Controlling the authorization of financial transactions, such as credit card transactions. Financial institutions and businesses can establish accounts for employees that have an authorization process that augments the normal authorization process, where this augmented authorization process can result in approving transactions that otherwise exceed the transaction limitations established for the account. A single event authorization control (SEAC) process can be completed in response to determining that a financial services transaction undergoing a conventional authorization process qualifies for the SEAC process. To complete the process, a SEAC data record containing parameter values that most closely match the parameter values associated with the authorization request is selected and the applicable SEAC action contained in the data record, e.g., decline override, funds encumbrance, or budgetary exception, is performed. Then, a decision regarding authorization of the transaction is generated.