How should departments submit cash or check deposits to the University?
Departments that are delivering deposits in person should place them in the secure drop box located outside of the Student Business Services office at A1500 University Center. Deposits should include a completed Departmental Deposit Form or, for OMNI AR/Billing Auxiliary Invoice payments, a copy of the Auxiliary Invoice (invoice IDs beginning “AUX”). Cash, checks, and money orders should be secured in a University approved tamper-resistant deposit bag before being placed into the Drop Box.
Departments that use armored car pickup services may continue to employ these services, sending completed departmental deposit forms and required backup to ctl-Deposits@fsu.edu.
How does a department obtain additional tamper-resistant bags for submitting departmental deposits?
The Controller’s Office will supply departments with a startup quantity of these bags upon request. After the initial supply is used, departments are required to purchase their own white tamper-resistant bags through Superior Bag.
Are there specific days or times that departments can submit cash or check deposits to the University, and can this be done in person?
The Controller’s Office Drop Box is available for deposits 24 hours a day, 365 days a year including holidays and weekends. Student Business Services does not accept Departmental Deposits in person at the counter; however, they will accept student payments, parking fee payments, and employee payroll reimbursements in person at the counter.
What if a departmental deposit is too large to fit into the Controller’s Office Drop Box?
Departments regularly delivering deposits with a large quantity of cash/checks will need a key to widen the Drop Box to deposit these bags. Keys will be supplied to departments as necessary by Student Business Services. Please contact Alisha Estep aestep@fsu.edu for more information about this process.
When are deposits delivered to the Controller’s Office drop box processed in OMNI?
All cash/check payments delivered to the Student Business Services drop box may be receipted by the next business day.
Accounting entries will be posted to department ledgers within three business days of the deposit posting to the University’s bank account and upon the Deposit Accounting team receiving all required forms and supporting documentation.
If the Controller’s Office needs more information to post the deposit, a representative will contact the preparer listed on the form as well as the department’s Budget Account Manager, if needed. A response is requested within one business day to ensure timely processing.
If a response is not received timely, the deposit may be posted to a clearing account managed by the Controller’s Office. In these situations, a Departmental Online Journal Entry Form (DOL) will need to be submitted by the Department in order to move the deposit from the clearing account to the correct Department ID, Fund Code, and Account Code.
Is a receipt required upon delivery of deposits to the Controller’s Office drop box?
Since payments are being delivered to a secure location (the Drop Box), providing a receipt is no longer necessary.
Note that delivering the payments to the Drop Box is no different than using a secure bank deposit box. Cameras are recording 24/7 on the interior and exterior, and all deposits are opened in the presence of two individuals within Student Business Services.
Can cash payments be mailed to the University?
Cash and/or coin should never be submitted through the mail (neither through USPS services nor through the University mail system). Please deliver cash and coin directly to the Controller’s Office drop box located outside of the Student Business Services office at A1500 University Center. Cash, checks, and money orders should be secured in a tamper-resistant deposit bag before being placed into the Drop Box.
Deposits should include a completed Departmental Deposit Form or, for OMNI AR/Billing Auxiliary Invoice payments, a copy of the Auxiliary Invoice (invoice IDs beginning “AUX”).
How can Auxiliary invoice payments be submitted to the University?
Customers receiving Auxiliary Invoices should mail the payments directly to the Auxiliary PO Box, as instructed on their invoice:
Florida State University Auxiliary Accounts Receivable
P.O. Box 3062397
Tallahassee, FL. 32306-2397
Payments sent by mail should include a copy of the Auxiliary Invoice (invoice IDs beginning “AUX”).
Note: This is for OMNI AR/Billing Auxiliary Invoices beginning with “AUX” only. Departments should not mail payments of any type to the Controller’s Office.
Can a department receive payment through an Electronic Funds Transfer (i.e., ACH, Wire)?
Departments have the option of accepting Electronic Funds Transfers (EFT) for payments made directly to the University’s bank account. Please contact the Cash Management and Banking team at ctl-Customerpmt@fsu.edu to establish an EFT setup.
When necessary, a Controller’s Office representative will reach out to departments for more information about how to apply an electronic deposit, such as when payment remittance information was not received from the payer, or a Departmental Deposit Form was not received.
Payers should request that payment remittance be submitted to ctl-EFT@fsu.edu to ensure timely processing.
What is Remote Desktop Deposit Technology?
Departments routinely receiving check payments at their location may be authorized to utilize the University’s Remote Desktop Deposit option for electronically remitting check payments directly to the University’s bank. Departments should scan checks using the check scanner daily to ensure timely deposit. On the same day, deposits should be scanned and saved to PDF, redacting MICR (bank account) and other sensitive information from checks. These scans should be submitted along with the Departmental Deposit Form to ctl-Deposits@fsu.edu on the same day the checks are submitted electronically to the bank.
