The role of the Asset Management Section within the Division of Finance is to manage fixed assets in regards to acquisition, relocation, disposal, calculation of depreciation and losses/gains on the sale of assets, and to allow the University to comply with statutory requirements.
The University maintains a central record of fixed assets and their values within the Division of Finance. A centralised system of recording assets enables the Division of Finance to provide information to the Schools and Divisions of CSU regarding their assets. Sections are able to obtain a report of their assets by contacting the Asset Manager (assets@csu.edu.au)
A fixed asset (also known as a non-current asset) is any item of plant, equipment, or computer software which cost $10,000 (GST ex.) and over when purchased. These assets are charged to the Banner Accounts 426 - Computer Software (>$10,000), and 427 - Plant & Equipment (>$10,000). The Asset Manager will review these accounts on a monthly basis to record these asset acquisitions on the asset register. Details of the acquisitions will be obtained by a combination of details extracted from the Purchase Requisition submitted by the School or Section, and via an Asset Information Sheet that is issued by the Asset Manager to the custodian of the asset.
Minor equipment is any item of plant, equipment, or computer software which cost less than $10,000 (GST ex.) when purchased. These items are recorded on minor equipment registers maintained by the individual Schools and Sections.
All assets purchased from funds administered by the University are formally the property of the University, except where an agreement to the contrary is part of the conditions associated with a particular grant or contract.
The Asset Manager is responsible for the annual stocktake of these assets. The Asset Manager will place a barcode label on all assets purchased within 12 months after the asset is acquired to assist with asset identification and the stocktake process. All assets are photographed to aid the identification of an asset.
Definition
Asset Register - This is maintained by the Department of Finance and audited annually for completeness and accuracy. Sections are able to obtain a report of their assets by contacting the Asset Manager (assets@csu.edu.au)
Minor Equipment Register (showing minimum details required) which can be used as the basis for individual sections own register. This format is to be used when forwarding annual stocktake returns to the Assets Office.
Those sections that wish to take digital photographs, it is suggested that the image is named the same as the barcode number (eg 300199.jpg) and stored in the s:drive. Digital photographs can be used to record items such as office furniture in each office/room. This information would be beneficial to CSU in the case of a natural disaster (eg fire).
Assets and Minor Equipment
Sale by Tender
Information Sheet
Sale by Best Offer
Barcode labels are placed on all assets that cost $10,000 or more by the Assets Manager. These barcodes are either a yellow plastic barcode label (35mm x 15mm), or an aluminium barcode label (44mm x 19mm), both with Charles Sturt University printed on it.
White barcode labels (35mm x 15mm) are to be placed on minor equipment by the School or Division to facilitate the future transition to a central asset register for all assets and to assist you in identifying minor equipment during a stocktake. Barcode labels will also assist you if you use a barcode reader to conduct a stocktake of your equipment. Metal barcodes are also available for equipment that is exposed to heat, water, or located outdoors. Asset barcode labels are available by contacting the Assets Manager on Extn. 86119 or by email to assets@csu.edu.au Spare barcode labels should be kept by the officer whom is responsible for maintaining the minor equipment register for your School or Division.
If a barcode label becomes unstuck and lost, simply replace the barcode label with a new label and update your minor equipment register to record the new barcode label number.
Barcode labels have already been placed on all equipment distributed via the CSU Computer Shop.
Procedures for Affixing Barcode Labels
Depreciation is the accounting process used to allocate the annual expense that reduces the value of an asset as a result of wear and tear, age, or obsolescence. The University depreciates assets on a straight-line basis (i.e. calculations are based on the useful-life of the asset using accounting standards). The following table includes some of the main asset categories and their respective depreciation rates:
| Asset | Sub-Asset | % Depreciation per Year | Useful Life |
|---|---|---|---|
| Artwork | Artwork | - | - |
| Buildings | Buildings | 2.5% | 40 |
| Infrastructure | Electrical Systems (cabling & transformers) | 3.3% | 30 |
| Gas Systems (underground) | 4% | 25 | |
| Recycled Watering Systems | 4% | 25 | |
| Water Storage Systems (tanks & reservoirs) | 1.7% | 60 | |
| Sewerage Systems (treatment & reticulated) | 4% | 25 | |
| Fire Reticulation Systems | 4% | 25 | |
| Stormwater Systems | 2.5% | 40 | |
| Fencing (brick) | 2.5% | 40 | |
| Fencing (wire/steel) | 3.3% | 30 | |
| Fencing (timber) | 5% | 20 | |
| Car Parks (bitumen overlay) | 5% | 20 | |
| Roads (bitumen) | 5% | 20 | |
| Roads (gravel) | 10% | 10 | |
| IT Fibre Network | 4% | 25 | |
| Land | Land | - | - |
| Plant & Equipment | Telephone Installations | 10% | 10 |
| Furniture and Fittings | 10% | 10 | |
| Catering Equipment & Appliances | 10% | 10 | |
| Farm Equipment | 10% | 10 | |
| Computing Equipment | 25% | 4 | |
| All other Plant & Equipment assets | 20% | 5 | |
| Software | Software | 25% | 4 |
| Vehicles | Motor Vehicles & Large Buses | 10% | 10 |
| Commerical Vehicles & Small Buses | 25% | 4 | |
| Library Books | Periodicals | 20% | 5 |
| Books | 20% | 5 |
Asset values and their remaining useful lives will be reviewed regularly to ensure that they reflect a true financial position. Assets Management will consult with the custodians of the category of assets being reviewed to ascertain these values.
