An object is a four-digit alphanumeric code that defines the type of a financial transaction including, for expenses, what was purchased.

Object codes are a critical part of financial accounting and reporting. Object codes are used by all UC campuses, and objects common across all campuses are created by the UC Office of the President. UC Davis has expanded the UC objects to include many more options specific to our campus and medical center. 

While there are many objects to choose from, it is critical that the object that best defines the transaction is chosen to ensure proper recording of the entry.

Using the Object Type to define the basic type of transaction can help narrow the search for the correct object:

As a required element of the FAU, an object code is needed in order to complete a financial transaction in KFS. When creating most KFS documents, the initiator enters the object code. In other cases the object code is defaulted based on commodity code (e.g., in a KFS purchasing document or a KFS Payment Request (PREQ)).  Visit Using the Correct Object Code page for a list of commonly used object codes with definitions and applicable restrictions.

Object Consolidation

An object consolidation is a collection of objects that all have the same functional nature (e.g., consolidation SUB3 contains all of the objects used for supplies and services transactions). Budget documents typically use object consolidations to enable departments to budget at a higher level than object codes. In addition, Contract and Grant history is brought forward by consolidation.  

• Payroll Object Consolidations
  • SB01 (ACADEMIC SALARY REGULAR FACULTY)
  • SB02 (ACADEMIC SALARY TEACHING ASSISTANTS)
  • SB03 (ACADEMIC SALARY OTHER TEACHING STAFF)
  • SB04 (ACADEMIC SALARY HOUSE STAFF)
  • SB05 (ACADEMIC SALARY ACADEMIC ADMINISTRATORS)
  • SB06 (ACADEMIC SALARY OTHER ACADEMICS)
  • SB07 (ACADEMIC SALARY RESEARCH ASSISTANTS)
  • SUBG (GENERAL ASSISTANCE)
  • SUBS (STAFF SALARIES)
  • SUBX (OTHER SALARIES)
• Employee Benefits Object Consolidations
  • SB28 (LEAVE ASSESSMENT & USAGE)
  • SB67 (LEAVE ASSESSMENT)
  • SUB6 (EMPLOYEE BENEFITS)
• Non-Payroll Object Consolidations
  • SUB3 (SUPPLIES AND EXPENSES)
  • SUB4 (EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES)
  • SUB5 (TRAVEL)
  • SUB7 (SPECIAL ITEMS)
  • SUB8 (UNALLOCATED)
  • SUB9 (RECHARGES)
  • SB73 (SUBCONTRACTORS)
  • SBMC (MULTICAMPUS)
  • SCHL (SCHOLARSHIPS & FELLOWSHIPS)
  • SB74 (IMPROVEMENT RESERVES)
  • SB75 (DEPRECIATION)
  • COBL (COMMITTED OBLIGATION)
  • KOBL (KNOWN OBLIGATION)
  • INDR (INDIRECT COSTS)

Object Level

An object level is an attribute of the object code and is a sub-category of an object consolidation. It is mainly used to establish business rules to determine the appropriateness of a transaction.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Where can I look up object codes?

• There are several Decision Support (DS) reports that display object codes. Here are some:  
  
  > Object Code Lookup (14) enables you to locate object codes using various criteria. In addition, it will help you understand how object consolidations, object levels, object codes, object types, and object sub-types are related, as all of these items are displayed in the search results. For example, if you enter Object Consolidation SUB3 you'll see several object levels and object sub-types. If you enter Object Consolidation SUBS, you'll find only one object level, several object codes, and mostly Object Sub-Type SW. 
  
  > Object Expenditures by Fiscal Year (256) provides a year to year comparison of activity by object code. It is one of the only DS reports that provides data across fiscal years in a single search. It also allows you to separate indirect cost object codes from other object codes. 
  
  > Balance Summary (1) and Transaction Listing (2) allow you to sub-total and/or sort by object; just click the buttons at the top of the report that have the word "Object".