By Mark Kerr, Senior Communications Officer

Researchers, departmental administrators, business officers and admin staff will soon have faster and easier access to financial information following the introduction of a user-friendly financial reporting tool.

The new financial reporting tool – Fast Administrative Support Tool (FAST) – will launch at the end of March. The initiative to improve financial reporting functionality began as part of the Tools for Research at Queen’s (TRAQ) project, and was expanded to address the needs of the broader campus community.

“This new software promises to address many of the challenges users currently face when they try to access financial reporting information,” says Caroline Davis, Vice-Principal (Finance and Administration). “Many user groups were consulted when possible solutions were evaluated, and early feedback from focus groups indicates the new tool is intuitive and easy to use.”

Reports to be launched in March include a project summary report for researchers and for the non-research community, a new statement of operations report, a trust and endowment report and a summary expendable balance report. More information about each of the reports is available online.

Comprehensive training sessions are planned for the last two weeks of March. Users who wish to preview the new tool can go online and register for the Introduction to FAST Financial Reporting. While the online training session is not Queen’s specific, it will help users understand the look and feel of the new tool.

Once the new financial reporting tool is launched, authorized users will have access to it by logging into MyQueensU/SOLUS directly from www.queensu.ca. Authorized users will see a section called Financial Reporting Information, which will provide a link to FAST.

Users can access a dedicated help desk by calling 613-533-6000 ext. 78426, emailing, or submitting an issue through the webform following the launch of the tool.