Finance Division

Resources

This page provides links to useful resources, such as webinars and communications, to help you understand University finances.

Access the finance system and get help with queries:

Financial Regulations and University Financial Statements:

Finance webinars:

2020

In 2020 Allan Spencer (Director of Finance at this time) hosted 2 webinars on Understanding the University's Finances. Also included below is an additional Q&A recording and an addendum to questions from the webinars.

Understanding the University's Finances - 20 May 2020

Understanding the University's Finances - 22 May 2020

Understanding the University's Finances - Q&A

Addendum to Questions from the Finance Webinar [PDF 177.37KB] 

2019

During 2019 Allan Spencer (Director of Finance at this time) hosted 6 webinars on 'Understanding the University's Finances' which can be viewed below.

Understanding the University's Finances - 9 July 2019

Understanding the University's Finances - 10 July 2019

Understanding the University's Finances - 9 September 2019

Understanding the University's Finances - 12 September 2019

Understanding the University's Finances - 4 October 2019

Understanding the University's Finances - 9 October 2019

Understanding the University's Finances - Webinar Slide Pack [PDF 172.34KB]

Finance Communications:

2023-2024

Finance Update for Directors of Professional Services and Heads of School - November 2023 [PDF 105.88KB] - including attachements: HoS and DoPS Summary of Responsibilities under the Financial Regulations [PDF 128.61KB] and Information to forward on to all staff [PDF 125.63KB]

Purchasing Card Declaration for Cardholders [PDF 73.32KB] and PCARD DECLARATION 2023 [PDF 104.18KB] - sent November 2023

Guidance on Working with Charities [PDF 128.71KB]

Important Message to all University Purchasing Cardholders [PDF 100.63KB] - Regarding card security, sent 14 August 2023

2022-2023

RAM Presentation for HoS July 2022 password protected [PPTX 29.38MB]

1-2022 Annual Purchasing Card Declaration [PDF 87.64KB] and Declaration Wording [PDF 104.18KB]

2-2022 Finance Update for Directors of Professional Services and Heads of School [PDF 139.52KB]

3-2022 Recap of Responsibilities for Finance System Users [PDF 173.98KB] 

4-2022 Communication to HoS, DoPS, PVCs re Expenditure Guidance for Hospitality and Events [PDF 90.38KB] 

5-2023 Advance Actions for Financial Responsibilities Self-Assessment - May 2023 [PDF 93.81KB] and associated documents: 6-2023 Reminder for all staff - Your responsibilities under the Financial Regulations [PDF 106.76KB] and 7-2023 Finance responsibilities table for HoS and DoPS [PDF 126.02KB]

2021-2022

1-2021: Annual University of Sussex Purchasing Card Declaration [PDF 159.13KB]

2-2021 Finance Update for Heads of School [PDF 129.11KB] and Finance Engagement Road Map for HoS 2021-22 [PDF 171.91KB]

3-2021 Finance Update for Directors of Professional Services [PDF 125.27KB] and Finance Engagement Road Map for DoPS 2021-22 [PDF 157.85KB]

4-2021 Communication for All Staff [PDF 174.33KB] (to be forwarded on from Heads of School and Directors of Professional Services and supporting documents referred to in the text:

5-2021 Communication to all Purchasing Cardholders, Coder and Authorisers for Action [PDF 123.77KB]

6-2022 Changes to Academic Time Survey Collection Frequency [PDF 200.56KB]

7-2022 Updated Roadmap comms to HoS and DoPS [PDF 89.45KB] and Updated Finance Road Map for DoPS 2021-22 [PDF 162.97KB] and Updated Finance Road Map for HoS 2021-22 [PDF 181.11KB]

8 - 2022 Advance Actions for Financial Responsibilities Self-Assessment [PDF 102.09KB] and 9 - 2022 Reminder for all staff – your responsibilities under the Financial Regulations [PDF 108.22KB]. Associated documents: Finance training requirements and recommendations for staff with financial responsibility [PDF 123.97KB] and Value for Money in Day to Day Purchasing - Staff Guide [PDF 179.53KB]

10-2022 Financial Responsibilities Self-Assessment - Sent to all Heads of School and Directors of Professional Services [PDF 97.17KB] and DoF VfM update for Heads of School, Directors of PS and senior staff [PDF 178.95KB]

2020-2021

1-2020: Finance Update for Directors of Professional Service [PDF 371.86KB] - November 2020

2-2020: Finance Update for Heads of School [PDF 374.83KB] - November 2020

3-2020: Direct email to purchasing card holders [PDF 248.35KB] - November 2020

Revisions to Financial Regulations - email to HoS and DoPS [PDF 253.87KB] - December 2020

4-2021: Updated Finance Engagement Roadmap for Heads of School - February to July 2021 [PDF 272.14KB] - January 2021

5-2021: Updated Finance Engagement Roadmap for Directors of Professional Services - February to July 2021 [PDF 266.89KB] - January 2021

6-2021: Update from the Director of Finance - for Heads of School [PDF 585.21KB] - April 2021

7-2021: Update from the Director of Finance - For Directors of Professional Services [PDF 587.57KB] - April 2021

8-2021: Urgent request regarding recent attempted fraud [PDF 100.83KB] - May 2021

2019-2020

Temporary Changes in VAT for Specific Purchases [PDF 94.05KB] - July 2020

Extra Fraud Measures for University Barclaycards [PDF 102.14KB] - April 2020

Support for All Users of Finance Services and Systems Adjusting to New Ways of Working [PDF 137.45KB] - April 2020

Finance Arrangements for Off-Campus Working [PDF 115.33KB] - March 2020

Finance Engagement Roadmaps for Heads of School/Directors of Professional Services:

Heads of School

Finance Engagement Road Map for Heads of School 2023-24 [PDF 150.41KB]

Directors of Professional Service

Finance Engagement Road Map for Directors of Professional Services 2023-24 [PDF 139.52KB]

External resources:

BUFDG : British Universities Finance Directors Group - This guide aims to explain university finances and funding so it can be understood by those with little or no financial background. It looks at how institutions ‘tick’ from a financial perspective – where universities get their money from; how they spend the money and why, and how the financial statements demonstrate this.

BUFDG E-Learning courses - University staff have access to the BUFDG e-learning platform, which offers a range of courses covering finance, procurement, tax, credit control, and more.