Research Accounting

About us

The activity of this unit involves post-award administration of hundreds of grants, contracts and agreements with annual expenditures and cash flow of over $36,000,000. The Research Accounting team provides support to the PSU research community by assisting principal investigators in meeting their fiscal responsibilities to the funding agency.

Sponsored project awards are legally and mutually binding agreements between the funding agency and PSU. The university must comply with guidelines set by federal, state, local government and private agencies. Failure to meet any of the guidelines or regulations these agencies establish may jeopardize PSU's ability to qualify for current and/or future funding. Post-award administration is the collaborative effort that ensures PSU meets its fiscal responsibilities as defined by regulatory authorities and the agencies that offer funding opportunities.

The principal investigator bears the ultimate responsibility for the administration of their sponsored project activity. One of the most important aspects of post-award administration is the adherence to all fiscal terms and conditions of the award and the adequate documentation of all expenditures in accordance with the sponsor's guidelines and regulations.

Mission

The mission of the Research Accounting Unit is to establish an effective sponsored research post-award management system that will monitor compliance with fiscal and reporting requirements as established by Federal and state law, agency regulations, University policies and procedures and generally accepted accounting principles for projects funded through Portland State University. This includes the following:

• Establish and communicate policies and procedures necessary to ensure compliance with applicable contract, grant and agreement terms, Federal, state and private regulations and University policies and procedures.
• Establish effective cash management systems to ensure cash flow and the corresponding collection and deposits to respective Banner FIS award numbers.
• Provide a centralized repository for all applicable award and transaction activity documents.
• Provide efficient, effective and timely administration on research funds, minimizing the University's exposure to financial risk.

It is the goal of the Research Accounting Unit to meet the financial and accounting needs and responsibilities of Portland State University's research community with quality performance in a professional, courteous and service oriented manner.

Research Accounting services

The list below outlines the specific duties the Research Accounting Office performs:

• Entering/ adjusting award budgets in the Banner FIS system.
• Monitoring and approving expenditures as they occur, in accordance with established parameters, such as allowability and proper allocation. Acts as repository for all original expenditure documents for all administered awards, excluding payroll related documents.
• Assists with labor distribution (LDF) requests for employees paid from sponsored research funds.
• Invoicing agencies as required by the guidelines established in individual award documents.
• Monitoring and tracking the aging of receivables and following up on past due receivables.
• Preparing interim and final financial reports as required by sponsors and assuring that expenditures reflected in the financial reports are in accordance with sponsor terms and conditions.
• Accounting for all cost sharing and/or matching expenditures to be reported to the sponsors.
• Administration of Personnel Activity Reports (PARs).
• Performing award close-out procedures, including but not limited to submission of final financial reports and record retention of award documents.
• Preparing certain fiscal year-end accounting reports as needed.
• Preparation of reports and statistical information as requested by PSU chief financial administrators.

Resources

Links to other federal, state, and local resources.

Here are some Forms and Guides you might find helpful.

OUS (Oregon University System)

 

Staff List

Main phone:	503.725.3667
FAX:	503.725.8170
Hours:	M-F 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Location:	628 Unitus Building