G/3.1 Assets

Policy Owner	Executive Director, Finance and Deputy Chief Financial Officer
Approval Date	03/03/2010
Approval Authority	Vice-President (Finance) and Chief Financial Officer
Date of Next Review	01/03/2013

3.1.1 Asset management
3.1.2 Cash assets
3.1.3 Receivables
3.1.4 Inventories
3.1.5 Other financial assets
3.1.6 Property, plant and equipment
3.1.7 Intangible assets
Related Documents
Modification History

3.1.1 Asset management

An asset is anything of material value and which provides a potential future economic benefit to the University. The Executive Director, Finance and Deputy Chief Financial Officer is responsible for the strategic management of the University's assets including its property, plant and equipment.

QUT's asset management framework identifies the key elements associated with asset management, namely acquisition, use, disposal and investment. For property, plant and equipment it considers a 'whole of life' approach including operational requirements, acquisition, enhancements, and disposal of assets, all of which have an impact on asset valuations and depreciation.

The University may control other assets under arrangements with other bodies, or under terms of leasing or tenancy agreements.

Further details on asset management are provided in the Financial Management Practice and Procedures Manual.

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3.1.2 Cash assets

Cash assets include monies that are held in petty cash and in QUT bank accounts, and those monies held by the Queensland Treasury Corporation (QTC) or other approved financial institution (G/3.2) for short term investment purposes. It is essential that particulars of all monies due to the University are identified and appropriately recorded so that they may be collected on or before the due date. Staff members who collect such monies are responsible for the safe custody of the collections from the time of receipt until deposited into authorised University bank accounts. Procedures for management and control of monies are provided in the Financial Management Practice and Procedures Manual.

Bank accounts may only be opened with the approval of the Executive Director, Finance and Deputy Chief Financial Officer and only in the name of the Queensland University of Technology. The Executive Director, Finance and Deputy Chief Financial Officer is responsible for authorising officers to operate these accounts.

Procedures for the conduct of QUT bank accounts are provided in the Financial Management Practice and Procedures Manual.

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3.1.3 Receivables

A receivable is money owed to the University for goods or services purchased on credit. Receivables include trade receivables which are sales to regular trade customers that have been completed but not yet paid for, and student outstanding invoices.

All University debt is administered either through the student management system for student fees (E/7.1), or through the University's finance system for all other activities.

Prior to performing any work or services that will result in a material debt (see Financial Management Practice and Procedures Manual) by a potential customer to the University, the responsibility centre performing the work or services must perform a credit check on the customer to ensure that the likelihood of a default is minimised.

Credit notes

Credit notes are raised to cancel or amend an invoice raised in error and may only be issued subsequent to approval being given by an officer authorised to commit funds to specific limits, in accordance with the Register of Authorities and Delegations (QUT staff access only).

Write-off of debt

Debts due to the University may only be written off in accordance with the delegated authorities to write off bad debts and assets - see Register of Authorities and Delegations (QUT staff access only).

Detailed procedures dealing with revenue, credit checks, credit notes, debt management and debt write-off are provided in the Financial Management Practice and Procedures Manual.

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3.1.4 Inventories

Inventories for purposes of QUT assets include land held for resale and stock held by the QUT Bookshop. QUT does not normally purchase land for the purposes of resale, however where this is the intention the Financial Management Practice and Procedures Manual, identifies the appropriate management and accounting for the asset. All purchases of land must be notified to the Executive Director, Finance and Deputy Chief Financial Officer.

Items such as stationery, spare parts, consumables and components, loose tools, consignment stock and minor equipment held for resale to students or the public are not considered to be assets. However, these items are to be managed and controlled as outlined in the Financial Management Practice and Procedures Manual.

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3.1.5 Other financial assets

Other financial assets include medium to long term investment funds (G/3.2) and investments in associated companies.

The University has a number of associated companies and treatment of these companies is outlined in the Financial Management Practice and Procedures Manual.

Shares that are fortuitously acquired arising from prior research activity which recognises part ownership of the inherent intellectual property may be disposed of subject to the financial authority of the Vice-Chancellor and President.

The purchase of additional shares within companies already part of the University's portfolio of investments requires the Vice-Chancellor and President's approval and shall only be progressed if directly linked with a clear strategic positioning and not be speculative in nature.

All unrealised gains and losses during the period of investment and realised gains and losses following disposal will be accounted for centrally.

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3.1.6 Property, plant and equipment

A Fixed Assets Register is maintained by the University for all non-current assets with acquisition costs in excess of $5 000. This register records all data necessary to identify and locate assets, together with other relevant information (eg depreciation, life expectancy).

Assets with acquisition costs less than $5 000 but greater than $2 000 (greater than $1 000 for ICT equipment) are also recorded in the Fixed Asset Register as portable and attractive items, where required.

High value equipment is deemed to be assets of greater than $100,000 (ex GST) per asset item regardless of asset category or type. The cost of the asset includes the purchase price, freight and installation.

Heads of responsibility centres should exercise efficiency and economy in acquiring assets on the University's behalf and observe University and State Government purchasing policies.

Where applicable, project proposals must be prepared in accordance with Chapter 1(C) of the Financial Management Practice and Procedures Manual and the QUT Project Proposal Framework.

Insurance of assets

The Executive Director, Finance and Deputy Chief Financial Officer oversees the appointment of an insurance broker to manage the University's insurance requirements. Details of the insurance broker and the University's insurance program are available on the Insurance website (QUT staff access only).

Rental of assets

When not required for University purposes, University assets may be hired to staff and outside bodies on terms and conditions contained in QUT's policy for user charging (G/8.1). Requests for new arrangements must be forwarded to the Vice-President (Finance) and Chief Financial Officer for consideration and endorsed by the Vice-Chancellor and President.

