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(Updated April 12, 2024)

Financial Management Services (FMS) continuously strives to improve its products and services to support financial excellence at Stanford. This page serves as a resource for university departments and stakeholders to stay up to date on larger projects that involve a change in policy, process, and/or a system and impact a broad or direct audience groups as noted in the sortable table below. This page is updated regularly as information about new projects becomes available and readiness resources are in place. 

For information about additional recent updates not covered on this page, refer to the ongoing news resources for specific areas:

Many of these projects and enhancements are related to the FMS Client Satisfaction Survey, which is an ongoing conversation with the Stanford community to learn about their experiences with the financial tools, systems, and services that FMS provides. This survey feedback is used to inform strategic initiatives and continuous improvements. 

Once a project is completed, it will be moved to the bottom section for reference.

May 2024 Projects and Enhancements

Timeframe Project name and description Applicable audience

May 6, 2024

Enhancements to increase procurement efficiency
FMS' Procurement Services continuously examines opportunities to enhance processes or provide new solutions to support purchasing needs for the university while maintaining financial stewardship excellence. The latest area under review is looking at thresholds that could be adjusted to reduce administrative burden yet balance compliance requirements.

 Purchasers, transaction preparers, and approvers
May 18, 2024

Labor Schedules (LS) and Labor Distribution Adjustments (LDA) system enhancements

  • Query layouts: FMS will update LS and LDA query functionality to make it easier for users to find the information they need.
  • OSA error reason codes: FMS will introduce error reason codes for the LDA system’s Organization Suspense Account (OSA) dashboard to help users understand the root cause of why a payroll transaction failed to post to its original PTA and instead posted to an OSA. This enhancement streamlines and expedites the investigation process and fosters financial stewardship.
 Labor schedulers and labor distribution adjusters
May 18, 2024 PTA Manager system - Enhanced close request notifications
FMS is enhancing PTA Manager’s system and email notifications to help departments identify any barriers to closing a non-sponsored PTA. Both in-system error messages and email notifications will display the transaction/invoice number and specific details preventing the PTA closure so that action can be taken to resolve outstanding issues.		 Users of PTA Manager

 

Ongoing Projects and Enhancements

Timeframe Project name and description Applicable audience
2023-10-01 to 2025-01-31

Oct. 2023 to Jan. 2025		 Budget Transformation Project - New Cardinal Planning and Budgeting System
Stanford’s University Budget Office (UBO), in partnership with University IT (UIT), Financial Management Services (FMS), and university stakeholders, is undertaking a multi-year initiative to enhance the foundation of financial management. The project includes the launch of the new Cardinal Planning & Budgeting system and the design of new processes to support effective and efficient budget management.
Learn more: Budget Management Transformation		 Budget officers and analysts

2022-09 to 2024-11

Sep. 2022 to Nov. 2024

 WalkMe Pilot in iProcurement
FMS Financial Learning Solutions team is piloting a new software application with a limited number of iProcurement users that provides guidance to help users effectively navigate work processes and access helpful tips and other learning resources. 
Learn more: WalkMe: A New Interactive Learning Solution to Benefit Financial System Users		 iProcurement users
Limited and targeted group of iProcurement users based on usage and roles.

2021-03 to 2025-03

March 2021 to March 2025

 Merchant Services Transformation Project 
The Certain event management platform sunsetted October 2023. To replace Certain, Financial Management Services’ Office of the Treasurer (OOT) partnered with University IT (UIT) to offer Cvent, an approved third-party robust events management platform at Stanford. Also in October, the first part of CardinalPay is launched to support back-end accounting and reporting activities. In November, the front-end payment collection function was rolled out to allow customers to interface with merchant payment pages to pay for Stanford products and services.
Learn more: Merchant Services Transformation Project		 Merchant departments that accept payments for Stanford products and services

February 2024 Projects and Enhancements

Timeframe Project name and description Impacted audience and description

Feb. 2, 2024

Card suspension warning notifications begin for force cleared transactions
Starting with the Feb. 2, 2024 force clearing, a warning notification email will be sent to the cardholder, their manager, and the finance contact in their school or budget unit if FMS force clears an individual PCard or TCard transaction. If FMS force clears transactions for the same PCard or TCard in the May force clearing cycle, the card may be suspended. 
Learn more: Updated Card Suspension Process to Support Proper Use

