Departmental Financial Management Guide
The Departmental Financial Management Guide and the associated training provide University of Colorado Boulder employees a comprehensive overview of how to plan, organize, manage and control departmental financial activities.
The Guide highlights guidelines contained in CU's policies and procedures to illustrate best practices and protocols departments should follow in the area of financial management. It is designed to help employees who have fiscal responsibilities gain a clear understanding of fiscal stewardship at CU Boulder. The Guide is currently in review. Table of Contents (11/2016)
Orients employees to the organization and content of the Departmental Financial Management Guide and discusses the procedures used to update content.
An overview of the environment in which the financial systems, policies, procedures and practices of the University of Colorado Boulder operate.
Information about administering departmental finances with an overview of internal controls and suggestions for getting organized.
An overview of the fundamentals for basic fund accounting and the financial reporting structure within the context of higher education accounting, GAAP and the standards to which the university is audited.
Information about CU's accounting structure, which is made up of eleven blocks of information called ChartFields.
Information about different levels and categories of accounts, the debit and credit convention, and a methodology for determining which account to use for a particular transaction.
Financial transactions and general ledger processes associated with the PeopleSoft Finance System.
The purpose of budgets, the budget cycle, budgeting concepts and practices by fund, and budget information on financial reports.
Balance Sheet/SNA Accounts (assets, liabilities and fund balance) with guidelines for using these accounts.
Internal controls for cash management including the policies, practices and procedures which guide the receipt and disbursement of cash.
Policies, guidelines and procedures associated with inventory on the Boulder campus. Forms for completing fiscal year-end inventory tasks.
Guidelines for departments to follow in the administration of accounts receivable.
CU Boulder's policy for Internal Sales Activity (ISA) with guidelines for establishing, costing, pricing and administering ISAs.
Sponsored project post-award administration. Responsibilities of key players in post-award management, types of external support, award funding and payment, research team roles and responsibilities, rules and regulations, and project management.
How to establish and administer gift funds.
Information on workflow, roles and accounting for capital construction projects (capitalizable costs of $75k+) on our campus.
Appendices
- Appendix A – Basic Higher Education Fund Accounting Definitions (11/2016)
- (04/2020)
- Appendix C - Higher Education Fiscal Guidelines (CO Dept. of Higher Education 04/2009)
- Appendix D - Debit/Credit Convention