Title: Online Training
1Expenditure Review
- Online Training
- for Georgia State University
2About this Online Training
- You may progress through the presentation by
using the mouse to click on the NEXT button. - All Definitions, Forms and Spectrum Report
Instructions may be obtained from Web site
http//www.gsu.edu/spectrum/. - To EXIT the training at any time, press ESC.
3About this Online Training
- Throughout this online training are links to
written documents that may be shown as either - an icon or a hyperlink
Expenditure Document
Click here to view Document
NOTE EXITING the secondary document will return
you to this training
4Introduction And Overview
5Introduction
What is an Expenditure Review?
Expenditure Review is a review conducted
after the close of the month to ensure that
expenditures were authorized and posted.
6Introduction
Why do an Expenditure Review?
Routinely performing an Expenditure Review is
part of good Internal Controls.
???IMPORTANT NOTE ??? This training provides
GUIDELINES that, if followed, result in
satisfactory levels of compliance. Vice
Presidents and Deans determine what the actual
practices will be in their areas and may opt to
adopt some or all of what is recommended in this
training.
7Introduction
Why do an Expenditure Review?
Routinely performing an Expenditure Review is
part of Good Accounting Practices.
- ???IMPORTANT NOTE ???
- If you see this symbol,
- the action is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Highly Recommended
8Introduction
Why do an Expenditure Review?
The Expenditure Review Process was initiated in
response to a Presidential Internal Control Memo
addressed to the Vice Presidents and Deans, dated
March 3, 2005 The relevant section is 1.
Review of Expenditures.
Click here to review the document. Exit to
return to this training.
9Learning Objectives
Introduction
- By completing this training, you will
understand - the Steps to perform an Expenditure Review
- Who is responsible for each part of the
Expenditure Review -
10OVERVIEW
Introduction
- There are brief quizzes interspersed between and
within the sections - PART I
- Section 1 Process Overview
- Section 2 Roles and Responsibilities
- Section 3 Job Descriptions
- PART II
- Section 4 Navigating the Reports
- Section 5 Expenditure Review - Concepts
- Section 6 Expenditure Review Applied
(How-to) - Section 7 Other Spectrum Reports
- Section 8 Resources/ References
11 Part 1
12Expenditure Review Process The BIG Picture
Overview
13The BIG PictureOverview of the Expenditure
Review Process
Close of Month
Discussed in this section
Certification of Review
End
14Expenditure Review Process The BIG Picture
Process Overview
- Trigger
- At the close of each month, a GroupWise email
is sent to all authorized Spectrum users as a
signal to begin the Expenditure Review Process. - Exception If you are not on GroupWise,
- you can find the month end date at
http//www.gsu.edu/spectrum/
15Expenditure Review Process The BIG Picture
Process Overview Review of Expenditures
- An inspection of expenditure details that takes
place monthly including - personal services (payroll) expenditures
- non-personal services (supplies, equipment,
travel, etc.) expenditures - all fund types including sponsored research
16Expenditure Review Process The BIG Picture
Process Overview Review of Expenditures
- Ideally, each VP/Dean will determine the
intensity of review performed in their areas. - The intensity may range from
- an overview with attention given to those items
appearing out-of-the-ordinary (recommended) to - a detailed review of a random sampling of
expenditures to - a detailed review of all expenditures.
17Expenditure Review Process The BIG Picture
Process OverviewCertification of Review
Highly Recommended
- Certification of the review simply means that
there is a monitoring system in place that
involves Reviewers attesting to the fact that the
expenditure review was performed.
18Expenditure Review Process The BIG Picture
Process OverviewCertification of Review
Highly Recommended
- It is recommended that the certification be
written. - Certification documentation may be
- a standardized form,
- an email or
- other notation as prescribed by your VP/Dean
19Expenditure Review Process The BIG Picture
Process OverviewCertification of Review
Highly Recommended
- This suggested monitoring system involves
reviewers attesting, in writing, that the
Expenditure Review was performed. -
- Certification documentation should include
- Name of person completing the review
- Date review was performed
- Speedtype(s) reviewed
- (NOTE Ensure ALL applicable speedtypes
are included.)
