ActivityTimeline Help Center

Linking Manual Transactions to Users

When adding a manual Expense or Revenue item, ActivityTimeline now allows you to link that transaction directly to a specific team member. This feature bridges the gap between fixed project costs and individual-driven labor data.

How it Works

By default, manual transactions are considered "Non-Labor" (fixed) items. However, the moment you select a name in the "Link a User" field, the system changes the underlying logic of that transaction:

  • Labor Categorization: Any transaction linked to a user is automatically treated as Labor type.

  • Detailed Reporting: In the Detailed Financial Report, these entries will appear under the Labor category rather than "Non-Labor." This ensures that when you filter for "Labor Costs," manual user-linked entries are included in the total effort calculation.

  • Date Attribution: The amount is applied to the specific Date selected. If the transaction is set to Recurrence, the system will generate a labor cost/revenue entry for that user at every interval defined.

  • Summary Dashboards: These totals will be reflected in the "Labor" section of your Spend or Revenue breakdowns on the Summary page.

Linking manual transactions to individuals is ideal for financial items that are person-specific but not tied to a specific Jira worklog or hourly rate.

1. Employee Bonuses and Performance Incentives

If a team member earns a one-time bonus for project success, adding this as an Expense linked to that User ensures the project's "Labor Cost" reflects the true total cost of that individual’s effort, beyond just their logged hours.

2. Monthly Stipends or Allowances

For users receiving recurring fixed payments (e.g., a remote work stipend or a specialized software allowance), you can set up a Recurrent Expense linked to the user. This automates the inclusion of these person-specific costs into the monthly budget.

3. Individual Referral or Sales Commissions

If a team member generates revenue through a specific lead or referral, you can log this as Revenue linked to that User. This allows management to see individual revenue generation that isn't derived from billable hourly work.

4. Contractor Fixed Fees

If a contractor is paid a fixed fee for a milestone rather than an hourly rate, linking the Expense to their user profile allows you to track their financial impact within the "Labor" category, keeping project ledger types consistent.

Expert Tip: Use this feature alongside Monthly Rates to handle complex compensation structures. While the Monthly Rate covers the base salary, user-linked transactions cover the "extras," providing a 360-degree view of your human resource investment.