What I’ve Learned: Every Payment Is About More Than a Transaction
By Brandy Maines, Accounts Payable Specialist
When I first started working at Summit Ridge Energy, I thought my role was straightforward: process invoices, make payments, and keep things moving.
But in this industry, nothing is ever that simple.
You’re dealing with contractors, engineers, landowners, and suppliers. People who are all part of getting a project off the ground. And I quickly realized that every invoice I touched was connected to something much bigger than a simple payment.
Accounts Payable (AP) is often viewed as a transactional function. We process invoices, issue payments, and close out balances. But behind every transaction is a relationship. Vendors aren’t just service providers. They are essential partners in business operations, and in many cases, the AP team is their primary point of contact. That means AP plays a direct role in shaping how the company is perceived.
Strong vendor relationships don’t happen by accident. They’re built through consistency, communication, and trust. All areas where AP has significant influence.
I Started Seeing the Impact Behind Every Invoice
In solar development, timing matters. Projects move fast, and delays can be expensive.
So, when an invoice sits too long or a payment is delayed, it’s not just an inconvenience. It can slow down a crew, hold up materials, or strain a relationship that the entire project depends on.
Once I understood that, my role stopped feeling transactional. It started feeling like I was part of the project itself.
Early Lessons That Shaped My Approach
Working in AP, I quickly learned the process involves a lot of moving parts: approvals, invoice details, and timing. Keeping everything on track takes real attention and coordination.
What stood out to me early on was how much our partners valued being kept in the loop. Whether they were checking the status of an invoice or planning ahead for their own operations, what they really needed was clarity. They needed to know what was going on so they could plan on their end.
That’s when it clicked for me: communication matters just as much as the payment itself.
Paying on Time Became About More Than Deadlines
Now, I see every payment as a reflection of how we operate as a company.
In solar development, you’re often working with the same partners across multiple projects. If you build a reputation for being reliable, it follows you.
And if something is going to be delayed, I’ve learned it’s always better to communicate early. Even a quick update can make a huge difference in how the situation is handled.
I Focus On Being Someone Our Partners Can Rely On
I try to approach my role with one simple question in mind: if I were out in the field or supplying materials, how would I want to be treated?
I make a point to:
- Respond quickly, especially when something is holding up payment.
- Be clear about what’s needed to move things forward.
- Keep partners from having to follow up multiple times.
In an industry where so many moving parts are out of people’s control, being dependable on the financial side really stands out.
Mistakes Happen, But How You Handle Them Matters More
I’ve had moments where something slipped through — an invoice missing information, or a delay from either party, internally or externally, that didn’t get flagged right away.
The best way I’ve learned to address it is head-on.
Taking ownership and resolving issues quickly has strengthened our partner relationships. People don’t remember the problems — they remember how you handled them.
Understanding Their Side Changed Everything
Many of the partners we work with are managing tight schedules, crews, and costs. Payments aren’t just numbers to them; they affect payroll, materials, and timelines.
Keeping that in mind has changed how I prioritize and communicate. It’s not just about closing out invoices – it’s about supporting the people who keep the project moving.
Keeping It Human Makes a Difference
Solar development can be fast-paced and high-pressure, which makes it easy for communication to feel rushed or transactional.
But I’ve found that taking a second to be personable — remembering people’s names, saying thank you, and acknowledging their importance to the process — goes a long way.
Our partners aren’t just vendor numbers. They’re helping bring these projects to life.
Not to mention the landowners who have so graciously chosen to trust Summit Ridge Energy with this work. With so many solar companies vying for their attention, we at Summit Ridge do not take this lightly. They share the same vision and passion as we do and deserve our full support and respect.
Technology Helps, But Relationships Still Matter Most
We use NetSuite, our ERP system, to keep everything organized and efficient. But I’ve learned that no amount of automation replaces clear, proactive human communication.
Partners want to know that there is someone paying attention, someone they can reach out to and get a real answer from.
More Than Processing Payments
My role in Accounts Payable at Summit Ridge is about a lot more than processing payments. It’s about being part of a high-value process — one where relationships, timing, and reliability matter.
I have learned to appreciate supporting the people behind each invoice. My work became more meaningful, my relationships grew stronger, and the challenging situations became easier to navigate.
I am proud to be a part of our AP team, playing a key role in keeping projects on track and strengthening the partnerships that make our solar projects possible.