net present value
Financial Dictionary — Capital Budgeting & Investment Appraisal
Definition
Net present value, or NPV, is a method of valuing capital projects that uses a predetermined interest rate to determine the present value of an investment's net cash inflows and outflows
Use cases, Example & Why it matters
Use cases
- Used in the purchase-to-pay cycle to validate invoices, approvals, and supporting documents.
- Used to strengthen internal controls over purchasing and supplier payments.
- Used to strengthen internal controls over purchasing and supplier payments.
Example
- Example: Before payment, the AP team applies **net present value** to confirm the invoice matches the approved purchase documentation.
Why it matters
- Why it matters: Prevents incorrect/duplicate payments, reduces fraud risk, and improves accuracy of payables and expenses.