Procard User Guide   Edition 1 - Chapter 2

UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST
Procard Records Management
Procard Table of Contents

• Policies & Procedures
• Cardholder Responsibilities
• Records Manager Responsibilities
• Suggested Log

NOTE:

Following is Chapter 2, Records Management, of the Procard User Guide. There are five chapters in all.The link to the online User Guide is provided to all prospective cardholders at training. If you are interested in finding out more about this exciting and innovative purchase card program, please contact the Procard Manager in the Procurement Department at 5-1748.

Records Management

Policies & Procedures

Each department will assign an individual to be responsible for records retention (hereinafter referred to as the Procard Records Manager), or, if a Cardholder so chooses, (s)he may serve as his/her own Records Manager. It is imperative that all Cardholder records be maintained in the same manner, as outlined herein, for ease of audit and reporting purposes.

How do I keep track of my Procard purchases?

The Cardholder will maintain adequate documentation to support the legitimate business purpose of all transactions made with the Procard. It is strongly suggested that the Cardholder keep a monthly log of all his/her purchase transactions conducted against the Procard, to better track his/her purchases and available budget. Keep in mind that the charges against the card will not be reflected in the Cardholder's budget until approximately 48 hours after the vendor has shipped the goods.

See page 25 for the suggested format for such a log. When the Cardholder places an order with a vendor (via telephone, mail, in person), (s)he should make note of the transaction in the log.

Should a Records Manager or Cardholder elect to deviate from the following procedures, and the Post Audit Review Team (PART) discovers that the Procard Records Manager does not have all the applicable Cardholder statements and support documentation for each Cardholder on file in the manner outlined herein, the PART will work with the Records Manager/Cardholder(s) to insure that the errors are corrected. However, if the PART is unable to resolve the issues with the Records Manager/Cardholder(s), the PART will make recommendations to the Associate Controller for appropriate action, which may include a reduction in the Cardholder(s) spending/transaction limits, or the revocation of all Procards in question. See Chapter 4, Post Audit/Oversight.
   Cardholder Responsibilities

Following are the procedures that each Cardholder shall follow:

WHEN THE GOODS ARE RECEIVED, THE CARDHOLDER SHALL:

1. Retrieve the original support documentation (sales receipt, itemized cash register receipt, vendor order form, packing list, etc.). Note that all receipts must contain an itemized description of the items purchased. If the Cardholder has a receipt that reflects only totals, the Cardholder shall list the quantities and items on the back of the receipt, or on a separate piece of paper stapled to the receipt.
   • Missing receipts: If the Cardholder is unable to obtain a missing receipt from the vendor, the Cardholder shall complete the Procard Missing Itemized Receipt/Documentation Affidavit and file it with the monthly statement. The form and instructions are shown on page 58(e). In no way, is the affidavit to be considered a substitute for receipts and good record keeping.
2. Place the support documentation in a file folder, with the log, and maintain it in a safe place.

Each month, the Cardholder will receive a statement of his/her charges against the Procard from MasterCard, JPMC.

UPON RECEIPT OF THE CARDHOLDER STATEMENT, THE CARDHOLDER SHALL IMMEDIATELY:

1. Reconcile the statement to the support documentation by comparing the receipts, etc., to the Cardholder statement.
   • Make note of any discrepancies between what appears on his/her statement and what was actually received. The Cardholder should contact the vendor to resolve any outstanding issues (failure to receive goods, fraud, incorrect billing, misuse, incorrect amounts, etc.) Most disputes can be resolved directly with the vendor. If the Cardholder has never heard of the vendor, then it's possible that the card was charged in error, or, that fraud has occurred. Again, try to contact the vendor first. The statement will contain the vendor's name and city and state. Contact Directory Assistance for the vendor's telephone number.
     1. If the Cardholder is unable to resolve the dispute with the vendor, (s)he shall complete the Statement of Questioned Item Form and submit it to the Procard Manager, 407 Goodell Bldg., together with any supporting documentation that might be available, within 50 days of the monthly cycle date. See Chapter 1, How to Dispute a Transaction, page 14.
     2. If the Cardholder misplaces his/her support documentation (sales receipt, cash register receipt, vendor order form, packing list, etc.), (s)he may contact the vendor to request a copy. Under no circumstances may the Cardholder approve a statement without first obtaining all the support documentation that goes with it. See item 1.a., Missing Receipts, page 22.
2. Mark the statement "Approved," and sign and date it upon completion of the reconciliation process.
3. Staple the support documentation to the Cardholder statement and submit it to the Procard Records Manager.

