Client portal

Approvals

PM independently approves TimeEntries within their project scope; the Timesheets header becomes Approved only after every project portion is accepted. ExpenseReports retain their own independent project review. Practice Lead handles escalations and cross-project exceptions. For T&M projects with client-approved time, approved hours auto-create a ClientApproval request against the client portal; on client approval, TimeEntries become invoice-eligible. Approved ExpenseReports pay out through payroll/AP integration.

Change-order handling

When scope, schedule, or budget drifts beyond tolerance, PM drafts a ChangeOrder with AmountDelta, HoursDelta, DateDelta. The CO routes for internal approval (Practice Lead → Services Leader over threshold), then to the client via a ClientApproval. On client approval, Project baseline updates: ContractValue, BudgetHours, BudgetCost, and/or EndDate shift.

Project close

On project completion, PM closes open ProjectTasks, moves Project to Status: Closed, resolves open Issues and Risks, finalizes lessons-learned, and triggers final Invoice + final RevenueRecognition. Open ResourceAssignments move to Rolled Off and the consultants become bench or roll onto their next engagement. Client completes a final ProjectStatusReport acknowledgement.

Separate client decisions from project editing

A client contact can be asked to approve a milestone or change without receiving internal project-edit permissions. The addressed ClientApprovals record identifies the project, decision type and evidence. Resolve the authenticated contact through PrincipalID and confirm that the request still applies before accepting the action.

The client’s project view excludes consultant cost rates, internal utilization and other customers’ records. Apply the same rule when a user opens a direct link or requests an export; hiding fields in the portal is not sufficient. A project manager can prepare the request and monitor its result, but cannot supply the client’s consent on their behalf.

When a request is rejected or the evidence changes, retain the earlier decision and prepare the required follow-up. Do not reinterpret an acknowledgment of a status report as acceptance of a commercial change. At engagement close, keep unresolved client decisions visible in the reviewed close plan alongside any remaining billing obligations.