Research Accounting

To help monitor project balances, eFIN is the reporting tool available to the Project Holder and respective delegates. eFIN can be used to view project information, project balances, future encumbrances, previous financial statements and associated project documentation including contracts.

eFIN - How to view your project financial details and balances

eFin is accessible through the myUofC portal by clicking on My Work, then under the Direct Access heading click “eFin”.  Project balances can be viewed by inputting your project reference number into the search field and pressing enter. The project balance will be inclusive of future encumbrances entered in the financial system.

Link to eFIN training

If you require access or additional training to use eFIN, contact finance@ucalgary.ca.

Early Release of Funds (or staged approval) is intended to allow spending of research funds while certifications (human and animal) or laboratory permits (biosafety or radiation safety) are being processed. In order to qualify, the following conditions must be met:

• Notice of award or final contract must be received or signed (finalized) by Research Services Office (RSO), and
• Sponsor must allow for release of funds prior to final ethics certification/permits.

If the above conditions are met, early release of funds will be automatically granted for up to 6 months.

Early release of funds is applicable for startup purposes only (not research). Allowable expenses (including examples) may be found here.

• If early release of funds requires extension beyond the first 6 months of the project, please refer to the Early release of funds extension request form, which must be submitted to rsoerf@ucalgary.ca  with subject line “Application for Early Release of Funds Extension”.

Project holders are responsible for monitoring project balances to ensure projects stay within budget.  While project over-expenditures are generally not permitted, there may be instances where over-expenditures will be required. 

The Project Accountability and Over-Expenditure Operating Standard outlines instances where over-expenditures will be permitted. The Project Accountability and Over-Expenditure Procedure outlines the process to request an Authorized Over-Expenditure (AOE).

Notices of over-expenditures are sent to project holders quarterly.  Project Holders are required to review the project information and take necessary steps to bring the project into balance.

Project Accountability and Over-Expenditure Operating Standard

Project Accountability and Over-Expenditure Procedure

Over-Expenditure or Over-Commitment Form

Research Accounting prepares agency financial statements and claims.  The preparation of these financial statements and claims often require direct communication from Research Accounting to the Project Holder to confirm or retrieve additional information.

To ensure reporting deadlines are met, it is imperative that Project Holders respond in a timely manner with respect to any information requests from Research Accounting.   Once the financial statement or claim is complete, a copy will be sent to the Project Holder for approval and signing.  It is very important for the financial statements or claims to be signed promptly to allow timely submission to the funding agency.

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR),  the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) support and promote high-quality research in a wide variety of disciplines and areas. Together, they make up the Tri-Council funding agencies, the primary mechanism through which the Government of Canada supports research and training at post-secondary institutions. 

On April 1, 2020, the new Tri-Agency Guide on Financial Administration (TAGFA) took effect. Administration and use of grant funds are no longer governed by list-based guidelines. Instead, eligibility is determined based on adherence to four principles, supported by directives (mandatory requirements) set out in TAGFA. 

More information on Tri-Agency’s Principles Based approach at the University of Calgary can be found at https://research.ucalgary.ca/conduct-research/manage-funds/tri-agency-principles-based-approach

Visit the Tri-Agency Financial Administration website.  Review the full Guide, Frequently Asked Questions, and get background information on the updates.

Tri-Agency Financial Administration

U.S. federal government funded projects have specific compliance requirements.  These awards include direct funding from the U.S. federal funded agencies as well as sub-agreements with organizations where the primary source of funds is U.S. federal funds. 

Single Audit

The University of Calgary is required to complete the Single Audit.  The Single Audit is a requirement for organizations that expends $750,000 or more in U.S. federal funds in a fiscal year.  The objective is to provide assurance to the US federal government that the institution has proper internal controls in place and is in compliance with program requirements.

Effort Reporting

Effort Reporting is an annual requirement (subject to audit) to comply with U.S. federal regulations with respect to research funds the University receives from the U.S. federal government. Effort Reporting is a means of documenting the distribution of activity and associated payroll charges to each individual sponsored agreement. Please note this includes agreements directly with a U.S. federal agency as well as sub-agreements with other parties where the primary funder is the U.S. federal government.

Effort Reporting specifically, is the process where gross compensation (in the form of salaries/wages/scholarships) charged to a project as a percentage of overall compensation earned by the individual is certified by the Project Holder to be a reasonable representation of the percentage of effort contributed by the individual to the project. This certification is documented in the form of a letter prepared by Research Accounting and sent to the Project Holder to review, sign and return. There are two certification periods in each University fiscal year: (1) April to September; (2) October to March.

• The percentage of effort charged to a project should not be less than the effort committed to the project;
• The percentage of effort charged to the project should not be less than the percent of salary charged to the project.

UCalgary Effort Reporting FAQ

Procurement Compliance

Project Holders of U.S. federally funded research awards must also be aware of the following additional review steps to be completed by either the Project Holder or their designated project staff when considering work with any new vendor and as part of completing purchase requisitions:

1. Check that the potential vendor is not on a list of disbarred vendors for U.S Federally funded awards. The link to the list of disbarred vendors maintained on SAM (the U.S. federal System for Award Management) is saved here (for further instructions on how to navigate this federal site, please go here).
2. Ensure 3 quotes are obtained for any purchase requisitions over $10,000 USD. These quotes must be included as an attachment when submitting the purchase requisition.

Please ensure that the above checks are completed and the purchase requisition is submitted prior to receiving the good/service.

