Greetings!
This month's issue of the newsletter includes information about the following:
* The "New" Financial Management!
* Unmet Cost Share Report Schedule Shift
* Sales Tax Rate Increases by .1% - Now 8.9%
* Results of RAA Outreach Training Survey
* Biennium Close 2005-2007 Webpage now available
* AP Email ListServ
* Payment Card Industry (PCI) Standards
* UWare - Your Software Acquisition and Licensing Service
**********************************************************************************************
The "New" Financial Management!
As you may know, the Purchasing and Stores organization is now a department of Financial
Management. Since the reorganization was announced in December, leaders of the "new"
organization have launched three initiatives:
1. Develop a common language and tool kit
With an organization that is now 40% larger, our leaders and staff are
challenged to listen and learn from one another about various practices
and ideas. The objective, with many activities currently underway, will
be a "new" organization, using common goals, values and tools for
change.
2. Launch the Seamless Procure to Pay (PtoP) Initiative
Involving our campus customers, this reorganization provides a great
opportunity to review the procurement process "wing to wing". The
objective will be to make it easier for customers to acquire and pay for
good and services. This initiative will officially kick-off in
mid-April.
3. Review the business model used by Stores
The objective of this initiative is to develop a business model for UW
Stores which meets customers' needs and is fiscally sound. Key
customers of the Stores operation will be involved in the assessment
effort.
We plan on providing an update on these initiatives periodically in this newsletter.
Please contact Jeff Follman at jfollman@u.washington.edu if you have any questions or
need additional information.
**********************************************************************************************
Unmet Cost Share Report Schedule Shift
In an effort to facilitate the quarterly reporting and reconciliation of the maximum available
cost sharing, RAA is shifting the production of the Unmet Cost Share Report for distribution
to May, August, November and February rather than on the calendar quarter. The benefit of this
adjustment will be to reflect a more accurate record of cost share contributions through the end
of each calendar quarter.
Please contact Suzette Ashby-Larrabee at suzette@u.washington.edu if you have any questions
about this report.
**********************************************************************************************
Sales Tax Rate Increases by .1% - Now 8.9%
Effective April 1, 2007, sales and use tax within all of King County will increase one-tenth
of one percent (.001). The tax will be used for transportation purposes. Departments with
external sales where sales tax is collected, please adjust your collection rates beginning
in April. Departments will begin seeing this new rate on their purchases made in April.
Tacoma's rate remains constant at 8.8%.
More information on sales and use tax can be found at:
http://www.washington.edu/admin/payables/salestax.html
**********************************************************************************************
Results of RAA Outreach Training Survey
The results are in for the Research Accounting and Analysis outreach training Survey. We
thank and appreciate all who took the time to participate in this survey.
We received 123 responses to the survey. The topics receiving the highest number of requests
for outreach and training were cost sharing, allowable costs, closing and financial reporting,
and subcontract administration. The survey also revealed that 78% of respondents prefer a
presentation that combines web based content and in-class review and discussion. Thus, cost
sharing will be the first course developed with a planned rollout Fall '07. Other topics to
follow in order of the priority the survey indicated.
Please contact Ted Mordhorst (tedm2@u.washington.edu) with any questions.
**********************************************************************************************
Biennium Close 2005-2007 Webpage Now Available
It's that time again!! It is time to start planning for state budget 05-07 Biennium Close.
Information about the Biennium Close process, document processing cut off dates and contact
information is available at:
http://www.washington.edu/admin/ap/office/bienniumclose2007.htm
Biennium Close Information Sessions (these sessions are particularly helpful to those new to
the close process) will be held:
* Tuesday, April 10 1:30 - 3:30 pm
* Wednesday, April 25 1:30 - 3:30 pm
* Tuesday, May 8 1:30 - 3:30 pm
* Friday, May 18 10:00 - 12:00 pm
All classes will be held in the Purchasing Accounting Building. To register for the Biennium
Close Information Session, please go to:
https://catalysttools.washington.edu/survey/donnaand/34654
**********************************************************************************************
AP Email ListServ
Would you like to receive email updates regarding news, tips, biennium close information and
other procedural changes in Accounts Payable? If so, please register for the AP ListServ at:
https://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/ap-infolist
**********************************************************************************************
Payment Card Industry (PCI) Standards
As a result of guidelines established by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council
(https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/) a joint effort is underway between Student Fiscal
Services and the UWs Chief Security Office, Kirk Bailey, to review University-wide credit card
procedures and processes. These standards apply in situations where the UW is charging the
credit card for goods and service it is providing.
Two open forums to discuss the policy are being held on April 4th from 2:30 to 4:00 in
170 Schmitz Hall and April 5th from 10:00 to 11:30 in 170 Schmitz Hall. If you would like more
information, please contact Andrew Monusko at 206-616-7070 (amonusko@u.washington.edu
**********************************************************************************************
UWare - Your Software Acquisition and Licensing Service
Are you wondering where to find the best price on software for your department? UWare,
which was launched at Biztech, is a joint project between Purchasing and Computing &
Communications with a goal to develop a centralized service to administer and distribute licensed
oftware to the UW community, streamline reporting and compliance, and negotiate lower
prices, too!
The UWare Project Team works closely with academic IT directors from across campus to identify
additional licensing opportunities. New agreements are currently under negotiation and additional
oftware products will be added in the coming months.
For questions or additional information, please see the UWare site at:
https://www.washington.edu/uware/ or contact Michelle Lynch at 206-685-7878
lynchm@u.washington.edu
**********************************************************************************************
|
