The official business definition of accrual process in accounts payable is not how much is owed to a creditor within a certain time period, but rather when the company expects to pay. Accrual process in accounts payable helps businesses plan for large and unexpected expenses by giving the business advance notice of upcoming payments. With this knowledge, businesses can create a budget for these expenses or take money from a reserve fund to handle them. The official definition of accrual process in accounts payable is not typically found in accounting textbooks, but instead in financial planning or CPA texts.