diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/config/Job.java b/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/config/Job.java
index 10bfaf7e53d14..11eaba2719c9c 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/config/Job.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/config/Job.java
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@
 import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.ObjectParser.ValueType;
 import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.ToXContentObject;
 import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.XContentBuilder;
-import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.XContentParser.Token;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.core.ml.job.messages.Messages;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.core.ml.job.persistence.AnomalyDetectorsIndexFields;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.core.ml.job.process.autodetect.state.DataCounts;
@@ -98,33 +97,12 @@ private static ObjectParser<Builder, Void> createParser(boolean ignoreUnknownFie
         parser.declareString(Builder::setJobVersion, JOB_VERSION);
         parser.declareStringArray(Builder::setGroups, GROUPS);
         parser.declareStringOrNull(Builder::setDescription, DESCRIPTION);
-        parser.declareField(Builder::setCreateTime, p -> {
-            if (p.currentToken() == Token.VALUE_NUMBER) {
-                return new Date(p.longValue());
-            } else if (p.currentToken() == Token.VALUE_STRING) {
-                return new Date(TimeUtils.dateStringToEpoch(p.text()));
-            }
-            throw new IllegalArgumentException("unexpected token [" + p.currentToken() +
-                "] for [" + CREATE_TIME.getPreferredName() + "]");
-        }, CREATE_TIME, ValueType.VALUE);
-        parser.declareField(Builder::setFinishedTime, p -> {
-            if (p.currentToken() == Token.VALUE_NUMBER) {
-                return new Date(p.longValue());
-            } else if (p.currentToken() == Token.VALUE_STRING) {
-                return new Date(TimeUtils.dateStringToEpoch(p.text()));
-            }
-            throw new IllegalArgumentException(
-                "unexpected token [" + p.currentToken() + "] for [" + FINISHED_TIME.getPreferredName() + "]");
-        }, FINISHED_TIME, ValueType.VALUE);
-        parser.declareField(Builder::setLastDataTime, p -> {
-            if (p.currentToken() == Token.VALUE_NUMBER) {
-                return new Date(p.longValue());
-            } else if (p.currentToken() == Token.VALUE_STRING) {
-                return new Date(TimeUtils.dateStringToEpoch(p.text()));
-            }
-            throw new IllegalArgumentException(
-                "unexpected token [" + p.currentToken() + "] for [" + LAST_DATA_TIME.getPreferredName() + "]");
-        }, LAST_DATA_TIME, ValueType.VALUE);
+        parser.declareField(Builder::setCreateTime,
+                p -> TimeUtils.parseTimeField(p, CREATE_TIME.getPreferredName()), CREATE_TIME, ValueType.VALUE);
+        parser.declareField(Builder::setFinishedTime,
+                p -> TimeUtils.parseTimeField(p, FINISHED_TIME.getPreferredName()), FINISHED_TIME, ValueType.VALUE);
+        parser.declareField(Builder::setLastDataTime,
+                p -> TimeUtils.parseTimeField(p, LAST_DATA_TIME.getPreferredName()), LAST_DATA_TIME, ValueType.VALUE);
         parser.declareLong(Builder::setEstablishedModelMemory, ESTABLISHED_MODEL_MEMORY);
         parser.declareObject(Builder::setAnalysisConfig, ignoreUnknownFields ? AnalysisConfig.LENIENT_PARSER : AnalysisConfig.STRICT_PARSER,
             ANALYSIS_CONFIG);
diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/process/autodetect/output/FlushAcknowledgement.java b/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/process/autodetect/output/FlushAcknowledgement.java
index ad8b24e66c643..e3b4c757cbe8d 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/process/autodetect/output/FlushAcknowledgement.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/process/autodetect/output/FlushAcknowledgement.java
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@
 import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.ObjectParser;
 import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.ToXContentObject;
 import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.XContentBuilder;
-import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.XContentParser;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.core.ml.utils.time.TimeUtils;
 
 import java.io.IOException;
@@ -37,15 +36,9 @@ public class FlushAcknowledgement implements ToXContentObject, Writeable {
 