20Expenditure Review Process The BIG Picture
Sample Certification Form
Highly Recommended
Click here to download this Document. NOTE Exit
secondary application by clicking on top X to
return to this training
21Expenditure Review Process The BIG Picture
Process Overview
- Expenditure Review
- Summary
- Units should
- Certify performance of their Expenditure Review
- Follow the documentation format/process
prescribed by their VP/Dean. - Retain documentation for 24 months.
-
22QUIZ
Use Mouse to click on answer buttons. After
answering the questions, you must click on NEXT
arrow to continue
23Expenditure Review Process The BIG Picture
- The Trigger to begin the Expenditure Review is.
- The last day of the current calendar month
- The 5th day of the new calendar month
- C. The last day of each fiscal quarter
- D. When you get an email telling you that the
previous month has been closed - What item does not need to be included
- in the Expenditure Review Certification
Documentation? - Date
- Name of VP/Dean
- Speedtypes that were reviewed
- Name of Reviewer
A
B
C
D
A
B
C
D
24Expenditure Review Process The BIG Picture
- Documents should be retained for .
- a. 24 months
- b. Until completion of the following months
review - 6 months
- None of the above
- 4. The units are free to use whatever format is
approved by their VP/Dean to certify their
review. - True
- False
-
A
B
C
D
A
B
25Key People in the Expenditure Review Process
Roles and Responsibilities
26Key People in the Expenditure Review Process
- There are three Roles involved in the
Expenditure Review Process - The Initiator
- The Approver
- The Reviewer
27Key People in the Expenditure Review Process
Roles and Responsibilities
Initiator prepares a transaction for
approval either in Spectrum or hardcopy
28Key People in the Expenditure Review Process
Roles and Responsibilities
Approver approves financial transactions in
Spectrum or hardcopy. Approval means being able
to affirm the business integrity of
the transaction.
29Key People in the Expenditure Review Process
Roles and Responsibilities
- Approver
- Under the SPECTRUM system restrictions, the
Approver - May NOT initiate and approve the same transaction
- May NOT allow others to sign Approver's name or
use Approvers Spectrum password to approve
transactions
30Key People in the Expenditure Review Process
Roles and Responsibilities
Reviewer reviews financial transactions after
they have posted to Spectrum to ensure
appropriate use of funds.
31Key People in the Expenditure Review Process
Roles and Responsibilities
Reviewer To ensure segregation of duties, a
Reviewer may also serve as Initiator OR
Approver but ONLY one or the other.
32Your Speedtype
Key People in the Expenditure Review Process
000C45678
ABC1234
- Roles assignments are based upon speedtype, thus
your role can vary with speedtype. - For example For speedtype 0001,you may be
assigned as the Initiator and at the same time,
for speedtype 0004 you may be assigned as the
Approver. - Each speedtype has a single reviewer, but a
single reviewer may be responsible for multiple
speedtypes.
000b9876
33Key People in the Expenditure Review Process
- Search for your Speedtype
- To ensure you are reviewing all speedtypes
owned - by your area, click here for directions to access
the - Speedtype by Owner Query
- The Speedtype By Owner Query will give you a
listing of all speedtypes within a - College,
- Department,
- Center, or
- Unit.
34Key People in the Expenditure Review Process
- Search for your Speedtype
- NOTE
- Agency Funds and Technology Funds are not
included in the Speedtype by Owner Query. - To obtain a list of your speedtypes within these
funds contact - Accounting Services for Agency Funds
- Information Systems and Technology for Technology
Fee Funds
35The Reviewers Responsibilities
Key People in the Expenditure Review Process
Highly Recommended
- Performing your reviews
- on a monthly basis allows
- you to make corrections in
- a timely manner.
-
-
36The Reviewers Responsibilities
Key People in the Expenditure Review Process
- WHY should I do a review monthly?
- To Manage your budget more effectively.
Consistent and timely reviews will help your area
to proactively resolve irregularities and errors.
37Key People in the Expenditure Review Process
Managements Responsibilities
Keeping track of whos who Use of good
accounting practices includes maintaining
up-to-date, written departmental documentation
listing who performs which role for which
speedtype. A Sample Form follows
38Key People in the Expenditure Review Process
SAMPLE FORMExpenditure/Payroll Transaction
Responsibilities Form
Download this Recommended Form NOTE Exit
secondary application by clicking top X to return
to this training
39QUIZ
Use Mouse to click on answer buttons. After
answering the questions, you must click on NEXT
arrow to continue
40Key People in the Expenditure Review Process
- The Reviewer may also take on what other role?
