Budgeting Office

Financial Planning and Budgeting

The mission of the Budgets and Financial Planning area is to support the Vice President for Business Affairs and Controller in executing the budgeting and financial policies of the University.  This involves detailed review, analysis, projection, and reporting of all revenue and expenditure line items with the goal of ensuring a balanced budget that reflects the priorities of the University.  

The Budgets and Financial Planning area assists budget managers and divisions in the development and monitoring of annual and long-term financial plans designed to avoid over spending, improve efficiency of financial operations and processes, determine fee revisions, and review feasibility of new and continuing programs.

Annual Capital Budget Process

A project budget includes all of the costs pertaining to the completion of a project; it contains so-called hard construction costs and the soft costs for planning and miscellaneous fees and expenses. In the early stages of planning, estimates of these costs are provided by professional estimators or construction managers. Early pricing is often based upon comparison with recent projects on a cost-per-square-foot of area or a cost-per-occupant. As the plan becomes more detailed, such as at the end of the design development and subsequent construction documentation process, then more precise estimates can be developed. Accurate cost control through the design process helps to ensure that the project will emerge from the bidding process consistent with program and financial objectives.

Normally the planning process culminates in the completion of a thorough set of construction documents that are distributed to a pre-approved list of bidders. The bidders are invited to submit competitive bids on or before a specified time to the Director of Purchasing. However, when a CM is engaged by the University to manage the project, the CM receives all subcontractor bids and provides the University with an analysis and recommendation of which subcontractors should be engaged on behalf of the University.

For smaller projects of limited scope, budgeting can occasionally be done by a University PM who may use historical cost records, published cost data, or advice from trusted subcontractors to establish a reliable estimate.

(Minor Projects) An annual capital request process provides department budget managers with an opportunity to propose specific capital projects for the consideration by the President's Cabinet. A notice is issued by the Director of Capital Projects to Budget Managers who are asked to submit requests to their respective Vice Presidents. The Campus Management Staff often provides assistance in the preparing the cost estimates for these proposals. The Vice President selects projects to pass on to the entire Cabinet for review. Projects approved by the President and his Cabinet are passed on to the Board of Trustees for final approval.

Grant & Contract Administration

The Grants & Accounting Office was established to centralize all operational and grants financial management for Bryant University. Its mission is to provide excellent service to those members of the University Community involved in the application for and administration of sponsored projects, to protect the University's interest and to comply with the sponsored project requirements. The Grants & Accounting Office provides financial reports to Federal, State, and local governments, and privately funded grants related to any area of the University. It is also this office's responsibility to provide accurate, precise and timely financial reports, through proper financial controls and documentation, establishing guidelines in compliance with OMB, FASB, GAAP, Bryant University policies and any regulatory requirements.

The Grants & Accounting Office also provides assistance to those individuals seeking external funding. Although it is not this office's responsibility to write the grant for the applicant, this office will provide guidance through the application phase, particularly in the area of budget preparation.

Endowment Management

The Grants & Accounting Office was established to centralize all operational and grants financial management for Bryant University. Its mission is to provide excellent service to those members of the University Community involved in the application for and administration of sponsored projects, to protect the University's interest and to comply with the sponsored project requirements. The Grants & Accounting Office provides financial reports to Federal, State, and local governments, and privately funded grants related to any area of the University. It is also this office's responsibility to provide accurate, precise and timely financial reports, through proper financial controls and documentation, establishing guidelines in compliance with OMB, FASB, GAAP, Bryant University policies and any regulatory requirements.

The Grants & Accounting Office also provides assistance to those individuals seeking external funding. Although it is not this office's responsibility to write the grant for the applicant, this office will provide guidance through the application phase, particularly in the area of budget preparation.