Chart of Accounts

All Syracuse University financial transactions and activities (e.g., buying and paying for goods, services, etc.; getting reimbursed for business and travel expenses; managing funds; etc.) utilize the chart of accounts accounting structure.

Example of an SU Chartstring:

* All chartstrings contain these chartfields.
**Available for departmental use only, not required.
***Always required for sponsored projects.

Each segment of the chart of accounts is called a “chartfield.” All segments together is called the “chartstring.”

Business Unit (required field and is defaulted for all transactions)
The business unit is the legal business entity for which financial statements are reported at the end of a fiscal year.

Fund (required field)
The fund is defined as a self-balancing group of chartfield strings, established for unique budgeting, funding, accounting (including external financial reporting), and operational requirements.  The Fund always contains 2 digits.

Fund	Description
11	Current Operations (Operating Budget)
13	Sponsored Grants And Contracts
14	Unrestricted Designated Net Assets
15	Unrestricted Gift Funded -Gift funds whose restrictions are met
16	Unrestricted Endowment (earnings distribution)
17	Temporarily Restricted for time or purpose (ex. pledges, buildings)
18	Temporarily Restricted Endowment
19	Permanently Restricted
51	Unrestricted Endowment
52	Temporarily Restricted Endowment
53	Permanently Restricted Endowment
71	Unrestricted Loan Fund
72	Temporarily Restricted Loan Fund
73	Permanently Restricted Loan Fund
81	Unrestricted Split Interest Agreements
82	Temporarily Restricted Split Interest Agreements
83	Permanently Restricted Split Interest Agreements
91	HEOP, PELL, SEOG, & FWS

Note: Typically a campus department will only utilize funds 11, 13, 15, and 16 for their activity.

Department (required field)
A department is generally defined as an academic or administrative unit that has a common programmatic, operational, and fiscal (including budgetary) responsibility. A department listing can be found in  DataInsights. Department is always a five digit numeric value (the first three digits designate the area).

Program (required field)
The program is defined as a group of common ongoing activities for which financial activity needs to be tracked and budgeted. These activities may occur within a single department or across multiple departments. Unique activities for which financial information needs to be tracked will also be accommodated here. Program is always a five digit numeric value.

Account (required field)
The account is always a six digit numeric value and is defined as the natural classification of financial transactions used for recording and summarizing assets, liabilities, net assets, revenues or expenses. (e.g., travel, office supplies, salary, etc.). A complete account listing can be found in  DataInsights . Find select lists of revenue accounts, non-payroll expense accounts, and payroll expense accounts.

MYCODE (optional field)
The MyCode is strictly an optional field to be used for any special tracking needs the owner of the chartfield may have. See update a MyCode description or setup a new MyCode for more information regarding the assignment and use of MyCodes. MyCode is always a six digit numeric value.

New MyCodes may be set up by the budget manager (or appropriate designee) in each area. Contact your budget manager if you have a new MyCode request.

Project (required for Sponsored transactions)
The project ID number is a unique value used to accumulate financial and budget transactions and track project/sponsor data. These numbers are sequentially assigned by the PeopleSoft system as grants/contracts are set up. A sponsored award can have one or more projects. This provides the functionality for “sub accounts.”  Project is always a five digit numeric value.

Activity (required for Sponsored transactions)
The project activity is used to further breakdown a project or task. A project can have one or more of these activities. This provides the functionality for “sub accounts.” Activity is always a three digit numeric value.

Budget Reference (required for Sponsored transactions)
The budget reference indicates the sponsored budget year of the transaction. Budget reference is always a two digit numeric value.

Requesting New Chartstrings

To request a new general ledger/budget chartfield (e.g., program, department), send an email to Karen Mulligan, Director of General Accounting. Visit request a new chartstring for more information.

To Request a New Sponsored Project/Activity/Budget Reference

The Office of Sponsored Programs assists University faculty and staff with submission of proposals for external support of research, scholarship, education and training, and service/outreach activities. Responsibilities include assuring that submitted proposals conform to University policies and sponsor guidelines, and if funded, that projects are compliant with sponsor requirements.  For additional information, please visit OSP’s website.

Requesting Access to Chartstrings

To request access to your chartstrings, enter a FAB FAST Request.