AP/CAR (Accounts Payable Control Analytical Review)

AP/CAR is the University’s automated invoice processing system.  It provides a user-friendly, real-time environment for departmental users to electronically submit invoices to the AP Department, improving their ability to control and track the processing of invoices.

Login Instructions

Requires Columbia UNI and password (first time users receive a temporary password via e-mail from CUIT).  Upon entering the Columbia UNI and temporary password, AP/CAR prompts the user to change the temporary password to a permanent password.  After the user is logged into AP/CAR, from the menu bar, select “Applications”, and then “CAR”.  If you are logging on for the first time, the notice “User has no pending items” will appear. Click OK. If you have begun processing items, you may be alerted to items in your Returned by AP for Correction queue at this time. Click OK.

Note: CourseWorks Online Procurement Overview Training is mandatory prior to accessing AP/CAR for the first time (you will be notified upon entering the system for first time).  However, you may not be able to access Courseworks until your AP/CAR ID application is processed (allow 2 weeks for processing).  For further information about the AP/CAR ID application process, contact Anthony Cerbins at ac2323@columbia.edu.

Note for AP/CAR Approvers:  You also need to apply for DAF (Departmental Authorization Function) Authority - Click here for more info.

FFE (Financial Front End System)

FFE provides a convenient and secure method to access, record, edit and electronically transmit and track specific financial data. 

Login Instructions

Access to the FinSys FFE modules requires entry into the My.Columbia portal, then navigation to the FinSys section.

Access to the VFFE modules (also called FoxPro) requires a Columbia UNI and temporary password assigned via email by Financial Reporting and Operations.  User types in temporary password and the FFE system will prompt the user to change the password.

Note: CourseWorks Online Procurement Training is mandatory prior to accessing the FFE Purchasing Requisition module or AP/CAR. You will be instructed by the system, upon first sign-on to access Courseworks and take the online training. 

DARTS (Departmental Advance Tracking and Reporting System)

DARTS is a web-based application that, in a single program, brings together diverse University financial data to the fingertips of financial administrators, and allows them to run a variety of management reports.

Login Instructions

DARTS access is determined by your "Budget Inquiry/Budgeting Tool " access in your FFE profile.  For access to view departmental payroll data, PAD Access must be granted seperately on the Financial Systems Security Application.  

Click on the Sys Access button below to enter DARTS. You may also enter DARTS via the FinSys section of the my.columbia portal.

My Columbia Portal (to access FinSys and DWR)

FinSys (Financial Systems) allows users to complete various functions, including access to newer FFE modules and DWR reporting, within the financial systems (examples: Purchasing change orders, AP vendor creates, locate certain reports, etc.)

Login Instructions:

Go to the MyColumbia website

Click on Columbia UNI and enter your UNI and password.

Click on FinSys to access Financial Systems Module.

People @ Columbia (PAC) 

PAC is the customized version of PeopleSoft that integrates and processes all Human Resources and Payroll transactions for Columbia University. The system is managed by Central HR.  Please navigate to People@Columbia Resources page for information regarding policy, access, functionality, training and user resources. 

Effort Reporting (ECRT)

Click on the below link to access the research Effort Reporting Tool:

https://ecrt.columbia.edu

DWR (Data Warehouse Reporting)

DWR is a financial reporting tool, which allows users to view various financial management reports.

Login Instructions

DWR can be accessed by logging into the MyColumbia Portal Log In or the link in Systems Access column of this site. Columbia UNI and password is required. However, your access to other systems (i.e. AP/CAR, People@Columbia, FFE Budget Tool, etc.) will affect which reports you will be able view or query.  Use DWR to view COB Reports, FAS Reports, PAC Reports, AP/CAR Reports and other reports depending upon your access.

DWR training is currently unavailable but all questions and requests can be directed to dwhmgrs@cuvmc.ais.columbia.edu

ARC / Financials ERP  

NOTE:  ARC - Accounting & Reporting at Columbia

A new enterprise-wide financial system - Coming July, 2012

The ARC implementation will impact the following areas within the Columbia community:

• Finance (Reporting, Operations, Tax, Treasury, Medical Center)
• Sponsored Projects Finance
• Procurement
• PeopleSoft and Data Warehouse reporting

ARC will include the following Oracle/PeopleSoft software modules:

• General Ledger (GL) with Commitment Control (KK)
• Project Costing (PC)
• Payables (AP)
• Purchasing (PO)
• eProcurement (ePro), requisitioning only

Visit the Fin ERP site for more information >> 

WebSAF  (Reports Only)

WebSAF (Salary Accounting Forms on the web), is a module in FFE that, prior to May 31st, 2011, was used to create or modify an employee's salary distribution profile (i.e. what accounts and subcodes their salary will be charged to). The Add Comp submodule in WebSAF was used to request special or additional salary payments for officer level employees (only).  The People@Columbia (PAC) system Labor Accounting functionality is now used to process salary distribution, additional compensation and cost transfer transactions. For more detailed information, please see the web info page at: http://managers.hr.columbia.edu/tig/PAC#labor_accounting

WebSAF is only available for viewing archived WebSAF transactions.

Ed Hamilton, Executive Director of Finance Technology
Columbia University
615 West 131st Street, 3rd Floor

Studebaker Building
New York, NY 10027