Vital Yet Neglected: The State of Accounts Receivable in UK Business

Accounts receivable (AR) is one of the core financial functions in any organisation. But its very centrality in how businesses operate means that, paradoxically, it often gets taken for granted by leadership teams. There are few sources of information and insight available about the current state of the function. And unlike their colleagues in Accounts Payable, AR professionals often struggle to come together, share experiences and build their knowledge.

Bottomline has long been a champion to AR professionals – providing AR solutions and services alongside consultancy and support for 20+ years. Our customers include some of the UK’s most recognised brands, managing millions of AR interactions each year. But at a time of huge technological and economic change globally, we believe that the conversation in the accounts receivable function is falling behind.

So we felt the time was right to take a step back from the day-to-day and look at the bigger picture. Specifically, we wanted to ask: What is the state of AR in 2025? How do AR professionals feel about their role as disruption happens all around us? And what are the opportunities – and risks – for AR teams right now as they seek a more prominent role in enterprises?

We wanted to hear directly from those on the front line of collecting funds. Alongside our own knowledge and experience, we’ve based this report on a series of unique, in-depth qualitative interviews with AR professionals at 10 mid-size enterprises across the UK. These included firms in sectors like utilities, software, manufacturing and professional services. And we explored everything from investment priorities to job satisfaction.

Vital Yet Neglected is shaped by – and filled with – their experiences and observations. They’ve told us about their frustrations with today’s status quo, and the enormous opportunities that could be seized if businesses invested more in their tools and processes. This includes AR’s ability to inform decisions and surface risk early.