In This Article: When and why to use Tasks in a finance workflow, how to create tasks and fill in required fields, how to find and filter your task list, and how to take action on individual tasks — including uploading deliverables, leaving comments, and marking work complete. Also covers when to use a Request instead of a Task.
The Tasks Tab
The Tasks tab is Compass's central list for all reporting work assigned to or created by you. Tasks represent discrete deliverables — a report to upload, a document to review, a deadline to hit. Each task is tied to a due date, an assignee, and optionally a Lakehouse folder for file organization.
You can also create tasks quickly from the My Compass homepage using the + button in the Tasks panel on the right-hand side. Either entry point opens the same Create Task form.
Tasks assigned to you. The default view when you open the Tasks tab.
Overdue or high-priority tasks requiring immediate attention.
Every task in the project, regardless of assignee — useful for team-wide visibility.
The task list displays columns for Task Name, Date Due, Assignee, Status, and Action. Use the Search button and Show Filters in the toolbar to narrow results by keyword or filter criteria.
Why Use Tasks?
Finance and FP&A teams run on deadlines — month-end close, budget submissions, board prep, audit support. The challenge isn't knowing what needs to happen; it's tracking who owns each piece, whether it's been delivered, and what the status is without chasing people over email.
Tasks in Compass solve that coordination problem. Each task creates a named, dated, assigned record of work inside the same platform where your dashboards and reports already live. Deliverable files attach directly to the task. Comments stay with the record. When close is done and auditors ask what was submitted and when, the answer is already documented.
Examples of how finance teams put Tasks to work across the reporting cycle.
Assign P&L variance commentary, balance sheet reconciliations, and flux analysis to individual analysts — each with a due date tied to the close calendar.
Create one task per department budget submission, mapped to a Lakehouse folder. As each owner uploads their file, it's attached to the task and timestamped automatically.
Assign data refreshes, dashboard reviews, and narrative sign-offs before a board meeting. The task record shows whether each item was completed before the presentation date.
Track supporting schedule preparation and document upload as named tasks. The deliverables section creates a timestamped record of what was submitted, by whom, and when — ready for auditor review.
Tasks work best for internal, team-assigned work with a clear owner and deadline. If you need to commission something from the Compass team — like a new custom report or data model — that's a Request. See the Submitting and Tracking Requests article for the distinction.
Creating a Task
Click + Add Task in the top-right toolbar of the Tasks tab, or use the + button next to Tasks in the My Compass right-hand panel. The Create Task modal opens over your current view.
Enter a clear, descriptive name. This appears in the task list, the right-hand panel on My Compass, and in task detail views.
Select a Lakehouse folder to associate with this task. Files uploaded as deliverables will be stored here. Use the dropdown to browse available folders.
Set the deadline using the date picker. Tasks past their due date appear highlighted in the Urgent view.
Describe the expected deliverables or requirements. This text appears in the task detail panel and helps assignees understand exactly what's needed.
Select the person responsible for completing the task from the dropdown. You can assign tasks to yourself or to other project members.
Once all required fields are filled, click Create to save the task. Use Reset to clear all fields without closing the modal, or Cancel to exit without saving.
Viewing Task Details
Click any task row in the list to open its detail panel on the right side of the screen. The panel displays the task's full metadata — due date, folder path, task ID, description, assignee, and requestor — without leaving the task list.
The panel has two tabs: Detail shows the task's core information and Deliverables section. Comments shows a chronological activity log plus a thread for user comments.
Deliverables
The Deliverables section at the bottom of the Detail tab shows all files that have been uploaded against this task. Each file entry shows the file name, upload time, and the user who uploaded it. You can download or delete individual files from this view.
To add a file, click Upload a New File in the Deliverables section header, or use the Upload action button in the task row on the main list. Both routes attach the file directly to the task record.
When you associate a task with a Task folder at creation, uploaded deliverables are stored in the corresponding Lakehouse location. This keeps related files organized and accessible for Smith analysis alongside the task context.
Task Actions
Each task has a three-dot menu (⋮) accessible from the right side of the task detail panel header. This menu provides all management actions for the task.
Comments and Activity
The Comments tab inside the task detail panel combines two streams: a system-generated activity log and a user comment thread. The activity log records automated events with timestamps — task creation, assignment changes, and status updates. These entries may originate from the Ontario platform and appear at the top of the feed.
Below the system entries, any user who can view the task can leave comments. Type in the Leave a comment… field at the bottom of the panel and submit to post. Comments are timestamped and attributed to the posting user, making the thread a useful record of decisions, questions, and updates related to the task.
If a task is blocked or at risk of missing its deadline, leave a comment on the task rather than sending a separate message. This keeps context in one place and creates a timestamped record that any team member with task access can review.
Task Lifecycle at a Glance
Tasks in Compass follow a straightforward lifecycle from creation through completion. Understanding the stages helps you keep work moving without things falling through the gaps.
Tasks vs. Requests — Which to Use
Both Tasks and Requests track work in Compass, but they serve different purposes. Choosing the right one keeps your workflow clean and ensures the right team is in the loop.
- Internal team work you create and assign
- Clear owner, deadline, and deliverable
- Managed entirely within your organization
- Examples: close deliverables, budget submissions, data refreshes, document uploads
- Work commissioned from the Compass team
- Used when you need something built or configured
- Tracked through a formal submission and review process
- Examples: new custom reports, dashboard builds, data model changes
A useful test: if the work requires someone on the Compass or EBM team to act, it's a Request. If it's work your team is completing and uploading, it's a Task.
Learn how Requests differ from Tasks and how to commission custom reporting deliverables from the Compass team.
The right-hand panel on My Compass shows your open tasks and requests at a glance — and lets you create new ones without switching tabs.
Task deliverables are stored in Lakehouse folders. This article covers how to organize, browse, and retrieve those files.
If a task isn't behaving as expected, the Support widget in the bottom-right of Compass is the fastest route to answers or a support ticket.
Task IDs are system-generated and unique per record. If you ever need to reference a specific task when contacting support, the Task ID found in the Detail tab is the most reliable identifier to share.
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