     static {
         PARSER.declareString(ConstructingObjectParser.constructorArg(), ID);
-        PARSER.declareField(ConstructingObjectParser.optionalConstructorArg(), p -> {
-            if (p.currentToken() == XContentParser.Token.VALUE_NUMBER) {
-                return new Date(p.longValue());
-            } else if (p.currentToken() == XContentParser.Token.VALUE_STRING) {
-                return new Date(TimeUtils.dateStringToEpoch(p.text()));
-            }
-            throw new IllegalArgumentException(
-                    "unexpected token [" + p.currentToken() + "] for [" + LAST_FINALIZED_BUCKET_END.getPreferredName() + "]");
-        }, LAST_FINALIZED_BUCKET_END, ObjectParser.ValueType.VALUE);
+        PARSER.declareField(ConstructingObjectParser.optionalConstructorArg(),
+                p -> TimeUtils.parseTimeField(p, LAST_FINALIZED_BUCKET_END.getPreferredName()),
+                LAST_FINALIZED_BUCKET_END, ObjectParser.ValueType.VALUE);
     }
 
     private String id;
diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/process/autodetect/state/DataCounts.java b/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/process/autodetect/state/DataCounts.java
index f2545c5abf782..b13e702e85de3 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/process/autodetect/state/DataCounts.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/process/autodetect/state/DataCounts.java
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@
 import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.ObjectParser.ValueType;
 import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.ToXContentObject;
 import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.XContentBuilder;
-import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.XContentParser.Token;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.core.ml.job.config.Job;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.core.ml.utils.time.TimeUtils;
 
@@ -90,51 +89,16 @@ public class DataCounts implements ToXContentObject, Writeable {
         PARSER.declareLong(ConstructingObjectParser.constructorArg(), EMPTY_BUCKET_COUNT);
         PARSER.declareLong(ConstructingObjectParser.constructorArg(), SPARSE_BUCKET_COUNT);
         PARSER.declareLong(ConstructingObjectParser.constructorArg(), BUCKET_COUNT);
-        PARSER.declareField(ConstructingObjectParser.optionalConstructorArg(), p -> {
-            if (p.currentToken() == Token.VALUE_NUMBER) {
-                return new Date(p.longValue());
-            } else if (p.currentToken() == Token.VALUE_STRING) {
-                return new Date(TimeUtils.dateStringToEpoch(p.text()));
-            }
-            throw new IllegalArgumentException(
-                    "unexpected token [" + p.currentToken() + "] for [" + EARLIEST_RECORD_TIME.getPreferredName() + "]");
-        }, EARLIEST_RECORD_TIME, ValueType.VALUE);
-        PARSER.declareField(ConstructingObjectParser.optionalConstructorArg(), p -> {
-            if (p.currentToken() == Token.VALUE_NUMBER) {
-                return new Date(p.longValue());
-            } else if (p.currentToken() == Token.VALUE_STRING) {
-                return new Date(TimeUtils.dateStringToEpoch(p.text()));
-            }
-            throw new IllegalArgumentException(
-                    "unexpected token [" + p.currentToken() + "] for [" + LATEST_RECORD_TIME.getPreferredName() + "]");
-        }, LATEST_RECORD_TIME, ValueType.VALUE);
-        PARSER.declareField(ConstructingObjectParser.optionalConstructorArg(), p -> {
-            if (p.currentToken() == Token.VALUE_NUMBER) {
-                return new Date(p.longValue());
-            } else if (p.currentToken() == Token.VALUE_STRING) {
-                return new Date(TimeUtils.dateStringToEpoch(p.text()));
-            }
-            throw new IllegalArgumentException(
-                    "unexpected token [" + p.currentToken() + "] for [" + LAST_DATA_TIME.getPreferredName() + "]");
-        }, LAST_DATA_TIME, ValueType.VALUE);
-        PARSER.declareField(ConstructingObjectParser.optionalConstructorArg(), p -> {
-            if (p.currentToken() == Token.VALUE_NUMBER) {
-                return new Date(p.longValue());
-            } else if (p.currentToken() == Token.VALUE_STRING) {
-                return new Date(TimeUtils.dateStringToEpoch(p.text()));
-            }
-            throw new IllegalArgumentException(
-                    "unexpected token [" + p.currentToken() + "] for [" + LATEST_EMPTY_BUCKET_TIME.getPreferredName() + "]");
-        }, LATEST_EMPTY_BUCKET_TIME, ValueType.VALUE);
-        PARSER.declareField(ConstructingObjectParser.optionalConstructorArg(), p -> {
-            if (p.currentToken() == Token.VALUE_NUMBER) {
-                return new Date(p.longValue());
-            } else if (p.currentToken() == Token.VALUE_STRING) {
-                return new Date(TimeUtils.dateStringToEpoch(p.text()));
-            }
-            throw new IllegalArgumentException(
-                    "unexpected token [" + p.currentToken() + "] for [" + LATEST_SPARSE_BUCKET_TIME.getPreferredName() + "]");
-        }, LATEST_SPARSE_BUCKET_TIME, ValueType.VALUE);
+        PARSER.declareField(ConstructingObjectParser.optionalConstructorArg(),
+                p -> TimeUtils.parseTimeField(p, EARLIEST_RECORD_TIME.getPreferredName()), EARLIEST_RECORD_TIME, ValueType.VALUE);
+        PARSER.declareField(ConstructingObjectParser.optionalConstructorArg(),
+                p -> TimeUtils.parseTimeField(p, LATEST_RECORD_TIME.getPreferredName()), LATEST_RECORD_TIME, ValueType.VALUE);
+        PARSER.declareField(ConstructingObjectParser.optionalConstructorArg(),
+                p -> TimeUtils.parseTimeField(p, LAST_DATA_TIME.getPreferredName()), LAST_DATA_TIME, ValueType.VALUE);
+        PARSER.declareField(ConstructingObjectParser.optionalConstructorArg(),
+                p -> TimeUtils.parseTimeField(p, LATEST_EMPTY_BUCKET_TIME.getPreferredName()), LATEST_EMPTY_BUCKET_TIME, ValueType.VALUE);
+        PARSER.declareField(ConstructingObjectParser.optionalConstructorArg(),
+                p -> TimeUtils.parseTimeField(p, LATEST_SPARSE_BUCKET_TIME.getPreferredName()), LATEST_SPARSE_BUCKET_TIME, ValueType.VALUE);
         PARSER.declareLong((t, u) -> {;}, INPUT_RECORD_COUNT);
     }
 
diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/process/autodetect/state/ModelSizeStats.java b/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/process/autodetect/state/ModelSizeStats.java
index 58c0a567ada0d..85569fc7c8008 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/process/autodetect/state/ModelSizeStats.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/process/autodetect/state/ModelSizeStats.java
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@
 import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.ObjectParser.ValueType;
 import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.ToXContentObject;
 import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.XContentBuilder;
-import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.XContentParser.Token;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.core.ml.job.config.Job;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.core.ml.job.results.Result;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.core.ml.utils.time.TimeUtils;
@@ -60,24 +59,10 @@ private static ConstructingObjectParser<Builder, Void> createParser(boolean igno
         parser.declareLong(Builder::setTotalByFieldCount, TOTAL_BY_FIELD_COUNT_FIELD);
         parser.declareLong(Builder::setTotalOverFieldCount, TOTAL_OVER_FIELD_COUNT_FIELD);
         parser.declareLong(Builder::setTotalPartitionFieldCount, TOTAL_PARTITION_FIELD_COUNT_FIELD);
-        parser.declareField(Builder::setLogTime, p -> {
-            if (p.currentToken() == Token.VALUE_NUMBER) {
-                return new Date(p.longValue());
-            } else if (p.currentToken() == Token.VALUE_STRING) {
-                return new Date(TimeUtils.dateStringToEpoch(p.text()));
-            }
-            throw new IllegalArgumentException(
-                    "unexpected token [" + p.currentToken() + "] for [" + LOG_TIME_FIELD.getPreferredName() + "]");
-        }, LOG_TIME_FIELD, ValueType.VALUE);
-        parser.declareField(Builder::setTimestamp, p -> {
-            if (p.currentToken() == Token.VALUE_NUMBER) {
-                return new Date(p.longValue());
-            } else if (p.currentToken() == Token.VALUE_STRING) {
-                return new Date(TimeUtils.dateStringToEpoch(p.text()));
-            }
-            throw new IllegalArgumentException(
-                    "unexpected token [" + p.currentToken() + "] for [" + TIMESTAMP_FIELD.getPreferredName() + "]");
-        }, TIMESTAMP_FIELD, ValueType.VALUE);
+        parser.declareField(Builder::setLogTime,
+                p -> TimeUtils.parseTimeField(p, LOG_TIME_FIELD.getPreferredName()), LOG_TIME_FIELD, ValueType.VALUE);
+        parser.declareField(Builder::setTimestamp,
+                p -> TimeUtils.parseTimeField(p, TIMESTAMP_FIELD.getPreferredName()), TIMESTAMP_FIELD, ValueType.VALUE);
         parser.declareField(Builder::setMemoryStatus, p -> MemoryStatus.fromString(p.text()), MEMORY_STATUS_FIELD, ValueType.STRING);
 
