How does the Policy Enforcer Auto-Approver Schedules feature work?

The Policy Enforcer's Auto-Approver Schedules feature allows you to configure time-based schedules within your approval policies. When an approval request is not actioned within a defined timeframe, the system can automatically approve or escalate it based on the schedule you set — helping your business keep payments and expenses moving without unnecessary delays.

This feature is part of the Policy Enforcer workflow, available within AI Workflows in the Control Hub section of your OFX Business Account.

Before you configure Auto-Approver Schedules, ensure you have:

Full Suite subscription plan enabled on your account
Company Manage permission on your user profile to access and configure the Policy Enforcer
The Policy Enforcer enabled — refer to How do I enable or disable the Policy Enforcer?
An approval policy already set up — refer to How to set up an Approval policy

Next Steps

To configure Auto-Approver Schedules within the Policy Enforcer, follow these steps:

Log into your OFX Business Account.
Navigate to AI Workflows from the left sidebar.
On the Policy Enforcer, click Configure agent settings.
On the Policy Enforcer settings page, select the Settings tab.
In the Policy Enforcer Auto-Approver schedules section of policy settings, selected approvers receive notifications of pending auto-approvals and have a review window to change any proposed Policy Enforcer actions. Set when the workflow will run.
Policy Enforcer auto-approver review window Configure the review window during which selected approvers can examine pending auto-approvals before execution.
- Only suggestions to 'Approve' will be executed.
- 'Manual review required' and 'Decline' suggestions will require user review.
The updates are automatically saved.
Confirmation: Once saved, the Auto-Approver Schedule will be active. Any approval requests that remain unactioned within the defined timeframe will be processed automatically according to the schedule you configured.

Note: The Auto-Approver Schedules feature works alongside your existing approval policies. Human approvers retain the ability to action requests before the schedule triggers. The auto-approval action only occurs if no manual decision is made within the defined time window.

Why is this important

Managing approval workflows manually can create bottlenecks — especially when approvers are unavailable, out of office, or dealing with high volumes of requests. The Auto-Approver Schedules feature ensures your business keeps moving by automatically handling time-sensitive approvals when human action is not taken within a set period.

Key benefits include:

Reduced delays: Payments and expenses are not held up indefinitely waiting for manual approval, keeping your operations running smoothly.
Improved efficiency: Routine, low-risk approvals can be handled automatically, freeing your team to focus on higher-priority reviews.
Greater control: You define the rules — including the timeframe and the action taken — so the automation always reflects your business's policies and risk tolerance.
Consistent policy enforcement: Auto-approver schedules ensure your approval policy is applied consistently, even during periods of high volume or staff absence.
Audit trail: All auto-approved actions are recorded, providing full visibility and accountability for compliance and governance purposes.