• Section 1 - Introduction
• Section 2 - Audience
• Section 3 - Scope
• Section 4 - Associated Documents
• Section 5 - Policy Specific Definitions
• Section 6 - Principles
• Purchasing Card Usage
• Companion Card Usage
• Petty Cash Usage
• Approval of Transactions
• Purchasing Card Pre-Approval Requirements
• Table 1 – Purchasing Card Pre-Approval Requirements
• Section 7 - Non Compliance
• Non-Compliance Reviews

Section 1 - Introduction

(1) This policy specifies the University of Newcastle’s (University) requirements for the use of University Purchasing Cards, Companion Cards, and Petty Cash.

(2) In exceptional circumstances, an exemption to a specific clause contained within this policy, or its associated documents, may be approved by the Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

Section 2 - Audience

(3) This policy applies to:

1. all cardholders, including but not limited to University staff and employees of controlled entities;
2. delegates who are authorised to act as a Purchasing Card approver; and
3. staff who are approved to be a Petty Cash Custodian.

Section 3 - Scope

(4) This policy applies to all transactions made using a University Purchasing Card, Companion Cards or the University's Petty Cash or a Petty Cash Card. The policy applies to controlled entities, unless indicated otherwise within the body of the document.

Section 4 - Associated Documents

(5) The following associated documents form part of this policy and should be read in conjunction with this document:

1. Purchasing and Companion Card Procedure;
2. Purchasing Card Transaction Classification Schedule; 
3. Petty Cash Procedure;
4. Travel Policy;
5. Travel Procedure; 
6. Procurement Policy;
7. Quotation Procedure.

Section 5 - Policy Specific Definitions

(6) In the context of this policy the following definitions apply:

1. “cardholder” means a person who is approved to hold and is issued a University Purchasing Card, Companion Card or petty cash card and is authorised to make purchases or payments on behalf of the University in accordance with this policy and the Purchasing and Companion Card Procedure;
2. “Executive Leader” means a University delegate who is listed in the University's Delegations Register, and is assigned to the position group “Executive Leader” in accordance with the Delegation of Authority Framework;
3. “fraud” is as defined in the Fraud and Corruption Framework;
4. “may” denotes discretion or permission to act, depending on context and delegated authority where relevant;
5. “must” denotes a mandatory requirement. Compliance is compulsory, and failure to comply constitutes a breach of this Policy or its associated procedure;
6. “should” indicates a good practice requirement. Staff are expected to comply unless specific circumstances make it inappropriate to do so. In such cases, the rationale and decision making to not comply must be documented and retained as part of the procurement record;
7. “petty cash” means funds available for the reimbursement or purchase of items of small value that cannot otherwise be purchased via Purchasing Cards or direct debit;
8. “portable and attractive items” means items of equipment that are portable and attractive in nature, that is: 
   1. have a value greater than $100;
   2. do not meet the University's definition of an asset; and
   3. are susceptible to theft or loss due to their portable nature and attractiveness for personal use or resale. Examples include, but are not limited to: laptop computers; IT peripherals; mobile phones; cameras; digital / film / video projectors; label printers; televisions; power tools; drones; DVD players; VR/AR equipment; other audio-visual equipment; and white goods including kitchen equipment.
9. “Purchasing Card” means a University corporate credit card issued to eligible cardholders for University business or controlled entity expenditure. It is typically used for low-value, non-recurring purchases or approved travel-related expenses;
10. “Purchasing Card Approver” refers to a role assigned in the University expense management system to a delegate who is authorised to approve purchasing card transactions;
11. “misconduct or serious misconduct” is as defined in an applicable Enterprise Agreement; or, where the Enterprise Agreement is not relevant, behaviour that is not in accordance with the University's Staff Code of Conduct or the staff member’s contract of employment;
12. “pre-approval” means prior approval by an authorised delegate that is required before using a Purchasing Card for expenditure. Evidence of pre-approval is necessary;
13. “Senior Leader” means a University delegate who is listed in the University's Delegations Register, and is assigned to the position group “Senior Leader” in accordance with the Delegation of Authority Framework;
14. “travel portal” means the University's online travel and approval system.