- a. The Initiator
- b. The Approver
- c. Either, but ONLY one or the other
- d. Both
-
- Assignment of roles is speedtype specific.
- True
- False
A
B
C
D
A
B
41It IS in your Job Description
Faculty and Staff members with budgetary
responsibilities are to adhere to these internal
control policies.
- Compliance Risk
- Job Description Updates
- Requirements for Persons with Budgetary
Authority
42It IS in Your Job Description
- Compliance Risk
-
- The guidelines/ monitoring system presented in
this online training were developed to minimize
the risk of being in non- compliance. - The risks are real.
43It IS in Your Job Description
- Compliance Risk
-
- Audits
- To ensure compliance, University Auditing and
Advisory Services periodically performs
compliance audits the results of which are
forwarded to the Board of Regents. - Also performing compliance checks might be
auditors from - the State
- the Board of Regents
- the Sponsoring Agencies (including the Federal
Government)
44It IS in Your Job Description
Highly Recommended
As the Person with AUTHORITY over a Budget
- It is highly recommended that expenditure review
responsibilities are a part of the job
descriptions/ job duties and that expenditure
review is a part of annual performance
evaluations of ALL persons who have budgetary
responsibility.
45It IS in Your Job Description
- Human Resources
- University Auditing and Advisory Services
- collaborated to create documents that assist
with defining Job Expectations/Job Duties. -
- Following are some helpful hints to use when you
link to these documents
46It IS in Your Job Description
- Job Expectations for .
- Persons with Budgetary Responsibility (including
persons engaged in management of sponsored
projects.) - Click here to view Document.
- NOTE Exit secondary application by clicking on
top X to return to this training -
- Please pay close attention to the sections on
- - Payroll / Personnel Practices Explicit Job
Descriptions - - Payroll / Personnel Practices Employment
Screening
47It IS in Your Job Description
Highly Recommended
- Job Expectations for
- Employees Engaged in
- Management of Sponsored Projects
-
- please note
- Ultimate responsibility cannot be delegated as
the Principal Investigator, you are responsible
for all expenditures made from your budget. The
best way to accomplish this is hands-on
involvement in the management of your
expenditures. - .
48QUIZ
Use Mouse to click on answer buttons. After
answering the questions, you must click on NEXT
arrow to continue
49It IS in Your Job Description
- It is recommended that persons with expenditure
review responsibilities, have these
responsibilities included in job description/job
duties. - a. True
- b. False
- Which of the following entities may assist in
ensuring compliance - University Auditing and Advisory Services
- The State Auditors
- The Board of Regents
- Sponsoring Agencies (including the Federal
Government) - Any of the above
A
B
A
B
C
D
E
50 Part 2
51Navigating the Reports
The Data
-
- The Spectrum System has a consolidated report
that displays, in a single table, the data
necessary to perform an Expenditure Review. - There are four versions of this consolidated
report - Actuals Drilldown Report
- nVision Actuals Drilldown
- nVision Project Drilldown
52The Data
Navigating the Reports
- Data in the Drill Down Reports are derived from
the Actuals Ledger (also called General Ledger). -
- Transactions listed have been
- approved and posted.
- (does NOT include pending transactions)
- Is the OFFICIAL financial record for the
University
53The Data
Navigating the Reports
- NOTE The Drill-down reports DO NOT apply to
Agency Funds. -
- For instructions on obtaining detailed
expenditures for an Agency Fund, see
http//www2.gsu.edu/wwwspc/Reports/SpectrumPlusGe
neralLedgerActivityReport-AgencyAcco.pdf
54Working in the Spectrum Environment
Navigating the Reports
- A link to the full, detailed written instructions
for both reports is located in the RESOURCES /
REFERENCES section at the end of this training. - If you desire more instructions on the Spectrum
System, - www.gsu.edu/spectrum or for more extensive
assistance - please call the Spectrum office.
55Navigating the Reports
The Actuals Drill Down Report
Actuals DrillDown Report include
summarized and detailed financial
transactions. This report can
also be run for Sponsored Projects. This
report applies to all fund types except Capital
Projects and Agency Funds.
