When this matters
A client asks why an invoice increased. The account manager has tickets, pull requests and time records, but no shared explanation. Your task is to explain the engagement without treating activity as proof that every charge is justified.
Evidence to bring
- The engagement baseline, scope-lock date and agreed commercial terms.
- Work items and linked code changes, with acceptance or release evidence where available.
- Recorded time or explicit rate and effort assumptions, plus the invoice period.
See which tools connect directly and which import by CSV on the Integrations page. Check integration availability.
How to work through it
- Select the project and the period being billed. Bring in available connector evidence, supported imports or manual commercial inputs.
- Separate baseline work, added scope, reopened work and extra review. Check source links and keep unmatched records visible.
- Compare those changes with the cost basis. Review assumptions and evidence gaps before preparing a report for the client.
An illustrative review
Example figures for illustration.
| Recorded evidence or stated assumption | What it supports |
|---|---|
| 13 tickets were added after the agreed scope-lock date. | The scope changed; this alone does not establish permission to bill. |
| 20 recorded hours at an agreed illustrative rate of $100/hour. | $2,000 of attributable effort, subject to the billing terms. |
| Acceptance is missing for two delivered items. | Keep their acceptance status unresolved in the review. |
The next decision
Agree which changes are supported, which need clarification and whether a change request or a corrected invoice is appropriate. Keep the commercial decision with the people responsible for the engagement.
What the evidence cannot tell you
A merged pull request does not prove deployment or acceptance. Estimated effort is not recorded time, and source links do not decide whether an invoice is contractually payable.
AI analysis in ScopeWorth is optional and billed in credits. Evidence, cost attribution and reports work without it. Compare plans and limits.
Questions about this workflow
Can I explain an invoice without timesheets?
Yes, you can show delivered work and scope changes. If cost uses assumed rates or effort, label it as an estimate and do not present it as time actually worked.
Does ScopeWorth decide which charges the client must accept?
No. It supports the evidence review. Agreed terms and the client conversation determine the commercial outcome.