Section 6 - Principles

(7) Transactions made within the scope of this Policy must:

1. be reasonable;
2. represent economical and efficient use of University or controlled entity funds; and
3. provide a clear business benefit.

(8) A Purchasing Card or Companion Card may be issued to employees of controlled entities, and staff who fall within the following employment categories as defined by the Enterprise Agreement:

1. full-time continuing or contingent staff;
2. part-time continuing or contingent staff;
3. fixed-term employment or contingent staff.

(9) A Purchasing Card or Companion Card will only be issued where the cardholder has a regular and demonstrated business need, such as frequent purchasing of in scope goods or services, or a requirement to undertake regular travel on University business.

(10) An authorised delegate of the Vice-Chancellor may approve the retention of a Purchasing Card or Companion Card by a non-employee of either the University or a controlled entity where the cardholder executes a Non-Staff Cardholder Responsibility Deed Poll.

(11) Eligibility to act as a Purchasing Card Approver:

1. for University staff cardholders, must be in accordance with either the University's delegations of authority;
2. for controlled entity staff cardholders, must be in accordance with the controlled entity's delegations of authority.

(12) The University, at its sole discretion, may seek reimbursement from cardholders for any transaction that cannot be justified through the provision of supporting documentation as required by this Policy and its associated Procedure.

Purchasing Card Usage

(13) Cardholders must only use a Purchasing Card for University business expenditure, including and limited to:

1. low value goods less than $5,000; 
2. one-off, non-recurring payments; or
3. work related travel, accommodation and expenses.

(14) Cardholders must not use a Purchasing Card for:

1. expenditure with a supplier who is already established in the University's Finance System;
2. expenditure with suppliers that conflicts with existing University contracted supplier arrangements;
3. expenditure that is classified as Excessive, Inappropriate or Prohibited as defined in the Purchasing and Companion Card Procedure and Purchasing Card Transaction Classification Schedule;
4. consultancy expenditure;
5. expenditure incurred on weekends, holiday periods or while on leave, unless the purchase is directly associated with University business; or
6. personal expenditure.

(15) The use of Purchasing Cards must not exceed the maximum card limit and transaction limit. Cardholders will be informed of these limits upon issue of the Purchasing Card. 

(16) All Purchasing Card transactions must be acquitted in the University's Expense Management System by the cardholder.

(17) The University utilises a third-party travel payment provider for most airfares (excluding some regional airlines). Airfares are not to be purchased via a purchase card, unless the airline is not available via the third party travel payment provider. Accommodation and other travel expenses must be charged to a Purchasing Card where available.

(18) The cardholder responsible for the expenditure should only use their assigned Purchasing Card to make the transaction.

(19) Where expenditure relates to the operation of an office, school or administrative unit, an Executive Assistant, Executive Officer, or other cardholder may use their own Purchasing Card to make a purchase on behalf of a Senior Leader or Executive Leader.

(20) Where expenditure relates to the operation of a controlled entity, cardholder’s must not use their own Purchasing Card to make a purchase on behalf of another cardholder.

Companion Card Usage

(21) Companion Cards must only be issued to cardholders who are required to travel internationally as part of their University duties.

(22) Cardholders must only use a Companion Card for:

1. official University travel related expenses;
2. international cash withdrawals where a Purchasing Card cannot be used;
3. expenditure where Purchasing Card payments are not accepted or practical;
4. situations where it is not practical or possible to use personal funds and seek reimbursement.

(23) A Purchasing Card is the preferred method of payment for overseas travel.

(24) The limit on a Companion Card issued to a non-regular traveller will be set at $1.00 and increased only for the period in which the staff member is travelling overseas.

(25) Where a cardholder is undertaking an overseas trip within three (3) months of a previous trip, a positive balance on the Companion Card (i.e. where the cardholder owes the University money) may be held pending the upcoming trip. A negative balance (i.e. where the University owes the cardholder money) may also be retained until Card Services issues additional advances in advance of the future trip.

(26) Companion Cards must have a zero balance by the first Friday in December of each year unless otherwise approved by Financial Services.

Petty Cash Usage

(27) Petty Cash must only be used by University staff where there is a specific operational need that cannot be met using a Purchasing Card or Companion Card. The use of petty cash is not permitted by staff of controlled entities.

(28) Financial Services hold the single Petty Cash Card available for use by the University.

