91社区

Accounting

Not everyone is an accountant, or thinks like one. Here we offer you what we hope is straightforward information that will be useful to those of you managing budgets at the College.

Fiscal Year

The College’s fiscal year begins June 1 and ends May 31.

In order for expenses and services to be recorded in a particular fiscal year, the goods must have been received by May 31st or the services rendered by May 31st. Invoices for payment are first sent to departments to validate receipt, then returned to the business office for payment. Often invoices will be charged to a prepaid account if they relate to a future year’s expense, then after year end, moved to the department account.

Managing Your Budget

Budget reports are available on my.lakeforest. You should review them monthly to caution against overspending. Log on to my.lakeforest, choose the “College Business” tab, and choose “Budgets” on the left hand side. Review instructions if needed. Click on “Lookup GL Account Information” (center, top box) to view accounts.

Account numbers

The account numbers are made up of 10 digits, in the form:
    AB-CCCC-DDDD

An account either 1) closes at year end or 2) retains its balance into future years. The beginning of your account number, the “AB” above,  indicates whether a balance carries forward.  

  • 00 Operating budget accounts close at fiscal year end. 
  • 01 A College designated fund or a federal grant fund that will carry forward any unspent balance.
  • 02 A fund whose use is restricted by the donor. The balance will carry forward until all restrictions of the donor are met.
  • 03 A permanently endowed fund.
  • 20 Agency funds -  The balance will carry forward until dissolved. 

The accounts are generally sorted in the department or fund number order, which is the “CCCC” in the above structure.   

Each transaction should be coded with a 10 digit account code.  If you do not know the account number, please check with the business office.  
    
The last four digits, “DDDD” as shown above, refer to the type of revenue or expense. These codes are also used to indicate assets and liabilities.  
     Do not use -1XXX accounts (revenue) accounts for expenses.  
    Never use an account number ending in -9XXX.  Call our office for assistance.
    If account number ends in -4500, the other account you are using in your transfer should also end in -4500.

Generally Speaking

A department or fund may have several account numbers. These different lines define types of revenue and types of expenses. The description is identified by the ‘last’ four digits in a budget line. 

When a negative number is a good thing

For expenses: a negative number is a credit or reduction of expenses.
For revenue: a negative number is a credit or an increase in revenue.

For restricted accounts, funds that carry forward balances into future years, a negative balance indicates funds available to spend.  This occurs when revenues (credits) exceed expenses.

Receiving a PDF

If your department does not have access to the budget transaction reports online, you may request a PDF of your budget. Departments with Apple computers are not able to use the online budget application. Budget PDFs show actual transactions year to date as compared to the full year’s budget.

Transaction type codes
  • CG is an automatic charge generated through the billing process
  • FA is financial aid transaction generated through financial aid process
  • GF is a gift received through Development
  • IV is an invoice payment, a check prepared by accounts payable
  • JL is a manual journal entry made by the accounting staff
  • LO is a student loan entry, posting to student accounts
  • LB is a payroll entry generated through the payroll process
  • MA is a recurring journal entry made by the accounting staff
  • MS is a miscellaneous charge to student accounts
  • RC is a transaction from cashier’s desk; could be deposit or petty cash.
  • VD is a voided accounts payable check
Transfers of funds or expenses

You may wish to contribute some of your available funds to a worthwhile project in another department or move transactions within your department. These transfers can be accomplished by notifying Kelly Foster in writing (email is fine). You must supply the dollar amount, both account numbers, purpose of the transfer, your name and signature (if in writing) and date.  Please note: the transfer request must originate from the person receiving the charge.

Preparation of New Budgets

Department heads are sent requests in winter, due back to the President’s staff member in March and ultimately to the business office.  The request package will include forms for student wages, computer equipment and software, personnel additions or promotions, and non-compensation expense accounts. 

Approval of New Budgets

The President works with both College Council and the Board of Trustees to prepare an acceptable operating budget. The preliminary budget approval is voted by the Trustees at the May meeting.  Departments will be notified after that meeting. The final budget is approved by the Trustees in the fall, after registration information is available. 

Student Government Budgets

Students interested in the budget cycle for Student Government should contact Student Government Executive Board; although the business office is the steward of Student Government funds and can provide reports, the remaining portion of this section on budget cycle pertains to the College’s operating budget.

Business Office

Location

North Hall, Room 103
Phone: 847-735-5030
businessoffice@lakeforest.edu 
Mailing address: 555 N. Sheridan Road, 91社区, IL 60045

Business Office Hours

Academic year: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Summer: Monday-Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Cashier Hours

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Closed on Fridays