PantherSoft Financials 9.2
Fundamentals
Office of the Controller
PantherSoft Financials
PantherSoft Financials is FIU’s system for conducting all
of its financial operations related to purchasing goods
and services, employee travel and expense
reimbursement, vendor payments, financial and
managerial reporting, budgeting, grants financial
administration, and asset management.
Agenda
• Logging into PantherSoft
Financials
• Using Navigation Menu
• Personalizing Main Page
• Access Request Form
• Adding Favorites
• Editing and Deleting Favorites
• ChartFields and SpeedTypes
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•
•
•
•
Using Search Operators
Global Search Feature
Workflow
WorkCenters
Delegating Alternate
Workflow Approver
• Running and Processing
Reports
• Signing Out of PantherSoft
Logging into PantherSoft Financials
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Logging into PantherSoft Financials
The number of menu
items displayed will
depend on a user’s
security access.
Using Navigation Menu
Navigation Buttons
Common Button Used Within PantherSoft
Stores data in the system that is entered on
a page and updates all the pages of a
component.
Refreshes the page with the latest information
entered and recalculates formulas.
Takes user to a page for “Adding a New
Value”.
Deletes a row from a page.
Accesses existing rows of information in
the system. If data is effective-dated,
displays only current and future rows.
Inserts a row into a page.
Displays all effective-dated rows and allows
updates only to current and future rows.
Clicking on the arrow to the left moves
backwards through rows of pages. Clicking on the
arrow to the right moves forward.
Allows for updating all rows including saved
from prior dates. Not all users have access
to Correct History.
Displays all current and historical rows at once.
Clicking the tab accesses the previous page
tab in the component. Also preforms the
same function as clicking the Previous tab
button.
Access the previous record from the Search
Results list.
Clicking the tab accesses the next page in
the component. Also preforms the same
function as clicking the Next tab button.
Access the next record from the Search Results
list.
Personalizing Main Page
Personalizing Main Page
Personalizing Main Page
Personalizing Main Page
Personalizing Main Page
Personalizing Main Page
Personalizing Main Page
Personalizing Main Page
Personalizing Main Page
Click and drag the blue header to the right
Personalizing Main Page
Access Request System
• ALL Employees are automatically granted access to
“Employee Self-Service” for (Viewing Access Only):
Travel Authorizations
Expense Reimbursements (Travel and Non-Travel related)
Asset Control
• Employees can fill out an “Access Request Form” if tasked
with roles such as:
Hold or Approve a credit card for a department
Billing other Departments for services rendered (Smart Billing)
Reporting
Travel Authorizations
Expense Reimbursements (Travel and Non-Travel related)
Asset Control
Access Request System
Access Request Form
Access Request Form
Access Request Form
Access Request Form
Access Request Form
The “%” symbol is
a wildcard which
will facilitate your
search by looking
up descriptions
that include your
request
information.
Access Request Form
Adding Favorites
Adding Favorites
Adding Favorites
Editing and Deleting Favorites
Editing and Deleting Favorites
Editing and Deleting Favorites
Editing and Deleting Favorites
Editing and Deleting Favorites
ChartFields and SpeedTypes
Required Fields
Name
Unit
SpeedType
Description
Identifies the legal entity within the University, including FIU, FIU Foundation, etc.
A SpeedType is a code that represents a combination of ChartField values.
Account
Identifies transactions based on the object of the event. This ChartField is used to classify
transactions in the accounting systems as Assets, Liabilities, Revenues, Expenses or Equity.
Alternate Account
Classifies the nature of a transaction utilizing the State standard General Ledger code. Each
"account" ChartField must be mapped to an alternate account.
Department
To be considered a Department the unit must serve a distinct function or discipline, have a
manager with subordinates, and have a budget.
Site
Identifies the campus or location to which the transaction is identified (ex: FIU On-Line)
Fund Code
Identifies major funding sources that the University must report on separately. Each fund has
its own rules for spending and receiving money.
Program Code
This code identifies the primary mission or activity being reported such as instruction,
research, public service, financial aid, student activities, etc. Also known as the PCS code.
Activity Number
Tracks revenues and expenses for a specific activity using a distinct fund, program code, site
and department (organization) string.
ChartFields and SpeedTypes
Optional Fields
Name
Description
Cost PID
Tracks revenues and expenses for a specific Faculty member.
Budget Reference
Identifies the aid year for financial awards. Also used by College of
Medicine to identify the academic period.
