Accounting

Personal Services Fringe Rate Calculation for Grants/Research

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Title: Personal Services Fringe Rate Calculation for Grants/Research
Policy Owner: Accounting Office
Applies to: Faculty, staff and designated University affiliates
Campus Applicability: Storrs and Regional Campuses
Effective Date: December 26, 2014
For More Information, Contact Associate Controller & Director of Accounting
Contact Information: (860) 486-1366
Official Website: http://accountingoffice.uconn.edu/

PURPOSE

To ensure that the University is in compliance with the cost principles and accounting standards set forth by the federal government.

APPLIES TO

This policy applies to faculty, staff and designated affiliates of the University of Connecticut, Storrs and Regional Campuses.

DEFINITIONS

Personal Services Fringe Rates are calculated to cover the cost of employer-paid contributions for retirement, health care, life insurance and other fringe benefits on grants.  The rates vary because the calculation is based on a percentage of salaries for different categories of personnel.

OMB Uniform Guidance – publication of the Office of Management and Budget titled “Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards.”

Governmental Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) – standards and rules administered by the federal Government for use in achieving uniformity and consistency under federal contracts.

POLICY STATEMENT

The Office of Cost Analysis (OCA), a unit within the University’s Accounting Office, is responsible for calculating personal services fringe rates that are charged to research grants in accordance with OMB Uniform Guidance and the Government Cost Accounting Standards (CAS).  Federal grants may not be charged personal services fringe rates unless approved by the Department of Health and Human Services, our cognizant federal agency. University departments charging personal services to grants must use the approved fringe rates.

ENFORCEMENT

Violations of this policy or associated procedures may result in appropriate disciplinary measures in accordance with University By-Laws, General Rules of Conduct for All University Employees, and applicable collective bargaining agreements.

PROCEDURES/FORMS

The rates are calculated by the OCA based on current financial information and then adjusted annually in the future rates, based on actual costs.

For more information on OMB Uniform Guidance, please see

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/

POLICY HISTORY

Revisions:  Review and editorial revisions August 27, 2021

Integrity of Accounting Transactions

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Title: Integrity of Accounting Transactions
Policy Owner: Accounting Office
Applies to: Staff
Campus Applicability:  All Campuses, except UConn Health
Effective Date: August 19, 2014
For More Information, Contact Associate Controller & Director of Accounting
Contact Information: (860) 486-1366
Official Website: http://accountingoffice.uconn.edu/

PURPOSE

The financial position of the University must be represented in conformity with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) in the United States of America and the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB).

APPLIES TO

This policy applies to all staff of the University of Connecticut, Storrs and Regional Campuses.  Fiscal staff are responsible for adhering to this policy, and the Accounting Office staff ensure adherence.

DEFINITIONS

Basic accounting principles: follow the accounting equation where assets minus liabilities equal net position.  Due to basic double entry accounting, this equation needs to be in balance at all times.  Specific types of object code balance types have normal debit or credit balances.  For instance, expense object codes have a normal debit balance.
Net position: fund balance in governmental organizations.
Fiscal staff: are generally responsible in their respective areas for financial matters including but not limited to procurement, adhering to budgets, safeguarding assets, and completing transactions in the financial system.

POLICY STATEMENT

The Accounting Office is responsible for ensuring that all departments follow basic accounting principles when processing accounting entries, and have proper supporting documentation and approval.  All submissions of accounting entries by departments must be reviewed and approved by the Accounting Office to ensure they follow basic accounting principles.

ENFORCEMENT
Violations of this policy or associated procedures may result in appropriate disciplinary measures in accordance with University By-Laws, General Rules of Conduct for All University Employees, and applicable collective bargaining agreements.

PROCEDURES/FORMS

Accounting entries are routed to the Accounting Office via electronic workflow for review and approval.  These accounting entries include Distributions of Income and Expense, Transfers of Funds, General Ledger Transfers, Internal Billings, Adjustment/Accrual Vouchers, Journal Vouchers, Indirect Cost Adjustments, Salary and Benefit Expense Transfers, Labor Ledger Journal Vouchers, General Ledger Correction Processes and accounting entries done via collector feeds.  In addition, accounting entries of $100,000 or higher must be approved by the Director of Accounting.  Certain other approvals may be required such as in the case of UCONN 2000 funds (see Capital Projects Delivery Process).

POLICY HISTORY

Revisions:  Review and editorial revisions August 27, 2021