Chart of Accounts Redesign Project Progress Update

In April, the Administrative Modernization Program (AMP) announced the launch of several Oracle Cloud readiness initiatives, including the Chart of Accounts (COA) redesign. As a foundational component of the University's future ERP environment, the Chart of Accounts provides the structure for how financial information is recorded, reported, and analyzed across the institution.

Since that announcement, the project team has been engaging stakeholders across the university to understand how financial data is currently used and to identify opportunities to enhance the Chart of Accounts in support of the future Oracle Cloud system. 

Who Is the Design Team?

The team brings together expertise from finance, budget and planning, accounting, research administration, human resources, and information technology, along with implementation partners supporting the broader Oracle Cloud program.

This structure ensures the future Chart of Accounts reflects both technical system requirements and the practical needs of the University’s academic and administrative operations. The design team is working collaboratively to translate stakeholder input into a clear, sustainable, and scalable chart structure for the Oracle Cloud system.

The design team includes representatives from across the university, including: 

• Ana Tomas, Chief of Staff to the Vice President of Human Resources
• Candice Casto, Treasurer/CFO of the Foundation
• Kelly Coates, Assistant Chief Financial Officer, HCOM
• Kimberly Littlefield, Associate Vice President for Research Administration
• Kris Sano, Associate Controller
• Jason Winchell, Senior Director, Business Systems, Student & Faculty Administrative Systems
• Jennifer Cox, Budget Director
• Julie Allison, Associate Vice President for Finance, Controller
• Kari Saunier, Associate Provost for Academic Budget & Planning
• Kim Trout, Bursar 
• Rosanna Howard, RHE Strategic Operations & Chief Finance and Administrative Officer
• Samantha Reese, Senior Director of Finance
• Tina Payne, Executive Director of Treasury Operations

Listening and Learning

Throughout May and June , the project team has engaged stakeholders from across the University to understand how financial information is used to support reporting, operations, and decision-making. These conversations have focused on current Chart of Accounts usage, reporting needs, and areas where the existing structure presents challenges or opportunities for improvement.

To date, discussions have included representatives from:

• Academic colleges and departments
• Research and sponsored programs administration
• Finance and accounting teams
• Budget and planning teams
• Human resources and payroll
• Financial & Administrative Systems Team (FAST)
• Chief Finance and Administrative Officers (CFAOs)
• Procurement and accounts payable
• Student accounts and enrollment management
• Advancement and foundation operations
• Auxiliary enterprises and self-supporting units
• Regional campuses
• Institutional Effectiveness & Analytics
• University leadership and administrative offices

These discussions have provided valuable insight into how financial data supports budgeting, reporting, grant management, workforce planning, compliance, and strategic decision-making.

Key Themes Emerging from Stakeholder Discussions

While each area has unique business requirements, several common themes have emerged:

• The need for consistent, reliable, and flexible reporting across the institution.
• Opportunities to simplify portions of the current Chart of Accounts structure.
• The importance of preserving critical reporting capabilities while reducing unnecessary complexity.
• Opportunities to reduce reliance on manual workarounds and supplemental spreadsheets.
• The importance of maintaining visibility into financial activity at the department, college, and University levels.
• The need to support future organizational growth and evolving business requirements.
• The importance of balancing local reporting needs with institution-wide consistency.
• The need to support both operational and strategic decision-making with more accessible financial data.

These themes help guide the design process and will inform how financial information is structured in the future Oracle Cloud system.

The project team appreciates the engagement and thoughtful feedback provided by stakeholders. Their input is helping shape a Chart of Accounts design that balances institution-wide consistency with the diverse operational needs of the University community while supporting the capabilities of Oracle Cloud.

Moving from Discovery to Design

As stakeholder engagement continues, the project team is beginning to translate what we have learned into potential Chart of Accounts design options. While we are entering the design phase of the project, stakeholder input remains a critical part of the process, and conversations across the University will continue.

The feedback gathered to date has provided a strong foundation for understanding reporting requirements, operational needs, and opportunities for improvement. At the same time, the project team will continue engaging stakeholders to validate assumptions, test design concepts, and ensure emerging structures reflect the needs of the University community.

Over the coming months, additional opportunities for feedback and discussion will be provided before any final decisions are made.

Looking Ahead

The redesign of the Chart of Accounts is a critical step in the University's Administrative Modernization Program (AMP) effort and the decisions we make now will support financial operations, reporting, analytics, and decision-making for years to come.

We remain committed to a collaborative approach and appreciate the continued partnership of the University community as we work together to build a Chart of Accounts that supports the institution's mission and strategic goals.

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Have feedback or questions?

You can submit feedback at any time using the AMP General Feedback Survey or contact us via email at amp@ohio.edu.