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Approving Transactions

Approvals require reviewing documents for compliance with university policies and procedures, external regulations, and terms and conditions of agreements.

In addition, an approver:  

  • Confirms the expenditure serves a necessary business purpose or benefit to the university.
  • Confirms the expenditure is appropriate, reasonable, cost effective, and in accordance with the best use of university funds.
  • Reviews the document to make sure there is sufficient information to support the transaction. For example, the Description and Explanation fields, as well as the Notes and Attachments should be detailed so that someone viewing the transaction in the future would be able to understand why the transaction occurred.  
  • Verifies the funds are available and that charges or credits are appropriate for the funding type (e.g., that no income, alcohol, social club memberships or direct fundraising activities are charged to state general funds). Consult the sponsor's terms and conditions, if needed.  

If the above conditions are not met, the approver works with the initiator to resolve the problem. For example, if information is missing, the initiator or approver can add a note to the document or the approver can return the document to the initiator to make edits. If the expenditures on the document are not in compliance with policies or regulations, you must disapprove the document. Do not approve transactions that violate policies or regulations. If you are unsure whether a transaction violates policy, discuss your concerns with your supervisor or contact either Accounting & Financial Reporting, Controls & Accountability or the Chief Compliance Officer.

Common Approval Types

Transaction approvals should always meet the above requirements. In addition, a few additional items to pay close attention to are listed below.

  • Non-Purchase Order Payments

  • A Payment Request form is used to make payments in specific situations where a Purchase Order does not exist. Each of the payment types indicated below is processed on a Payment Request, except where otherwise noted:

    Employee Reimbursements
    > Reimbursements should be the "exception" not the "rule;" regular purchasing practices include Procurement Card or Aggie Enterprise Requisition.
    > See the Unauthorized Purchasing section on the Supply Chain Management website for full details.


    Honoraria (Processed via Candex on Aggie Enterprise Requisition)
    > State funds may not be used for payment of honoraria per UCOP Accounting Manual D-371-35.
    > Academic Appointees: The honorarium paid for presenting lectures or similar services may be subject to negotiation, but may not exceed $1,500 per event, which may include several related activities which take place during an employee's visit per APM UCD-666.

    For information on what qualifies for an honorarium, please see UCD PPM 380-76.

    Memberships - Per BFB-G-43:
    > Memberships in airline and airport clubs are prohibited.
    > Memberships in social organizations may not be paid with State General funds.
    > State funds may not be used for membership in organizations that discriminate.

    Please review UCD PPM 330-75- University Payment of Membership Fees for additional restrictions and approvals required.

    Research Study Payments (Processed via Candex on Aggie Enterprise Requisition)
    > Must have a valid Institutional Review Board (IRB) number.

  • Entertainment

  • When approving entertainment expenses, keep in mind the restrictions on state and federal funds and whether it is an allowable expense in that fund source. Alcohol or tobacco may not be charged to state funds.

    In addition, entertainment expenses requiring additional approvals or on an exception basis may not be charged to State Funds; these include:
    > Expenses at rates in excess of policy guidelines;
    > Entertainment of guest's or host's spouse or equivalent;
    > Tickets to entertainment or sporting events;
    > Employee morale functions (e.g., employee retirement or separation reception, employee recognition reception, department picnics, holiday events). Also note, no university funds may be used for employee birthdays, weddings, anniversaries or for farewell gatherings for employees with less than five years of service.

    For more information please see UCD PPM 330-80 and BFB-BUS-79.

  • Payments Against an Aggie Enterprise Purchase Order

  • Supplier invoices for Purchase Orders are processed by the central Accounts Payable (AP) team.  Most invoices do not require chart string or PPM Project Manager approval with a few exceptions as indicated on the Knowledge Base Article.

    Before approving an Invoice document in Aggie Enterprise:
    > Verify payment to vendor is appropriate and reasonable. 
    > Verify goods and services have been received.
    > Verify the document attachments have sufficient information to support the transaction.

    Approvers should understand purchasing polices including UCD PPM 350-10 and UCD PPM 350-22. For more information on making purchases, visit the How Do I Buy page.

  • Procurement Card Reconciliation in AggieExpense

  • Each time a Procurement Card transaction occurs, the resulting expense must be processed as part of AggieExpense reconciliation.

    Before approving the AggieExpense report, approvers should:
    > Verify purchases are appropriate, compliant, accurate and properly received.
    > Verify amount paid matches vendor receipt.
    > Verify vendor receipt has been electronically attached to the report.
    > Verify object code has been changed to reflect the purchase.
    > Take or recommend corrective action when Procurement Cards have been used inappropriately.


    Approvers should understand purchasing polices including UCD PPM-350-22. For more information on what is an allowable/unallowable, purchase visit the Procurement Card page.

  • Travel

  • Before approving travel remember to familiarize yourself with the travel policies (UCD PPM 300-10 and BFB G-28). 

    When approving travel, keep in mind the restrictions on state and federal funds and whether it is an allowable expense in that fund source. Also remember the following:
    > Travelers are reimbursed for actual meals and incidental expenses up to the per day limit. Incidental expenses include low value fees and tips. 
    > Alcohol is not allowed on state funds.
    > First or business class travel - state funds may not be used to pay for the additional cost of first or business class travel unless it meets federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requirements, including adequate justification. See BFB G-28.
    > Spouse or domestic partner travel expenses may not be charged to state funds. Contract and grant funds may only be used to reimburse spouse or domestic partner travel if the special provisions of the contract or grant are satisfied. Various non-state funds controlled by the university may be used to fund spouse or domestic partner travel, but only within the restrictions, if any, governing the use of the fund and within the policy set forth in BFB G-28.
    > Travel expenses, along with all necessary backup documentation, must be submitted to Accounts Payable within 45 days of the completion of the trip.  (see exceptions).