{"id":14552,"date":"2026-07-02T05:53:32","date_gmt":"2026-07-02T09:53:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/?p=14552"},"modified":"2026-07-02T07:47:17","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T11:47:17","slug":"what-is-expense-management","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/what-is-expense-management\/","title":{"rendered":"What is expense management?"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header has-dark-background-color entry-header--standard entry-header--has-illustration entry-header--has-illustration--standard\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__row row align-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-lg-7 col-xlg-6 entry-header__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"component component-single-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__misc text--subtitle text--uppercase text--small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/category\/money-matters\/\" class=\"entry-header__link\">Money Matters<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-title-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"entry-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat is expense management?\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-header__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tEmployee expenses can be difficult to manage as your team grows. Learn how expense management helps simplify claims, approvals, reimbursements, and reporting.\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"single-post-details container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"posted-on \">Published <time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-07-02T05:53:32-04:00\">July 2, 2026<\/time><\/span><span class=\"reading-time\"> min read<\/span>\n\t\t<button\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"social-share-button button button--icon button--secondary js-social-share-button\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-title=\"What is expense management?\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/what-is-expense-management\/\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-text=\"Please read this interesting article\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__share-label\">Share<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-label\" hidden>Copy Link<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\" hidden>Copied<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/header>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author has-dark-background-color alignfull\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-authors\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-author-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"entry-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/author\/lauraslingo\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2026\/03\/laura-slingo-headshot-350x350.jpg\" class=\"entry-author__image\" alt=\"Laura Slingo\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2026\/03\/laura-slingo-headshot-350x350.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2026\/03\/laura-slingo-headshot.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 40px) 100vw, 40px\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">Laura Slingo<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>As your team grows, employee expenses can quickly become harder to manage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Receipts get lost, claims arrive late, managers approve expenses inconsistently, and finance teams are left chasing missing information at month-end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A clear expense management process helps employees get reimbursed faster, gives managers better control over approvals, and helps your finance team keep accurate records for reporting, tax, and audit purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this article, you\u2019ll learn what expense management is, how employee expense claims work, examples of reimbursable expenses, and how software can help Canadian businesses simplify approvals, reimbursements, and reporting.<\/p>\n\n\n<section id=\"key-takeaways\" class=\"wp-block-sage-key-takeaways\"><div class=\"sage-key-takeaways__inner\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-h-3-font-size\">Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Expense management is the process businesses use to submit, approve, reimburse, record, and review employee expenses.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A strong expense process helps employees get reimbursed faster while giving managers, HR, finance, and accounting teams better visibility and control.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Common employee expenses include travel, meals, mileage, office supplies, software, training, and other approved work-related costs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Expense management software can reduce manual admin by supporting mobile receipt capture, automated approvals, policy checks, and reporting.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>While expense management overlaps with accounting and spend management, it is usually focused on employee claims, approvals, and reimbursements.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-h-3-font-size\" id=\"h-here-s-what-we-ll-cover\"><strong>Here&#8217;s what we&#8217;ll cover:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><ul><li><a href=\"#h-what-is-expense-management\" data-level=\"2\">What is expense management?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-is-expense-management-an-hr-or-accounting-process\" data-level=\"2\">Is expense management an HR or accounting process?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-examples-of-employee-expenses\" data-level=\"2\">Examples of employee expenses<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-what-are-the-main-types-of-expense-management\" data-level=\"2\">What are the main types of expense management?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-what-are-the-key-steps-in-the-expense-management-process\" data-level=\"2\">What are the key steps in the expense management process?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-how-does-expense-management-automation-work\" data-level=\"2\">How does expense management automation work?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-benefits-of-expense-management\" data-level=\"2\">Benefits of expense management<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-why-is-expense-management-important\" data-level=\"2\">Why is expense management important?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-what-is-the-difference-between-expense-management-and-spend-management\" data-level=\"2\">What is the difference between expense management and spend management?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-challenges-of-effective-expense-management\" data-level=\"2\">Challenges of effective expense management<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-final-thoughts\" data-level=\"2\">Final thoughts<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-frequently-asked-questions-about-expense-management\" data-level=\"2\">Frequently asked questions about expense management<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-expense-management\">What is expense management?