PC Business Unit (project
costing business unit)
Used for Construction projects (FCN01), FIU Research Central
(FSR00) and for Grants (FSR01).
Project
Tracks projects where by the University is required to report fiscal
activities on a "life-to-date" basis.
Activity ID
Activities are the specific tasks within a project.
Using Search Operators
• Search Operators enable you to perform searches on limited amounts
of information, such as first letters for customer, company, or state
names. The following operators are available:
Operator
Field Use
begins with
Character fields
contains
Character fields
=
All field types
not=
All field types
<
All field types
<=
All field types
>
All field types
>=
All field types
between
All field types
in
All field types
Global Search Feature
Global Search - Global Search enables you to take actions directly from your search results
based on context without navigating through the menu to find the pages and data that you
are looking for.
In this example search for “Purchase Orders”
Global Advanced Search
• To use the Global Search “Advanced Search” option click on
Advanced Search enables you to specify one or more field values, or
partial values so that you can refine your search results. You are able to
search by “Keywords,” “With this Exact Phrase,” “With any of these
Words,” or even “Exclude” specific items from your search.
Global Advanced Search
• When using the Global Advanced Search, several options can be used
in order for quick and simple searches. Click the “Search Tips”
hyperlink for helpful notes.
Global Advanced Search
• The following search tips cans aid users when using the Global
Advanced Search.
Worklist
Workflow
• The workflow functionality enables users to view the workflow
approval process. When a transaction is submitted, the notification
process is begun. User’s are notified via Email.
• Below is a general example of the Workflow functionality.
Workflow
• Below is a another example of the Workflow functionality.
Delegating Alternate Workflow Approver
To enable another user to complete the approval process on
your behalf follow the navigation below:
Main Menu  My System Profile
• The General Profile Information page opens. In the “Alternate User ID”
box enter the Panther ID for the user you want to set as an Approver.
• To search for the Panther ID of a user click the Look Up button to the
right of “Alternate User ID.”
• In the “From Date” and “To Date” select the desired time frame for this
user to Approve transactions on your behalf. Click
Delegating Alternate Workflow Approver
Delegating Alternate Workflow Approver
Any pending transactions
in the Approvers queue
prior to the “From Date”
will not be routed to the
Alternate Approver. Email
notifications of new
transactions during the
selected time frame will be
sent to the Alternate
Approver.
WorkCenters
• WorkCenters are designed for specific roles and enable operations
for some users with the ability to access various pages, perform
their tasks, view exceptions, alerts, links, reports, and queries all
in one area.
The WorkCenter navigation is located on
the left side of the page and contains two
tabs: Main and Report/Queries.
WorkCenters
• In addition to viewing Pending Approvals, Pending Activities, Alerts
Reports/Queries (Note: Required tasks will vary for users) users are
able to view an analysis of data with Bar Charts, Line Charts, Pie
Charts or Horizontal Bar Charts.
• Below is a general example of a Pie Chart.
By selecting the following
icon
users will
be able to choose the
desired chart to illustrate
and compare data.
Running Reports & Processes
• To run reports within PantherSoft General Ledger, follow the
navigation bellow :
Main Menu  General Ledger  General Reports  Ledger Activity
• A Run Control page will appear. A Run Control is a database record that provides
values for reports.
• The first time a report is ran in PantherSoft, a Run Control ID must be established.
Create (and save) a run control to prevent having to enter the same value each
time a report is ran.
http://finance.fiu.edu/controller/Docs/Training_Manuals/Run%20Controls.pdf
Running Reports & Processes
Running Reports & Processes
Adding a Run Control ID is
only necessary once. On
subsequent reports, users
can use the “Find an
Existing Value” search to
locate the Run Control ID
previously created.
Running Reports & Processes
Running Reports & Processes
Running Reports & Processes
1104120006
Running Reports & Processes
Running Reports & Processes
1104120006
Running Reports & Processes
Signing Out of PantherSoft
• PantherSoft Financials is setup to time-out after 20 minutes of inactivity.
If the system has been idle for 15 minutes, the following window will be
displayed:
Save constantly in order to
avoid losing your work due to
the system timing-out.
• By clicking the
button, the system will not time-out and you can
continue working in your current session. However, if this button is not
clicked within 5 minutes, the system will sign you out of the idle Window.
Signing Out of PantherSoft
• To sign out, click
This returns you to the Login Page.
Signing Out of PantherSoft
Questions?
www.tinyurl.com/oocsurvey