How can I set up an approval matrix? (Xero)

How can I set up an approval matrix? (Xero)

This is how you define the conditions for the selection of Approvers in a step:
  • In the main menu, select your Organisation and go to Approval Workflows under Workflows And Settings.
  • Select and open the approval workflow.
  • Navigate to the step and open its approval matrix by clicking on the icon.
  • If necessary, add Approvers to this step via the button .
  1. Specify the conditions that will determine who approves what.


  • Field in the
    approval matrix
    Level in the document Workflow, where applicable
    Total Amount Header Purchase Order, Bill, Batch Payment, AP Credit Note, AR Credit Note, Sales Invoice, Airwallex Batch Payment, Manual Journal
    Requester N/A Purchase Order, Bill, Batch Payment, Contact, Airwallex Batch Payment, Manual Journal
    Supplier Header Purchase Order, Bill, Batch Payment, AP Credit Note, Airwallex Batch Payment
    Tracking Category Item Purchase Order, Bill, AP Credit Note, AR Credit Note, Sales Invoice, Manual Journal
    Account Item Purchase Order, Bill, AP Credit Note, AR Credit Note, Sales Invoice, Manual Journal
    Item Item Purchase Order, Bill, AP Credit Note, AR Credit Note, Sales Invoice
    Tax Item Purchase Order, Bill, AP Credit Note, AR Credit Note, Sales Invoice, Manual Journal
    Branding Header Purchase Order
    Bank Account Item Batch Payment, Airwallex Batch Payment
    Customer Header AR Credit Note, Sales Invoice

    A user will be assigned as an Approver when the request fulfils the specified criteria, for example:
  • Dave will be added as an Approver if the total amount is over or equal to 1000 AUD
  • Evan will approve requests with any total amount that have Beverly as the Requester


Requests will be routed to the Approvers based on the values specified for the different fields. During the approval matrix setup, you can use either "match" condition/alternative rules, or negative conditions for each Approver.

For the Total Amount, you can apply the following conditions:
  1. Under (<): no value is included in the rule
    For example: Amelia approves all requests with a total amount under 1000 USD, so all requests with a total amount up to 999.99 USD will be routed to her. Requests with a total amount of or above 1000 USD will be routed to Beverly.


  2. Over or equal (>=): the rule includes a value
    As per the above example, Beverly approves all requests with a total amount of or over 1000 USD.

  3. Between (<= N<): the rule includes a lower limit but no upper limit
    For example: Daniel approves requests with a total amount between 1000 and 5000 USD; Beverly all requests with a total amount of or over 1000 USD. Any request with a total amount of 1000 USD and up to 4999.99 USD, will be routed to both Daniel and Beverly. Requests with a total amount of or over 5000 USD, will only go to Beverly.
There's also a video on this topic.





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