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Expense management is the process your business uses to submit, approve, reimburse, record, and review employee expenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These are typically out-of-pocket costs employees incur while doing their jobs, such as travel, meals, mileage, software, supplies, or other work-related purchases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Expense management helps you control employee spend, enforce your expense policy, reduce manual admin, and give employees a clearer way to submit claims and track reimbursements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It also connects closely with accounting because approved claims need to be recorded accurately, categorised correctly, and supported with the right documentation for tax, audit, and reporting purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Employee <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/glossary\/what-is-expenses\/\">expenses<\/a> can add up quickly, especially as more team members travel, work remotely, attend events, buy tools, or pay for work-related items themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s why you need a consistent process for submitting claims, capturing receipts, approving expenses, and issuing reimbursements correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your expense process should also follow company policy. This includes what employees can claim, what proof is required, who needs to approve each type of expense, and when employees can expect to be reimbursed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Canada, keeping complete expense records is important for accurate reporting and tax documentation. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/revenue-agency.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)<\/a> generally expects business expenses to be reasonable, supported, and connected to earning business income.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For employee expense claims, that means your policy should make it clear what can be claimed, what documentation is required, who needs to approve it, and how the expense should be recorded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-is-expense-management-an-hr-or-accounting-process\">Is expense management an HR or accounting process?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Expense management sits between HR, finance, and accounting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From an employee perspective, it is part of the workplace experience. Employees need a clear way to understand what they can claim, submit receipts, track approvals, and get reimbursed on time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From a manager and HR perspective, expense management supports consistent policies, fair approvals, and better employee self-service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From a finance and accounting perspective, approved expenses need to be categorised correctly, recorded accurately, and supported with documentation for reporting, tax, and audit purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That overlap is why many businesses use expense management software that connects employee self-service with financial reporting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-examples-of-employee-expenses\">Examples of employee expenses<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Common employee expenses include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Travel: airfare, hotel accommodation, taxis, train fares, parking, or mileage for business trips.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Meals and entertainment: client lunches, team meals, or meals while travelling for work, where allowed by company policy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Office supplies and equipment: stationery, small tools, home office supplies, or work-related equipment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Software and subscriptions: approved SaaS tools, communication platforms, or cloud services an employee buys for work.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mobile and internet costs: work-related phone or internet expenses, where your policy allows reimbursement.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Training and professional development: courses, events, certifications, or memberships approved by the business.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Not all employee expenses are treated the same way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You may need different approval rules, spending limits, reimbursement timelines, or documentation requirements depending on the type of claim, the employee\u2019s role, the department, or the value of the expense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, a small office supply purchase may only need a receipt and manager approval, while a business trip may need pre-approval, travel documentation, itemised receipts, and a business reason for the claim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some business expenses, such as rent, utilities, vendor invoices, or professional services, may be managed through your accounting or accounts payable process rather than as employee expense claims. However, they still need to be recorded accurately and supported with the right documentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-are-the-main-types-of-expense-management\">What are the main types of expense management?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The main types of expense management are manual, semi-automated, or fully automated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The way you manage employee expenses will depend on your team size, your budget, your internal processes, and how many claims you handle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-manual-expense-management\">Manual expense management<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The simplest approach for smaller businesses is to use paper forms, spreadsheets, and email.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Employees collect receipts, fill in expense forms, and send them to their manager or finance team for review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This can work when claim volumes are low, but it is prone to human error, delays, lost receipts, and inconsistent approvals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Manual tracking is also time-consuming and harder to scale as your business grows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-semi-automated-expense-management\">Semi-automated expense management<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>With semi-automated expense management, you use basic digital tools to reduce paperwork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, employees may submit receipts by email, complete shared spreadsheet templates, or upload documents to a shared drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This can make expense claims easier to manage than a fully manual process, but it still relies on people to check details, route approvals, follow up on missing information, and update accounting records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It works best for small teams with a manageable number of expense claims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-fully-automated-expense-management\">Fully automated expense management<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Fully automated expense management uses purpose-built software to manage the process from claim submission to approval, reimbursement, and reporting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Employees can submit expenses, upload receipts, and track claim status from one system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Managers can review and approve claims more consistently, while finance teams can reduce manual data entry and sync approved expenses with accounting or payroll processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As your business grows and more employees submit claims, automated expense management can offer better speed, control, visibility, and employee experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-are-the-key-steps-in-the-expense-management-process\">What are the key steps in the expense management process?