Welcome to the Financial Systems Needs Assessment (FSNA) Project!

Are you frustrated by our current financial systems (FIN/FAS, BGT, PAS…) and business processes?  Would you like to help us do something about it?
 
We are in the first phase of a multi-phase effort to replace the UW’s financial systems (FAS/FIN, PAS, BGT), and we need input from users on our current financial business processes and the requirements for a new financial system. Our goal is get a broad spectrum of input from people who use our financial systems.

I use the UW financial systems - How can I help?

We will use a Web-based tool to gather your comments.  If you’d like to participate, please complete the registration form at https://www.decisiondirector.com/regUW.asp. You will be sent your User ID and Password within 1 business day of completing the registration. You can register any time between now and late November. Once you have registered, you can participate in any of the business areas listed below where you have experience, expertise, or knowledge—as your time allows.  The last day to provide input will be December 4.

Please see the “Spotlight” box on the right-side of this page for more information.

 

 

General Ledger/Chart of Accounts Focus Group Findings and Recommendations

The FSNA project is designed to solicit input from campus regarding business requirements and unmet needs through a variety of project activities, including General Ledger/Chart of Accounts (GL/COA) focus groups.

The GL/COA structure provides the foundation for an effective and efficient financial system.  It is critical to understand how effectively the current GL/COA structure supports UW’s financial and accounting activities, reporting needs and business processes.  The information gathered during the focus groups provides valuable input for defining the replacement financial system’s requirements. 
Twenty-five (25) focus group sessions were held across campus between January 8th and April 13th, 2009.  The objectives of each group were to:

• Identify themes across units related to GL/COA use, interaction and processing
• Identify reporting needs (financial reporting, management reporting and external reporting) and challenges that are driven by the current GL/COA
• Gain input needed to create a framework for defining financial system GL/COA requirements
• Gain input needed to recommend next steps regarding the GL/COA structure with respect to the Financial Systems Replacement Project

A high level executive summary of GL/COA focus group major themes is available below:

• GL/COA Executive Summary
• Appendix A
• Appendix B
• Appendix C

 

 

 

As-Is Business Processes Documentation & Validation

A deliverable of the FSNA project includes High-Level As-Is Business Processes Documentation & Validation.  In order to select a new financial system that meet the needs of the UW, it is important to first understand the way the UW conducts business today.  Only when that understanding of current business processes is gained, will it be possible to select quality requirements for a new financial system.

The project team began collecting As-Is Business Process documentation in January 2009 for core University financial processes.  The scope for process collection is shown in the diagram below:



The goals for each in scope business function are to:  

• Develop a common understanding of the components of each process
• Map the process at a high level
• More detailed mapping will be done in later phases of the project
• Reduce risk of missing requirements through identification of high-level processes
• Provide foundation for a Business Redesign Framework

FSNA Business Analysts meet with process owners/Subject Matter Experts to gather As-Is process information and create an As-Is Business Process Mapping document for each specific area.  The document includes process flows/swim lanes, process narratives, process properties & sub properties, systems involved with the process, and potential opportunities for improvement.

Following the documentation of each area, the project team held Requirements Definition Retreats to validate the process with campus and gather new system requirements for the specific business function.

At the completion of each High-Level As-Is Business Processes Documentation & Validation, the process map will be available on this website.

 

 

 

FSNA Project Charter

The Financial Systems Needs Assessment’s Project Charter has been drafted and reviewed by the FSNA Steering Committee and Financial Core Teams.  This report will be published and available on this website soon. 

.Advantiv Advantiv Advantiv Advantiv Advantiv Advantiv Advantiv Advantiv Advantiv Advantiv Advantiv Advantiv Advantiv Advantiv

Decision Director DecisionDirector Decision Director DecisionDirector Decision Director DecisionDirector Decision Director DecisionDirector Decision Director DecisionDirector Decision Director