Cost Object workflow workaround

[tesh94]

Hello, 

We are in the midst of an implementation whereby the client is utilizing Cost Object Approval. The scenario is as such:

expense user -> cost object approver -> processor 

Cost Centre A cost object approver list: 
user A: 1,000 USD
user B: 5,000 USD
user C: 10,000 USD

If user C makes a report claim worth of 500 USD to the Cost Centre A whereby he is an approver as well, the report should route to user C and not user A. Reason for this is because due to confidentiality process in the organization. How can we achieve this? 

Thanks. 

Regards,
Tesh

[KevinD]

Tesh,

It is very important that you know that Concur does not allow people to approve their own expense report. So, in your scenario you say User C creates an expense report and then you said you feel it should be routed to user C. That cannot happen since user C cannot approve their own expense report. Therefore, user A or B must have the report routed to them to approve user C's report. 

Does that make sense? So, you cannot really do a work around in your scenario. 

Kevin

[tesh94]

Hi Kevin, 

Thanks for your reply.

As for user C expense claims, we may maintain two users at highest limit for each cost object. 

Whereby user C and user D will have the same limit. Could you confirm on how we can handle this particular scenario? Because it doesn't seem to make sense to the client to route user B or user C's expense claims to user A as user A may be a subodinate of user B or user C. 

Thank you. 

Regards,
Tesh

[KevinD]

One thing to remember is that all users will have an assigned default approver and no matter what type of workflow you are using, including Cost Object, a user's expense report will go to the manager assigned in their profile before going to any Cost Object approvers. So, User A in your scenario, which could be a subordinate of User C, shouldn't be assigned as a default approver for User C. And as far as approval limit amounts go, just because User A has a limit of up to $500, it doesn't mean all reports that are $500 and below are routed to user A. As long as any user with an approval limit of $500 or more approves the report, it is all good. Every user is required to have an approver, so User C when they submit their claim will go to their assigned default manager which should have a higher approval limit than User C, So all claims submitted by User C will be seen and approved by someone with a high enough limit. Just be sure that your limits are set up correctly which should be determined by where that user sits in your organizational hierarchy.