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The key steps in the expense management process are expense submission, approval, reimbursement or payment, recording, and audit review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A well-defined process helps you avoid end-of-month surprises, speed up approvals, and create a consistent audit trail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As claim volumes increase, having that structure in place becomes even more important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-expense-submission\">1. Expense submission<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Employees submit an expense claim after making an approved work-related purchase or incurring an eligible cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This could happen after a business trip, client meeting, event, training course, or day-to-day work purchase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The claim should include the required details, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Date of the expense<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Expense category<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Business purpose<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Amount<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Receipt or supporting document<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Client, project, or department, where relevant<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The clearer your submission requirements are, the easier it is for managers and finance teams to review claims quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-approval-workflow\">2. Approval workflow<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Managers, department heads, or finance teams review each claim and decide whether to approve, reject, or query it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Approvals should follow your company\u2019s expense policy, which defines who can approve what based on the type, amount, department, or employee role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, a team lunch may only need line manager approval, while higher-value travel costs may need department head or finance approval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A clear approval workflow helps prevent inconsistent decisions and reduces the risk of out-of-policy claims being reimbursed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-reimbursement\">3. Reimbursement<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Once an expense claim is approved, the finance or payroll team processes the reimbursement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Depending on your setup, employees may be reimbursed through payroll, direct deposit, or another approved payment method.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A good process should make reimbursement timelines clear, so employees know when to expect payment and finance teams can manage cash flow effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-recording-and-categorisation\">4. Recording and categorisation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Approved expenses need to be recorded in your financial system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This helps ensure your reports are accurate, expenses are categorised correctly, and records are available for internal reviews, audits, and tax documentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The accounting team may need to assign expenses to the right general ledger account, department, client, project, or cost centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is where expense management connects directly with accounting software and financial reporting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-review-and-audit\">5. Review and audit<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Regular reviews help you check whether employees are following your expense policy and whether approval workflows are working properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This can help you spot duplicate claims, missing receipts, repeated exceptions, or spending patterns that need attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A consistent audit trail also makes it easier to answer questions during internal audits, financial reviews, or tax-related checks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-does-expense-management-automation-work\">How does expense management automation work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Expense management automation uses software to help employees submit claims, upload receipts, route approvals, and track reimbursement status from one system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For managers and finance teams, it reduces manual admin by applying policy rules, keeping expense records in one place, and syncing approved claims with your accounting or payroll processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By replacing manual tasks with configured workflows, automation helps you manage employee expenses with greater accuracy, speed, and control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Key features can include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-mobile-receipt-capture-for-employees\">Mobile receipt capture for employees<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Employees can use a mobile app to take photos of receipts and upload them instantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This reduces the risk of lost receipts and makes it easier for employees to submit claims while the details are still fresh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It also helps managers and finance teams access the supporting documentation they need without chasing employees by email.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-automated-approval-workflows\">Automated approval workflows<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Preset rules can route claims to the right approver based on the expense type, amount, department, employee, or project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This helps reduce bottlenecks, keeps approvals consistent, and makes it clearer who is responsible for reviewing each claim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If a claim falls outside your policy, the system can flag it for review before it is reimbursed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-real-time-visibility\">Real-time visibility<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Cloud-based expense tools can show claims as they are submitted, approved, queried, or reimbursed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This gives managers better visibility into team spend and helps finance teams avoid waiting until month-end to understand what has been claimed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Real-time visibility can also help you spot unusual patterns, manage budgets, and respond to issues earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-integration-with-accounting-and-payroll-processes\">Integration with accounting and payroll processes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Approved expenses can flow into your accounting or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/payroll-software\/\">payroll systems<\/a>, reducing manual data entry and helping keep records accurate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This can help your team check for duplicates, categorise expenses correctly, and update financial reports more efficiently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It also supports a cleaner handoff between HR, managers, payroll, finance, and accounting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-example-in-action\">Example in action<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Imagine an employee submits a claim for a client lunch that exceeds the allowed limit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An automated system can flag the claim as out-of-policy and route it to the appropriate manager for review, along with the reason it needs attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This helps avoid processing delays, reduces the risk of reimbursement disputes, and gives the employee a clearer explanation of what happens next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Without automation, the issue might not be caught until much later\u2014or it may be missed entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-benefits-of-expense-management\">Benefits of expense management<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Good expense management does more than help your business track costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It can improve the employee experience, reduce