Dear Colleagues,

Macquarie University is about to undertake a very important review of its budgeting process and funding model.

It’s been 7-8 years since our current system was last reviewed, and a lot of change has occurred in that time, including a new 3-year budget-setting cycle and of course the launch of Our University: A Framing of Futures. It’s therefore timely that we reassess how we allocate resources within Macquarie, and ask ourselves whether we do it in as transparent and equitable way as possible, and in a way that best supports our strategic direction.

The Executive Group has therefore tasked Dave Lovelace, Director of Planning and Performance in the Office of Financial Services, and Imtiaz Bhayat, General Manager of the Faculty of Science and Engineering, to lead a review of our budgeting process, including the Faculty Funding Model and the interfaces with fee setting and load planning.

The first phase of this review will focus on information gathering. Imtiaz and Dave will document the current University, Office and Faculty/Departmental processes and timelines, and then consult widely within the University (including focus groups with Heads of Department/Offices and finance-related staff) to gain insights into the strengths and weaknesses of the current systems and model.

Following the information gathering stage, the review leaders will benchmark our processes and model against those of other universities in Australia and overseas, before shortlisting preferred options.

If you would like to contribute your ideas and inputs to the review, please feed them up to your relevant line manager or local finance staff, so they can discuss them in the focus groups.

Regards,

Paul Schreier
Chief Operating Officer

John Gorman
Chief Financial Officer