---
title: Set up the expense approval workflow
description: "The standard expense flow: employee submits, manager approves, controller checks compliance, accountant posts. Illizeo lets you model the flow in 5 minutes, with automatic reminders and delegation. - **Reading time**4 min - **Level**Intermediate - **Last updated**May 2026 - **Module**Expense Reports…"
url: "https://illizeo.com/en/centre-aide/set-up-the-expense-approval-workflow/"
updated: "2026-09-21"
category: Expense Reports
---

# Set up the expense approval workflow

The standard expense flow: employee submits, manager approves, controller checks compliance, accountant posts. Illizeo lets you model the flow in 5 minutes, with automatic reminders and delegation.

- **Reading time**4 min
- **Level**Intermediate
- **Last updated**May 2026
- **Module**Expense Reports

## Step-by-step

1. ### Pick the number of steps

   1 step (manager only), 2 steps (manager + accounting), 3 steps (manager + controller + accounting). Conditional logic possible per amount.
2. ### Assign approvers

   Direct manager by default. You can name a fixed approver per department or project.
3. ### Set conditional thresholds

   E.g. report > €500 routes to executive, < €50 auto-approved if policy is met.
4. ### Activate reminders

   Email at D+2, D+5, escalate to N+1 at D+7. Cuts average lead time from 8 to 3 days.
5. ### Test

   The simulator plays a sample case and lists every notification sent.

## Decisions available to approvers

| Decision | Effect |
| --- | --- |
| Approve | Move to next step |
| Approve with adjustment | Modify reimbursable amount |
| Request more info | Send back to employee with comment |
| Reject | End workflow, reason mandatory |
| Reassign | Delegate to another approver |

## FAQ

   Manager on leave?

Auto-delegation routes to the backup approver. Configurable per approver.

   Can I bulk-approve?

Yes, the filterable list lets you approve 20 reports in one click after review.

   What SLA should we target?

72h end-to-end is the norm. Above that, employee satisfaction drops.

   How do I audit?

Each report's history lists author, date, action and comment per step.

### Export to accounting

Sage, Cegid, Quadra: native accounting exports.

[See all Modules](/en/centre-aide/?cat=modules)

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