How Big Can an Accounts Payable Department Really Get?
Accounts Payable is often described as a “back-office” function, but at scale, it becomes a major operational engine. This article examines what the largest Accounts Payable departments in the United States actually look like today, using conservative, defensible benchmarks rather than inflated estimates or guesswork.
First, let’s define scope (this matters)
For clarity, “Accounts Payable” in this article refers to:
Vendor invoice processing, supplier payments, AP help desk activity, and exception handling.
It does not include:
Procurement, payroll, insurance claims, customer refunds, treasury investing, or benefits administration,
unless explicitly stated.
Many published headcount estimates become misleading because they quietly expand the definition of AP. The ranges below intentionally stay narrow and conservative.
Executive handout (PDF)
For readers who want a concise, executive-safe summary of the definitions and benchmarks used in this article, APPG has prepared a short Executive FAQ on Accounts Payable headcount and scale.
View the Executive FAQ (PDF)So, how big is the biggest Accounts Payable department?
Based on AP benchmarking data, shared services research, and observed operating models, the largest modern, in-house Accounts Payable organizations in U.S.-based companies typically fall within this range:
Practical upper range (modern enterprises):
500 to 1,200 Accounts Payable full-time equivalents (FTEs)
In rare cases with unusually high invoice complexity or limited automation,
totals may approach about 2,000 FTEs, but this is not typical.
Why do Accounts Payable headcounts vary so much?
- Invoice volume: Millions of invoices per year require scale, even with automation.
- Invoice complexity: Services, partial shipments, and multi-PO invoices increase manual work.
- Automation maturity: Best-in-class teams process 25,000–30,000 invoices per FTE.
- Centralization model: Shared services are often 30–40% more efficient.
- Scope definition: What counts as “AP” varies widely between organizations.
Supplementary executive reference
For readers who want a concise, forwardable summary of the definitions, benchmarks, and framing used in this article, APPG has prepared a short executive FAQ on Accounts Payable headcount and scale.
View the Executive FAQ (PDF)Sources and methodology
This article synthesizes publicly available benchmarking data, industry research, and practitioner insights, including commonly referenced metrics from APQC and IOFM related to invoices per FTE, staffing efficiency, cost per invoice, and automation maturity. Ranges reflect practical operating models rather than theoretical maximums.
