02 - 036 Definition of a Banner Account (ACCT) Code

• Account is the first "A" in FOAPAL -- "the set of elements that defines an accounting string in Banner".
• It is a 6 character alpha-numeric code.
• It is used to identify assets, liabilities and fund balances as well as revenue, expense and transfers activities.
• It is also used as a mechanism for budget controls similar to an appropriation unit.
• Account codes are shared across USNH, there is no need to have department or campus specific account codes as there is with funds and orgns.
• It can have one of three data-entry codes:

Y Any transaction type may use this code
B Can only be used with Budget transactions
N Does not allow any transactions of any type.

• All data-enterable account codes are 6 characters long

  • Account has four levels of hierarchy built into the structure. Each level of the hierarchy is distinguishable by the number of characters in the code.         

• Account also has attributes that can be related to the codes for reporting flexibility. See Procedure 02-054 for a list.

What does the Account represent?

These codes represent accounting classifications used to ensure consistency of budget and actual activity across all units;

Is the activity considered a revenue, expense, transfer, asset or liability? If yes, it is probably an Account.

Account codes should NOT be campus or department specific, instead those would use Activity codes.

Account codes are established infrequently and typically at the request of central offices working in cooperation with the campuses.