RIVET uses a role-based access control system to ensure team members have the right level of access for their responsibilities. This guide explains each role and its permissions in detail.
Role Overview
RIVET has four roles, from most to least access:
Owner
Complete control over the firm and all its data
Manager
Can manage projects and limited settings
Staff
Day-to-day project work without admin access
Viewer
Read-only access for stakeholders
Owner Role
The Owner role has unrestricted access to everything in the firm. This is typically for business owners, principals, or primary administrators.
Owner Capabilities
At Least One Owner
When to Use Owner Role
- •Company owners or partners
- •Primary administrator of the RIVET account
- •Person responsible for billing and subscriptions
- •IT administrator who manages integrations
Manager Role
Managers can handle most day-to-day operations and team management, but don't have access to billing or critical firm settings.
Manager Capabilities
- ✓ All Staff and Viewer capabilities
- ✓ Invite new team members (except Owners)
- ✓ Remove Staff and Viewer team members
- ✓ Connect and configure integrations
- ✓ Access all projects across the firm
- ✓ Create and manage change orders
- ✓ Approve or reject lien waiver requests
- ✓ Generate and download reports
- ✓ Archive projects
Manager Limitations
- ✕ Cannot access billing or subscription settings
- ✕ Cannot change firm name, address, or other firm settings
- ✕ Cannot promote users to Manager or Owner
- ✕ Cannot permanently delete projects
- ✕ Cannot remove other Managers or Owners
When to Use Manager Role
- •Project managers overseeing multiple projects
- •Operations managers
- •Office managers who coordinate billing
- •Department heads
Staff Role
Staff members can do the daily work of billing and project management but cannot make administrative changes.
Staff Capabilities
- ✓ All Viewer capabilities
- ✓ Create new projects
- ✓ Edit project details and settings
- ✓ Create and edit Schedule of Values
- ✓ Create and submit pay applications
- ✓ Enter progress on billing periods
- ✓ Generate lien waivers
- ✓ Upload documents to projects
- ✓ Request lien waiver signatures
- ✓ Create draft change orders
Staff Limitations
- ✕ Cannot invite or remove team members
- ✕ Cannot change user roles
- ✕ Cannot connect integrations
- ✕ Cannot access firm settings
- ✕ Cannot delete projects or archived data
- ✕ Cannot approve change orders (can only create drafts)
When to Use Staff Role
- •Project coordinators
- •Billing coordinators
- •Project engineers entering progress
- •Accounting staff preparing pay apps
- •Field staff tracking work completion
Viewer Role
Viewers have read-only access. They can see project information but cannot make any changes.
Viewer Capabilities
- ✓ View all project information
- ✓ View SOV and line item details
- ✓ View pay application history and status
- ✓ View change order details
- ✓ View lien waiver status
- ✓ Download generated documents (PDFs)
- ✓ View reports
- ✓ View retainage balances
Viewer Limitations
- ✕ Cannot create or edit anything
- ✕ Cannot submit pay applications
- ✕ Cannot generate new documents
- ✕ Cannot access settings of any kind
- ✕ Cannot upload files
When to Use Viewer Role
- •Executives who need visibility without editing
- •External accountants reviewing billing
- •Stakeholders tracking project progress
- •Auditors reviewing documentation
- •Partners who need read-only access
Complete Permission Matrix
Project Management
| Action | Owner | Manager | Staff | Viewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| View projects | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Create projects | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Edit project settings | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Archive projects | ✓ | ✓ | — | — |
| Delete projects | ✓ | — | — | — |
Billing & Pay Applications
| Action | Owner | Manager | Staff | Viewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| View pay apps | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Create pay apps | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Enter progress | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Submit to GC | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Record GC approval | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Mark as paid | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — |
Change Orders
Pro Feature
| Action | Owner | Manager | Staff | Viewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| View change orders | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Create draft COs | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Approve COs | ✓ | ✓ | — | — |
| Void COs | ✓ | ✓ | — | — |
Team & Settings
| Action | Owner | Manager | Staff | Viewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| View team members | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Invite members | ✓ | ✓ | — | — |
| Change roles | ✓ | — | — | — |
| Firm settings | ✓ | — | — | — |
| Billing settings | ✓ | — | — | — |
| Connect integrations Pro+ | ✓ | ✓ | — | — |
Best Practices
Principle of Least Privilege
Multiple Owners
Have at least two Owners so the firm isn't locked if one person is unavailable
Role Reviews
Periodically review team roles to ensure they still match job responsibilities
Viewer for External
Use the Viewer role for external parties like accountants or auditors who need visibility but shouldn't edit
Staff for Field
The Staff role works well for field personnel who need to enter progress but don't need admin access
Need help? Contact our support team at support@slpwlk.io