Financial Oversight and Analysis | Cornell University Division of Financial Services (2024)

Financial oversight includes these components:

  • Account-level Monitoring(includes reconciliations, where appropriate)
  • Financial Forecasting
  • Reserve and Contingency Account Management

Account-Level Monitoring

Unit Responsibilities

  • Contact the SSC with any questions, concerns, or requests for additional information on fund balances, corrections and variances.

SSC Financial Management & Reporting Responsibilities

  • Review and track fund balances to determine reasonableness of spend as well as on a month-to-month comparison basis; investigate variances.

    Note:To ensure compliance with university policy and award requirements, sponsored account activity may be monitored at a more granular level than fund balance.

  • Monitor budget to actuals and request corrections for any transaction coding changes that may be needed.
  • Identify and research large variances or unexplained discrepancies, requesting corrections if necessary.
  • Ensure completion of transfers-in based on annual budget or additional unit agreements.
  • Ensure revenue and expense object codes comply with sub-funds (i.e., no unallowable on sponsored).
  • Review and/or reconcile asset and liability activity including advances; receivables, inventory and accruals; and contractor expenses, as agreed in the service-level agreement and in accordance withuniversity guidelines.
  • Monitor open pre-encumbrances.
  • Meet regularly with unit leaders about expenditures, variances, and/or issues.

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Financial Forecasting

Unit Responsibilities

  • Involve and inform the SSC Financial Management & Reporting team of the following outside of the budget development process:
    • Additional reserve account commitments.
    • Changes to agreed-upon transfers - in or out of unit accounts.
  • Contact the SSC Financial Management & Reporting team with any questions, concerns, or additional requests on quarterly forecast reports.
  • Determine appropriate frequency of forecasts.

SSC Financial Management & Reporting Responsibilities

  • Prepare accurate and complete reports that meet unit needs for operations, decision-making, and strategic planning.
  • Assist department with quantification of costs of strategic goals and objectives.
  • Prepare standard reports that include year-to-date actual activity versus budget as well as a forecast of year-end total expenses and results – summarized based on unit need/request (i.e., account, sub-fund, etc.).
  • Determine available and potential funding sources and quantify unmet, or potentially unmet, funding needs.
  • Suggest alternatives and potential options to meet funding needs.
  • Work with the department/unit and the University Budget Office on funding issues and needs.
  • Maintain a list of commitments, contracts, and agreements.
  • Report frequency will be determined by unit leaders in consultation with the Financial Management & Reporting team based on a number of factors – e.g., total budget, unit fund source(s) and type, etc.
  • Occasional, ad hoc reporting is available, upon request.

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Reserve and Contingency Account Management

Unit Responsibilities

  • See Financial Forecasting

SSC Financial Management & Reporting Responsibilities

  • Process transfers of funds based on annual budget and/or additional unit agreements.
  • Understand and provide accurate forecasting of expenditures and uncommitted available balances in all unit reserve accounts.
  • Process pre-encumbrance transactions for reserve commitments.

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Financial Oversight and Analysis | Cornell University Division of Financial Services (2024)

FAQs

What is the purpose of financial oversight? ›

Financial oversight is a cornerstone of good governance and management in any organization. It ensures that financial operations are conducted appropriately, resources are used effectively, and the organization's financial practices are transparent and compliant with legal standards.

What is a fiscal oversight? ›

Fiscal oversight occurs through subrecipient fiscal monitoring, audit resolution, training, and technical assistance. Fiscal Monitoring. Audit Resolution. Corrective Actions Related to State and Federal Grants.

What is finance and accounting oversight? ›

Financial oversight includes these components: Account-level Monitoring (includes reconciliations, where appropriate) Financial Forecasting. Reserve and Contingency Account Management.

Which of the following is the most suitable tool for analyzing the financial data of a company? ›

Ratio Analysis

It's most commonly used to assess its operational and financial performance. That financial performance, such as efficiency, liquidity, profitability, and solvency, aids management in making key decisions.

What are the 4 general purpose financial reports? ›

4 types of general purpose financial reporting

Different needs require a variety of reports, but together they provide a comprehensive look at a company's overall operational activity. The four types of financial statements include Balance Sheet, Cash Flow Statement, Income Statement, and Retained Earnings Statement.

What is a financial reporting oversight role? ›

The term "financial reporting oversight role" means a role in which a person is in a position to or does exercise influence over the contents of the financial statements or anyone who prepares them, such as when the person is a member of the board of directors or similar management or governing body, chief executive ...

What is the responsibility of oversight? ›

Oversight refers to the actions taken to review and monitor public sector organizations and their policies, plans, programs, and projects, to ensure that they: are achieving expected results; represent good value for money; and. are in compliance with applicable policies, laws, regulations, and ethical standards.

Who is in charge of overseeing fiscal policy? ›

In the United States, fiscal policy is directed by both the executive and legislative branches of the government. In the executive branch, the President—with counsel from the Secretary of the Treasury and economic advisors—directs fiscal policies.

What is fiscal responsibility rule? ›

A fiscal rule is a long-lasting constraint on fiscal policy through numerical limits on budgetary aggregates. Fiscal rules typically aim at correcting distorted incentives and containing pressures to overspend, particularly in good times, so as to ensure fiscal responsibility and debt sustainability.

Who has the responsibility for financial statements? ›

03 The financial statements are management's responsibility. The auditor's responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statements.

Who bears the ultimate responsibility for the financial statements? ›

The answer is c. Management of the organization. Management bears ultimate responsibility.

What are the golden rules of accounting? ›

What are the Golden Rules of Accounting? 1) Debit what comes in - credit what goes out. 2) Credit the giver and Debit the Receiver. 3) Credit all income and debit all expenses.

What are the three tools of financial analysis? ›

Several techniques are commonly used as part of financial statement analysis. Three of the most important techniques are horizontal analysis, vertical analysis, and ratio analysis.

What is the primary goal of financial analysis? ›

Overall, a central focus of financial analysis is evaluating the company's ability to earn a return on its capital that is at least equal to the cost of that capital, to profitably grow its operations, and to generate enough cash to meet obligations and pursue opportunities.

What is the purpose of financial compliance? ›

Financial compliance is the regulation and enforcement of the laws and rules in finance and the capital markets. It ranges through the entire financial spectrum, from investment banking practices to retail banking practices.

What is the oversight function and why is it important? ›

The legislature's review and evaluation of selected activities conducted by the executive branch is referred to as “legislative oversight.” The legislative branch conducts oversight activities because it has a duty to ensure that programs enacted by it are implemented and administered efficiently, effectively, and in a ...

What is the purpose of oversight systems? ›

Oversight AI detects unusual spending patterns, data entry inconsistencies, and improper purchasing activities, preventing cash leakage and fraud, and ensuring process integrity through vendor spend analysis.

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