 Individual cardholders of PCard and/or TCard
Feb. 5, 2024

Updated iJournals access model and required training
This change mitigates financial risk by limiting iJournals system access to individuals who are responsible for standard journal transactions and by providing them with foundational knowledge. Starting early February, new employees who need access to iJournals will need to be granted the appropriate privilege and complete required training. Existing iJournals Public users will have 90 days to complete the training requirements by May 10 to retain iJournals system access.
Learn more: Supporting financial excellence: Updated iJournals access model and required training

 iJournals system users
Feb. 26, 2024 New self-service functionality to change PTAs and cancel purchase orders
Procurement Services is continuously examining opportunities to create self-service solutions that allow departments to initiate tasks directly in a secure and compliant manner. There will be new functionality added to the Requisition and Purchase Orders Query tool that will support changing PTAs and canceling eligible POs. 
Learn more: New self service solutions to change PTAs and cancel purchase orders		 Employees who manage purchase orders
Feb. 26, 2024 Additional improvements to AP invoice holds 
Accounts Payable (AP) is making continued improvements to the invoice hold resolution process to improve clarity and reduce administrative burden. These enhancements include adjusting the frequency and recipients of invoice hold notifications, streamlining the hold description in the Requisition and Purchase Orders query tool, and adding the purchase requisition/order links to invoice hold notifications.
Learn more: Continuous Improvements to the Invoice Hold Resolution Process		 Employees who manage invoices
Feb. 26, 2024 New combined system to correct mobile deposits and claim unidentified receipts
The new Deposits and Receipts Manager application combines the Unidentified Receipts & Branch Deposits website and the Stanford Mobile Deposits Correction Tool under one site accessible from the Oracle Financials home menu. Depositors can correct JPM Access mobile check deposits, claim cash or check deposits made at a branch, and claim incoming ACH and wire transfers all in one place. In addition, employees will now be able to claim receipts to 5-series expenditure type codes directly within the Deposits and Receipts Manager tool. The new combined system will require the granting of an authority privilege and the completion of annual financial training.
Learn more: New Deposits and Receipts Manager System		 Employees who deposit through JPM mobile and/or who claim deposits from branch or wire/ACH
Feb. 26, 2024 Updated ERS rejection and return reasons used by Business Expense team
The Business Expense team is consolidating, updating and standardizing the rejection and return reasons used by auditors for all Expense Request transactions in ERS. This change makes the reasons more clear and helps ensure that preparers and approvers understand what steps to take to update rejected and returned transactions.
Learn more: Updated ERS Rejection and Return Reasons Roll Out Feb. 26		 Expense Report and Non-PO Payment preparers and approvers
Feb. 26, 2024 Streamlined invoice upload functionality for rush, wire, or will call requests
Procurement Services is streamlining the invoice upload functionality to request rush, wire, or will call payments by adding drop down menus to support selecting the correct non-sponsored project, task, and award, which will only display when the option to add Rush, Wire, or Will Call payment methods are selected. 
Learn more: Streamlined invoice upload functionality for rush, wire, or will call requests		 Employees who manage invoices

Timeframe Project name and description Impacted audience and description

2023-11-06
Nov

 Streamlined requisition supplier selection
Based on feedback, and as part of efforts to streamline the iProcurement purchasing experience, FMS made improvements to how supplier sites are displayed in the Non-Catalog Requests system in iProcurement. Now, a single PO Delivery Email displays instead of potentially multiple suppliers and/or representatives, which can change or vary.
Learn more: Streamlined requisition supplier selection		 Preparers of purchase requisitions
2023-11-02
Nov. 2, 2023		 Updated Single/Sole Source Justification (SSJ)
As part of ongoing efforts to support a competitive supplier selection process, Stanford Financial Management Services (FMS) updated the Single/Sole Source Justification (SSJ) form in June. Continued improvements were made to the form in November.
Learn more: Updated Single/Sole Source Justification (SSJ) Form		 Preparers of purchase requisitions of $25,000 or greater after taxes and fees

2023-07-31
Jul. 31, 2023

 Streamlined Will Call Process
Effective July 31, 2023, a streamlined process and tools will make it easier to receive Will Call check payments for purchase order invoices and Expense Requests transactions.
Learn more: Streamlined Delivery and Pick Up Options for Will Call Payments		 Invoice payment and expense reimbursement preparers
2023-07-14
Jul. 14, 2023		 PCard Module Enhancements
In an ongoing effort to improve and streamline the Stanford Purchasing Card (PCard) experience, several enhancements to the Purchasing Card module within Oracle Financials will launch on July 17.
Learn more: PCard Module Enhancements and Suspension Process Changes		 PCard verifiers and approvers

2023-06-30

Jun. 30, 2023

 Organization Code Hierarchy Tool
University Budget Office (UBO), Stanford Financial Management Services, and University (UIT) have partnered to develop a new robust organizational hierarchy management tool that can more effectively and efficiently support a broader set of the university’s needs.
Learn more: Organization Code Hierarchy Tool Project page		 Budget Officers and users of the organizational code hierarchy tool