Leasing of assets

A purchase versus lease appraisal should be prepared by the faculty or division to validate a recommendation to either lease or purchase an asset. Heads of responsibility centres should obtain the approval of the Executive Director, Finance and Deputy Chief Financial Officer before entering into commitments for leasing assets. Where applicable, project proposals must be prepared and approved for significant lease versus buy decisions, in accordance with Chapter 1(C) of the Financial Management Practice and Procedures Manual.

Loss or damage of assets

Heads of responsibility centres are responsible for reporting any loss of or damage to assets as soon as possible to the Manager, Security and Emergency Management who will take action to prevent the loss recurring. Where appropriate, an insurance claim should be completed as per instructions on the Insurance website (QUT staff access only).

In the event of a possible offence under the Queensland Criminal Code or other act or law, the Manager, Security and Emergency Management is required to advise the police and the Executive Director, Finance and Deputy Chief Financial Officer, who shall notify the Auditor-General. Where corrupt conduct by a member of the University is indicated, the Manager, Security and Emergency Management must instead report the matter to the Vice-President (Administration) and University Registrar who shall notify the Crime and Corruption Commission. The Executive Director, Finance and Deputy Chief Financial Officer is responsible for ensuring that all material losses are recorded in the Record of Material Losses Register (Non-Cash).

Write-off of assets

Action to write-off assets must be in accordance with the delegated authority (Register of Authorities and Delegations (QUT staff access only)). The Vice-Chancellor and President can authorise the write-off of bad debts and assets which are missing, obsolete, irreparable, at the end of their useful lives or scheduled for replacement where the value exceeds $100 000. Vice-President (Finance) and Chief Financial Officer can authorise the write-off of bad debts and assets up to the value of $100 000. The Executive Director, Finance and Deputy Chief Financial Officer can authorise the write-off of bad debts and assets up to the value of $25 000. Executive deans of faculty, heads of division, heads of school, heads of department, heads of independent section, faculty operation managers and directors of divisional offices can authorise the write-off of assets which are obsolete, at the end of their useful lives or scheduled for replacement or retirement equal to or less than the value of $10 000.

Depreciation

Assets are depreciated according to accounting standards and policies prescribed by legislation. Depreciation is calculated by applying the straight-line method. Further details are provided in the Financial Management Practice and Procedures Manual.

Disposal

Disposal of items can be made when assets are no longer required, have reached the end of their useful life, or are technically or economically redundant. Faculties and divisions are provided with the flexibility of choosing how to dispose of their assets through methods described in the Financial Management Practice and Procedures Manual. To be able to make informed asset disposal decisions, a disposal decision tree has been developed. If a responsibility centre has assets which are surplus to their requirements, but still serviceable, they must canvass other areas of the University to determine whether another responsibility centre has a need for such assets and would be interested in acquiring those assets. Approval for disposal of assets and write-offs is in accordance with the delegated authority (Register of Authorities and Delegations (QUT staff access only)).

Assets review

At minimum, an annual review of assets is to be undertaken to verify the existence of assets recorded in the Fixed Assets Register and to assess the serviceability of those assets (remaining life and depreciation rate). Any discrepancies are to be investigated by the responsibility centre. Detailed procedures are provided in the Financial Management Practice and Procedures Manual.

Heads of responsibility centres should also annually review asset usage to determine whether excess capacity exists that may benefit another responsibility centre by mutual arrangement.

Control of assets

In addition to the above controls, heads of responsibility centres should also:

implement procedures ensuring as far as possible the security of assets under their control
ensure assets are properly maintained with a view to maximising the period of effective use
ensure assets are not exposed to any hazards which may result in the insurance contract being rendered null and void in the event of a loss.

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3.1.7 Intangible assets

An intangible asset is an asset that is without physical substance, such as intellectual property (IP) and information technology software. Software (including purchased software) that is not an integral part of hardware is treated as an intangible asset.

Where the software is an integral part of the related hardware (for example the operating system), it is treated as Property, Plant and Equipment.

To assess an internally generated intangible asset, the project needs to be identified at the earliest possible stage. Internally generated assets arising from development of an internal project must demonstrate that the asset will generate probable future economic benefit.

Software development can be undertaken in-house and will include activities such as design and construction, testing, specifications works, pre-production use, alternatives, improved products, processes or service.
Further details on intangible assets are provided in the Financial Management Practice and Procedures Manual.

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Modification History

Date	Sections	Source	Details
26.07.22	All	Vice-Chancellor and President	Revised to update position title from Chief Financial Officer to Vice-President (Finance) and Chief Financial Officer
05.05.21	G/3.1.1, G/3.1.2, G/3.1.4, G/3.1.6	Director, Governance, Legal and Performance	Minor editorial changes to align with Repositioning QUT for a post-COVID world organisational change - effective 31.01.21
21.02.19	G/3.1.6	Vice-Chancellor and President	Policy revised to amend approved increase for write-off of assets
10.07.18	All	Vice-Chancellor and President	Revised policy to include department name change from Corporate Finance to Finance Resource Management
09.05.18	G/3.1.6	Vice-Chancellor	Revised to expand write-off authorities and add additional delegation to improve business process efficiency in asset and debt management
27.07.17	G/3.1.6	Director, Corporate Finance	Editorial amendment to clarify high value equipment assets
20.06.17	G/3.1.6	Director, Corporate Finance	Revised policy to include high value equipment
06.07.14	G/3.1.6	Executive Director, Finance and Resource Planning	Policy revised to embed the Project Proposal Framework
03.03.10	All	Executive Director, Finance and Resource Planning	Revised policy
19.06.08	All	Acting Executive Director, Finance and Resource Planning	Policy reviewed – no change required
06.09.05	All	Executive Director, Finance and Resource Planning	New policy

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