University Accounting Office Procedures Manual

Section 2.1, Account Number Structure


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A. Purpose

The object of this material is to provide an explanation of the account numbering system in the Financial Accounting System (FAS).

B. General Guidelines/Applicable Policies

The fifteen digit FAS account number is used to identify all financial transactions. The account number is arranged in an order that facilitates accounting and financial management for all funds of the University.

Account Number Structure

Each account number is grouped into four principal fields which may contain up to fifteen characters as follows:

                    X - X X X X X - X X X X - X X X X X  
                
     Ledger  --------   
                                       
     Activity Identifier  ----   
                                         
     Object Code (Subsidiary Ledger)  
               or                     ---    
     Account Control (General Ledger)         
                                                      
     Project Number   ------------------------------- 
 
     All characters of the account number are numerical. 
Account Number Fields

  1. Ledger (X-XXXXX-XXXX-XXXXX): This first digit of the account number aids in the quick identification of broad classes of accounts. Almost all transactions initiated by departments utilize the nine subsidiary ledger accounts (ledgers 1-9). The General Ledger (Ledger 0) is used primarily as a number to identify cash balances belonging to trust funds (see Section 10.0 - Monthly Accounting/Budget Statements).

    General Ledger

         0-XXXXX   Balance Sheet Accounts Shows cash
                   balance for trust funds.
                   Transactions using the General
                   Ledger Account Number are restricted
                   to the Business Office. 
    
    
    Subsidiary Ledger
         1-XXXXX   State Budget Code Accounts- Revenue
                   Only.  Academic Affairs (16030) and
                   Overhead Receipts (26030) Budget
                   Codes. 
     
         2-XXXXX   State Budget Code Accounts -
                   Expenditure Only.  Academic Affairs
                   (16030) and Overhead Receipts
                   (26030) Budget Codes. 
     
         3-00001-  State Budget Code Accounts- Revenue/
         3-49999   Expenditure.  Academic Affairs
                   (16030) Budget Code- Self Supporting
                   Activities. 
     
         3-50000-  Auxiliary Enterprises, Sales and    
         3-99999   Service Trust Funds, Discretionary
                   Trust Funds. 
     
         4-XXXXX   State Budget Code Accounts -
                   Revenue/Expenditure.  N.C.
                   Agricultural Research Service
                   (16031) and N.C. Agricultural
                   Extension Service (16032) Budget
                   Codes. 
     
         5-XXXXX   Contracts and Grants- Expenditure Only. 
     
         6-XXXXX   Foundation Accounts- Expenditure Only. 
     
         7-XXXXX   Gifts and Miscellaneous Trust-
                   Revenue/Expenditure. 
     
         8-XXXXX   Capital Improvements 
     
         9-XXXXX   Agency Trust Funds -
                   Revenue/Expenditure.  Funds held by
                   the University which belong to
                   student, faculty, staff, and like
                   organizations. 
    
  2. Activity Identifier (X-XXXXX-XXXX-XXXXX): This segment of the account number is used in conjunction with the ledger number to provide an identifier for a specific budget or cost center. Some examples are departmental budgets for state funds, contracts and grants, and gifts given for a specific purpose.

  3. Object Codes/Account Controls (X-XXXXX-XXXX-XXXXX): The object code and account control represent variable portions of the account number, as many different codes may be used with each unique six digit account number. The object code is used to classify each transaction.
          a.  Expenditure Object.  These objects identify classes                     
              of expenditures.  An example of the expenditure object 
              code hierarchy of classification is as follows:
    
                   3000     Current Services (Class Object) 
    
                   3100     Travel (Major Object)

    3110 In-State Travel (Minor Object) 3111 In-State Transportation (NCSU Object) The broadest classification of expenditures is by class object. Budgets are assigned and controlled at varying object levels, depending on state, federal, and University requirements. The expenditure object numerical range is from 1000-8999. The most detailed object code shown in the Chart of Accounts (See Appendices) is used for expenditure transactions. b. Revenue Object. These objects are used to classify revenue sources. An example of the revenue object code hierarchy of classification is as follows: 0200 Gov't, Private, and Endowment (Major Source) 0260 Restricted Private Gifts, G & C (Minor Source) 0269 Other Restricted Private Gifts (Subsidiary Source) The revenue object numerical range is from 0100-09- 99. The most detailed object code shown in the Chart of Accounts (See Appendices) is used for revenue transactions. c. General Ledger Account Control. General ledger account controls are used to identify asset, liability, and fund balance accounts. They are always used in conjunction with a zero in the ledger field of the account number. Transactions using these codes are normally initiated only by the Accounting Office or Office of Contracts and Grants. Some examples are: 1100 - Cash 3600 - Fund Balance The general ledger account control numerical ranges are as follows: 1000-1999 Assets 2000-2999 Liabilities 3000-3999 Fund Balances 4000-4999 Fund Additions 5000-5999 Fund Deductions

  4. Project Numbers (X-XXXXX-XXXX-XXXXX): This segment of the account number is used as needed to identify and account for specific activity within the basic ten-digit account number; for example, particular units of research for reporting purposes. Departments are requested to contact the University Accounting Office (5-2148) to discuss project reporting prior to initiating this practice.

Additional Elements

Several additional elements (attributes) which are not part of the account number are maintained in the computer files and are related to each account. These attributes are utilized for classifying revenues and expenditures in categories consistent with state, federal, and University requirements.

  1. State Budget Code

    Budget codes identify NCSU budget lines. They are as follows:

     
                   16030   Academic Affairs 
     
                   26030   Overhead Receipts 
     
                   16031   N.C. Agricultural Research Service 
     
                   16032   N.C. Agricultural Extension Service 
     
  2. Purpose Code

    Purpose code numbers, which have been designated by the State Budget Office, classify financial activity by function. See Appendices for a listing of these codes.

  3. Organizational Unit Code

    Organizational Unit Codes are six digit hierarchical codes that identify schools/divisions, departments, and units. Lists of these codes may be obtained by calling the Fund Accounting Office at extension 5-2149.




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