56Navigating the Reports
The nVision Drilldowns
The nVision Actuals Drilldown the
nVision Project Drilldown include
summarized and detailed financial
transactions. The nVision Actuals Drilldown
can only be run using Non-Project Speedtypes and
the nVision Project Drilldown can only be run
using Sponsored Project Speedtypes. NOTE For
Agency Funds, refer to information on Accounting
Services Web site (http//www.gsu.edu/wwwfas/Acco
untingServices/AgencyPresentation.pdf)
57Navigating the Reports
- Drilldown Training Guides
- Actuals Drilldown Report
- http//www2.gsu.edu/wwwspc/Reports/ActualsDrillD
ownReport.pdf - nVision Actuals Drilldown
- http//www.gsu.edu/images/SpectrumImages/nVisionA
ctualsDrilldownReportTrainingGuide.pdf - nVision Project Drilldown
- http//www.gsu.edu/images/SpectrumImages/nVisionP
rojectDrilldownReportTrainingGuide.pdf -
58Navigating the Reports
- Example Actuals DrillDown Report Summary
- Navigation GSUgt GSU Reportsgt Actuals Drilldown
Report
59Navigating the Reports
- Example nVision Actuals Drilldown Summary
- Navigation GSUgt GSU Reportsgt nVision Actuals
Drilldown
60Navigating the Reports
- Example nVision Project Drilldown Summary
- Navigation GSUgt GSU Reportsgt nVision Project
Drilldown
61Navigating the Reports
The Actuals Drilldown Report
- REMEMBER
- Are used to review detailed financial
transactions after approval/posting - Based on Actuals Ledger
- Include both summarized and detailed financial
information - Provide both monthly and cumulative financial
transactions
62QUIZ
Use Mouse to click on answer buttons. After
answering the questions, you must click on NEXT
arrow to continue
63- The Drill Down Reports open in the SUMMARY tab
view. - a. True
- b. False
- To Print the prior months detail only,
- simply click the print icon.
- True
- False
-
A
B
A
B
64Okay, just what exactly does an Expenditure
Review entail???
- What the Reviewer is Looking For
- Part A Underlying Concepts
- Part B How-to
65What the Reviewer is Looking For
- Part A
- Underlying Concepts
- Definitions
66What the Reviewer is Looking For
- In General, What Should a Reviewer Look for?
-
- Purpose
- Do charges pertain to the purpose of the
department or of the sponsored project?
67What the Reviewer is Looking For
- In General, What Should a Reviewer Look for?
-
- Accuracy
- Are the charges familiar?
- Do they appear to be accurate as to
- - Payee
- - Amount
- - Account
68What the Reviewer is Looking For
- In General, What Should a Reviewer Look for?
- Completeness
- Do all payroll expenses for active employees and
non-personal services transactions appear to be
charged? - Do any omissions stand out?
69What the Reviewer is Looking For
Summary of the Underlying Concepts of
Expenditure Review Purpose Accuracy Completeness
70QUIZ
Use Mouse to click on answer buttons. After
answering the questions, you must click on NEXT
arrow to continue
71What the Reviewer is Looking For
- The Reviewer should review for
- Purpose , Validity, Inclusion/Exclusions
- Accuracy, Materiality, Appropriateness
- Accuracy, Appropriateness, Accountability
- Purpose, Accuracy, Completeness
- Appropriateness, Purpose, Expenditure Volume
-
A
B
C
D
E
72What the Reviewer is Looking For
- Part B
- How-To
- Beginning the Review
- Review Categories
- Red Flags
73What the Reviewer is Looking For
- YOUR FIRST STEPS IN THE PROCESS
- What you need to have physically in front of you
- On Screen
- The Drill Down report for the month under review
- On Paper
- Your tickler file of significant or unusual
expenditures
74What the Reviewer is Looking For
- Expenditures
- Two (2) main categories
- Personal Services
- Salaries (i.e., payroll)
- Non-Personal Services
- P-Card transactions, Equipment, Phone Charges,
Postage fees, Petty Cash,Travel, and Consultants
fees
75What the Reviewer is Looking For
- When Reviewing Personal Services, verify
-
- All active employees are paid
- Only active employees are paid
- Terminated employees are not being paid
- Are the salary amounts reasonable?
