1 Student Activities Fund Office (SAFO)
2 Discussion Outline Purpose: To provide Treasurers with a better understanding of what the Student Activities Fund Office (SAFO) does for its clients, illustrate proper interaction with the Office, teach skills necessary to maximize the organization’s benefit, and set expectations for organization Treasurers Importance: This discussion will give Treasurers the chance to learn what’s necessary to effectively perform their roles within your organizations Preview: How to conduct business with SAFO and avoid unwanted penalties, review services offered, common forms, and monthly fees
3 Services offered by SAFODeposit Funds Check Writer Intra Office Transfers Financial Information Requests PayPal Accounts Harris Teeter Card Cash Box Rental Direct Deposit Wire Transfers Online information about SAFO services as well as downloadable/ fillable forms can be found at carolinaunion.unc.edu/safo
4 Opening a SAFO Account Obtain University Registration through the Office of Student Organizations (studentlife.unc.edu) & complete the “Request to Open a SAFO Account” application All Treasurers must review the online training presentation & pass a SAFO test. Training presentation and link to test is available at carolinaunion.unc.edu/safo Complete the “Request to Open a SAFO Account” application. Submission of application by Organizational officer in person and must present a Valid OneCard or Picture ID Treasurer/President will receive notification of approval/denial notification with account number if approved
5 Maintaining a SAFO AccountAll Student Organizations must register annually through Student Life & Leadership’s Office of Student Organizations (studentlife.unc.edu) All incoming Treasurers must review the SAFO Treasurer Training presentation and successfully pass the associated test found on the Carolina Union’s student life portal page in the “Forms” section If an Organization plans to apply for Congress Funding the incoming Treasurer is required to take the Treasurer’s Test annually Link for Treasurer’s test can be found at carolinaunion.unc.edu/safo/resources or at
6 Treasurer ResponsibilitiesMaintaining current and accurate records of all transactions Having the latest ledgers and spreadsheets Ensuring the accuracy and validity of all financial paperwork relating to SAFO, including check requests and deposit slips Communicating with both your organization and SAFO staff regarding organizational changes & filing required paperwork
7 Conducting Business with SAFOStudent Organization’s information is confidential Only the Treasurer, President & Advisor have access to funds and information regarding account Valid OneCard or Picture ID will be checked against the organization’s Student Life portal page Proper support documentation is required for all check requests Funds availability will be verified prior to any check disbursements Payee cannot be the signer on check requests
8 Account Numbers and Fund CodesAccount numbers consist of four digits (ex. 0035, 0201, 1112) Organizations that have been in existence for some time may have originally been issued a three digit account number and must remember to include a zero in front of their account number if needed to represent all four digits Fund Codes are used to distinguish the funding source of monies held in a student organization account. Currently, 10 fund codes exists 01 – General Fund – Residence Halls 02 – Carolina Union – Sport Clubs 03 – Student Legal Services 08 – Fraternities 04 – Student Government 09 – Sororities 05 – Activity Fee – Grants & Projects
9 Deposits Any member can make a depositDeposits must have a correct REVENUE code Treasurer’s responsibility to confirm accuracy of information on deposit slip and reviewing checks prior to deposit to ensure: Checks are signed Written amount must match the dollar amount Address of check holder Checks must be made payable to the organization Deposits credited to account within 2 business days Funds will be available immediately Transfers are not deposits
10 Revenue Code & Detailed Description is requiredDeposit Form REQUIRED INFO! Revenue Code & Detailed Description is required
11 SAFO Account Revenue Codes
12 Check Process and DistributionWeekly, check requests submitted by 4:30 p.m. on Monday will be ready after 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday of the same week when requested by the organization's Treasurer, President or Advisor (for invoices and reimbursements). Forms can be found on our website All check requests require proper documentation to prove legitimacy of the request and must have correct EXPENSE codes SAFO is not able to apply payment or reimbursement to the purchase of alcohol, tobacco or firearms In order for our office to comply with this directive, it is imperative that all receipts and invoices show itemization Organizations can elect to have checks picked up by the Treasurer, President, Advisor or Payee. A valid OneCard or picture ID must be presented All checks not picked up will automatically be mailed two weeks after the issue date
13 Check Request Account and PayeeA check request must contain the address of the payee and not a substitute address. All check requests issued to UNC affiliates must contain their PID number.
