CFOs Turn Every Payment Into a Working-Capital Lever

Accounts payable has traditionally been treated as a back-office function focused on invoice validation and payment execution. Real-time rails, virtual cards and improved cash visibility are changing that equation, allowing CFOs to choose the timing and method for each transaction based on fees, discounts, credit cycles and supplier preferences. The approach can preserve liquidity and generate returns without forcing vendors to accept longer payment terms.

PYMNTS said on Aug. 27, 2026 that transaction-level payment optimization can unlock working capital without renegotiating supplier contracts. The 2025-2026 Growth Corporates Working Capital Index, produced by Visa and PYMNTS Intelligence, draws on more than 3,700 CFOs and treasurers across 23 countries and 10 industries. Its findings showed that stronger working-capital practices generated average savings of $19 million for middle-market companies.