Richer information and simpler processes have been rolled out to improve budget management by researchers.

Chief Financial Officer Richard Porter says the new approach puts vital information such as how much researchers have available to spend, clearer information around budgeted and actual spending, and who to contact for support at researcher’s fingertips.

Mr Porter says as part of the Professional Services Project the University’s financial reporting dashboard has been refined to make it easier to use.

New features include richer online support material to address frequent researcher queries.

The Grants Information webpage has been redesigned and includes better links with the Research Services Office and Finance. A researcher-focused site has been developed within Finance to provide enhanced links to support material and external information.

Researchers who manage a project code are now automatically granted access to the dashboard. Links to the dashboard and supporting material, along with options relating to the setup and management of successful grants, will now be included in update emails from Grants Finance upon the awarding of a grant contract.

Meanwhile, work is underway to design induction and user training via opt in sessions, to give researchers a head start on how to get the most out of the new improved dashboard.

Mr Porter says there are plan to do more to make administration and access to information easier for research staff as PSP proceeds.