Financials
For general information on financial transactions, please visit Research Financial Administration. Additional processes specific to University Research Institutes and Centers are listed below.
Management Budget (and Budget Authority)
- Management Budgets continue to be a “key component that reflects all financial activities and presents the budget at a higher level than the budgets we have been using” and are used for “implementing spending limits at the management budget level to ensure a predictable financial outcome” as noted from the May 2018 Provost communication. For in depth information on the Management Budgets please see the Management Budget Guidance.
Forecast Guidance
- Forecast Template with Guidance Tabs
- Transfer Code Examples
- Annual Report Timeline
- Budget Timeline
- GL077: Summary Income Statement
Purchasing
- Workflow Approval
- Please note that use of preferred vendors and iBuyNU is highly recommended.
Expense Reports for Travel and Entertainment
- Expense Reports
- Special circumstances:
- Approvals for Institute and Center Directors: Directors, in their capacity as the head of a URIC, report to the Vice President for Research, hence this requirement when requesting reimbursement for expenses incurred on behalf of the URIC. Expense Reports for Directors are reviewed by Milan Mrksich (Interim Vice President for Research). Institute and Center personnel may NOT approve any Expense Report for their Director, as this constitutes a conflict of interest. Directors requesting reimbursement for expenses incurred on behalf of a school or department should follow the local requirements for review and approval.
- Approvals for student expenses: Student expenses should always be reviewed by their sponsoring faculty member.
Managing Requests for New or Existing Chart Strings
- Requests for a new project chartfield (under a 171 fund-code) can be submitted directly by URIC staff through NU Financials (see link below).
- For all other requests, please coordinate with URICA to ensure chartfields align with standard procedures and naming conventions.
“One Card” Procurement Card Program
- Using the One Card
- Please inform Brittany Patrick when intending to request a new card or make changes to your current card.
- Complete the Northwestern Corporate Card Application and Agreement Form (URL) to the Corporate Card office.
- Please note that Amazon requires special registration, prior to making the first purchase, of each card to apply Northwestern’s tax exempt status.
- Northwestern Office for Research sets the maximum limit on a card at $1,500 per transaction and $5,000 per month. Well-supported exceptions will be considered, including those necessary for special one-time expenses that exceed the transaction and/or monthly maximum. Requests for exceptions should be sent via email to Tracy Nelson, copying Anne Martin.