(29) Staff requiring access to Petty Cash must discuss the specific need with the Team Leader Accounts Payable, Financial Services. Approval to access petty cash may only be granted by the Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

(30) All petty cash purchases must have supporting documentation, detailing to whom petty cash payments are made, and a register of petty cash payments maintained.

(31) All petty cash transactions must be acquitted in the University's Expense Management System by the Petty Cash Custodian.

Approval of Transactions

(32) Delegates who are authorised approvers of transactions on Purchasing Cards, Companion Cards or petty cash must:

1. only approve transactions that do not relate specifically to themselves;
2. not approve transactions which are prohibited or non-compliant in accordance with this Policy and its associated documents, or any other University policy;
3. not approve transactions whilst on extended periods of leave, including long service leave, leave without pay, annual leave, sick leave, life leave, or other similar leave; and
4. ensure that they are satisfied that the transaction is business related, reasonable, and represents economic and efficient use of University or controlled entity funds and that provide a clear benefit.

Purchasing Card Pre-Approval Requirements

(33) Where required, pre-approval must be obtained before incurring the expenditure.

(34) Evidence of pre-approval must be either electronically linked or clearly referenced against the transaction.

(35) Pre-approval requirements are outlined in Table 1- Purchase Card Pre-Approval Requirements.

Table 1 – Purchasing Card Pre-Approval Requirements

Section 7 - Non Compliance

(36) The following actions constitute non-compliance with this policy, and are strictly prohibited:

1. splitting purchases into smaller amounts to circumvent quotation requirements, petty cash provisions, delegated authority limits, or Purchasing Card limits;
2. subordinating transactions to another cardholder to avoid appropriate approval channels;
3. incurring expenses where a conflict of interest exists (see Disclosure of Interests Policy);
4. misuse of University or controlled entity funds;
5. repeated failure to acquit transactions; or
6. any action that results in inappropriate, excessive, or unapproved expenditure.

(37) If unresolved, each instance of non-compliance will be managed through an escalation pathway determined by Financial Services.

(38) Significant or repeated non-compliance may be escalated and formally reported to the Executive Leadership Team or Senior Leadership Team or Board of the relevant controlled entity for oversight, decision-making, or further action.

(39) Where non-compliance is identified, Financial Services may issue a Notice of Suspension, resulting in temporary suspension of a Purchasing Card or Companion Card while a review of the cardholder’s transactions is undertaken.

(40) During a period of card suspension:

1. the card limit will be reduced to $1.00; and
2. the relevant business unit will be responsible for arranging alternative payment methods.

(41) In exceptional circumstances (such as approved travel), a Purchasing Card Approver may request deferment of the suspension from the Chief Financial Officer.

Non-Compliance Reviews

(42) Financial Services will typically conduct a non-compliance review covering 12-18 months of transactions. The suspension period may be extended, and additional actions may be applied if further non-compliances or breaches are detected during the review.

(43) Cardholders and Purchasing Card Approvers must cooperate fully during a non-compliance review and rectify non-compliances within seven days when requested to do so. Failure to rectify non-compliances may result in extended suspension, or cancellation of the relevant card.

(44) A Purchasing Card Approver may request a review of the findings of a non-compliance review and the suspension period by submitting a written application to the Chief Financial Officer.

(45) All non-compliances and breaches will be assessed by Financial Services using a non-compliance assessment matrix.

(46) Non-compliances and breaches are evaluated based on severity and frequency, ranging from minor administrative errors to critical breaches such as deliberate fraud or repeated misuse.

(47) The matrix considers the nature, frequency, and extent of the non-compliance or breach, along with the likelihood of recurrence. These factors are combined to determine an overall rating, which then informs the level of consequence to be applied.

(48) Where non-compliance constitutes a critical breach or misconduct or serious misconduct, as defined by the relevant Enterprise Agreement or the Staff Code of Conduct for University staff, the matter will be referred to the Chief Financial Officer and must be:

1. added to the Breach Register by Financial Services; and
2. dealt with in accordance with the relevant Enterprise Agreement or employment contract.

(49) Where non-compliance constitutes a critical breach for staff of controlled entities, the matter will be referred to the Chief Financial Officer and must be added to the Breach Register by Financial Services.