Accounts Payable

This process relates to the procurement of goods and services following the Contracts Policy and procurement and contracts process. It begins with a requisition and once approved, must be sourced to a Purchase Order. 

The purchase order must then be sent to the supplier who must ensure  that the purchases order number is included on on the related invoice, once goods and or services are delivered. 

Suppliers must email their invoices to po-invoices@georgetown.edu.

Capital projects invoices and payment applications must be emailed to capitalaccountspayable@georgetown.edu

The purchase of goods or service <= $500 from a single supplier, where the annual cumulative spend does not exceed $1,000, should be submitted using the Miscellaneous Payment Request (MPREQ) process in GMS.

If spend for a supplier is expected to exceed $1,000 per year, a purchase order must be created by following the procurement process

This is the procurement of goods through an established list of supplier catalogs. The catalog can be accessed directly in GMS. The following link provides instructions on how to complete the punchout process.

Below is a list of our current punchout suppliers available:

• Amazon
• Apple
• CDWG
• Fisher Scientific
• Grainger
• Staples
• VWR

These are the payments for expenses unrelated to procurement. They include but are not limited to the following expense categories:

• Non staff expense reimbursement
• Non employee honorarium
• Prizes and awards
• Non Service Stipend (USA & International)
• Petty Cash replenishment
• Legal Services/ Settlement
• Membership dues
• Event Officials
• Library Refunds

Request for payment may be submitted using the Miscellaneous Payment Request (MPREQ) process in GMS.

From time-to-time, suppliers will not have received a payment issued by Georgetown, and Accounts Payable will need to reissue the payment. The following process should be followed:

1. The supplier or GU departmental contact provides info about the payment to be reviewed for reissue, either via email to accountspayable@georgetown.edu or via Google Form. We ask requests include the following information:
   • Supplier name
   • Supplier ID (SUP-#######, if known)
   • Payment amount
   • Payment date (if known)
   • Invoice number(s) (if known)
2. Accounts Payable analysts will research the payment and provide additional information required about the payments, and if at all possible, will email back the requestor (and the supplier, if different) regarding the preliminary determination, whether and what additional information is needed, and when to expect action.
3. On a weekly basis, typically on Thursday mornings, the Accounts Payable management team will review all payment reissue requests, and:
   • Assure that all requests have been addressed and dispensed
   • Make manager-level decisions deferred by analysts, and contact supplier/contact/requestor
   • Reissue payments that need to be reissued

NOTE: General policy is that paper checks will not be reissued unless they have been outstanding for 30 days. Managers may approve exception to policy due to extenuating circumstances.

NOTE: This process is intended only for suppliers who:

• have identified an overpayment from Georgetown and 
• do not expect to submit invoices that will offset the overpayment amount within 90 days.

If the supplier has identified an overpayment from Georgetown and expect invoices to offset that overpayment within 90 days, they should submit a credit memo or other invoice adjustment document to po-invoices@georgetown.edu, listing the PO that was originally charged for their invoice, or to accountspayable@georgetown.edu if there was no PO associated with their original invoice.

Supplier Repayment

1. The preferred supplier repayment option is to make repayment online if the supplier has a bank account at a US bank. The supplier will be asked to provide:
   • The amount of their repayment (required)
   • Their name (required)
   • The method by which they originally received payment (required)
   • Their supplier number (optional)
   • The invoice number(s) (optional)
   • The original payment date (optional)
   • The original payment amount (optional)
   • Banking information and Billing Address (required)
2. Repayment can also be made via check.
   • 3700 O St NW, White Gravenor Lower Level, Washington DC, 20057
   • Include the supplier’s name, number, and invoice number on the check remittance info if at all possible
3. If online payment from a bank account at a US bank or payment by check is not possible, please contact accountspayable@georgetown.edu.

This is Georgetown University’s preferred method of paying suppliers, and is often suppliers’ preferred method of being paid. Features of this payment method include: 

• Georgetown initiates ACH payments on a daily basis, assuring all invoices approved the prior business day (and due to be paid) are paid within one day of approval.
• Payment is delivered directly to the supplier’s bank account, typically 1-2 business days after Georgetown initiates the payment.
• Remittance information (the supplier’s invoice number) is provided via addenda records, which suppliers can access if they have corporate/enterprise reporting.
• Only available for US-based accounts.
• Suppliers can change their banking information at any time via the Supplier Record Management Portal

These are payments generated in-house and are only generated once per week, on Thursdays. This payment method should only be selected in the following instances:

• Checks requiring special handling, such as those requiring courier service, or to be picked up for further distribution
• Special attachments or remittance advice are required to accompany the check

These are paper check payments distributed by GU’s payment partner “ViewPost”. This is Georgetown’s default payment method when:

• The supplier has not provided any banking information.
• The suppliers address is a US address.

These payments are initiated on a daily basis, assuring all invoices approved the prior business day (and due to be paid) are paid within one day of approval. ViewPost then prints and mails these checks on a daily basis. First class mail is supposed to reach its destination within 1-5 business days, depending on distance from the location where the mail is sent.

Please visit the International Wire Transfers page to learn how to pay international suppliers using wire transfers.

• Payment Settlement and disbursement
• Monitoring vendor statements
• Researching and resolving returned checks & ACH
• Processing credit invoices
• Maintaining permanent records of supporting documentation for payments
• Check Voids and reissues
• Proof of Payment
• Providing assistance and direction to departments in settling disputes with vendors
• Ensuring supporting documentation exists prior to authorizing the release of checks to vendors
• Providing follow-up services on outstanding payments and resolving problems which may arise
• Canceling and or reissuing supplier payments