Change Fund

A change fund is an amount of money advanced to departments that accept cash from customers and, therefore, must have cash available to make change. Change funds may be issued on either a temporary basis (for a specific activity or event) or on a permanent basis (for ongoing departmental business).

Change funds are established in dollar amounts appropriate to business needs not to exceed $100,000. High dollar amounts may be appropriate for large operations such as the Bookstore, but most change funds are a few hundred dollars or less.

Change funds must always equal the total authorized amount, which is the amount approved by CCO. All change funds are subject to unannounced audits at any time by CCO staff, internal auditors, and external auditors.

are used exclusively to make change when receiving cash, for example, from fees, fines or sales. No expenses of any kind may be authorized from a change fund.

The change fund must be requested by an individual, known as a custodian. The custodian is the individual designated by the campus controller as responsible for safeguarding and disbursing from the change fund. The custodian must be a university employee with a 50% or greater appointment or affiliate fiscal staff and must be authorized by the department head and CCO.

To establish a change fund, complete a found on the PSC website. In addition, is completed for the initial amount requested for the change fund.

On the Payment Authorization form:

  • For Payment Type, select Petty Cash establishment/replenishment from the dropdown list on the form (selection is used for both change funds and petty cash funds)
  • The Payee Name is the custodian (e.g. John Doe, Petty Cash Custodian)
  • Use your departmental address (campus box)
  • Enter 鈥渢o establish new change fund鈥 in the Description field
  • Use Account 000300 (Change Fund)
  • Include the reason for opening the fund in the Business Purpose section鈥攖he same explanation used on the PCCF form.
  • Fill out the remainder of the form as appropriate for your department, speedtype, etc. Refer to the related  for more information.

Both the PCCF and PA forms are forwarded to CCO, as noted on the bottom of the PCCF form. CCO will return an approved copy of the PCCF form to the custodian, and submit the original PCCF and PA forms to the PSC for processing. The PSC will send a check to the custodian at the departmental address listed on the PA form. The custodian may cash the check at the cashier鈥檚 window in Regent Administrative Center. Note: The custodian must transport the check in a secure manner (ex. locked bag or armored car) and show picture identification at the cashier鈥檚 window. Refer to the university鈥檚 for more information.

  1. The custodian must take appropriate measures to ensure the security of the change fund at all times. Examples include, but are not limited to:
    • Keeping the change fund in a locked cash drawer or cash register,
    • Restricting access to the change fund to only the assigned custodian.
  2. At the end of the day, or at the end of the employee鈥檚 shift when the change fund has been used, verify that the fund equals the total authorized amount. Note: Any overage or shortage due to errors must be recorded to account 552630 鈥 Cash Over/Short when the fund is replenished or closed.
  3. If a theft occurs, notify the University of Colorado Police Department (UCPD) and CCO as soon as the theft is discovered. UCPD will investigate and complete a report. Prepare a Payment Authorization (PA) for the amount of the theft. The PA should be drawn against the change fund FOPPS, account 552630 鈥 Cash Over/Short. Attach a copy of the police report to the PA and submit these materials to the PSC. A check to reimburse the change fund will be issued to the custodian. Note: If the theft or loss is determined to be due to the negligence of the custodian, the custodian may be required to replace the funds.
  4. A new PCCF must be submitted for any of the following occurrences:
    • Custodian changes
    • Increase or decrease in authorized amount
    • Changes in location of fund
    • Closing the fund
  5. Consider designating a 鈥渂ack-up鈥 to manage the change fund in the event of an absence in order to be able to continue using the change fund when the custodian is away. Prepare a memo that delegates this authority from the custodian to the back-up, signed by both parties. It should include a cash count.
  6. Increases to existing change funds must be requested and processed in the same manner as for establishing a change fund, utilizing the PCCF and PA forms.
  7. Partial returns (reductions) of the authorized amount must be made by deposits into the FOPPS from which the cash was advanced using account 000300. After depositing the cash, the custodian must provide CCO with a validated copy of the Cash Receipt from the Cashier and a new PCCF. CCO will sign the PCCF, provide a copy to the custodian and send copies to the PSC, thus officially releasing the custodian of the responsibility for the amount of the partial return. Until this is done, the custodian remains responsible for the original total authorized amount.

When the change fund is no longer needed, it should be closed.

  • Count the funds and prepare a Cash Receipt for deposit. The Cash Receipt should identify the speedtype associated with the fund, and Account 000300 for the full authorized amount of the change fund. Account for any variance using account 552630 鈥 Cash Over/Short on the Cash Receipt form.
  • Send a validated copy of the Cash Receipt with a new PCCF to close the Change Fund to CCO in order to clear the custodian of the responsibility.
  • CCO updates the PCCF form on file by checking the Close Fund checkbox and sends copies of the updated form to the PSC and to the former custodian, thereby releasing the latter from any responsibility for this fund.