An Asset Disposal Form needs to be completed and authorised prior to any asset being traded-in, donated, recycled or sent to landfill.
Please use the Equipment Disposal via eBay Form for further information regarding the disposal of equipment via eBay.
Please refer to the Policy & Procedure for Disposal of an Asset for further information regarding the disposal of an asset and the various disposal methods available.
An Asset Disposal Form needs to be completed and authorised prior to any asset being traded-in, donated, recycled or sent to landfill.
Please use the Equipment Disposal via eBay Form for further information regarding the disposal of equipment via eBay.
Please refer to the Policy & Procedure for Disposal of an Asset for further information regarding the disposal of an asset and the various disposal methods available.
The University insures all assets subject to significant risk. There is basic excess of $2,000 for each insurance claim made. The University Accountant, Division of Finance, will determine whether an insurance claim is to be submitted for any stolen or missing equipment.
If you have any further questions regarding insurance, Contact the Insurance Officer.
All Budget Centre Managers are responsible for maintaining a minor equipment register for purchases (<$10,000 GST ex.) charged to their Schools/Divisions Account. Minor equipment registers are to be lodged annually to the Assets Manager, Division of Finance for audit inspection. Please submit your register prior to December each year to assist with the collection process. Random checks of equipment listed on minor equipment registers will be conducted. Minor equipment registers aid investigations in the event of fire, natural disaster, or theft. It is a requirement that minor equipment registers are to be signed-off by the two (2) officers conducting the minor equipment stocktake. Any questions in relation to minor equipment registers or stocktakes can be directed to the Assets Manager on Ext. 86119 or by email assets@csu.edu.au
A Minor Equipment Register is in Excel spreadsheet format and has been made available to assist you with recording your minor equipment. This spreadsheet can be used as the basis for recording the minimum details required. Your register may be of any other format, for example, Access, provided that it can produce a printed list of your minor equipment together with the minimum details required as incorporated in the Excel spreadsheet.
Barcode labels are to be placed on all minor equipment to facilitate the future transition to a central asset register for all assets and to assist you in identifying minor equipment during a stocktake. Barcode labels will also assist you if you use a barcode reader to conduct a stocktake of your equipment. Asset barcode labels are available by contacting the Assets Manager. Barcode labels will have already been placed on all equipment distributed via the CSU Computer Shop. Those sections that wish to take digital photographs, it is suggested that the image is named the same as the barcode number (for example 300199.jpg) and stored on the s: drive.
A rational approach to recording minor equipment on your register should be taken, that is, each department should decide what equipment is to be recorded should there be a need for an insurance claim to be lodged. When making this decision, the attractiveness and portability of the equipment needs to be considered. Items of small value (for example, less than $100) should not be recorded on the register. Note: You do not have to record equipment that cost >$10,000 (GST ex.) as these items are recorded on the central asset register.
An Asset Transfer / Loan Form is required whenever an asset is relocated or transferred to another School or Division (where the asset is not sold), or loaned. (Note: Please use an 'Asset Disposal Form' where an asset has been sold to another School or Division). If an asset is to be loaned to a staff member, student, or individual or organisation outside of the University, a 'loan agreement' between the University and the external party is required. Such a loan agreement is to comply with the 'Legal Policy and Procedure' in the CSU Policy Library. You may request the University Solicitor to prepare the loan agreement for you by completing a 'Request for Legal Advice Form' which is also found at CSU Policy Library. When drafting a loan agreement, either by the University Solicitor or by you, consideration should be given to:
A copy of the loan agreement is to be provided to the Asset Manager for stocktake and audit purposes.
If a break-in has occurred, do not touch anything and telephone Security on your campus to submit a Security Incident Report. A check for missing assets should then be performed by contacting the Assets Manager to obtain a copy of the minor equipment register and major asset register for your section. If equipment has been stolen, proceed to report the incident to police, and complete a Stolen or Missing Asset Report. If more than one item of equipment has been stolen or is missing, please attach a separate list.
