The Controller's Office is responsible for developing and maintaining financial and related services, including budgetary, accounting, and reporting procedures and systems that support the mission and strategic goals of the University.
Colleague Finance and Project Information for External Grants
Updates
Month End:
The Controller's Office closes each month during the fiscal year no later than the fifth business day following the prior calendar month-end. Once each month is closed, account balances should be verified and reconciled as necessary. After the prior month has been closed, all pending transactions in the current month will be posted and available for viewing in Finance self-service.
Colleague Self-Service:
All general ledger account balances and transactions are available in the Financial Management module of Colleague self-service. Users with access to Finance self-service may have access to either Budget to Actuals or Projects Accounting in self-service. Budget to Actuals can be used to view account balances and transactions for both operating and non-operating funds.Operating funds (Fund 10) are best viewed in self-service using the My Cost Centers view. Non-operating funds are best viewed in self-service using the Object View. The Projects Accounting module should be used when viewing any balance or activity associated with an external grant or a capital project.
Finance self-service can be accessed through the self-service tile available through Connect2U or directly via the following link: self-service.
Requests for Finance self-service access should include the approval of your Vice President or Dean and then should be forwarded to the Controller’s Office email address (co376745@wne.edu) for review and processing.
External Financial Surveys:
The Controller's Office is responsible for the completion of a number of external financial surveys that are requested by a variety of organizations. The completion of some surveys is a regulatory and compliance matter related to the funding the University receives, or to maintain accreditation status for the programs we offer. Other surveys are voluntary in nature but benefit the University by providing access to comparable information on peer institutions. Many surveys require a variety of non-financial data and these are completed based on a joint effort between the Controller's Office and the Office of Institutional Research and Planning.
Some of the surveys we prepare or assist with include:
If you are a member of the University community and contacted by an external organization requesting University financial data or participation in a financial survey, please contact the Controller's Office for guidance and assistance.
Tax Reporting and Compliance:
The Controller's Office is responsible for maintaining compliance with various local, state and federal tax regulations and reporting requirements. While some tax compliance efforts are managed within other departments (Payroll, Procurement Services) associated with the Controller’s Office, responsibility for a number of tax programs rests directly with the Controller’s Office. Part of that compliance effort involves preparing and filing a number of returns at the local, state, and federal level in a timely manner.
Some of the tax filings we are responsible for preparing and filing:
The University currently has engaged the firm of CBIZ MHM, LLC to serve as tax consultant and advisor to support our tax compliance efforts.
Members of the University community may be contacted to provide assistance with tax compliance efforts as the information required for these tax returns is broad based and involves the collection of a variety of non-financial data. If you have a question on a particular tax compliance matter, or the various tax returns filed by the University please contact the Controller's Office.
Captial Asset Accounting Policy
Individual items purchased or donated with a useful life greater than one year and a cost or value in excess of $5,000 will be capitalized and be subject to depreciation. Computers and peripheral devices must also be valued at $5,000 or more individually in order to be capitalized and subject to depreciation. Peripheral devices include any computer hardware that is attached to a computer either physically or wirelessly.
If a group of assets is purchased (for example 20 desks for a classroom) and their combined cost is at least $15,000, then they can be capitalized as a group. Donated assets will be recorded at the value determined by the donor or independent appraiser to conform to the IRS regulation regarding gifts to not for profit organizations.
Alterations, renovations, and improvements to buildings, equipment, and grounds will be capitalized if they increase the value of the plant asset. Each asset will be recorded separately in a subsidiary ledger maintained for each plant asset type.
Accumulated depreciation will be maintained as a separate ledger by asset type and individual accumulations maintained within the Fixed Asset Module of Colleague.
Depreciation will be calculated on a straight-line method based on useful life. Assets that have not been disposed of will remain recorded even after fully depreciated.
The Controller's Office is responsible for the post-award administration of all sponsored programs (external grants and contracts) awarded to the University. We serve as a resource to all faculty members with grants and are available for assistance in managing grant budgets and interpreting federal and sponsor specific guidelines and regulations.
Some of the services we provide include:
The Controller's Office is responsible for the administration and accounting of the University’s long term investments, including all endowed funds. The majority of these funds are maintained in a unitized investment pool and invested with a variety of investment managers. The Controller's Office is also responsible for developing the annual spending budgets from endowed and other invested funds which is primarily utilized to provide scholarship support to students.
Some of the services we provide include:
All forms need to be filled out completely and returned to the Controller's Office for processing.
Julie LeBeau - Associate Vice President for Planning and Business
413-782-1293
julie.lebeau@wne.edu
Rosanne Mastrangelo - Assistant Vice President and Controller
413-796-2334
rosanne.mastrangelo@wne.edu
Noel Skerry - Senior Financial Analyst
413-782-1241
noel.skerry@wne.edu
Suzanne Fontaine - Senior Financial Analyst
413-782-1396
suzanne.fontaine@wne.edu
Nancy Foley - Senior Financial Analyst
413-796-2105
nancy.foley@wne.edu
