Finance management trainings and Cognos reporting – DMSE Finance

If you’re in a role that allows you to review and monitor financial information, there are several tools and trainings that MIT provides that will better allow you to do so:

Cognos

Cognos is a helpful tool for reviewing financial reports in a web browser.

The first time you access this, you will need to create a Data Warehouse password that is different than your Kerberos password. See here for instructions.

The main reports of use are:

The Summary Statement report

The Detailed Transaction Report (DTR)

The PI Balances Report

SAPgui

SAPgui (SAP Graphical User Interface) is a desktop program that can be used to review financial reports in more detail; it also has a drill down feature that will allow you to see information you have questions about, such as both versions of a Buy2Pay requisition’s purchase order number.

Using SAPgui requires:

SAPgui to be installed on your computer

MIT’s VPN Global Protect to be installed on your computer. The VPN must be started every time you login to SAPgui when you are off campus. You may log out of the VPN when you are done using SAPgui

The ticket system application to be installed on your computer, which manages VPN access. You usually will not need to touch this app once it is installed

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Please understand that DMSE finance cannot assist with installing and troubleshooting these apps for you if you are having technical issues. For technical support, please contact dmse-net@mit.edu.

If you would like to try installing these applications yourself, see:

Installing SAPgui

Installing the VPN

Installing Kerberos Ticket Manager

Roles Web

Roles Web is an incredibly useful tool that will allow you to quickly look up information about a cost object, such as what DLC it is in, whether or not it is closed, and who has financial roles on an account should you need to contact them with questions. Recommended for bookmarking.

Go directly to look up a cost object

See primary authorizers

If you are interested in extended training on using Roles Web, MIT also provides a self-paced, online course.

Finance Trainings

Here are some trainings DMSE finance recommends to those looking to better their understanding of financial management at MIT:

SAPgui Basics (Web based)

Fundamentals of Financial Management (FFM) (live over zoom) - This training is broken up into sessions spread across three days

Or watch previously recorded session of FFM (Day 2 has a detailed walk-through of viewing summary statements and detailed transaction reports in SAPgui)

Fundamentals of Financial Management - (self paced) This is a shorter version of the training above that can be taken online at any time