How are deposits processed for departments that use the University’s Armored Car Pick Up Services?
This service is provided upon approval by the Controller’s Office. Departments using armored car pick up services will need to prepare their deposits by completing the following for each day deposits are processed:
• Complete a bank deposit slip noting check and cash information
• Secure all cash, check, and/or money orders in a tamper-resistant deposit bag
• Complete the pickup manifest for all items
• Secure deposits awaiting pickup in a locked safe or other approved secure location until the armored car service arrives
Departments should send the completed Departmental Deposit Form along with a copy of the bank deposit slip and any other supporting documentation to ctl-Deposits@fsu.edu the same day that the deposit is completed and ready for pickup. Account information listed on the deposit slip should not be redacted when provided to the Controller’s Office.
Departments interested in requesting armored car pick up Services should contact ctl-Admin@fsu.edu for assistance.
Note: Departments should contact ctl-Deposits@fsu.edu for reorders of bank deposit slips, deposit stamps, and/or tamper-resistant deposit bags.
Are departments authorized to deliver deposits directly to a University bank branch location?
Yes. Departments authorized to deliver Departmental Deposits directly to a branch of the University’s bank must provide a copy of the Departmental Deposit Form, the bank deposit slip, and any other supporting documentation to ctl-Deposits@fsu.edu on each day a deposit is made.
Is there University policy departments are required to abide by when accepting and processing departmental deposits?
All departments handling deposits must comply with the University’s Cash Management Policy. As outlined in this policy, departments may be required to be established as an authorized cash collection point and are responsible for ensuring the following:
- Security when storing, managing, and transmitting deposits
- Proper segregation of duties
- Timely deposit delivery
- Timely notification of electronic payment and reporting of credit/debit card sales
- Reconciliation of deposit accounting entries to receipts and sales records
What is a Cash Collection Point?
A cash collection point is defined as a department, event, club, or other entity which collects more than $5,000 annually, except for those entities whose collections occur infrequently and are for the recovery of expenditures such as telephone, copies, etc.
All Cash Collection Points must be authorized by the Controller’s Office before collections begin. Departments should review the University’s Cash Management Policy and contact Tax & Compliance at ctl-TAX@fsu.edu to request more information about becoming a Cash Collection Point.
What form should be used to record departmental deposits?
The Departmental Deposit Form should be used to record departmental deposits for credit card, cash and check payments. This includes payments related to Revenue Deposits, Expense Refunds, Expense Reimbursements, and Travel Reimbursements. Please direct specific questions on how to complete this form to ctl-Deposits@fsu.edu.
What supporting documentation should accompany the Departmental Deposit Form?
The following documentation should accompany the Departmental Deposit Form:
a) A copy of the daily batch settlement report for point-of-sale credit card transactions
b) A copy of the bank deposit slip for cash and/or check transactions
How do I submit the proper accounting details for an EFT deposit that will be received for my department via ACH or wire?
Payment remittance information should be sent to ctl-EFT@fsu.edu for Electronic Fund Transfer payments.
Is the Departmental Deposit Form required for payments related to OMNI AR/Billing invoices?
No. Deposits associated with Auxiliary Invoices (invoices created in OMNI Financials with invoice IDs beginning “AUX”) do not require a copy of the Departmental Deposit Form, as the accounting is defined within the system when the invoice is created. For these deposits:
a) Physical payments: Customers should remit payment directly to the Auxiliary Services PO Box shown on the invoice or deliver to the Controller’s Office Drop Box. Include a copy of the invoice or reference the invoice number on the payment.
b) Electronic payments (ACH/Wire): Customers should email ctl-EFT@fsu.edu with payment remittance information, including invoice IDs.
Note: Customers who wish to remit payment for Auxiliary invoices via credit card should visit the website shown on the invoice. Departments using the Transact online payment solution for eMarkets do not need to provide a copy of the Departmental Deposit Form, as deposit activity will flow to OMNI based on the accounting as defined within the system.
How often should departments submit Departmental Deposit Forms and supporting documentation?
Per the Cash Management Policy, departments should submit Departmental Deposit Forms and supporting documentation for all deposits within two business days of the payment(s) being received.
The Controller’s Office conducts weekly checks for documentation required for deposit processing and will reach out to those department representatives and Budget Managers where timely information is not being received.
Please ensure that all forms and documentation are submitted to ctl-Deposits@fsu.edu in a timely manner.
Can multiple payment types (i.e., cash/check and credit cards) be reported together on the same Departmental Deposit Form?