admin, support better financial control, and create a clearer process for everyone involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-employee-experience-benefits\">Employee experience benefits<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Employees feel more supported when expenses are easy to submit, approvals are clear, and reimbursements happen on time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A clear process helps employees understand what they can claim, what evidence they need to provide, and when they can expect to be paid back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This reduces frustration and limits the need for employees to chase managers or finance teams for updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mobile receipt capture and self-service tools can also make the process more convenient, especially for employees who travel, work remotely, or regularly make work-related purchases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-manager-and-hr-admin-benefits\">Manager and HR admin benefits<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Expense management gives managers a more consistent way to review and approve claims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead of relying on email chains, spreadsheets, or informal decisions, managers can follow defined workflows and policy rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This supports fairer approvals across teams and reduces the risk of employees receiving different treatment for similar claims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For HR teams, a clearer process can reduce policy questions, improve employee self-service, and support a more consistent workplace experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-finance-and-accounting-benefits\">Finance and accounting benefits<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For finance and accounting teams, effective expense management reduces manual data entry, missing receipts, and month-end clean-up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When expenses are submitted promptly and recorded correctly, your financial reports are more likely to reflect the true state of your operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This can improve cash flow visibility, make reconciliation easier, and support better forecasting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It also helps finance teams spend less time chasing information and more time reviewing trends, managing budgets, and supporting decision-making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-control-and-compliance-benefits\">Control and compliance benefits<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Good expense management helps you enforce spending limits, apply approval rules, and keep documentation in one place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This can reduce the risk of duplicate claims, unauthorised expenses, errors, and fraud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It also helps create a more reliable audit trail, which is useful for internal reviews, financial reporting, and tax documentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over time, clear expense processes can help build a culture of accountability and trust across the business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-is-expense-management-important\">Why is expense management important?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Expense management is important because it helps employees get reimbursed accurately and on time, while giving your business better control over expenses, approvals, records, and reporting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When more employees start submitting claims across teams, locations, projects, and departments, it becomes harder to know what has been spent, what is awaiting approval, and what still needs to be reimbursed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A defined expense management approach gives your business the visibility and control it needs before small issues turn into bigger cash flow, compliance, or employee experience problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-accurate-tracking-gives-you-clearer-financial-control\">Accurate tracking gives you clearer financial control<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When you track and document expenses accurately, your financial statements are more likely to reflect the true state of your operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This helps you avoid surprises during audits, tax preparation, budget reviews, or funding conversations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It also helps you stay aligned with your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/a-guide-to-budgeting-and-goal-setting-for-small-businesses\/\">financial goals<\/a>. You can compare employee spend against approved budgets, flag issues early, and take corrective action before costs drift off course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-better-visibility-supports-better-decision-making\">Better visibility supports better decision-making<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Strong expense management gives you reliable data to plan with confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can see where employees are spending money, which teams or projects are driving costs, and where policies may need to be updated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With a clearer picture of reimbursable expenses, you can make better decisions about budgets, travel policies, approval thresholds, and employee support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-clearer-processes-reduce-employee-friction\">Clearer processes reduce employee friction<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Expense claims can become a source of frustration when employees do not know what they can claim, how to submit receipts, or when they will be reimbursed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A clear expense management process reduces confusion and helps employees feel confident that claims will be handled fairly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That matters because expense management is not only a finance process. It is also part of the employee experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-the-difference-between-expense-management-and-spend-management\">What is the difference between expense management and spend management?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Expense management <\/strong>usually focuses on employee expenses, such as travel, meals, mileage, receipts, approvals, and reimbursements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Spend management<\/strong> is broader. It can include procurement, supplier contracts, purchase orders, vendor invoices, subscriptions, and wider company spending controls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The two processes are connected, but they are not the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your main challenge is helping employees submit claims, managers approve them, and finance teams reimburse them accurately, you are dealing with expense management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your main challenge is controlling all purchasing and supplier spend across the business, that is closer to spend management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Expense management can form part of a wider spend management strategy, but for many growing businesses, the immediate need is to remove friction from employee claims and reimbursement workflows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-challenges-of-effective-expense-management\">Challenges of effective expense management<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Managing employee expenses sounds straightforward, but it can get complicated quickly when claims are handled manually or inconsistently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some common challenges to watch for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-inconsistent-expense-policies\">Inconsistent expense policies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Different teams may have different ways of submitting, approving, or documenting expenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One manager may approve a claim that another manager would reject. One team may require itemised receipts, while another may accept card statements or email confirmations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This inconsistency can create confusion for employees and increase the risk of errors, exceptions, or disputes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To address this, create a clear expense policy that explains:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What employees can and cannot claim.