Transaction and Cost Corrections Cut-off

As part of the University’s institutional reporting requirement to comply with US federal regulations, a full audit of all expenditures (salary, scholarship and other expenditures) is completed annually based on the University’s March 31^st fiscal year end. US federal awards have a 90-day period reporting / correction limit. As such, all adjustments / corrections to transactions are required to be completed within 90 days of the cost being recorded (incurred). Adjustments and corrections that take place after 90 days impact the accuracy of the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA), and therefore impact the audit conclusion and the University’s ability to secure US Federal funding in the future.

Transaction and Cost Corrections Cut-off FAQ

Outgoing Subgrants/Transfer of Funds are coordinated by the Research Services Office rsogrants@ucalgary.ca, with the exception of those noted below:

Research Accounting (Finance@ucalgary.ca)

• Tri-Council transfer of funds (advance payment) to eligible members of the grant team at another institution, with the exception of the programs handled by Legal/MedLegal & IP.

Note: if you wish to include special conditions or terms related to Intellectual Property (IP), Publication or Confidentiality, contact rsogrants@ucalgary.ca to set up the subgrant contract.

Legal & IP (rsogrants@ucalgary.ca)

• Non Tri-Council grants
• Tri-Council programs:
  • CIHR SPOR Network
  • NSERC Collaborative Research & Development (CRD)
  • NSERC Industrial Research Chairs (IRC)
  • NSERC Strategic Projects
  • NSERC Strategic Network
  • NSERC Idea to Innovation NSERC Alliance
  • NSERC University / College Program
  • NSERC CREATE (only when industry funding exists) Network Centres of Excellence (NCE)
• Any funds being sub-contracted for a research collaboration, including industry funds or funds from industry-related funding programs. Foundation funds to be reviewed and approved by RSO Grants before being processed by Legal.
• Clinical trial fund transfers to be reviewed by Legal & IP, AHS, or Med Legal before processing.

Supply Chain Management (SCMHelp@ucalgary.ca)

• Independent contractor (Fee for Service).

Once the sub-agreement is signed by all parties and fully executed, University Legal Services will submit the contract to Finance@ucalgary.ca. A notification is then sent to the Project Holder regarding the set up of the amount-only-PO. Once the amount-only-PO has been set up by the Project Holder, Research Accounting will automatically proceed with advancing the subgrant funds as per the payment date indicated in the contract.

For assistance with creating an amount-only-PO, contact UService@ucalgary.ca.

The Annual Financial Compliance and Eligibility Certificate is designed to clarify financial and administrative accountabilities and expectations for Researchers/Project Holders of externally funded projects, with respect to current and future projects. This certificate is also designed to secure confirmation that Researchers/Project Holders are aware of their financial and administrative accountabilities and that Project Holders will ensure compliance with University policies and sponsor requirements.

All current Researchers/Project Holders of externally and internally restricted projects in Funds 11, 12, 18, 19, 60, and 70 are expected to complete the certificate annually by the end of November each year. New Researchers/Project Holders of externally funded projects are expected to complete this certificate as part of their orientation process.

• Annual Compliance FAQs
• Annual Compliance Form
• Summary of changes to reference materials

The University of Calgary is now offering a new and improved digital process for paying subject fees using EverythingCard.  EverythingCard is Canada’s most widely used gift card platform to simplify delivery of gift cards.  Researchers purchase online codes that can be given to their research participants as a token of appreciation for their time and effort in participating in the study.  Participants redeem codes online and select their own gift card(s) from a variety of retailers. 

The change to using EverythingCard was based on feedback from the research community seeking a more cost effective and secure method for subject fee payments.  EverythingCard provides project holders and their research teams better control of their subject fee spending with a more streamlined process.    While there is a minimum $500 spend required per EverythingCard account, there is no cost to the project holder to use.         

Subject fee payments using the EverythingCard process can be paid from active projects with sufficient funds and valid Human Ethics certification. 

For more details and information on the EverythingCard process please click here:

Please note that the EverthingCard process can only be used to pay academic research study participants.  Using the EverythingCard gift cards for purposes other than for academic research study participants  is not compliant with the University’s Gifts, Donations and Sponsorship Policy (ucalgary.ca).  Payments to non-employees not related to subject fee payments must continue to be paid using the University’s Payment Request PRQ process. 

For any questions related to the EverythingCard process please contact finance@ucalgary.ca. 

Subject Fees – EverythingCard Process FAQ Document

This form contains pertinent information on the EverythingCard process.  

Subject Fees – EverythingCard Set Up Form  

Complete this form to set up an EverythingCard account.

Subject Fee and Travel Declaration Form – **limited use only**

For use only on subject fee cash advance clearing and clearing of advances from the old Prepaid Visa Card process.

As part of the internal control compliance & quarterly reporting requirement to the Audit Committee, a notification is sent to Project Holders with projects due to expire and/or already expired but still in Active status. The Project Holder must notify Research Accounting which of the following steps they wish to take:

1. Request a project extension

• If required and approval has been received from the funding agency, end date extensions can be requested by completing the Project Update Form.

2. Request the project to be closed

• When the project has ended and all deliverables have been met, the project will need to be closed.  The request to close the project can be sent to finance@ucalgary.ca with confirmation of the following:
• All invoices and vendors have been paid
• All PCARD and T & E card reconciliations have been completed 
• All project-related expense claims have been submitted 
• All sub-grant commitments have been paid out 
• All progress reporting or final reporting requirements have been submitted
• All other project deliverables are complete

Closure of projects prior to the project end date can also be requested by sending the request to finance@ucalgary.ca

At the completion of the project or at the project end date, remaining funds are either refunded or retained, based on the agreement or NOA. 

If a refund is required, Research Accounting will initiate the refund.

If unspent funds can be retained by the University and there are no restrictions on the use of unspent funds, project holders may transfer the unspent balance into their residual balance project.  Please note that spending against residual balance projects follow University guidelines and policies.

Research Services website

Legal Research Services (CSM) website