The
College of Natural Sciences & Mathematics
(NSM) is for the most part decentralized in the
sense that all financial transactions (travel,
purchase requisitions, purchase vouchers, etc.)
are reviewed/approved/certified by the Department
Business Administrators prior to leaving the departments.
Preparation of financial documents is currently
completed within the departments. There are 7
academic departments in the College and 4 institutes.
Financial transactions
and Personnel Action Requests for the academic
& Dean designated accounts are initiated by
the Department Business Administrator and prepared
by the Financial Assistant with some preparation
done by the Department Business Administrator.
Preparation for requests or expenditures for travel,
equipment, etc. by college faculty are based upon
prior authorization by the Departmental Chair,
College Business Administrator or the Dean. Supervisory
personnel approve all reimbursements (travel,
purchase vouchers, etc.) for personnel under their
direct supervision. Under the supervision of the
Department Business Administrator, financial documents
are prepared by the Financial Assistant, Office
Assistant, Secretary, or by Department Business
Administrator directly.
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| Expenditures
- Internal Control Objectives Minimum Internal
Control Techniques |
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Valid
authorization of purchase documents
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Approval by the proper
level of management of established vendors,
prices, quality of goods, quantities, and
terms.
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Current prices, vendors,
specifications, and terms are made available
to requesting units.
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Minimize the departmental
personnel involved in the preparation of purchase
documents to those specifically trained on
the various purchase regulations.
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Written approval on a
purchase voucher or acquisition by department
business manager as to vendors, prices, quality,
quantities, and terms by reference to documented
data approved by management.
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Instruct vendors to forward
invoices directly to UH Accounts Payable or
submit vendor invoices received by departmental
personnel directly to Accounts Payable
Response:
- All expenditures are approved by the authorized
departmental signature authority.
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Items are readily available
on the web and in an internal vendor database
to maintain division and departmental specific
vendor instructions.
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Each department has designated
purchasing agent.
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All purchase requests are
approved by the Director/DBA or his/her designee.
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Normally all invoices would
be forwarded directly to Accounts Payable.
The College is currently involved in a pilot
program where all payments (including Purchase
Orders) are made in the College.
Validity of travel expenses
-
Preparation of travel and
expense reimbursement requests only on the
basis of an authorized travel or expense request
by a department employee who does not approve
the travel or expense.
-
Review by department business
manager of applicable supporting documentation
prior to authorization of travel, or reimbursement
request.
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Appropriate management
level of additional authorization for foreign
travel requests, research related travel,
or reimbursement requests of unusually large
amounts.
Response:
-
A. All travel and expense
reimbursement requests must be prior approved
by the employees direct supervisor and must
have a certifying signature. Travel reimbursements
are prepared by support staff.
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The appropriate business
office staff reviews all supporting documentation.
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The College follows University
and state guidelines regarding foreign (and
all other) travel. Research related travel
is approved by the College’s Research
Administrator according to the granting agency’s
guidelines and in accordance with the Office
of Grants and Contracts. Any unusual reimbursement
requests are approved by the Dean.
Completeness
of recognition of liabilities for goods and services
accepted
-
Requestor completes receiving
report as goods or services are accepted and
promptly forwards to Accounts Payable (AP)
as authorization to pay vendor.
Response:
Response:
- Normally, the departmental purchasing agents
would verify the receiving report and forwarded
it to AP. Under the pilot program, all receiving
reports are verified by the purchasing agent
and forwarded to appropriate internal personnel
for payment.
Propriety of account classification
- Department business manager checks coding
on all purchase and travel documents.
Response:
Validity, completeness
and accuracy of recorded balances
-
Department business manager
periodically compares PeopleSoft with budgeted
amounts and prior periods.
- The performance of employees who prepare purchase
documents is regularly measured and evaluated,
and improvement progress is monitored systematically.
Response:
- The Director and DBA each
month compare PeopleSoft with budgeted amounts
and prior periods.
- Performance and training
of all employees in the business offices are
monitored and measured on an on-going basis.
Performance evaluations are completed annually.
Consistent and efficient
responses to inquiries
- The department business
manager is responsible for all travel purchasing
and accounts payable related inquiries and is
the primary contact person to whom all questions
are directed.
Response:
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