- Are funding sources based on effort?
- Any new hires? Any terminations?
- Got QUESTIONS
- Refer to payroll action forms and timesheets. If
you do not have the documentation you need, these
items are obtainable from the Payroll Office
76What the Reviewer is Looking For
- When Reviewing Non-Personal Services verify
- 1. P-Card charges
- Ensure that entries are consistent with your
departments P-Card Log activities - On-line P-Card Training is available at
- http//www2.gsu.edu/wwwpch/fordepartments.htm
- or
- http//www.gsu.edu/finance/44871.html
- Any additional questions regarding P-card
activities - should be addressed to Business Services
-
77What the Reviewer is Looking For
- When Reviewing Non-Personal Services verify
- 2. Equipment charges
- Ensure that purchases are for authorized business
purposes and for your department. - All questions regarding equipment purchases
should be referred to Business Services
(Purchasing Department).
78What the Reviewer is Looking For
- When Reviewing Non-Personal Services verify
- 3. Phone charges
- Refer to and cross-reference the Phone Bills
- sent to your department.
- Verify that long distance calls are for business
purposes. -
- All questions regarding phone charges should be
referred to - Telecommunications in IST
79What the Reviewer is Looking For
- When Reviewing Non-Personal Services verify
- 4. Postage charges
-
- Ask Is the amount reasonable?
- All questions regarding postage charges need to
be addressed
to the reconciler and/or the individual incurring
the postage charges.
(NOTE All transactions should be documented
with receipts and filed in your Tickler Files)
80What the Reviewer is Looking For
- When Reviewing Non-Personal Services verify
- 5. Petty Cash transactions
- Check transactions for reasonableness.
81What the Reviewer is Looking For
- When Reviewing Non-Personal Services verify
- 6. Travel payments
- Verify the person traveling.
- Ask What is the business purpose?
- Ask Is the cost reasonable?
- For appropriate forms go to
- http//www.gsu.edu/spectrum/38158.html
82What the Reviewer is Looking For
- When Reviewing Non-Personal Services verify
- 7. Payments to Consultants
- Make sure that
- Only active consultants are paid
- The consultant amount is reasonable
- The funding source is appropriate
- For appropriate forms go to
- http//www2.gsu.edu/wwwfas/FinancialOperation/con
sultingcontract_new.html
83What the Reviewer is Looking For
- NOTE When reviewing Non-Personal
- Services charges, verify that
- documentation exists that can confirm
- or dispute all charges.
-
- Also consider maintaining a
- good Tickler file system for
- your bookkeeping records.
84QUIZ
Use Mouse to click on answer buttons. After
answering the questions, you must click on NEXT
arrow to continue
85What the Reviewer is Looking For
- 1. Expenditures fall into which two categories?
- a. Exempt and Non-Exempt
- b. Cash in and Cash out
- c. Personal Services and Non-Personal Services
- None of the above
- 2. Non-Personal Services includes
- a. Consultant fees
- b. Postage P-Card Charges
- c. Travel charges
- d. All of the above
A
B
C
D
A
B
C
D
86Be on the Lookout for
What the Reviewer is Looking For
- Watch out for RED Flags to cut through the RED
tape - RED Flags such as
- High Dollar Transactions
- New or Unknown Vendors
- Inappropriate Vendors
- Unusual Patterns in Spending
- Changes in Repetitive Transactions
87 Be on the Lookout for
What the Reviewer is Looking For
- RED Flags
- High Dollar Transactions
- Charges that are EXTREMELY high
- Charges that are costly that are not your bills
88 Be on the Lookout for
What the Reviewer is Looking For
- RED Flags
- New or Unknown Vendors
- If youre not sure, make sure!
- Verify whether the vendor is associated with a
service rendered to your department
89Be on the Lookout for
What the Reviewer is Looking For
- RED Flags
- Inappropriate Vendors
- Ask Is this item something that should be
purchased from this vendor? - (i.e., payments to a restaurant may indicate a
food purchase, which is generally not allowed)
90 Be on the Lookout for
What the Reviewer is Looking For
- RED Flags
- Changes in Repetitive Transactions
- (Unusual changes to usual patterns of charges)
- Look for obvious changes in transactions that
normally are consistent - (i.e. Salaries, Telephone charges, Copier rental
fees, etc.)
