Management Accounts
FAQs

Q1  How often should I review my cost centre reports?

·        It is recommended that that is carried out on a monthly basis

 Q2  What reports should I review for my cost centre ?

 Monthly:

·        Budget Group Monitor to review performance against budget (Except for Research Grants)

·        Transaction list to give more detail (gives additional information)

·        Research Grant Budget Statement for Research Grants

Others:

• Outstanding Orders

 Q3  What if I am not clear about the content of the reports?

·        If you are having difficulty understanding your budget reports contact your Faculty/Department Accountant for help.

Impromptu Reports

Q1  How do I set up Impromptu Access to the Finance reports ?

The following steps should be taken:

·        If you are a new member of staff ensure that you are set up with a user name and logon for the University Network by contacting MIS

·        Obtain authorisation from HOS/Dean/ Head of Department for access (please note that the lowest level of access is at school level)

·        Forward this authorisation to your Faculty/Department Accountant who will then process this through the correct channels and inform you when access has been granted

·        Contact Faculty/Department Accountant re set up and training

 Q2  If access is granted at School/ Sub Department level what financial information can a user obtain ?

·        The user has access to the financial information for all cost centres within the School /Sub Department.  Likewise if access is granted at Faculty or Department level the user can obtain financial information for all cost centres in the area in question.

 Q3  Where are Finance impromptu catalogues/reports located ?

·        The catalogue is called finbudnew_v6 and is located at

P:CATALOGS/FINANCE/V6 Catalogs 

·        The relevant finance reports are located at P:ReportsFINANCE/Budgets/Current Reports

·        These again should be copied up to your C/D Drive

 Q4  How do you copy reports from the P Drive to the C/D Drive ?

The following steps should be taken:

• Open windows explorer
• Under “Folders” on the left hand side of the screen locate catalogues/reports as detailed in Q3
• Right click and copy appropriate file to your C/D drive Cognos Catalogs/Report folder
• If in any difficulty please contact your Faculty/Department Advisor

 Q5  How often do you need to copy up catalogue/reports from P Drive to C/D Drive ?

·        Once copied these will only need updated if reports are amended/altered.

Q6  What do I do if Finance Impromptu reports will not run?

·        Close the report and via the Impromptu toolbar close the catalogue, then reopen the report.

·        If that does not help, try recopying the catalogue and/or report(s) from the P Drive.

·        If this does not help please contact your Faculty/Department Accountant 

 Q7  How do I obtain training on the Impromptu system ?

·        Contact your Faculty/Department Accountant

  Q8  How do individual budget holders for single cost centres (who do not have impromptu access) obtain financial reports to monitor performance ?

·        Contact your School/Faculty/Department office who should be able to provide these.

Management Accountants home page

Copyright © 2010 University of Ulster