payable Professionals Group (APPG).

APPG Leadership

Robert Ruhno

Executive Director

Robert leads APPG’s mission, editorial direction, member community, and efforts to advance the Accounts Payable profession.

Mariann Ruhno

Chief Education Officer

Mariann leads APPG’s education strategy, professional-development resources, and initiatives designed to help AP professionals strengthen their skills and careers.

Practical education, reporting, and community resources for Accounts Payable professionals.

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National Expense Report Day 2026

APPG | WORKPLACE CULTURE

National Expense Report Day: Receipts, Reimbursements, and Remarkable Excuses

National Expense Report Day 2026.

Because behind every approved expense report is an AP professional who deserves a little recognition.

By Accounts Payable Professionals Group
October 15, 2026

Happy National Expense Report Day!

Today, we celebrate one of the most familiar traditions in business: employees spending company money and Accounts Payable trying to figure out exactly what happened.

If you've ever reviewed an expense report, you know the routine.

A $47 lunch receipt with no explanation. A hotel bill with mysterious extra charges. A taxi ride that somehow costs more than the flight.

And, of course, everyone's favorite: "I lost the receipt."

The Unsung Heroes of Expense Reports

Behind every successful reimbursement is someone making sure the numbers add up, the receipts match, and company policies are followed.

That someone is often an AP professional.

While employees eagerly await their reimbursements, AP teams are busy checking expense categories, verifying approvals, identifying duplicate charges, and occasionally playing detective.

It's not glamorous work, but somebody has to do it!

Five Things Every AP Professional Has Heard

1. "Can you reimburse this today?"
2. "My manager already approved it."
3. "I thought the company paid for that."
4. "The receipt was in my other suitcase."
5. "Why was my expense report rejected?"

Sound familiar?

A Little Appreciation Goes a Long Way

Expense reporting may not be everyone's favorite activity, but accurate reports protect company funds, support financial controls, and help employees get reimbursed on time.

So today, raise your coffee mug to the AP specialists, expense auditors, and finance teams who keep everything running smoothly.

Happy National Expense Report Day! May your receipts be legible, your approvals be timely, and your expense reports always balance.

And remember: A missing receipt is not a personality trait.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

What's the funniest excuse you've ever heard for a missing expense receipt?

Share your experience with fellow AP professionals in the APPG LinkedIn community.

Join the APPG Conversation

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Editorial Note: This article was developed with the assistance of artificial intelligence and edited, reviewed, and approved by Robert Ruhno, Executive Director of the Accounts Payable Professionals Group (APPG).

APPG Leadership

Robert Ruhno

Executive Director

Robert leads APPG’s mission, editorial direction, member community, and efforts to advance the Accounts Payable profession.

Mariann Ruhno

Chief Education Officer

Mariann leads APPG’s education strategy, professional-development resources, and initiatives designed to help AP professionals strengthen their skills and careers.

Practical education, reporting, and community resources for Accounts Payable professionals.

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