We're a headhunter agency that connects US businesses with elite LATAM professionals who integrate seamlessly as remote team members — aligned to US time zones, cutting overhead by 70%.
We’ll match you with Latin American superstars who work your hours. Quality talent, no time zone troubles. Starting at $9/hour.
Start Hiring For FreeRecording employee hours accurately is critical, yet often challenging, for most businesses.
Luckily, Xero provides flexible time tracking features to simplify hourly reporting.
In this post, you'll discover step-by-step instructions for setting up timesheets in Xero, tracking hours across projects, integrating with payroll systems, and optimizing time data for organizational success.
Tracking employee hours is crucial for effective payroll management and oversight of projects. Xero's time tracking features provide a streamlined way to record this data.
This section outlines the basics of using Xero to track time sheets. Key highlights include:
Accurately tracking time ensures employees are paid correctly and allows better oversight of where time and money is being concentrated on projects. Xero provides the tools to seamlessly record this data.
Tracking employee hours is crucial for monitoring productivity and ensuring accurate payroll. Xero provides a simple way to track timesheets directly within the software.
Here are the key steps:
You can filter the Timesheet Summary to show exactly what you need:
Employees can log hours directly in Xero against specific projects and clients. As their timesheets are completed, the hours automatically aggregate in payroll and invoices.
Once the report filters are set, click Update to run it. Export the data or use it to reconcile hours for payroll. Monitoring timesheets this way ensures accurate tracking employee hours for billing and payments.
Integrating Xero with payroll providers like Gusto further simplifies managing staff hours across both platforms. Their direct connection enables seamless data syncing.
With some strategic planning and consistent oversight, the Xero Timesheet Summary provides the visibility needed to closely track employee hours and keep payroll running smoothly.
To add a timesheet for an employee in Xero, follow these simple steps:
The timesheet will now be available for the selected employee and pay period. You can enter hours worked on different projects or tasks.
Xero makes time tracking simple by connecting timesheets directly to payroll. As employees add hours worked to timesheets, Xero automatically calculates pay including overtime, based on pay rates set up in payroll. This saves time on manual calculations.
Accurate timesheets feed into powerful reports in Xero like Project Detailed Time report. This tracks staff project time across the business for better cost control and insight. With seamless Gusto integration, Xero handles everything from time tracking to payments, with automated payroll powered by accurate employee timesheets.
To record time in Xero, follow these simple steps:
This allows you to easily track time directly within Xero without needing to use another app or spreadsheet. The time logs can then be used for client billing, analyzing project costs, and payroll purposes.
Some tips when recording time sheets in Xero:
Using Xero's built-in time tracking helps businesses better understand where employee time is spent. It's an easy way to capture billable hours and is essential for monitoring the profitability of projects and clients.
With Xero Payroll, employees can easily track their time and have it automatically fed into payroll. Here are some key ways Xero enables time tracking:
In summary, Xero provides easy-to-use digital timesheets, automated time tracking tools, and integrations to feed hours directly into payroll. This saves administrative hassle so you can focus on your business.
Time tracking is an essential feature in Xero that allows businesses to record employee hours worked on specific projects. This provides greater visibility into where time is being spent, ensures accurate client billing, and streamlines payroll.
To enable time tracking in Xero:
This will activate time tracking across Xero and allow employees to submit timesheets.
To track time for specific projects:
Now when employees record time, they can allocate hours to this project.
To allow employees to submit timesheets:
This permission enables employees to log hours worked. They can fill out timesheets via web, mobile, or integrations like TSheets.
With time tracking set up, businesses can gain insights into how work effort aligns with budgets. This allows for accurate client billing and efficient payroll processing powered by Xero's seamless integration with Gusto.
Recording time sheets accurately in Xero can streamline payroll and ensure employees are paid correctly for hours worked. Xero offers both manual time sheet entry as well as auto time tracking to fit different business needs.
