Purchasing Officer: quick reference cheat sheet
Fast lookup of the most common tasks, keyboard tips, and troubleshooting.
Jul 11, 2026
Most Common Tasks
| Task | Where to Go | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Create a new PO | Purchase Orders Open in Usystems → New Purchase Order | Select vendor, add items, set delivery date, click Save |
| Find a vendor | Contacts → Vendors Open in Usystems | Use search box, or scroll through list |
| Check how much you owe a vendor | Contacts → Vendors Open in Usystems → click vendor name | View "Balance" row to see total owed |
| Record a goods receipt | Purchase Orders Open in Usystems → click order → Receive | Verify items, confirm quantities, click Save |
| View pending vendor bills | Bills Open in Usystems | Look at status or filters to see invoices awaiting approval |
| Pay a vendor invoice | Payments Open in Usystems → click invoice | Confirm amount and method, click Save |
| See all outstanding purchases | Reports Open in Usystems | Search for "Purchasing" or "Vendor" report |
Quick Keyboard Tips
- Tab key — jump to the next field (vendor, item, quantity, date, etc.)
- Enter — submit a form or confirm (same as clicking Save)
- Escape — cancel and go back (close a form without saving)
- Ctrl + S (Windows) or Cmd + S (Mac) — save (if Save button is visible)
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Likely Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| "Vendor not found" | Vendor doesn't exist in the system | Go to Contacts → Vendors Open in Usystems, click New Vendor, and create them |
| PO won't save | Missing required field (often vendor or items) | Review the form; look for red asterisk (*); fill in missing fields |
| Cost is wrong | Item cost misconfigured or you entered incorrect cost | Check the cost with your manager; edit the line before saving |
| Goods receipt won't process | Quantities don't match, or receipt was already recorded | Verify quantities match the PO; check if receipt already recorded in the system |
| Can't find vendor in dropdown | Vendor name is misspelled or doesn't exist | Search using the search box; if not found, create them in Contacts → Vendors Open in Usystems |
| "Permission denied" or "You don't have access" | Your account lacks purchasing permission | Ask your manager or admin to grant you Purchase Order Create permission |
| Vendor invoice doesn't match PO | Bill amount differs from order, or items don't match | Review both documents; flag discrepancies and ask manager before approving payment |
| Delivery is late | Goods not received by expected date | Check the PO delivery date; contact vendor; ask manager if order should be cancelled or expedited |
Permissions You Need
- Create/view Purchase Orders — to place orders
- Record goods receipts — to confirm deliveries
- View/approve Bills — to review vendor invoices
- Process payments — to pay vendors
- View vendors — to select and see balances
If you see "You don't have permission" when trying a task, note the message and tell your manager.
When to Ask for Help
- Vendor not set up — create them, or ask if this is a new vendor
- Cost is unclear — ask your manager before entering
- PO won't save — check error message, fill missing fields, or ask your manager
- Bill doesn't match PO — flag it and ask manager; don't approve payment without verification
- Delivery is overdue — follow up with vendor and notify your manager
- System is slow — ask your manager if the server is OK
Key Process Checks
Before you click Save on a new PO:
- Vendor is correct and spelled consistently
- Items are correct (right product codes, right quantities)
- Delivery date is realistic and communicated to vendor
- Cost per unit matches what your manager approved
Before you record a goods receipt:
- Items match the PO (count quantities, check product codes)
- Nothing is damaged or missing
- Delivery date is reasonable (not too early or late for PO)
Before you approve payment to a vendor:
- Bill amount matches the PO
- Goods have been received (receipt recorded in system)
- Vendor is legitimate and payment method is approved
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