No, a separate departmental deposit form should be used for each payment type. For example, credit card deposits should be reported on a separate form from cash/check payments.
What is a Revenue Deposit?
A revenue deposit is a payment received for point-of-sale activity in exchange for sales of goods/services provided to that customer by an Auxiliary department as part of the Auxiliary’s approved mission. Please refer to the Deposit Guidance for more information.
What is an Expense Refund?
Expense Refunds are payments received from a vendor to refund a department for all or a portion of a payment previously made to that vendor. The payer must be the vendor who originally was paid by the University and supporting documentation of the expense must be provided. The defining characteristic here is that the department had previously paid the vendor and recorded an expense for this item. Please refer to the Deposit Guidance and related Examples for more information.
What is an Expense Reimbursement?
Expense Reimbursements are payments received from a third party to reimburse the University dollar for dollar on an expense that the University paid for in advance on behalf of the same third party. These deposits may also be related to funds received to reimburse the University for payments previously issued to a vendor, faculty, staff, student, or other member of the University community. This includes Travel Reimbursements. Please refer to the Deposit Guidance and related Examples for more information.
Departments should ensure purchases comply with University Procurement Policy in advance of purchasing goods/services that benefit third parties. For reimbursements between University departments, including those billed via OMNI Auxiliary AR/Billing, use a Expense Transfer (DOL) Form.
Can a department submit a revenue deposit to the University for one their Foundation projects (fund 599)?
No. All revenue deposits for the Foundation must be sent to them directly and processed according to their established Revenue Policy; however, expense refunds or expense reimbursements where the original expense was processed in OMNI Financials can be submitted to the University on a Departmental Deposit Form. Please refer to the Deposit Guidance and related Examples or contact the Foundation for more information.
Can a department submit a revenue deposit to the University for a sponsored project?
No. All revenue deposits processed by granting agencies for sponsored projects will continue to be managed by Sponsored Research Administration. Please refer to the Deposit Guidance and related Examples or contact Sponsored Research Administration for more information.
How can a department better understand how departmental deposits will be recorded?
The Controller’s Office has issued Deposit Guidance and related Examples which provide clarification on how to properly record deposits received by departments per the University’s Placement of Funds Policy.
Who is responsible for performing Departmental Reconciliations?
Per the Business Management Guide, each department is responsible for reconciling Departmental Deposits to verify that each deposit expected has been received and accounted for properly. Transaction information needed to perform departmental reconciliations is included within OMNI Financials. Please use the following queries and instructions to retrieve the information necessary to complete deposit reconciliations:
• Deposits of payments recorded as AR Direct Journals (ARDs) may be reviewed and reconciled using the FSU_DPT_DIRECT_JRNL_DEPOSIT query.
• Deposits of payments associated with OMNI Auxiliary AR/Billing Invoices may be reviewed and reconciled using the FSU_CTRL_AUX_PAYMENT query.
How will accounting entries appear on departmental ledgers?
The Controller’s Office records accounting entries for Departmental Deposits not associated with Auxiliary invoices directly in OMNI Financials using AR Direct Journal functionality. These appear as ‘ARD’ journal entries on departmental ledgers. The information provided on the Departmental Deposit Form will be used to create the accounting entries for deposits.
Auxiliary invoicing appears as ‘BI’ journal entries on departmental ledgers when the billing occurs to record the revenue and related accounts receivable and appears as ‘ARP’ journal entries on departmental ledgers when the payment is received to record the cash and remove the related accounts receivable.
What is the turnaround time for deposits to be processed in OMNI?
Accounting entries will be posted to department ledgers within three business days of the deposit posting to the University’s bank account and upon the Deposit Accounting team receiving all required forms and supporting documentation.
Can payment attachments and receipts for deposits be retrieved in OMNI?
Payment attachments are located directly within OMNI Financials. Attachments may include check images, Departmental Deposit Forms, and other payment remittance information. Attachments are also linked in the BI Transaction Details and Budget & Transaction Details reports, like other transaction types.
Check images directly transmitted to the bank through an Armored Car Service will not be retained in OMNI unless the images are provided along with the Departmental Deposit Form. In this case, they can be uploaded as attachments to the payment.
All attachments must be redacted of sensitive data such as bank and routing account numbers found on checks before being sent via email.
For instructions on how to retrieve a payment attachment, please visit the Attachments and Receipts for Deposits training guide.
How are corrections made to an accounting entry after the deposit has been recorded in OMNI?
Departments can correct accounting entries after the deposit is recorded in OMNI by completing a Departmental Online Journal Entry (DOL) Form using these instructions and submitting it to ctl-GeneralAccounting@fsu.edu for processing.