Chart of Accounts
Tufts uses account codes to create categories for all financial transactions at the University. These codes are an integral part of budgeting, reconciliation, and financial reporting.
Each code consists of either 2 or 3 parts:
- Account Number – Defines the type of transaction (revenue or expense)
- DeptID – Describes which organizational unit, department, and cost center the transaction belongs to
- Grant/Project Number – Used if the transaction is grant-funded or belongs to a capital project
Most active employees (excluding temps and student workers) have access to the list of account codes in Tableau, where you can view, sort, and search the codes. To access more detailed financial information or to review transactions for individual account codes, you will need to log into Data Warehouse.
Introduction to Tufts' Chart of Accounts
A Chart of Accounts is an information structure used in all financial systems to define a set of accounting categories. The Tufts Chart of Accounts in the PeopleSoft Financial system is an organizing framework or coding structure used to budget, record, and report on financial transactions and account balances. All financial transactions are coded to an Account and DeptID. The Project/Grant chartfield is used with Account and DeptID for sponsored research and capital projects.
Account
- Classifies Assets, Liabilities, Net Assets, Revenue, Expenses and Transfers
- Examples:
- Revenue:
- 4002 "Tuition"
- 4512 "Parking Fees"
- Expense:
- 5301 "Domestic Travel"
- 5404 "Laboratory Capital Equipment"
- 5411 "General Office Supplies"
- 5532 "Tel. Equip. Charges"
- Revenue:
Certain Accounts are for Budget Only, while others capture actual expenditures. For example:
Account Type | Account Number | Account Description |
---|---|---|
Budget Account | 5300 | Travel Expenses |
Actual Expenditure Account | 5301 | Domestic Travel |
Actual Expenditure Account | 5302 | Foreign Travel |
Actual Expenditure Account | 5303 | Moving Expenses |
Actual Expenditure Account | 5304 | Local (Auto, Bus, Taxi) |
Actual Expenditure Account | 5305 | Non-employee Reimb. |
Each category of Accounts reside in a particular range
Account Code/Category | Value Range |
---|---|
Assets | 1000-1999 |
Liabilities | 2000-2999 |
Net Assets Balances | 3000-3999 |
Revenue | 4000-4999 |
Expenses | 5000-5999 |
Allocations (IDRs) | 6000-6999 |
Transfers | 7000-7999 |
Indirect Cost (F&A) | 8000-8999 |
All departments utilize the expense account codes when they are spending. Revenue accounts are utilized by many departments that have activities which generate revenues throughout the year, such as Dental and Veterinary clinics.
DeptID
- Represents a cost center within the University
- Divided into three elements:
Organizational Unit Codes: A - Arts, Sciences and Engineering B - SMFA at Tufts C - Central D - Dental School F - Fletcher School G - Tufts Launchpad H - HNRC M - Medical School N - Nutrition School P - Operations Maintenance R - University College U - University V - Veterinary School X - Auxiliaries
Project/Grant
- A cost center that captures and controls Sponsored Grant activities or Capital Expenditure Authorization (CEA) Project.
- The Project/Grant segment must be used with a linking DeptID ending in "001" (example: A130001).
Project Example:
Grant Example:
Contact
For questions about the chart of accounts, please contact Edward Mahoney, Senior Director of Accounting and Associate Controller