Attach a copy of the police report and if the report does not include all details of the break-in such as the extent of damage caused to equipment or any other relevant information, please attach a report of these details.
If the equipment is simply missing for an extended period of time (or when the equipment has been missing since prior to the previous year's asset stock take) please attach a written report of the full circumstances relating to the missing equipment including when the equipment was last seen, its last known location and what actions have been taken to safeguard equipment.
Insurance - The University Accountant, Division of Finance, will determine whether an insurance claim is warranted for stolen or missing equipment as a $2,000 excess is payable on each claim submitted.
The following documents are currently under review:
In the meantime, if you need to refer to any of these documents, please contact Finance Management Services
This document explains the treatment for Balances Carried Forward, Internal Funding Transfers, Internal Expense recoveries and other transfers.
University Council has approved the Policy on Delegations and Authorisations.
General expenditure delegations are to be in accordance with Schedule 3 - Expenditure Delegations. Each approval level (Band) requires nomination of at least one Approver in each Band. There is the facility to nominate a further two Approvers in each Band, if required. See below for the appropriate HEW levels for each Band.
Travel expenditure delegations are to be in accordance with Schedule 6 - Travel Delegations.
Delegates must be Budget Centre Managers to be able to approve expenditure and as such require Banner Finance access to the relevant organisation codes. If they are not already approved to monitor and manage transactions against the relevant organisation code, the Primary or Secondary Budget Centre Manager will need to provide approval for that authority by completing a Request for Banner Finance Access
| Band | Level | Approval Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Band 1 | Staff HEW 3 - 4 | May approve up to $ 3,000 |
| Band 2 | Staff HEW 5 - 6 | May approve up to $ 8,000 |
| Band 3 | Staff HEW 7 - 8 | May approve up to $ 10,000 |
| Band 4 | Staff HEW 9 - 10 | May approve up to $ 20,000 |
| Band 6 | Directors / Heads of School | May approve up to $ 50,000 |
| Band 7 | Deans, Executive Directors, Heads of Campus, Research Centre Directors | May approve up to $100,000 |
General expenditure authorisations will default to the Head of School / Director where no Band 1 to 4 delegates are named.
A full list of Section 12 Financial Delegations is available on the link below:
Expenditure Delegations (Section 12)
To review the 'Financial Delegations Approval Listing' please click the link below:
Finance Delegations Approval Listing
To request changes to ongoing Delegations, please click the link below:
Delegations Request
Enquiries regarding the Financial Delegations Approval Listing should be directed to travelcard@csu.edu.au
Finance Review Committee enquiries can be directed to frc@csu.edu.au
UniSuper is the superannuation fund for Australia’s higher education and research sector. The Fund provides low fees and charges, free education and advisory services, flexible superannuation and pension products and service from staff who understand the Fund and members' requirements.
UniSuper offers members a choice of style of super, “Defined Benefit” or “Accumulation”, with the difference being the method of benefit calculation.
For more information download the booklet:
15. SUPERANNUATION
15.1 The University will maintain for employees as at the date of FWC approval of this Agreement the employer contributions into the current fund and arrangements for superannuation in effect at that time.
15.2 UniSuper is the nominated superannuation provider for the University. While this Agreement is in operation, all superannuation contributions for existing employees who are members of UniSuper, and for all new employees, shall be made to UniSuper.
15.3 For those employed by the University during the life of this Agreement, the University will provide the following superannuation employer contributions: (i) For continuing employees and fixed-term employees on a contract in excess of one (1) year the employer contribution paid by the University will be at the rate of 17%; (ii) For employees on a contract of one (1) year or less, and casual employees, the employer contribution paid by the University will be the Government Superannuation Guarantee (GSG) rate;
15.4 At the date of commencement of this Agreement the GSG rate is 9.25%;
UniSuper Members may make voluntary contributions via either a regular payroll deduction or a lump sum payment direct to UniSuper. Voluntary contributions cannot be made to the State Funds (i.e. SASS and SSS). Members of these funds must apply for UniSuper membership for any voluntary contributions.
Lump sum contributions can be made by BPAY or by cheque.
For more information refer to the Voluntary Contributions page on the UniSuper Website.
UniSuper accepts roll-overs (transfers) from other superannuation funds. There are no charges or fees for making a roll-over.
How to roll over your other super accounts into UniSuper
Your contributions to your superannuation may be salary sacrificed (packaged) as a before tax payroll deduction. Contributions made through salary packaging are considered to be 'employer contributions' and therefore a 15% contributions tax is applied.