14 Check Request – Line DetailsLine item details are reflected on an Organization’s general ledger to facilitate the tracking of expenses. This provides the opportunity to Treasurers to detail specific event expenses or reimbursements.
15 Check Requests for Student Gov. Funds
16 SAFO Account Expense Codes
17 Check Requests for Invoice PaymentPayable to a vendor/individual who has provided services Invoices should be clear in the language for services rendered (e.g. website design), have an invoice number, name & address of the vendor and the amount due W-9 is required for payments to vendors, contractors & payments that are considered income i.e. stipend, scholarship, honorarium, grant or donation NC 4% Withholding for non-resident vendors if over $1,500 Electronic submittal of Invoices to with appropriate documentation by authorized individual via UNC Incomplete submissions will not be accepted
18 Check Requests for ReimbursementsCheck requests for reimbursements must be submitted in person by the Treasurer, President or Advisor. Electronic & incomplete submissions will not be accepted The payee and submitter cannot be the same person Check requests for reimbursements are for purchases that have already been paid for and payee is in receipt of goods purchased Original itemized receipts must accompany a completed and signed SAFO Check Request form. The University requires that all receipts must be itemized; we cannot accept receipts that only show the amount paid
19 ITEMIZED – REJECTED DUE TO ALCOHOL ON TABReimbursement Receipts ITEMIZED – REJECTED DUE TO ALCOHOL ON TAB NOT ITEMIZED
20 Receipt is Itemized Shows payment
21 Voided Check/Stop Payment RequestWhen filling out check requests, please verify that all the information is correct to avoid unnecessary fees There is a $30 fee for all voided/stop payment requests Voided Check/Stop Payment requests must be signed by both the Treasurer and President of the organization
22 Stipends Stipends are treated as income and therefore can be taxableStipend process Stipend request form W-9 Examples of supporting documentation Award letter (for 1X stipend/grant) Original signed letter from department/organization’s advisor Legislative bill If applicable, a direct deposit form with a voided check Supporting documentation should not use the term “reimbursement” in its language
23 Harris Teeter HT charge card available. No need to front $$First come, first served 2 day hold limit Counts as one transaction and posted to GL at month end Tax exemption
24 PayPal SAFO offers organizations the option of opening a PayPal account Benefits One-time fee to set up & maintain ($30) Allows organizations to accept credit cards Monies transferred to SAFO account once a week No limit to activity – counts as one SAFO transaction when calculating monthly service fees
25 Financial Reports & RequestsGeneral Ledger Report – Weekly report that provides all the transactions that were recorded to each account in detail Combined Balance & Income Statement Balance Sheet (BS) – Provides a snapshot of financial position of Assets and Liabilities Income Statement (IS) – Provides a snapshot of Revenues and Expense YTD Financial Information Request – Submission by Treasurer, President or Advisor of the organization via their UNC . (examples: listserv updates, transaction inquiries, copies of financial statements or reports) A request must be submitted to be added to the listserv to receive reports & updates.
26 Fees SAFO’s fee structure is reviewed and set by the Student Fee Audit Committee, an independent agency of Student Government No fee to set up/establish a SAFO account What counts as a transaction? Checks, deposits, transfers Stop payment, PayPal (1x per month) Appropriations, reversions Correction due to errors by the client Charged directly to an organization's account on a monthly basis, based on the actual number of transactions
27 Fee Structure For the fiscal year the transaction fees are calculated on a cumulative basis: 1-3 transactions per year = $28 annual fee 4-10 transactions per year = $95 annual fee 11-25 transactions per year = $145 annual fee 26-50 transactions per year = $245 annual fee transactions per year = $290 annual fee transactions per year = $390 annual fee 251+ transactions per year = $555 annual fee Wire Transfer Fee $50 Stop Payment Fee $30 Setting up/Maintaining a PayPal Account $30
28 General Information SAFO Staff:Business & Finance Director that oversees SAFO Account Manager Accounts Payable Manager Cash/Payroll Manager Office Manager Student Office Assistants Office Hours: Mon – Fri 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Closed on University Holidays Additional closures posted regularly on website * Website: carolinaunion.unc.edu/safo * Phone: (919) * Fax: (919) Revised 1/11/2017