--- title: Working Capital Assessment url: https://www.medius.com/resources/tools/working-capital-assessment/ updated: 2026-10-22T14:02:29Z --- Working Capital Assessment # Where is your working capital hiding? Nine questions. Three minutes. Find the gaps in payment visibility and control that could be limiting your working capital strategy. Start the assessment Dimension 1 of 3 ## Visibility & Insight How clearly can you see the gap between target and actual payment behavior, and how far ahead can treasury see what's coming? 1. How do you compare your organization's DPO to targets? Level 1 We know our overall DPO but don't compare it against targets by entity or region. Level 2 We compare target vs. actual DPO periodically, but pulling the data takes manual effort across systems. Level 3 We have readily available target vs. actual DPO visibility by entity, region, and supplier segment. 2. How well do you track the gap between contracted terms and actual payment dates? Level 1 We don't track actual payment dates against contracted terms. Level 2 We can pull this data on request, but assembling it across entities takes time. Level 3 We regularly monitor terms vs. actual payment dates and can quickly identify deviations. 3. How far ahead can treasury see upcoming AP obligations? Level 1 Treasury sees payments only once they're scheduled or already running. Level 2 Treasury has a partial view, typically 30 days out, assembled manually. Level 3 Treasury has a rolling forward view of AP obligations, including visibility by entity, region, and currency. Dimension 2 of 3 ## Standardization & Control How consistent are payment rules across entities, and how well are exceptions governed? 4. How consistent are payment timing rules across entities? Level 1 Each entity or region decides payment timing on its own, with no shared framework. Level 2 We have guidelines, but they're applied inconsistently, and exceptions are common. Level 3 A consistent global framework governs payment timing, with targets adapted by region or entity where needed. 5. How are payment exceptions tracked and governed? Level 1 Exceptions happen informally and aren't tracked or reviewed. Level 2 Exceptions are approved case by case, but no one reviews the pattern. Level 3 Exceptions require defined approval and are reviewed regularly to catch ones that have become routine. 6. How are global targets translated to local realities? Level 1 We set one enterprise-wide target and expect every entity to hit it. Level 2 Some regions have adjusted targets, but they aren't formally documented or owned. Level 3 Enterprise targets cascade into documented regional and entity targets with clear ownership. Dimension 3 of 3 ## Decision-Making & Optimization How deliberately does your organization decide when to preserve cash versus put it to work? 7. How do you decide when to preserve cash vs. pay early? Level 1 Payment timing decisions are made ad hoc, invoice by invoice. Level 2 We have informal guidance, but it isn't consistently applied. Level 3 Clear criteria guide when to preserve cash, capture discount value, or protect supply continuity. 8. How do you quantify the financial value of payment timing decisions? Level 1 We don't quantify the financial impact of payment timing decisions. Level 2 We can estimate potential discount value, but don't track it systematically. Level 3 We track the financial impact of payment timing decisions across the business. 9. How do you use this year's payment data to plan next year's targets? Level 1 We don't look back at payment behavior when setting next year's targets. Level 2 We review payment data occasionally, but it doesn't systematically shape targets. Level 3 We run a structured year-end review of payment behavior to set next year's working capital priorities. Your score – /27 0 of 9 questions answered Reactive Visible Controlled Optimized [![The global working capital playbook guide cover](https://www.medius.com/media/cd5n2tr2/resource-page_global-working-capital-pb.png)](https://www.medius.com/resources/guides-reports/the-global-working-capital-playbook/ "The global working capital playbook") Global working capital playbook ## Turn your results into a working capital plan. Get practical frameworks for setting payment timing targets, governing exceptions, and deciding when to preserve cash or put it to work. [Download playbook](https://www.medius.com/resources/guides-reports/the-global-working-capital-playbook/ "The global working capital playbook") Medius Payments ## Pay on your terms, not your backlog. Working capital strategy only works if you control when cash leaves the business. Medius Payments gives you real-time visibility into what's going out and when, so payment timing follows your strategy instead of your workload. [See how Payments works](https://www.medius.com/solutions/medius-payments/ "See how Payments works") 96% of finance teams say late payments cause stress or burnout. Even when AP is automated. 2026 Financial Census ## When payments miss terms, working capital gets harder to plan. Most organizations have invested in AP technology, yet a third of invoices still go out late. The 2026 Financial Census looks at why payments keep missing terms and what it takes to close the gap. [See the findings](https://www.medius.com/resources/guides-reports/medius-financial-census-2026/ "See the findings")