Merit Cycles From Budget to Payroll
Start a cycle with a budget, collect manager proposals, let HR adjust, have executives finalize, and export the approved changes to payroll - with an audit trail at each step.
The cycle, end to end
A merit cycle is a governed workflow, not a spreadsheet passed around over email. Fintra models it as distinct stages with role-gated actions, so proposals, adjustments, and approvals each happen with the right permissions and leave a record.
Cycle stages
- 1
Start (HR)
Create the cycle with a name and budget; it opens in planning.
- 2
Propose (manager)
Managers propose new salary and bonus per employee, with justification.
- 3
Adjust (HR)
HR reviews and sets approved salary/bonus, marking rows adjusted.
- 4
Submit → finalize (exec)
HR submits for approval; executives finalize, closing the cycle and exporting to payroll.
Budget-aware planning
Access control
Who can do what
- Managers can propose; only HR can adjust approved figures
- Only executives (owner/admin) can finalize
- Reads of the full cycle (all coworkers’ comp) are restricted to owner/admin/HR
- Finalization writes an audit event with the export result
Inside Fintra
Merit cycles reference compensation bands and benchmarks for context, and the finalized changes flow to payroll so an approved raise becomes an actual paycheck.
Frequently asked questions
What are the stages of a merit cycle?
HR starts the cycle with a budget, managers propose salary/bonus with justification, HR adjusts to approved figures, HR submits, and executives finalize - which closes the cycle and exports to payroll.
Is the cycle budget-aware?
Yes. Each cycle carries a budget so proposals and adjustments are made against a known envelope.
Who can see everyone’s comp in a cycle?
Only owner, admin, and HR roles can read the full cycle; comp proposals expose sensitive salary data, so plain employees and managers can’t enumerate the whole org.
What happens when a cycle is finalized?
Executives finalize, the cycle closes, approved changes export to payroll, and an audit event records the outcome.
Stay in the loop
One practical finance briefing a week - new guides, checklists, and benchmarks.
Run merit cycles that stay governed
From budget to payroll export, with an audit trail at every step.
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