Chart of Accounts
The university's decisions and business processes are dependent upon the flow of financial information. This flow of financial information is driven by the accounting and reporting system. At the heart of that system is the chart of accounts. We use the chart of accounts to segregate and categorize financial transactions. The basic unit of the chart of accounts is the chartfield. Below are the chartfields we use in our financial accounting system.
Chartfields
Fund
4 digit
Funds form the basis of fund accounting, enabling UTSA to properly account for sources and uses of funds received.
Account
5 digit
The Account is the general ledger account that is an important element of the Chart of Accounts because it is used to identify the nature of the transaction for financial reporting.
*See commonly used general ledger account codes.
Function
3 digit
Function codes are three-digit values that enable the university to report expenses in a way that helps stakeholders understand the university’s mission-related activities and their relative importance.
Department
6 digit
The Department ID is a designation that allows responsibility identification and establishes organizational hierarchy for reporting purposes. They indicate the department, division or college to which a Cost Center or Project ID belongs, and they form the basis for departmental budgets.
Cost Center
6 digit
The Cost Center is a Chartfield that represents non-sponsored or non-plant related funds.
Project ID
10 characters for Sponsored Projects; 8 characters for Capital Projects
The Project ID allows us to organize information to facilitate project management, analysis and accounting for Capital Projects and Grant (Sponsored) Projects.
Activity
2 digit
This is a subaccount within a project.
* Commonly used general ledger account codes
It is important that you have a sound understanding of the chart of accounts and its components to ensure transactions are being classified and recorded correctly. For more information on the chart of accounts, view the Chart of Accounts Financial Guidelines.
Chart of Accounts Training
We encourage you to complete the Introduction to Chart of Accounts training course, where you will receive an overview of the PeopleSoft chart of accounts structure, terminology and concepts. Visit the Accounting Services Training site to learn more.
