Cost Objects: Cost Centers & WBS Numbers | Accounting Office (2024)

To request a new or update an existing cost center, contact your business centeror financial staff.

A cost object number is a unique identifier that describes a source of funds, similar to a bank account number.When UNL’s funding is distributed to departments for use, each portion of funding is identified with a cost object number. As a whole, the University has thousands of cost objects, but each cost object is assigned to a department that is responsible for properly managing those funds.

The phrase “cost object” refers to two types of numbers:

  • Cost centers are10-digit numbers used to track income and expenses for state aided, revolving and auxiliary funds.
  • WBS numbers are 13 digits and are used to track income and expenses for grants and contracts, and funds from the University Foundation.

Cost centers are used to segregate financial activity based on type of operation. They are smart numbered so you can see what type of cost center it is and who owns it by looking at the different digits of the cost center number.The numbering schemes identify the campus, fund type, sub-program and department responsible for the funding. Below is an illustration ofthe numbering structure for a cost center and a WBS.

Cost Objects: Cost Centers & WBS Numbers | Accounting Office (1)

Cost Objects: Cost Centers & WBS Numbers | Accounting Office (2)

Cost Object Ownership: Subprograms and departments

Sub-programs and departments are used in the smart numbering of cost objects and identify who owns the cost object.

The sub-program is a 2 digit code that equates to the college or vice chancellor. The department is also a 2 digit code that is used to identify a specific department. The department code is always used in conjunction with the sub-program code. For example, department 12 can exist in multiple sub-programs so you cannot just look for department 12. You must look for department 12 within a specific sub-program

0512 = College of Arts & Sciences, English

4312 = Business & Finance, Budget

The complete sub-programs and department list is available in Sapphire. Viewing this list requires TrueYou authentication.

Request New or Modify Existing Cost Center

Business staff are responsible for requesting new or changes to cost centers. If your department needs a new cost center or needs to modify an existing cost center, please contact your business centeror financial staff.

Resources for more information about cost objects:

UNL Funding and Cost Objects- This video (8:50) introduces the UNL's main funding sources and explains how funds are identified with the cost object numbering system.

Cost Objects: Cost Centers & WBS Numbers | Accounting Office (2024)

FAQs

Cost Objects: Cost Centers & WBS Numbers | Accounting Office? ›

The phrase “cost object

cost object
A cost object is a term used primarily in cost accounting to describe something to which costs are assigned. Common examples of cost objects are product lines, geographic territories, customers, departments or anything else for which management would like to quantify cost.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Cost_object
” refers to two types of numbers: Cost centers are 10-digit numbers used to track income and expenses for state aided, revolving and auxiliary funds. WBS numbers are 13 digits and are used to track income and expenses for grants and contracts, and funds from the University Foundation.

What are cost objects and cost centers? ›

Within SAP, a cost object can be either a cost center or WBS element. Cost centers are used to track income and expenses for state-aided (non-revolving and revolving), auxiliary, and other types of funds (endowments).

What are the cost centres and cost units of accounting? ›

Definition. Cost centre definition relates to the cost incurred by subdivision or part of the firm, that doesn't contribute directly to the organisation's revenue. The cost unit is defined as the measurable unit of the products and services with which the cost is associated. Scope.

What are cost objects in accounting? ›

A cost object is a term used primarily in cost accounting to describe something to which costs are assigned. Common examples of cost objects are product lines, geographic territories, customers, departments or anything else for which management would like to quantify cost.

What is the WBS element cost object? ›

A WBS (Work Breakdown Structure) element is a cost objective in SAP that collects expenses and revenues related to sponsored projects.

What is an example of a cost center in accounting? ›

In accounting, cost centres are used to determine where in your business costs occur. Technically, cost centres are the departments or functions in your business which don't directly bring profit but are nonetheless necessary. An example of a classic cost centre might be human resources or the IT department.

What is a cost center in P&L? ›

A cost center is a function within an organization that does not directly add to profit but still costs an organization money to operate. Cost accounting is a form of managerial accounting that aims to capture a company's total cost of production by assessing its variable and fixed costs.

What is a cost center number? ›

Cost centers are 10-digit numbers used to track income and expenses for state aided, revolving and auxiliary funds. WBS numbers are 13 digits and are used to track income and expenses for grants and contracts, and funds from the University Foundation.

What is the difference between a cost center and a GL account? ›

In GL you classify the nature of expenses like telephone expenses, travelling Exp. Salary exp etc., whereas by cost center you decide where are expenses were incurred, like Production department, Mkt. Department, HR department etc.

How many cost centers should a company have? ›

A company may choose to have as many cost centers it feels necessary to best understand how the supporting, non-revenue areas of the company support the revenue-generating areas.

How do you identify a cost object? ›

Typically, cost objects include products/services and customers, but additional items like channels may be included depending on the field of activity. The number and structure of cost objects can vary from organization to organization.

What is a cost object in layman's terms? ›

A cost object is an item that a company wants to measure separately. This can be done in a certain department or for a particular product or service. It can even be applied to employees and customers. Some different types of cost objects are: output, operational, and business relationships.

What is a cost object in cost unit? ›

A cost object is whatever we are calculating a cost for. For example, if I was a company making desks, then the cost object (or cost unit) would be one desk. It is the cost of one desk that I would need to calculate (so that, for example, I could decide on what selling price to charge).

What is cost center and WBS? ›

Cost centers are budgeted on the fiscal year. Internal orders are non-sponsored fund accounts used to keep track of a particular activity. WBS elements are sponsored activities (research); WBS elements track the costs of a particular research project over its life span.

What is the WBS in cost? ›

A WBS is an essential artifact of project management. It decomposes the scope by identifying summary tasks and sub-tasks. By decomposing it, accurate cost estimates may be assigned to each work-package. The accuracy is provided by determining the activity level, assigning resources, and producing a schedule.

What is the WBS code? ›

Work breakdown structure (WBS) codes are outline numbers that you can apply to tasks and edit to match the specific needs of your business. Project automatically provides basic outline numbers for each task, but you can apply your own customized outline scheme to the project at any time.

What is the meaning of cost center? ›

A cost centre is defined as a function or department within a company which is not directly going to generate revenues and profits to the company but is still incurring expenses to the company for its operations. The contributions made by the cost centres in terms of profits is indirect.

What are the examples of cost centers in SAP? ›

Typical cost centers include, for example, a company's accounting department, the information technology (IT) department, and marketing. What you might be familiar with as the department of a company may be split into multiple cost centers in the system according to the operational and reporting requirements.

What are cost objects in ABC? ›

In ABC, cost objects represent an object to which costs are allocated using a cause-and-effect relationship. They are divided into two categories: external activities that create added value and internal activities within the organization.

What's the difference between cost object and cost driver? ›

For instance, if we want to compare the profitability of different products, we would use products as cost objects. If we want to evaluate the efficiency of different processes, we would use processes as cost objects. - Cost drivers are the factors that cause or influence the level and behavior of costs.

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