Sixty days is a short window to move the needle on cash flow. But it's long enough for a dedicated AP/AR Specialist to make a measurable difference – if they come in ready to work and own the function from day one.
Most cash flow problems in growing companies aren't caused by bad business fundamentals. They're caused by transactional work that's behind, inconsistently executed, or handled by someone whose attention is divided.
The first priority is getting the function current. On the AR side: work through the aging report, identify what's outstanding, what's overdue, and what needs an escalated approach. On the AP side: clear the invoice queue, resolve holds, and get a clean picture of what's owed and when.
You can't optimize DSO if you don't know what's actually outstanding. You can't forecast cash accurately if AP isn't reconciled. Getting current is what makes everything else possible.
MAVI AP/AR Specialists are typically contributing within their first week. Fluency in QuickBooks, NetSuite, Bill.com, and Stripe means tool orientation is short and they're working through the backlog quickly.
With the backlog under control, the focus shifts to consistent processes. On AR: a defined follow-up schedule (gentle reminder at 30 days, more direct at 45, escalation at 60) and a clean cash application process so payments are recorded promptly. On AP: invoices handled within a defined window, payment runs on a predictable schedule, three-way matching applied consistently to prevent errors and duplicate payments.
The goal by day 30: nothing is falling through the cracks. The work is done consistently, on a schedule, by someone who owns it.
With a clean baseline and a consistent rhythm, the Specialist can improve the metrics that matter. DSO should be moving down as collections become more systematic. DPO should be stable or improving as AP is managed more deliberately, taking advantage of early payment discounts where favorable, not paying earlier than necessary.
Cash flow forecasting also becomes more reliable in this window. When AP and AR run cleanly, the finance team has an accurate, current picture of what's coming in and going out – which makes CFO cash management substantially easier.
The 60-day improvement window only works when the specialist is fully focused on AP and AR – not splitting attention between transactional work and other accounting responsibilities. A dedicated AP/AR Specialist processes transactions because that's the entire job.
Finance leaders who have placed AP/AR Specialists through MAVI consistently describe the same arc: current by week two, running on a defined process by week four, measurably better metrics by the end of month two.
The primary indicators are DSO on the AR side and DPO on the AP side. You should also see a reduction in aged receivables over 60 days and more accurate cash flow forecasts. Companies with dedicated AP/AR management typically achieve DSO of 30–45 days versus 60–75 days without dedicated coverage.
Provide system access, a current aging report for both AP and AR, your vendor and customer lists, and any existing process documentation. The clearer the starting point, the faster they can get current.
Yes – though the timeline may extend slightly. Part-time is often the right structure for companies whose transaction volume doesn't yet justify full-time coverage. MAVI supports both.
MAVI Specialists are pre-vetted through a rigorous process assessing technical skills, communication quality, and prior performance. MAVI also handles contracts, payments, and compliance – so the Specialist integrates like an embedded hire, not an independent contractor managing their own admin.