Financial Data Sources

Tableau financial data sources allow users to access curated data behind the Fiscal Panther Hub dashboards. The current offerings listed below replace the Cognos data packages. Additional data sources will be available closer to the end of FY 2025 (i.e. SPAR and Team, AP Invoices).

Once granted access to the enterprise dashboards through the Federated Authorization process (GL Mart), you will have access to the enterprise GL data sources and Tableau Web Edit.

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Available field definitions and report guidance can be downloaded:

GL Transactions + Encumbrance

This data source contains GL transaction level detail, including encumbrances from PantherExpress purchase orders and the PBCS forecasting applications (Operating Funds Forecasting and Grants Forecasting). Data is updated nightly from transactions posted to the general ledger and imported from PantherExpress and PBCS.

This data source should be used when transaction details are required and/or transaction totals by a range of months are needed. It cannot be used for monthly budget balances as Budgets are posted in PRISM to specific periods. For operating accounts, the budgets typically follow the Fiscal Year. The initial budget is loaded to July in October and BMRs can happen throughout the year. For Sponsored projects, the budget initial budget is loaded when the project is activated and BMRs can happen throughout. This source can be used to find budget transactions but should not be used for budget balances.

Encumbrances are always rolled forward and will be shown in the current GL period. A separate data source is in development to provide detailed encumbrance information.

See the GL Data Dictionary for specific field information and guidance.

GL Monthly + Encumbrance

This data source contains the monthly snapshots of aggregate general ledger information, including encumbrances from PantherExpress purchase orders and the PBCS forecasting applications (Operating Funds Forecasting and Grants Forecasting). The PantherExpress and PBCS encumbrance snapshots began in December 2024. Data is updated nightly from transactions posted to the general ledger however the final month total is not complete until the month end close process as completed. The month end closes is typically finalized in PRISM on the 4th business day of the new month. Additional information on the PRISM month end close can be found on the Controllers Office site.

This data source should be used to find account and budget balances at the end of each GL period. Fiscal Year to Date (FYTD) and Project Year to Date (PYTD) represent separate aggregate measures and should not be summed together. Fiscal Year to Date (FYTD) tracks all relevant financial activity from the beginning of the fiscal year up to the current date. Project Year to Date (PYTD) aggregates financial activity from the start of the project to the current date (which could span multiple fiscal years). Since each is already a cumulative total based on different time frames and scopes, adding them would result in double-counting or misrepresenting the financial data.

See the GL Data Dictionary for specific field information and guidance.

GL Labor Transactions

This data source contains the detailed labor distribution transaction information from payroll records. Labor distribution is posted within PRISM as part of the GL month end close process and thus information is only available after the month end close process has completed. The month end closes is typically finalized in PRISM on the 4th business day of the new month. Additional information on the PRISM month end close can be found on the Controllers Office site.

When using this data source, keep in mind that payroll activity can be posted to GL during the month and will appear in the compensation subcodes (5xxx). The example is adjustments and hourly employees. However, fringe benefits are not calculated until the month end close, as well as the employee detail as noted above. Additionally, adjustments and regular pay are two distinct fields and both should be reviewed when assessing account activity.

See the GL Data Dictionary for specific field information and guidance.