Banner Finance

Banner Finance is WWU’s “system of record” for financial transactions. Banner Finance is used to perform the following functions:

Running queries and financial reports
Creating transactions such as journal vouchers, invoices, and purchase orders
Approving journal vouchers (via Web4U Finance)
Maintenance of the chart of accounts (e.g. Fund, Organization, Account, Program codes)
Processing downloaded PaymentNet pcard transactions as JVs
Performing check and direct deposit runs for A/P reimbursements (e.g. travel expenses)
Creating and liquidating fringe benefit encumbrances
Maintaining stores inventory
Maintaining grants and proposals
Running grants billing
Running posting and approvals

In addition, data from other Banner modules such as Human Resources (payroll), Accounts Receivable, and Alumni flow into Banner Finance in summary form. Other systems such as Western Marketplace and the SAP Concur Travel System are integrated with Banner: they use the Banner chart of accounts, and transmit data to create purchase order and invoice transactions there.

For Banner Finance, BFS support includes the following: requesting and testing system upgrades and patches, investigating and reporting defects, requesting system enhancements, submitting programming requests and table changes, maintaining permissions, and answering questions.

How to get access to Banner Finance

Before permissions can be granted, you need a Banner account.

Step 1. If you already have access to another Banner module or the Western Marketplace, that part is taken care of, and you can go on to step 2. If not, submit this esign to request a Banner account.

Step 2. Once you have a Banner account, submit this esign to request Banner Finance permissions. Most users only need to request “standard query and reporting permissions”, but additional permissions can be requested if appropriate – see below. After filling it out, forward the esign to your supervisor for approval, and they will forward the esign to BFSys@wwu.edu.

Standard query/reporting access to Banner Finance

With the approval of their supervisor, any WWU staff member can obtain access to a standard suite of query screens and reports in Banner Finance. Here are some of the most-used items included in this access:

eSign Form Links

Request a Banner Account here

(not needed if you already have access to Banner Alumni, Financial Aid, or Student, or the Western Marketplace)

Request Banner Finance Access here

(access processes overnight, will also provide access to Millennium FAST Finance)

Use the above esign form links to request access. Please note that you must have a Banner account before permissions can be granted. If you need a Banner account, submit that esign first. When ATUS has created your account, you can then submit the esign to request Banner AR, Finance, or HR access.

Query screens:

FAICHKH, FAIINVE, FAIVNDH, FGIBDST, FGIBSUM, FGIDOCR, FGIENCD, FGITBAL, FGITRND, FOIDOCH, FPIPOHD, FPIPURR, FTICHKS, FTIIDEN, FTMSHIP, FWIAUTH, GWIUSER

Reports:

FBBS02, FBBS03, FBTD02, FBTD03, FQCB01, FQFB01, FQGL01, FQGR01, FQVH01, FWR5YFB, FWRGFED, FWRJVCH, PWRTD02, WGLACCT, WOPACCT

Access to Millennium FAST Finance

Staff who obtain standard query/reporting access to Banner Finance also automatically gain access to the Millennium FAST Finance data warehouse. This allows Finance users to run reports in both Banner and FAST. Access to FAST Finance happens during the nightly refresh of FAST data. So, if you get access to Banner Finance today, you’ll have access to FAST Finance tomorrow morning.

Financial Transparency

It’s Western’s policy to practice financial transparency. This means you don’t need to list the Fund and Organization codes you need to see: instead, you’ll be able to run reports against any Fund and Organization codes, in both Banner and FAST. Also, because Banner Human Resources payroll accounting data flows into Banner Finance in summary form, that Finance reporting will also reflect payroll activity.

Journal Voucher (JV) originator

Most Finance users only need standard query/reporting access. But some staff require additional permissions to allow them to key journal vouchers. Those JV’s will subsequently be routed through approvals based on the accounting strings used on the JV. Along with the Banner permission, a matching OnBase role is also granted, so that the JV originator can upload backup documents to OnBase.

Journal Voucher Approver

This role can be granted to staff who are designated financial managers or budget authorities, or the PI on a grant fund. Also granted is the OnBase role which allows viewing of JV backup documents previously uploaded by the JV originator.

JV Uploads

A few departments are given permission to upload JVs with many line items into Banner via an Excel template. These JVs do not go through approvals, so this access is only available based on business need.

Specialized Permissions

Some staff in business units can obtain additional permissions which allow them to perform restricted functions such as keying invoices or purchase orders, performing check runs, maintaining stores inventory, or maintaining proposals or grants.