The Cardholder will keep track of his/her available BBA and may not over-expend his/her budget, nor exceed the spending or transaction limitations assigned to the card.
  Records Manager Responsibilities

THE PROCARD RECORDS MANAGER SHALL, AT A MINIMUM:

1.  Maintain a copy of the Card Application/Card Change form(s) and the Cardholder Agreement form in the Cardholder's current file.
2. Review, briefly, the Cardholder statements and support documentation to ensure that they are complete.
3. Maintain the Cardholder statements and support documentation in a designated space in a locked steel filing cabinet.

   • A file folder will be assigned to each Cardholder for each fiscal year, which will be labeled as follows: Fiscal Year - Last Name, First Name - Account Number/Object Code - Card Expiration Date.
   • The file folders will be filed by the Cardholder's last name, first name.

4. Send a memorandum to the Reporting Authority assigned to the Cardholder's account if the Cardholder does not submit his/her reconciled statement and support documentation to the Procard Records Manager by the 15th of the month following the statement billing date, or, if the Cardholder submits inadequate support documentation. A copy of the memorandum must be submitted to the Controller's Office, Accounts Payable Section, and to the Account Administrator (if other than the Cardholder).
5. Maintain all such records in the manner detailed herein, which should allow for their timely retrieval, as required by internal and external auditors, and by the Controller's Office.
6. Retain the records for the current and the previous fiscal year. All other records will be picked up by the Post Audit staff and placed in storage in a central location in the Controller's Office for an additional five year period, during which time they will continue to be subject to audit.
7. Reconcile to PeopleSoft, on a monthly basis, each Cardholder's Procard statement.

 Failure to comply with the procedures outlined herein will result in penalties, which may include a reduction in the Cardholder's authorization limits or the cancellation of the Procard. Again, the PART will work with Records Managers and Cardholders to clarify policies and procedures and to resolve audit issues, so penalties won't have to be imposed. See Chapter 4, Post Audit/Oversight.

Suggested Log

Procard Log (Word97 Document)

It is recommended that you use this log, or a similar log of you own design, to help you to keep track of your Procard purchases and receipts. The information that it contains also will help you to reconcile your monthly Procard statement. See the Procard User Guide, Chapter 2 Procard Record Management, for complete details on Procard record keeping procedures.

Following are the instructions for how to maintain you Procard Log:

SPEED CHART/ACCOUNT CODE: The account number and object code assigned to your Procard.

VENDOR ORDER #: Many vendors will assign an order or a confirmation number to your shipment. If so, make sure that you make a note of it here.

DATE ORDERED: The date you placed the order.

HOW?: P = Phone M = Mail I = In Person

VENDOR NAME: The vendor with which the order was placed.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: A general description of the item(s) purchased, e.g., office supplies. Line item detail is unnecessary for the log but is essential on the support documentation (receipt).

TOTAL PRICE: The total cost of the order. Do not forget shipping charges, if applicable.

DATE RECEIVED: The date the order was received.

PARTIAL/FINAL?: Was it a partial shipment, or have all items been received? P = Partial F = Final

RECEIPTS? Y/N: Make sure that you have evidence (proof) of delivery of the materials (sales receipt, cash register receipt, vendor order form, packing list, etc.) which contain the line item detail of all materials you have received. If you don't have, OBTAIN IT. THIS IS THE CARDHOLDER'S RESPONSIBILITY. It must be available for audit purposes.

STATEMENT RECONCILED?: Check here when the purchase (whatever you have that serves as the receipt) has been reconciled and stapled to your monthly statement. If you find that you are missing documentation, inform your Records Manager, and request additional time to obtain/locate the missing receipts(s). The vendor may be able to provide you with duplicates, if not, complete the Procard Missing Itemized Receipt/Documentation Affidavit.
 

Procurement Department Room 407 Goodell Building University of Massachusetts Amherst Tel:  (413) 545-0361 Fax: (413) 545-1643
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Last updated: January 31, 2007