FMS - Updates

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FMS M7 Technical Upgrade Feb 2023

FMS has been successfully upgraded to Milestone 7. This was an essential upgrade to FMS and the underlying infrastructure. This has also introduced Multi Factor Authentication (MFA) to ensure our corporate Finance systems remain secure against cyber-attacks.

 

Some important information:

 

  • Web users can access through Pegasus or putting fms.strath.ac.uk into your browser.  If you have any issues please clear your cookies and try again.

 

 

 

M7 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

I can't access FMS using the web link.

The web link from Pegasus and links you were using for M6 should still work. If you are having problems please try clearing your cookies.  If you are still having problems after clearing your cookies please contact financial-systems@strath.ac.uk. This team will deal with all initial upgrade questions. Please include reference to M7 in the Subject.

I was taken straight into FMS without having to log in - is this correct?

Yes FMS now has Multi Factor Authentication (MFA) which means that if you are already signed onto another University system you don't have to sign on to FMS separately. You will be prompted occasionally to verify your identification as you are with Outlook and other systems.

I’m trying to raise a Requisition through Punchout but this doesn’t seem to be working?

After the FMS upgrade, Punchout has been unavailable to users.  We are pleased to advise we have a workaround for this issue that will allow departments to procure through punchout while we continue to investigate the current issue.

 

All punchout users should use the following link to access punchout –

https://erp7-web3.ds.strath.ac.uk/BusinessWorld

 

Anyone not using punchout should continue to access FMS by using fms.strath.ac.uk or through Pegasus. This will allow us to maintain a consistent performance for all service users.

I don't think M7 is working correctly

If you think there are issues with FMS since the upgrade to M7 please check in the first instance if the issue is related to one of the known changes which can be found in our FMS Upgrade document.

 

If the issue is not related to one of the known changes please contact Financial-systems@strath.ac.uk. This team will deal with all initial upgrade questions. Please include reference to M7 in the Subject.

I'm a student and I'm trying to make an online payment but the system seems to be unavailable?

The current online payment system is being replaced. We are working on this as a matter of priority and will provide an update ASAP

I'm Finance staff and Excelerator isn't working for me - what do I need to do?

Have you changed your URL? If not see Updating the URL on Excelerator guidance. If you have changed your URL and are still having problems please check to see if your Excelerator add-in needs to be updated. See Installing Excelerator Add in.

I'm Finance Staff and I can't see recent transactions in the Reporting version.

The Reporting version will only show information before Thursday 16th February. We are hoping to provide a reporting version again in the near future, if required, and will inform you when this is available.

I'm Finance staff and I can't load my files.

If you use Data Import your drives should automatically be mapped for you.  If you experience any issues with drives, please contact the Professional Services Helpdesk at ps-ithelp@strath.ac.uk .

Estates staff only

If you have any concerns not addressed by the above please contact your line manager in the first instance.

CPM Users only

For more detailed information on the CPM changes please see CPM updates

Finance Forum

Please see the Finance Forum Presentation from March 2019 which covered updates/points to note in various areas relating to FMS as well as some more general Finance updates including:

  • Finance structure and new communication routes
  • VAT
  • Procurement Updates
  • Research
  • Training Update

The slides for the Reporting Workshop are also available. Note that these primarily contain a list of some of the useful reports which were accessed during the workshop demo.

 

Finance Forum

Please see the Finance Forum Presentation from Oct/Nov Finance Forums which covered updates/points to note in various areas relating to FMS as well as some more general Finance updates including:

  • Procurement Updates
  • Research
  • Payroll & Pensions
  • VAT
  • Insurance

 

Year End Processing Deadlines

FMS will be unavailable from 5pm on Monday 30 July, becoming available again by 9 am on Wednesday 1 August.

See timetable for FMS Processing Deadlines 2017-18.


App for Tasks

This is a new facility which allows users to approve expenses & requisition tasks on their mobile.

The App has been piloted and the proposal is to now roll this out to users on request.

Any staff who are interested should request access in the normal way by sending their username to (financial-systems@strath.ac.uk).

See guidance on how to download and use the App.


Finance Forum 

Please see the presentation from May Finance Forums which covered updates/points to note in various areas including:

  • Procurement Updates
  • Overview of Finance Changes
  • Finance Updates
  • Apps for Tasks
  • Finance Focus Group


Guidance for Approvers

Please see new section which provides Guidance for Approvers including the following areas:

  • Role and Responsibilities of the Sub Project Manager
  • Budget Statement Reports
  • Approving FMS Tasks
  • Substitutes
  • Supervisors
  • Who Approves different transactions
  • Procurement Approval Roles, Thresholds and Notes


Alerts for Approvers and new Users

Alerts have been created which will automatically be sent to new users and/or new approvers providing relevant links to the Knowledge Hub (for new users linking to Introduction to FMS and Training and for new approvers linking to the Approvers Guidance).


Reports – General

There have been various changes to reports including the addition of new sub folders to try to make it easier to find appropriate reports.

The List of FMS Web Reports  has been updated to reflect the new sub folders along with various changes to specific reports some of which are noted below. 

 

Reports - Specific

Budget Statement Drill Down Detail

A new report has been developed which provides all transaction information relating to a sub project (including budget, transfers, awaiting approval, approved amount, income and expenditure) in one report. This removes the need to use all the separate drill down reports to provide the detail of the transactions. Note the new report doesn't include the budget balance. This report is currently available to users with access to the Standard Dept Reports folder. Once further feedback has been received the report will be added to Your Reports. A short guide to the Budget Statement Drill Down Detail Report has been provided.


Purchase Card Report

There have been various changes to this report following the M6 upgrade. Previous versions have now all been removed. A short guide to the Purchase Card Report has been provided. 

 

Various Reports relating to Requisitions

There have been various changes to requisition related reports. Reports under the Procurement tab will all be removed. Instead users should select the relevant report under the Reports folder, Your Reports, Purchase Enquiries. A list of the reports which have been removed and their replacement report is included below: 

Original Report (Procurement Tab)Replacement ReportNotes
Your purchases   Not required. Instead use Own requisitions, or if information is required regarding payment, use Purchase Order Enquiry
Own requisitions Reports/Your Reports/Purchase Enquiries/Own requisitions Lists all of the requisitions for the user. Note first line of requisition text is included. To see full requisition text use linked report. Note that the Own Requisitions report under the Procurement tab will be removed.
All requisitions Reports/Standard Dept Reports/Purchase Enquiries/All requisitions

Lists all requisitions for the cost centres you have access to. Only normally required by administrators in department. Note first line of requisition text is included. To see full requisition text use linked report. Note that the All Requisitions report under the Procurement tab will be removed.

 

Review of Sub Projects to be closed

A new report (Annual Sub projects with balance =0) has been created and added to the Standard Dept Reports folder to assist administrators in identifying sub projects which should now be closed. The report shows sub projects where the balance remaining is 0 and where the sub project has not recently been set up. Administrators should review this report on a regular basis and particularly prior to the financial year end (31st July). Requests for closure of sub projects should be sent to the Finance Helpdesk

 

 

For previous updates to FMS please use the link below: