Why Timesheet Locking and Approval Before Invoicing Matters for Consulting Firms
The Problem with Unapproved Time Entries
In most consulting firms, the end of the month brings the same scenario: project managers chasing consultants for missing hours, finance waiting for approvals, and invoices delayed because no one knows if timesheets are final. Without a clear process, too much time gets lost in follow-ups instead of client work.
A Lightweight Way to Lock and Approve
Operating now introduces a simple mechanism for locking timesheets and approving them before invoicing. The process works like this:
- When a timesheet is locked up to a date, consultants can no longer edit those days. From their perspective, the work is complete.
- If the hours fall under an approval flow, they appear in the Approvals tab for the responsible manager or lead to review.
- If approval is not required, the entries are automatically marked as approved and move forward to invoicing.
- Instead of a hard reject button, both the consultant and approver can edit locked hours directly through the Hours UI or the Directory view.
This keeps the system flexible without adding layers of complexity.
Why This Matters for Consulting Operations
For leadership, the real value is in reducing wasted time. Instead of last-minute checks and unanswered questions about who logged hours, the approval flow provides clarity:
- Project managers know time entries are final.
- Finance teams can invoice without delays.
- Consultants spend less time on administrative follow-up.
The lock-and-approve mechanism turns the end-of-month process into a structured routine rather than a scramble.
Balancing Features with Process
Approval workflows can easily become too complex, slowing down the very process they are supposed to help. Operating takes a balanced approach: a lightweight implementation that supports consulting firms without overwhelming them. The right amount of functionality in software combined with clear internal processes is often more effective than a fully customized approval engine.
Conclusion
Consulting firms lose significant time and energy each month chasing incomplete timesheets and approvals. With Operating’s new locking and approval flow, firms can close the loop faster, invoice with confidence, and reduce the administrative overhead of end-of-month routines.
