Weekly Bulletin No. 846
Tuesday 19th January
- System Availability - Thursday 21st January
- Financial Users Group (FUG) Friday 22nd January
- Brexit Transition guidance
- TAX fEC Rates Delay
- Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) Credit
- UFS Audit - Reports issued
- Monthly Accounting Timetable
Update from the Director of Finance
Every fortnight, Director of Finance David Hughes updates the Finance Division on key business matters. Where relevant, we will also share this news via the CUFS Bulletin to keep our wider Finance community informed. David's latest message features a brief update regarding Brexit and funding applications being made to the Planning and Resources Commitee. It can be accessed here.
Issued by Nicola Lawrence - Communications Manager, Finance Transformation programme
System Availability - Thursday 21stJanuary
The CUFS system will be unavailable during the vulnerable period of 6am to 9am on Thursday 21st January
This time will be used for system maintenance.
Issued by Lesley Dent - System Administrator
Financial Users Group (FUG) Friday 22nd January
FUG meetings are currently held via Microsoft Teams and run from 10.00 to 11.00.
Everyone is welcome to join in, users can sit back and listen or can contribute to the meeting.
The main agenda items are:
- Brexit - Karen Sheldon and the Tax Team
- Treasury - CUEF - Dave Sizer
- Questions and Answers - ALL
The agenda is available here and contains the link to join the meeting.
Issued by Lesley Dent - System Administrator
Brexit Transition guidance
Import duties – what do you need to do
The process of importing goods from the EU has become more complex : it may take more time and cost more to complete the required import declarations. We recommend that a customs/import agent is used.
From 1 January 2021, the Free Trade Agreement means that duty-free imports are not automatic. Goods can be imported from the EU with zero tariffs (i.e. customs duties) only if the goods originate in the EU. In order to benefit from 0% duty, the University (as importer) must:
- Prove the goods meet certain qualifying criteria (known as rules of origin), and
- Make an active claim for 0% duty (on import declarations)
Before, departments can determine whether the goods qualify as ‘Originating’ in the EU they will need to establish their tariff classification (commodity code). Further information on commodity codes, rules of origin and the information that you need to provide to your carrier/import agent prior to the goods being imported are available here on the Brexit Transition web pages.
Exports to the EU – your obligations
Exporting goods to the EU from 1 Jan 2021 has also become more complex. It may take more time and cost more to complete the required export declarations and we recommend that a customs/export agent is used.
The EU/UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) means that duty-free exports are not automatic. Goods can be exported to the EU with zero tariffs (i.e. customs duties) only if the goods originate in the UK.
In order to move goods and for our EU customer/recipient to benefit from 0% duty, the University (as the exporter) will need to complete export declarations in advance of the goods being shipped and may be asked by the customer to provide a Supplier’s Statement of Origin.
Further information on these statements, key actions for departments and information required by export agents prior to export is available here on the Brexit Transition web pages .
Issued by: Karen Sheldon, Finance Training
fEC Rates Delay
Due to internal delays in the preparation and submission of the University’s Annual Financial Return to OfS, approval and submission of the TRAC Return has been delayed. Therefore the new fEC rates will not be updated on X5 for use from the 1st of February as in prior years. The new fEC rates are expected to be approved by the Finance Committee in March 2021 for use from the 21st of March. The old rates will be in use until then.
Issued by Aikaterini Vangelatou - fEC Accountant
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) Credit
UFS Audit - Reports issued
We have had a very good response to the January UFS audit, thank you to all the Key Contacts that have replied.
For those yet to reply, the UFS user audit reports were burst to Key Contacts on Monday 11th January. These should be reveiwed and returned by Thursday 28th January, 14 working days after issue.
Any additional access or raise in purchasing positions should be requested using the online forms as normal.
Please note that failure to reply to the audit may result in CUFS access being removed.
Issued by Lesley Dent - System Administrator
Forthcoming course (via Teams)
GM2: Grants Reporting in Cognos, Wed 27 & Thu 28 Jan
Using Cognos to run Grants Reports. Setting up and manipulating the two new consolidated reports is included in this course.
How to Excel 3, Tue 2 Feb
This is advanced Excel for finance staff. SUMIF and COUNTIF formulas will be covered, as well as macros using the recorder and VBA tools. To confirm your booking, you are required to complete some pre-course work to substantiate your Excel skills and be working in a finance related role within the University as staff.
Issued by Christine Rogerson, Finance Training
Supplier Database - Browsers
We would like to remind users that the Supplier Database no longer works with Internet Explorer.
Issued by Paul Humphreys - Functional Analyst
Monthly Accounting Timetable
To view the status of the monthly process including the month end close dates please use the following link: Accounting Timetable
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