91QUIZ
Use Mouse to click on answer buttons. After
answering the questions, you must click on NEXT
arrow to continue
92What the Reviewer is Looking For
- 1. The following item(s) should be a red flag to
Reviewers - a. High Dollar Transactions
- b. New or Unknown Vendors
- c. Inappropriate Vendors
- d. All of the above
- 2. A Reviewer should always question if an item
is an appropriate purchase from that particular
vendor. - a. True
- b. False
A
B
C
D
A
B
93What the Reviewer is Looking For Departmental
OPTIONS
- Options to consider when designing YOUR
departments expenditure review procedures are - Expenditure Volume
- Materiality
- Tickler File
- Optional Review Steps
-
94What the Reviewer is looking for Departmental
OPTIONS
- Expenditure Volume
- What if my department has a high volume of
monthly expenditures? - You may decide to
- Only review those transactions over a certain
dollar amount or - Take a random sample and review those
transactions thoroughly or - a combination of the above
-
95What the Reviewer is Looking for Departmental
OPTIONS
- Materiality
- A department can determine at what level expenses
are MATERIAL enough to warrant review. Some
areas may opt to set a lower dollar limit under
which the transaction does not have to be
reviewed in detail if it appears to be
legitimate. -
96The Reviewers Responsibilities Departmental
OPTIONS
- Tickler Files
- Consider maintaining a tickler file of
significant or unusual expenditures. This will
consist of all hardcopies of expenditure
documentation (Invoices, Purchase Orders,
spreadsheets, etc.) - Refer to this file during the next months
- review.
97It IS in your Job Description Departmental
OPTIONS
Optional Review Steps
- You may decide in your area, to add additional
review points to ensure that the expenditures are
monitored as effectively as possible. If so,
include these steps in your departmental
procedures manual and in applicable job
descriptions.
98QUIZ
Use Mouse to click on answer buttons. After
answering the questions, you must click on NEXT
arrow to continue
99What the Reviewer is Looking For
- Areas that routinely experience a high volume of
expenditures VPs/Deans may opt to have their
areas do one or more of these. - Review every single one
- Review a random sampling
- Review only those above a certain dollar
threshold - All of the Above
- E. None of the above
- 2. To effectively monitor your expenditures, it
is good practice to maintain a Tickler File with
hardcopies of Invoices, Purchase Orders, etc. - True
- False
-
A
B
C
D
E
A
B
100How to Get Questions Answered and Errors Corrected
Making Corrections
Highly Recommended
- The Reviewer ensures corrections are made in a
timely manner. - Preferably prior to the close of the month
following the error occurrence.
101How to Get Questions Answered and Errors Corrected
Making Corrections
- Transfers/corrections made to
- Expenditures for personal services
- are done by the Human Resource Officer in each
college or VP area - Expenditures for non-personal services
- are done by journal, usually at the department or
college level - For more information regarding corrections done
by Journal, - Please contact Accounting Services.
- For questions on Interdepartmental Charges or
Corrections, - see the Interdepartmental Charges Contact List in
the Reference section
102How to Get Questions Answered and Errors Corrected
Making Corrections
- If a questionable expenditure appears to be
Fraud, Waste or Abuse, report it promptly to - Your supervisor or other official within your
organization, and/or - University Auditing and Advisory Services
103Resources References
- Fund Codes
- Helpful Web sites and Links
104Resources References
- Fund an entity with a self-balancing set of
accounts for recording assets, liabilities, fund
balance, and changes in fund balance. - Fund Code or Type A budgetary distinction of
funding by source/use of funds.
105Resources ReferencesList of all Fund
Codes/Types
Click here to download this Document. NOTE Exit
secondary application by clicking on top X to
return to this training
106Resources References
- Some Helpful Links
-
- Websites of some helpful links
- Definitions
- Contact List (Departments to contact with
questions) - Spectrum Financial Reports
- Preparation Instructions (consolidated in a
single Excel - Spreadsheet prints in legal size)
Exit secondary applications to return to this
training
107Expenditure Review Online Training
- Congratulations!
- You have learned about
- Roles and Responsibilities of persons involved in
the Expenditure Review process - The underlying concepts and how-to steps of the
Expenditure Review Process - To EXIT please press ESC.