Manual Time Entry
Manually entering time sheets allows employees to track time against specific projects and tasks. This works well for businesses that need to allocate hours across multiple jobs.
To enter time manually in Xero:
Auto Time Tracking
Xero offers time tracking automation through integrations with apps like TSheets. TSheets automatically records time based on activity across devices. This saves employees time from manual entry.
Auto tracking works for businesses focused on tracking employee productivity rather than allocating hours across specific projects.
Once time sheets are entered manually or tracked automatically, employees should:
Submitted time sheets route to managers for approvals. Employees can also add notes or comments for clarification if needed.
After employees submit time sheets in Xero, managers can review and approve them based on policy.
Once approved, time data flows automatically into integrated payroll software like Gusto. This eliminates manual re-entry and ensures employees are paid properly each pay period.
Time tracking in Xero combined with integrated payroll makes the process seamless for staff and managers alike. Accurate time sheets lead to accurate payroll with minimal administrative effort.
This section will focus on the specifics of using Xero to track staff project time, ensuring accurate billing and project management.
To start tracking time in Xero, you first need to set up projects. Here are the steps:
Once a project is created, you can assign staff members to track their time. This allows for accurate billing based on time spent.
There are two ways staff can link their logged hours to Xero projects:
Both methods make it easy to connect staff time to client projects for precise billing.
Xero offers detailed time reports to analyze project costs and productivity:
These insights help assess profitability and inform strategic decisions per project. Enabling time tracking is key to unlocking these critical analytics.
As businesses grow and take on more complex operations, basic time tracking functionality in accounting software like Xero may no longer be sufficient. Integrating third-party time tracking applications can provide enhanced features to meet evolving needs. Two popular options worth considering are TSheets and Harvest.
TSheets offers robust time tracking tailored for mobile and distributed workforces. Key benefits of integrating TSheets with Xero include:
For teams that spend significant time away from desks or have complex pay rules, TSheets is an invaluable addition to Xero.
Harvest offers robust project management tools that can meet the needs of agencies and professional services firms. Benefits of integrating Harvest with Xero include:
For project-centric teams, Harvest removes friction from tracking billable hours and expenses while keeping Xero as the source of truth for finances.
Evaluating tools like TSheets and Harvest can help grow businesses identify the right time tracking capabilities to integrate with Xero to match their unique needs and streamline operations. The robust feature set around automated data flows, advanced analytics, and flexible controls provides enhanced support for mobile workforces and complex projects.
It is important for businesses using Xero to have clear and well-communicated time tracking policies. This ensures all employees understand what is expected of them for accurately logging their time in the system. Some best practices include:
Employees should receive hands-on training for entering and submitting Xero timesheets to ensure proper usage of the software system. Effective training topics include:
Follow-up with users to address questions and issues. Send reminders of best practices and policies.
Managers should consistently review submitted Xero timesheets with a few goals in mind:
Designating time for ongoing timesheet analysis fosters data integrity and opportunities for operational improvement. Be transparent with staff on how reviews connect to larger business objectives around efficiency and cost management.
Xero's time tracking features provide a streamlined way for businesses to record employee hours worked on client projects. By leveraging Xero's integration with Gusto payroll, companies can simplify payroll preparation while maintaining detailed visibility into how staff time is being allocated.
Here are some key benefits to using Xero for time tracking:
To maximize the advantages of Xero's time tracking capabilities, businesses should:
Taking these steps will help companies realize the full benefits of Xero as a robust timekeeping and payroll management platform. Tight integration between Xero Projects and Gusto Payroll provides the visibility and controls needed to make strategic resourcing decisions while keeping overhead costs in check.
See how we can help you find a perfect match in only 20 days. Interviewing candidates is free!
Book a CallYou can secure high-quality South American for around $9,000 USD per year. Interviewing candidates is completely free ofcharge.
You can secure high-quality South American talent in just 20 days and for around $9,000 USD per year.
Start Hiring For Free