Accounting Services Offers New SAHARA FAQs
UTSA’s new monthly financial reconciliation tool, SAHARA, offers several new features that allow reconcilers and approvers to efficiently complete, review, track and approve monthly reconciliations. We put together several FAQs and new information to assist with the SAHARA reconciliation process.
Q: What do the various reconciliation status types mean?
A: Not reconciled: The reconciler has not yet approved the reconciliation.
Q: If I have actuals in one month, but none in the next, do I need to reconcile the month that does not have actuals?
A: Yes. Once the cost center/project has had actuals activity, you will have a reconciliation each month for the rest of the year.
In the months where a reconciliation is produced, but the month had no actuals activity, the reconciler is required to approve the reconciliation; however, since there were no actuals, the reconciliation does not require owner approval and will immediately go to “complete” status once the reconciler has approved. For example:
|
Month |
Actuals activity? |
Reconciliation? |
Reconciler approval needed? |
Owner approval needed? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
September |
No |
No |
No |
No |
|
October |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
November |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
December* |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
*December did not have actuals activity; therefore, approval is not needed from the owner. Once reconciled, it will go into “complete” status.
Q: Can Principal Investigators approve reconciliations?
A: Yes. Principle investigators were recently given approval roles and are able to approve SAHARA reconciliations; however, the department manager or “owner” in SAHARA will still have to certify annually in fall.
Q: Who do I contact with questions about my SAHARA access?
A: Open a Tech Café ticket with the subject line “SAHARA Access.”
Q: Who do I contact for assistance with the reconciliation process?
A: Email Accounting Services or call ext. 4212.
