Expense tracking setup checklist
Looking for help with this feature in Polaris PSA or Polaris PPM? Check out Expense tracking setup checklist in the Polaris help.
The tables below outline all steps for setting up Replicon to track expenses. Default settings are in place for most of these options, therefore you may be able to skip steps if the defaults work for your organization.
Features can be set up in any order, except:
- Tax codes must be created before they can be used in expense codes (section 1)
- Options in section 2 must be set up before they can be assigned to users (section 3)
1. Define system-level settings
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✓ |
Feature to set up |
What the feature does |
Configure at |
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Create tax codes |
Tax codes define the different types of tax that can be associated with the expense codes you create |
Administration > Expenses > Tax Codes |
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Create expense codes |
Expense codes specify the types of costs that can be incurred for business activities and purchases in your organization. Meals, Parking, and Airfare are examples of possible expense codes. To use an expense code with a project, you must add it to the project. |
Administration > Expenses > Expense Codes |
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Select expense sheet columns |
The expense columns you select will be available on expense sheets |
Administration > Expenses > Expense Columns |
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Define payment methods |
Users can choose a payment method on expense sheets from the list you create |
Administration > Expenses > Payment Methods |
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Create expense custom fields |
Users can enter data in custom fields that appear on expense sheets |
Administration > Expenses > Expense Settings |
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Set due dates |
Due dates specify when expense sheet approvals are due |
Administration > Expenses > Expense Settings |
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Set up an expense notice |
You can choose to add a message that appears on all expense sheets |
Administration > Expenses > Expense Settings |
2. Set up system-level options that you'll assign to users
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Feature to set up |
What the feature does |
Configure at |
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Create expense templates for employees |
Expense templates define certain user expense settings |
Administration > Expenses > Expense Templates |
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Add expense approval paths |
Approval paths specify who approves expense sheets and in what order |
Administration > Expenses > Expense Approval Paths |
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Set up expense permissions for managers |
Permissions determine what approval and expense management actions supervisors and managers can take |
Administration > Employees and Organization > Permission Sets |
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Set up expense notifications |
Notifications can be sent to approvers when expense sheets are ready for approval, and to users when their expense sheets have been approved, rejected, or modified |
Administration > Notifications System > Notifications or Administration > Notifications System > Email Notifications |
3. Assign expense functionality to users
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✓ |
Feature to set up |
What the feature does |
Configure at |
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Ensure employees have a license for an expense product |
The license allows the user to access expense functionality. Users are assigned a license for all products by default. |
Administration > Employees and Organization > Users > Licenses |
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Assign expense templates to employees |
Users must be assigned an expense template before they can use expense sheets |
Administration > Employees and Organization > Users > Expenses |
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Assign expense approval paths to employees |
The Supervisor default path is assigned automatically, though you can change this |
Administration > Employees and Organization > Users > Expenses |
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Assign notifications to employees and managers |
All notifications in the system are assigned to new users by default, but emails will only be sent for ones that are enabled at the system level |
Administration > Employees and Organization > Users > Notifications |
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Assign permission sets and licenses to managers |
Ensure all supervisors and managers who work with or approve expense sheets are assigned the permissions and licenses they need |
Administration > Employees and Organization > Users > Roles & Permissions and Administration > Employees and Organization > Users > Licenses |
FAQs
How do we allow users to enter expenses against tasks?
Users can select which task a given expense applies to using the Task column on their expense sheet. For this column to display, it must be enabled at the system level and in the expense sheet.
Users can only enter expenses against tasks to which they are assigned, and against expense codes that are allowed for the task's project.
Can we force users to use a specific currency for expense reimbursements?
No, users can always use the Reimbursement Currency field on their expense sheet to choose which currency they want to be reimbursed in.
However, you can include a notice on expense sheets, specifying which reimbursement currency users should select. Approvers can also reject or edit expense sheets that don't use the desired reimbursement currency.
Related links
How expenses work
Expense tracking setup checklist
Setting up expenses (video)
Setting up expense templates
Choosing which columns are available on expense sheets