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Spending limits by category.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Receipt and documentation requirements.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Approval routes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Submission deadlines.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reimbursement timelines.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What happens when a claim is outside policy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Your policy should be detailed enough to guide employees, but practical enough for teams to follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-manual-processing\">Manual processing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Using paper receipts, spreadsheets, and email to manage expenses slows everything down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It increases the risk of missing information, duplicate entries, approval delays, and data entry mistakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Manual workflows also do not scale well as more employees start submitting claims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, an employee may send receipts to a manager by email during a busy quarter-end period. If the email is missed, the claim may not be approved or reimbursed on time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The employee may then resubmit the claim, creating more admin and increasing the risk of duplicate reimbursement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An automated process can help prevent both issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-missing-visibility\">Missing visibility<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Without a centralised, regularly updated system, it can be hard to see how much has been claimed, who has approved each expense, and what still needs to be reimbursed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That makes it harder for managers to control budgets in real time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It also leaves finance teams reacting to issues after the fact rather than managing expenses proactively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A centralised expense management system gives you a clearer view of claims, approvals, policy exceptions, and reimbursement status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-compliance-and-documentation-risk\">Compliance and documentation risk<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Expense records must be complete, accurate, and supported by the right documentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If receipts are missing, claims are entered late, or expenses are categorised incorrectly, your records may be harder to review during audits, financial reporting, or tax preparation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Regular policy reviews, employee training, and automated receipt capture can all help reduce this risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-final-thoughts\">Final thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Expense management gives you a practical way to manage employee claims without slowing everyone down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you combine clear policies, consistent approvals, and the right software, you reduce manual admin work, improve visibility, and make reimbursements easier for employees, managers, and finance teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your team is outgrowing spreadsheets, email approvals, and manual receipt tracking, expense management software can help simplify the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And as your business grows, connecting expense management with wider <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/accounting-software\/spend-management\/\">spend management software<\/a> can give you a more complete view of employee spend, supplier costs, and overall business spending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Explore employee <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/human-resources\/expense-management-software\/\">expense management software<\/a> from Sage to see how your business can streamline staff expense claims, reduce manual admin, and give employees and managers a simpler way to submit, approve, and track expenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-frequently-asked-questions-about-expense-management\">Frequently asked questions about expense management<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1782985750732\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What should an expense policy include?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">An expense policy should include explanations of reimbursable categories, spending limits, receipt requirements, approval steps, submission deadlines, and what happens when a claim falls outside policy.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1782985761042\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">How often should a business review its expense policy?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">A business should review its expense policy at least once a year, especially as teams grow, spending patterns change, or new tools and workflows are introduced. Reviewing it annually or more often helps keep the policy clear, practical, and aligned with current business needs.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1782985768159\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What are common signs that your expense process needs improvement?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Common signs of a poorly managed expense process include delayed reimbursements, frequent policy exceptions, missing receipts, duplicate claims, limited visibility into spending, and too much reliance on spreadsheets or manual approvals. These issues often suggest that your process is creating unnecessary friction or risk.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1782985778613\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Is expense management software only for finance teams?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">No. Expense management software supports finance teams, but it also helps employees, managers, HR teams, and payroll teams.<br><br>Employees can submit claims and upload receipts more easily. Managers can approve expenses more consistently. Finance and accounting teams can keep records accurate and reduce manual admin.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1782985795038\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">How can expense management software improve the employee experience?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Expense management software can improve the employee experience by making it easier to submit claims, upload receipts, check approval status, and receive reimbursements on time.<br><br>It also gives employees clearer guidance on what they can claim and reduces the need to chase managers or finance teams for updates.