Review-ready is not the same as billable-ready.
This illustrative scope example shows a controlled path from review-ready file to human approval, client clarification when needed, and a finance-visible billing readiness state.
Tax manager or partner · accounting and tax · work is marked done before review and billing rules agree
What happens today
Today a preparer says work is done, a partner finds an issue, and finance learns about billable work late — or from a separate message.
Why it matters
The risk is an unreviewed file being treated as complete, unclear client clarification, and billing readiness without evidence.
Where this starts
A defined service workflow has a reviewer, a client clarification path, and a documented billing-readiness rule.
The workflow
- 1A file reaches review-ready only when its defined intake conditions are met.
- 2The reviewer opens the scoped record and its source, and accepts, returns, or requests clarification.
- 3If the client must respond, the request has an owner and a visible dependency rather than an invisible email thread.
- 4After the required review and approval state is present, the record is marked billable-ready under the firm's rule.
- 5Finance sees the controlled queue and the partner sees exceptions — not a claim that any invoice is cash.
Where a person decides
A reviewer makes the professional review decision; finance applies the firm's billing rule.
If it does not go to plan
A missing review, a disputed scope, or an open client clarification prevents billable-ready status, and the item remains assigned.
Where this ends
A visible reviewed and billable-ready state connects delivery and finance, without claiming a tax conclusion or a cash outcome.
What you can see
A milestone and queue map, and an owned demo build only with fictional data. No financial amounts are shown.
Why that is useful
The firm can see which record needs review, client action, or billing action next.
What this does not claim. No tax advice, filing, billing integration, accounting-system replacement, or collection result is promised. Workflows are scoped in the Envisioning Workshop, and named integrations require discovery.
Workflow reviewed 2026-08-13