Common Costpoint Timesheet Statuses
The exact labels and workflow behavior depend on organizational configuration, but timesheets generally move through recognizable stages. Each stage indicates where the transaction sits in the organization's review process.
- Open or in progress: The employee can continue entering or editing time within the permitted period.
- Submitted: The employee has completed the timesheet and sent it into the configured approval workflow.
- In review: A manager or authorized reviewer is evaluating the recorded hours and charge information.
- Returned: The timesheet has been sent back for correction or additional information.
- Approved: The required approval has been completed and the transaction can proceed to applicable downstream processes.
How Timesheet Status Changes
Status normally changes as users complete defined workflow actions. An employee enters hours against authorized projects, tasks, or labor categories and saves the timesheet. Once the required information is complete, the employee submits it for review.
The designated approver then reviews the recorded hours, project charges, comments, and other required information. The approver may accept the timesheet or return it for correction. After approval, the labor information can become available to project costing and other configured financial processes.
A Timesheet Approval Checklist can help reviewers consistently verify dates, hours, project assignments, charge codes, supporting comments, and other required information before approving a timesheet.
Status, Accounting, and Financial Reporting
Timesheet status is closely connected with the reliability of labor information used by finance teams. Approved time can contribute to project cost records, indirect cost calculations, contract reporting, and period-end financial analysis.
Downstream financial processing also depends on accurate classification. Invoice workflows, for example, may involve capture, extraction, validation, matching, GL coding, approval, and posting. These transactions should align with the organization's chart of accounts so financial activity is classified consistently and reported accurately.
Timesheet Software Finance provides broader context on how timekeeping technology connects employee time records with finance and business workflows. For organizations using Costpoint as part of a wider technology environment, understanding the relationship between the ERP and connected applications is also important. deltek Costpoint workflows may need to align with ERP integration, migration, or broader finance-process architecture.
Timesheet Status and Procurement Visibility
Although timesheet status primarily concerns labor transactions, organizations often manage timekeeping alongside broader operational controls. Procurement workflows, for example, depend on clear visibility into requisitions, approvals, purchasing activity, and spending commitments.
A purchase order can carry its own lifecycle status from creation and approval through receipt and closure. Maintaining clear status information across these workflows helps employees and finance teams understand where transactions stand and which actions remain outstanding.
For broader supplier workflows, vendor management can provide visibility into onboarding, purchase orders, invoices, and supplier communications. A Vendor Portal can also allow vendors to view invoice and PO status, review transaction history, and communicate with accounting through configured workflows.
Related Financial Status Workflows
Status tracking is a broader financial control principle that extends beyond employee timesheets. For example, Automated Rajection And Acceptance Of Invoices can communicate invoice rejection or correction status to vendors through an integrated portal and invoice-processing workflow.
Payment processes also use status information to maintain financial visibility. Check Reonciliation workflows can track check presentation status, connect checks with invoices, and apply reconciliation rules that support accurate payment records and cash-outflow management.
Similarly, cash application processes depend on correctly identifying the status of customer payments, remittances, deductions, and unapplied cash before receipts are posted to the appropriate accounts.
Timesheet Status and Industry-Specific Workflows
Different organizations can configure timesheet statuses around their operational and compliance requirements. Project-based businesses may emphasize project authorization and labor charging, while professional services organizations may focus on billable hours, client matters, and review procedures.
Legal Timesheet Software provides a related example of timekeeping workflows designed around legal practices, where recorded time can support billing, matter management, financial reporting, and other business processes.
Best Practices for Managing Timesheet Status
Clear status management starts with documented workflow rules and well-defined responsibilities. Employees should know when a timesheet is considered complete, managers should understand their review obligations, and administrators should know which statuses permit editing or require corrective action.
- Review submitted timesheets promptly so labor information moves through the workflow on schedule.
- Use consistent approval rules for employees, projects, departments, and organizational units.
- Document the reason for returned timesheets so employees can make precise corrections.
- Monitor outstanding submissions and approvals before financial reporting deadlines.
- Keep project, employee, charge-code, and approval configurations aligned with current business structures.
Summary
Costpoint Timesheet Status provides visibility into the lifecycle of employee time records, from initial entry through submission, review, correction, and approval. Monitoring these statuses helps organizations maintain timely labor information, support project accounting, coordinate approval responsibilities, and strengthen the connection between timekeeping and financial reporting.