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Subscribe to the Sage Advice Newsletter<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div 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button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpayroll\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<div class=\"alignfull wp-block-sage-related-posts\">\n\t<section class=\"related-posts card-grid has-dark-background-color\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"related-posts__heading related-posts__heading--featured h1\">Explore more wisdom<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row related-posts__featured\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-0 post-14612 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-growth-customers category-money-matters tag-accounting-101 tag-erp tag-inventory-management tag-supply-chain-management business_type-small-business business_type-medium-business industry-distribution card-post--is-clickable\"\n>\n\t<div class=\"card-post__media-wrapper\">\n\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1214\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/08\/Mar2025_GB-Trucking-Logistics_0826-1214x810.jpeg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/08\/Mar2025_GB-Trucking-Logistics_0826-684x384.jpeg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/08\/Mar2025_GB-Trucking-Logistics_0826-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/08\/Mar2025_GB-Trucking-Logistics_0826-1214x810.jpeg 1214w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"card-post__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__label\">Recommended<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-07-02T09:22:22-04:00\">July 2, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">13 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__title-link\"\n\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/what-is-order-fulfillment\/\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWhat is the order fulfillment process?\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"card-post__description\">\n\t\t\t\tOrder fulfillment covers every step from receiving inventory to delivering orders and handling returns. Learn how the process works and how to improve speed, accuracy, and visibility.\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row related-posts__non-featured\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"related-posts__heading related-posts__heading--more h4\">More on this Topic<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-1 post-14596 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-growth-customers category-money-matters tag-accounting-101 tag-erp tag-inventory-management tag-manufacturing tag-supply-chain-management business_type-small-business business_type-medium-business industry-distribution\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/what-is-order-processing\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/08\/Mar2025_GB-Trucking-Logistics_0713-684x384.jpeg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/08\/Mar2025_GB-Trucking-Logistics_0713-684x384.jpeg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/08\/Mar2025_GB-Trucking-Logistics_0713-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/08\/Mar2025_GB-Trucking-Logistics_0713-1214x810.jpeg 1214w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date 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business_type-small-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/accounts-payable-debit-or-credit\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/10\/BrandShoot-LND_June2024_Financial-Services_0169-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/10\/BrandShoot-LND_June2024_Financial-Services_0169-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/10\/BrandShoot-LND_June2024_Financial-Services_0169-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/10\/BrandShoot-LND_June2024_Financial-Services_0169-1214x810.jpg 1214w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-07-02T07:15:38-04:00\">July 2, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">8 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tIs accounts payable a debit or credit?\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-3 post-14549 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters tag-accounting-101 tag-bookkeeping tag-business-continuity tag-cash-flow tag-small-business business_type-small-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/accounts-payable-journal-entry\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/10\/BrandShoot-LND_June2024_Financial-Services_0515-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/10\/BrandShoot-LND_June2024_Financial-Services_0515-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/10\/BrandShoot-LND_June2024_Financial-Services_0515-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/10\/BrandShoot-LND_June2024_Financial-Services_0515-1214x810.jpg 1214w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-07-02T05:42:44-04:00\">July 2, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">12 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tAccounts payable journal entry explained: Definition, types and examples\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-4 post-14534 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-business-process category-compliance category-money-matters tag-accounting-101 tag-bookkeeping tag-cash-flow tag-small-business business_type-small-business business_type-medium-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/what-is-a-purchase-order\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/10\/fund-accounting-for-nonprofits-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/10\/fund-accounting-for-nonprofits-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/10\/fund-accounting-for-nonprofits-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/10\/fund-accounting-for-nonprofits.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-07-01T09:01:23-04:00\">July 1, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">10 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tWhat is a purchase order (PO) and how is it used?\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Employee expenses can be difficult to manage as your team grows. Learn how expense management helps simplify claims, approvals, reimbursements, and reporting.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1910,"featured_media":11843,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sage_video":false,"post_featured_image_hide":false,"sage_hide_published_date":false,"sage_hide_read_time":false,"sage_hide_share_buttons":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,7,20],"tags":[162,272,199],"business_type":[3,99],"lilypad":[],"context":[],"industry":[],"persona":[],"imagine_tag":[234,50],"coauthors":[528],"class_list":["post-14552","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-compliance","category-money-matters","category-people-leadership","tag-accounting-101","tag-hr","tag-payroll","business_type-small-business","business_type-medium-business"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-ca","author_name":"Laura Slingo","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/10\/BrandShoot-LND_June2024_Financial-Services_0655.jpg","imagine_tags":{"234":"HR","50":"HR and Payroll"}},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Sage Advice Canada English","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14552","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/1910"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14552"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14552\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14611,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14552\/revisions\/14611"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/11843"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14552"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14552"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14552"},{"taxonomy":"business_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/business_type?post=14552"},{"taxonomy":"lilypad","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/lilypad?post=14552"},{"taxonomy":"context","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/context?post=14552"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=14552"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=14552"},{"taxonomy":"imagine_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/imagine_tag?post=14552"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=14552"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}