Download presentation
Presentation is loading. Please wait.
1
Office of the Comptroller TRAVEL POLICY UPDATES ABA March 2008
2
Office of the Comptroller 2 Agenda Goals of revised policy Internal and external requirements and recommendations Highlight specific policy revisions Communication vehicles and target effective date
3
Office of the Comptroller 3 Goals of revised policy Ensure that Penn’s resources are spent prudently Ensure that IRS Accountable Plan and Sponsored Program requirements are met Clearly define roles and responsibilities for the travelers, approvers and central processing Ensure T&E reimbursement requests are properly documented, reviewed and approved prior to submission for processing Foster the use of recommended payment mechanisms and reduce unnecessary advance requests
4
Office of the Comptroller 4 External Requirements IRS compliance requirements – “accountable plan” Internal control requirements as an outgrowth of Sarbanes/Oxley and SAS 112 Federal Travel Regulations and Sponsored Research requirements Trustee interest in ensuring we have adopted strong controls for sound business practice
5
Office of the Comptroller 5 OACP Recommendations To improve policy compliance: – Clarify roles and responsibilities – Eliminate inconsistencies and clarify expectations – Create training classes and improve procedural materials – Improve advance reconciliation process – Define “acceptable” timeline for expense report submission – Introduce “Best Practices” for travelers and business administrators
6
Office of the Comptroller 6 Policy Review Process Gathered input from the following sources: OACP – Audit and Transaction Review Tax Office / Research Services OGC Peer institutions BAB Travel Services Advisory Committee
7
Office of the Comptroller 7 Policy “Look-and-Feel” Updated Format changed to mirror other financial policies Procedures moved to procedure manual Each policy section now contains: Purpose / Scope Responsibilities (traveler, TAC holder and higher level approvers) Policy Links to forms and procedures Policies re-ordered and re-numbered
8
Office of the Comptroller 8 T&E Reimbursement - Key Policy Changes Policy #2351 – General Restates roles and responsibilities Expands “one-up” approval requirements imple- mented previously for University executives to all levels with the introduction of a new role – Higher Level Approver – Schools and Centers responsible for creating their own hierarchy Policy compliance rests with every school and center – Travel Administrator responsible for the communication of policy and procedures, training opportunities and answering questions – Central processing organization responsible for processing T&E forms in a timely manner
9
Office of the Comptroller 9 T&E Reimbursement - Key Policy Changes Policy #2352 – Payment Methods Defines preferred payment methods as: – AMEX Airline Billing Account for airline tickets, and/or – AMEX Corporate Credit card Travelers and entertainers are expected to personally incur T&E expenses Use of preferred payment options and timely T&E reimbursement requests reduce carrying out-of-pocket expenditures for extended periods of time Use of preferred payment increases the University’s ability to leverage travel spend
10
Office of the Comptroller 10 T&E Reimbursement - Key Policy Changes Policy #2353 – Advances Advances are funds (cash or check) advanced to an individual prior to a trip or event – Prepaid expenses (airline, conference fees, etc.) will no longer be handled as advances Recommends the limited use of advances for T&E payment – New Advance Justification (C-7A) Form to support all advance requests Defines the requirement to account for advances with ten (10) days of the trip or event – Unreconciled advances after 120 days become taxable income
11
Office of the Comptroller 11 T&E Reimbursement - Key Policy Changes Policy #2354 – Reimbursement Process Defines the general expectation for documentation, review and approval Defines timely submission as within 10 days of the ending date of the trip or event Defines 182 day (six month) cut-off for expense reimbursement Introduction of Reimbursement Justification (C-5) form for any out-of-policy requests
12
Office of the Comptroller 12 Best Practices and Training Best Practices Best Practices being developed for Penn travelers, Schools, Centers and all University Divisions “Know Before You Go” pamphlet being developed for travelers Training and Procedure Manual Working with financial training to create new training opportunities New Procedural Manual to accompany policies Expanded policies and procedure information to be available on the web
13
Office of the Comptroller 13 Timeline for Updated Policies Presentations to Senior roundtable, Business Advisory Board and Senior BA meeting have already been done Announcement of policy changes in the current issue of The Bottom Line Additional announcements in The Almanac and the Daily Pennsylvanian forthcoming Effective and complete communication always requires the help of School/Center business administrators to trickle down the messages to faculty and staff Effective date for new policies and procedures – ** July 1, 2008**
14
Office of the Comptroller 14 Organizational Changes In order to improve operational efficiency and enhance value-added services, the following changes will be made: Effective May 1, 2008, the functions of T&E reimbursement and advance processing will become the responsibility of the Payroll Office Effective July 1, 2008, the following functions will become the responsibility of Purchasing Services: Travel card administration Travel service management Travel procurement/supplier management Travel policy and training
Similar presentations
© 2024 SlidePlayer.com. Inc.
All rights reserved.