2022-11 to 2023-05

Nov. 2022 - May 2023

 Cash and Check Deposit Enhancements
Through this multi-phase project, the CASHnet system was retired and new methods for recording cash and check deposits were implemented.
Learn more: Cash and Check Deposit Enhancements		 CASHNet users
Department depositors and any others involved in the cash and check deposit process.
2023-03-20
Mar. 20, 2023		 New Travel Booking Channel: Key Travel
After a successful pilot with a few departments, we are excited to launch Key Travel as a great option for travelers and travel arrangers. Key Travel is the world’s largest travel management company specializing in the humanitarian and academic sectors.
Learn more: New Travel Booking Channel, Key Travel, to Replace FCM		 Travelers and travel arrangers
2023-02-20 Change to iProcurement Access
Effective February 20, 2023, department authority grantors will begin to grant a new iProcurement authority privilege for new staff to gain access to the iProcurement systems. The privilege requires the completion of a new course, FIN-0420 Preferred Purchasing Methods, to be activated. Existing staff will also need to complete the course within 90 days to maintain access.
Learn more: Change to iProcurement Access: New Course Supports Preferred Purchasing at Stanford		 iProcurement system users

2022-10-01 to 2023-01-31

Oct. 1, 2022 to Jan. 31, 2023

 Update to Approver Training Requirement (FIN-PROG-0103)
All current requisition, expense journal, and labor distribution approvers must complete FIN-PROG-0103: Approving Financial Transaction by Jan. 31, 2023 to maintain corresponding approval authorities.
Learn more: Maintain Approval Authority: Take the Approving Financial Transactions Course		 Financial Transaction Approvers
Approvers (specifically requisition, expense journal and labor distribution approvers)

2023-01-30

(January 30, 2023)

 Enhanced Visibility Into Supplier Setup Status
A top theme in the 2021 Client Satisfaction Survey was a desire for increased transparency into the setup process so that appropriate action could be taken to expedite the setup. As a result, new and updated status labels are now available in the Supplier Query and Request tool for pending supplier or visitor payee requests. 
Learn more: Enhancements to Support the Supplier Setup Process 		 Requestors of supplier setup

2023-01-23

(January 23, 2023)


 

PTA Manager Enhancement

PTA Manager will be enhanced to close non-sponsored PTA segments. The enhancements would include the ability for users to select individual or multiple PTA segments to close and add an FYI email notification. The system will run data checks to validate the PTA is eligible for closure, process the request, and send email notifications to confirm the status of the close request. 

Learn more: PTA Manager Enhancement: Closing Non-Sponsored PTAs

PTA Manager users

Users of PTA Manager will be able to initiate request closures of non-sponsored PTA segments.

2023-01-17

(January 17, 2023)

 Lower Limit for Making PTA Changes Outside of PO Change Order Process
In alignment with improved related financial controls within transaction approval, the limit for changing a PTA on a PO without going through the change order process has been reduced from $2,500 to $1,000.
Learn more: Purchasing and Contracts Updates and Hot Topics		 Purchase order preparers and approvers

2022-12-19

(December 19, 2022)

 New Statement of Work (SOW) Contract Type Available in SmartMart Contracts
As a continuation of improvements to the contracts process, this new SOW contract type is available for use when a Master Service Agreement (MSA) is already signed between Stanford and the supplier, and a preparer needs to obtain a signature on a Statement of Work document (hereafter SOW document). 
Learn more: Purchasing and Contracts Updates and Hot Topics		 Contract preparers

2022-07-18

(July 18, 2022)

eReceipts App Launch
This optional app allows Stanford travelers or Purchasing Card (PCard) cardholders to take and upload pictures of business and travel expense receipts with a mobile device, tag them with an expense type, add comments if needed, and share them directly with their preparers and verifiers.
Learn more: Learn More About eReceipts with Live Events and Updated Resources

 University travelers and expense request preparers and verifiers

2022-05-09

(May 9, 2022)

 Annual Certification Required: Financial Stewardship Expectations Course
All existing faculty, staff or students accessing financial systems need to complete the course by May 9, 2022 to maintain access.
Learn more: Annual Certification Required: Take the Financial Stewardship Expectations Course		 Faculty, staff or students accessing financial systems

2022-03-15

(March 15, 2022)

SmartMart Contracts Launch
The Contracts Process will now begin in SmartMart Contracts, rather than iProcurement Non-Catalog, for all procurement transactions that require Stanford signature (including zero dollar agreements). 
Learn more: SmartMart Contracts - A New Way to Manage Procurement Contracts

 Contract preparers

2022-10-03

(October 3, 2022)

 Improvements to Invoice Hold Notifications
FMS will be updating notifications about the seven most common Accounts Payable (AP) invoice holds to clarify the hold’s purpose and the actions required to release the hold.
Learn more: Purchasing and Contracts Updates and Hot Topics		 Staff who process invoices
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