You may be familiar with our Aged Accounts Receivable (AAR) error report. The AAR report is one of the ways we reconcile discrepancies in service, salary, and contribution data between MOSERS member records and payroll files received from employers.

The most common discrepancy found is our records reflecting that a member is actively employed, but no pay was reported for that employee on the last payroll file. This likely means the employee is on a leave of absence or terminated, but we have not been notified of such. Another common discrepancy is our records reflecting that an employee has life insurance, but the premium was not deducted from their last paycheck. This could mean the employee recently added coverage and there wasn’t enough time to start the deduction before payroll was processed. These are just a couple of examples of how a discrepancy can occur, but many other examples can be noted.

Fortunately, only 1% of member records require reconciliation after payroll uploads. However, when you consider that there are over 40,000 active state employees covered under MOSERS, this process requires a significant amount of attention each month. Although most state employees are paid twice per month, we currently receive payroll files only once per month. This lag in receiving data delays the process of resolving discrepancies. With the implementation of Phoenix, MOSERS will receive data more frequently. This will lead to increased efficiency and accuracy, and ultimately, better customer service.

Phoenix will eliminate the need for the AAR report. Instead, payroll files will be uploaded to Phoenix as they occur. You, our valued partners, will be asked to reconcile any identified discrepancies before the final submission of payroll to us. Ultimately, Phoenix will facilitate a more efficient exchange of information between MOSERS and its covered employers, resulting in more timely corrections to member data and improved accuracy of member records.

In this brief Prepare Payroll Report video, which applies to SAM II and non-SAM II employers alike, we demonstrate how Phoenix will alert you to potential discrepancies before payroll is finalized. Keep in mind that this is just a quick preview, and thorough training will be provided prior to the implementation of Phoenix.