To delegate signing authority, please complete and sign the Signing Authority Form (sent to you during project setup or contact Research Accounting to request a new one), indicating the individual(s) to whom you wish to delegate signing authority. The delegate will also sign the form acknowledging his/her responsibility. The form will then be forwarded to Research Accounting.
The individual to whom the signature authority is delegated should understand the purpose of the award and should be able to certify eligibility of expenses related to the award. Delegates will be responsible to ensure that purchases are allocated to the correct project, in compliance with all applicable policies, procedures, rules and regulations.
Signing authorities that you can delegate:
- Purchases
- Travel
- Expense transfers
- Receipt of goods and/or services
Signing authorities that you cannot delegate:
- Budget modifications
- Sponsor/agency required reports
- Payroll
Please note: Your delegate may not delegate his or her authority to another person without your prior written consent. For example, a delegate provides written consent to a student doing the research to purchase supplies from the Bookstore. This is not acceptable. Instead, the student must obtain written consent directly from you, the PI, prior to making a purchase.
Authorizing Research Expenditures
It is your responsibility as the PI to authorize expenditures from your research account in accordance with the sponsor’s (including Tri-Agencies') requirements and with SFU’s policies. No other party may authorize expenditures without the PI’s written delegated authority. ALL research claims must have the PI or delegate’s signature.
For reimbursement of claims charged to a grant, the following signing rules apply.
| Claimant | Signature Required by |
|---|---|
| Student | Grantee |
| Visiting Researcher | Grantee and department head |
| Delegate | Department head |
Holders of restricted funds (e.g., research, endowment spending, and other trust funds) may delegate signing authority over expenditures but remain accountable to ensure that the expenditures are consistent with the restricted intent for those funds and do not exceed the authorized dollar amounts.