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JC Liability Template

Company Tracker action: implementation-setup-jc-liability-template Milestone: Job Cost / Module Setup (milestone_id=5, core_milestone_id=2) Order: 6 Estimated duration: 0.5 hours Typical owner: Controller

Purpose​

Define how employer-paid Payroll liabilities (burden) charge to Job Cost by phase, cost type, and exact Payroll amounts versus Rate of Gross. Assign templates on jobs after setup.

Prerequisites​

  • PR liability types / codes and the JC phases / cost types used for burden posting exist (or are staged with JC Cost Types).
  • Know which liabilities use exact Payroll amounts versus Rate of Gross (R).
  • JC Departments liability / burden accounts ready when used.
  • Agree whether one company-standard template is enough or jobs need state / job-type variants.

Vista configuration article​

See the detailed Vista guide:

Setting Up JC Liability Template

Field meanings and form steps live there. Do not restate them on this page.

Implementation guidance​

Decide (client / kickoff)​

  • Required: every job needs a liability template. Even if there is only one pattern, create one template (often labeled something like All Jobs). Do not skip this form.
  • Liability types on the template: include every liability type that will truly be used in Payroll — that list drives how those amounts post to Job Cost.
  • Calc method per liability:
    • Exact as Payroll: whatever Payroll processed for that liability code is what hits Job Cost.
    • Rate: enter the liability rate; on Basis Earnings Codes, select which earning codes’ gross wages are multiplied by that rate (for example regular / OT / double-time codes only).
  • Non-PR flat-rate add-ons (optional): you can add a liability type that is not calculated in Payroll and use it as a flat rate / percent add-on to Job Cost (examples: general liability, workers’ comp, umbrella as an extra % on the job). Requirement: that liability type must exist on the Payroll Department and JC Department liability-type tabs. Payroll does not have to calculate it; Job Cost posting still applies the add-on.
  • Template variants: one company-standard template vs copies by job type, state, or contract style. Prefer one standard unless jobs truly differ.
  • Cost type target: if the client tracks a Burden cost type (standard starter type 7), enter Burden in the cost-type column so liability dollars redirect there. If they do not track Burden separately, leave it so liability follows the cost type on each earning.
  • Phase override: uncommon. Use only when liability/burden must post to a specific phase instead of the phase that would otherwise apply.

Load / accept (implementation defaults)​

  • Create at least one template and attach it so every go-live job can reference it (single All Jobs template is a valid starter).
  • Load each in-scope liability type with phase, cost type, and calc method. For Rate, complete Basis Earnings Codes so every rate liability has at least one basis earning code.
  • Template settings affect the Job Cost charge, not Payroll’s own liability calculations.
  • For non-PR add-on liability types, confirm the type is listed on both PR and JC Department liability tabs before testing JC posting.
  • Accept means Payroll and Controller agree on exact vs rate methods for in-scope liabilities before job attach.

Tips and gotchas​

  • Liability Template is required — a single All Jobs template counts.
  • Cost type: use Burden when that type exists so all liability hits Burden; otherwise it follows each earning’s cost type. Phase override only to force a specific burden phase.
  • Exact as Payroll mirrors PR results to JC; Rate uses basis earning codes × rate.
  • Non-PR liability types can still add flat % / rate cost to jobs if present on PR and JC Department liability tabs.
  • Leaving Basis Earnings Codes empty for Rate liabilities blocks clean rate-of-gross interface.
  • Expecting the template to change Payroll math is wrong. Fix PR liability setup in Payroll; use this form for JC charge only.
  • Align with department Liability Types open/closed burden accounts so posting has somewhere to land.

Done when​

  • Either: liability templates out of scope (N/A / hidden), or
  • In-scope templates exist with accepted exact / rate methods and basis codes, ready to attach on jobs.