HomeMy WebLinkAboutFIN 030-006 Spending Authority ProcedureCity Procedure
Procedure Title: Spending Authority Procedure
Procedure Number:
FIN 030-006
Reference: /
Date Originated:
February 2010
Date Revised:
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Approval: Chie A%minist ative Officer
Point of Contact: Manager, Accountiri Services
Procedure Objective
To provide procedures for the administration of spending limits throughout the City.
Index
01 Definitions
02 General
03 Designated Spending Authority
04 Temporary Spending Authority
Appendix 1 Spending Authority Control Sheet
01 Definitions
01.01 City — The Corporation of the City of Pickering
01.02 Director — the head of any City department or office
01.03 Designated Spending Authority (formerly referred to as Signing
Authority) — spending authority given to specific City employees
responsible for approving expenses incurred for the purchase of goods
and services on behalf of the City
01.04 Spending Authority Form (formerly referred to as Signing Authority) -
form to be completed when an employee is added
01.05 Treasurer — the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the
Corporation
02 General
The Treasurer is responsible for,maintaining spending authorities for the
provision of goods and services and the payment thereof. The Treasurer or
designate has the authority to question any transactions, supporting
documentation or authorization, including requesting further information or
clarification.
Directors shall, in a form to be provided by the Treasurer, maintain and keep a
current schedule specifying the delegation of financial spending authority within
their Department and the respective authority limits. The schedule shall be
signed by the respective Director, the Treasurer and then by the Chief
Administrative Officer. The original schedule with specimen signatures of the
relevant staff of the department shall be forwarded to the Treasurer and
maintained by the Manager, Accounting Services. The schedule will be reviewed
and updated every two years unless otherwise required or deemed necessary.
03 Designated Spending Authority
Spending authority is required for all City employees who have been given
responsibility to approve source documents such as Cheque Requisitions,
Purchase Requisitions and the purchase of goods, supplies, and services.
Documents received without appropriate spending approval and supporting
documentation will be returned to the originator so as to obtain proper
authorization.
Procedure Title: Spending Authority Procedure Page 2 of 4
Procedure Number: FIN 030-006
The Director is responsible for designating staff and approving spending authority
limits for their departments. The Chief Administrative Officer must approve the
spending authority for Directors.
General guidelines for dollar limits are as follows:
Section, Division or Department:
Administrative Assistants
Managers/Supervisors
Director/Division Head
Corporate Wide:
Director, Corporate Services & Treasurer
Chief Administrative Officer
$500
$2,500 - $5,000
Unlimited all Accounts
Unlimited all Accounts
Unlimited all Accounts
Any revisions, additions or deletions will be changed on the Spending Authority
Control sheets and initialled and dated by the Director and reviewed by the
Manager, Accounting Services. Approval of the CAO is no longer required for
"housekeeping" changes, except within his own respective Department. The
original sheets can be retrieved from the Administrative Assistant II in Corporate
Services.
Additions will be added to the original sheets and signed off by the Director,
Treasurer and the CAO.
Spending Authority officers may not approve source documents that result in a
benefit or payment to themselves or on their behalf. Approval must be received
from another designated officer, usually the next immediate Supervisor.
Submissions by Directors shall be authorized by the Chief Administrative Officer;
for those submitted by the CAO, Councillors and the Mayor shall be authorized
by the City Clerk to ensure that the expenditure is appropriate.
The Treasurer may, request confirmation of the employees who have been given
spending authority and limits assigned.
04 Temporary Spending Authority
For those employees on vacation or leave for a period of at least one month,
temporary authorities will be temporarily granted permission to sign on an
account, an email from the Director to the Manager, Accounting Services,
copying the Administrative Assistant II, Corporate Services will be sufficient for
temporary authorities.
Appendix 1 Spending Authority Control Sheet
Procedure Title: Spending Authority Procedure Page 3 of 4
Procedure Number: FIN 030-006
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Authorized — CAO Signature
Authorized — Treasurer Signature
Authorized — Director's Signature
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