College Implements New Accounting Process as Fiscal Year 2008 Begins
Posted on 7/11/2007
The College of Education and Health Professions implemented a new, centralized accounting system with the beginning of the new fiscal year on July 1. The change was suggested by several department heads and approved by a unanimous vote during a meeting earlier this year of the executive committee of the college's Administrative Council.
Some department heads requested assistance with the accounting process because of the increasingly complex and time-consuming accounting procedures that department desk administrators were handling, said John Murry, associate dean for administration. Those personnel will now be able to devote more time to academic issues, he explained, although most will continue to spend at least 50 percent of their time on financial matters.
"We want the departments to be able to focus on academic issues such as quality of instruction, as well as recruiting, diversity and accreditation," Murry said. "The desk administrators will maintain an important supporting role in department financial affairs, but they will be freed up to an extent to focus on these other issues."
Departments will not lose control of their budgets, Murry stressed, and the new system will increase the safeguards that all state, federal and university regulations will be followed. The system is designed to protect college personnel by detecting any potential problems with financial requests early in the process.
The office of the associate dean for administration recently added two accountants to the staff to handle the increased responsibility. Sandy Bramlet formerly worked on campus in the Graduate School, and Natalie Edmondson formerly worked for Sam's Club. Both are working temporarily from 308 Graduate Education Building.
Brandi Maples, director of financial affairs for the college, explained the breakdown of duties for the two new employees. Bramlet handles purchases and receipts from state accounts, which include funding from appropriations by the Arkansas General Assembly and tuition revenue. Edmondson handles purchases and receipts from foundation accounts, which represent private gifts, and research grants.
"Sandy and Natalie are working from the same office right now, which helps with training," Murry said. "We are really very fortunate to have been able to hire them."
Cheryl Nimmo, an administrative assistant who recently moved to 312 Graduate Education Building, and Kenetheia Reed, an accountant, will continue to generate monthly budget reports for dean's staff members, Nimmo from state accounts and Reed from foundation accounts.
Murry and Maples met with department heads, desk administrators and people who direct the college's research and service units to go over the changes and review financial forms. They also plan to attend department faculty meetings in the fall to provide information and answer questions.
Electronic access to a new document outlining business and financial affairs policies and procedures is available on the college's Web site at http://coehp.uark.edu/admin_resources.php. Financial and personnel forms are also available on that Web page.
For more information, contact Murry at jmurry@uark.edu or 575-3082 or Maples at maples@uark.edu or 575-5116.
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