         return parser;
diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/process/autodetect/state/ModelSnapshot.java b/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/process/autodetect/state/ModelSnapshot.java
index f6387602fa34a..40687098a74bc 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/process/autodetect/state/ModelSnapshot.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/process/autodetect/state/ModelSnapshot.java
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@
 import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.XContentBuilder;
 import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.XContentFactory;
 import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.XContentParser;
-import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.XContentParser.Token;
 import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.XContentType;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.core.ml.job.config.Job;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.core.ml.utils.time.TimeUtils;
@@ -61,38 +60,17 @@ private static ObjectParser<Builder, Void> createParser(boolean ignoreUnknownFie
         ObjectParser<Builder, Void> parser = new ObjectParser<>(TYPE.getPreferredName(), ignoreUnknownFields, Builder::new);
 
         parser.declareString(Builder::setJobId, Job.ID);
-        parser.declareField(Builder::setTimestamp, p -> {
-            if (p.currentToken() == Token.VALUE_NUMBER) {
-                return new Date(p.longValue());
-            } else if (p.currentToken() == Token.VALUE_STRING) {
-                return new Date(TimeUtils.dateStringToEpoch(p.text()));
-            }
-            throw new IllegalArgumentException("unexpected token [" + p.currentToken() + "] for ["
-                    + TIMESTAMP.getPreferredName() + "]");
-        }, TIMESTAMP, ValueType.VALUE);
+        parser.declareField(Builder::setTimestamp,
+                p -> TimeUtils.parseTimeField(p, TIMESTAMP.getPreferredName()), TIMESTAMP, ValueType.VALUE);
         parser.declareString(Builder::setDescription, DESCRIPTION);
         parser.declareString(Builder::setSnapshotId, ModelSnapshotField.SNAPSHOT_ID);
         parser.declareInt(Builder::setSnapshotDocCount, SNAPSHOT_DOC_COUNT);
         parser.declareObject(Builder::setModelSizeStats, ignoreUnknownFields ? ModelSizeStats.LENIENT_PARSER : ModelSizeStats.STRICT_PARSER,
                 ModelSizeStats.RESULT_TYPE_FIELD);
-        parser.declareField(Builder::setLatestRecordTimeStamp, p -> {
-            if (p.currentToken() == Token.VALUE_NUMBER) {
-                return new Date(p.longValue());
-            } else if (p.currentToken() == Token.VALUE_STRING) {
-                return new Date(TimeUtils.dateStringToEpoch(p.text()));
-            }
-            throw new IllegalArgumentException(
-                    "unexpected token [" + p.currentToken() + "] for [" + LATEST_RECORD_TIME.getPreferredName() + "]");
-        }, LATEST_RECORD_TIME, ValueType.VALUE);
-        parser.declareField(Builder::setLatestResultTimeStamp, p -> {
-            if (p.currentToken() == Token.VALUE_NUMBER) {
-                return new Date(p.longValue());
-            } else if (p.currentToken() == Token.VALUE_STRING) {
-                return new Date(TimeUtils.dateStringToEpoch(p.text()));
-            }
-            throw new IllegalArgumentException(
-                    "unexpected token [" + p.currentToken() + "] for [" + LATEST_RESULT_TIME.getPreferredName() + "]");
-        }, LATEST_RESULT_TIME, ValueType.VALUE);
+        parser.declareField(Builder::setLatestRecordTimeStamp,
+                p -> TimeUtils.parseTimeField(p, LATEST_RECORD_TIME.getPreferredName()), LATEST_RECORD_TIME, ValueType.VALUE);
+        parser.declareField(Builder::setLatestResultTimeStamp,
+                p -> TimeUtils.parseTimeField(p, LATEST_RESULT_TIME.getPreferredName()), LATEST_RESULT_TIME, ValueType.VALUE);
         parser.declareObject(Builder::setQuantiles, ignoreUnknownFields ? Quantiles.LENIENT_PARSER : Quantiles.STRICT_PARSER, QUANTILES);
         parser.declareBoolean(Builder::setRetain, RETAIN);
 
diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/results/AnomalyRecord.java b/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/results/AnomalyRecord.java
index 6be2453ed422e..d6afdb244c207 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/results/AnomalyRecord.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/results/AnomalyRecord.java
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
 import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.ObjectParser.ValueType;
 import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.ToXContentObject;
 import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.XContentBuilder;
-import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.XContentParser.Token;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.core.ml.job.config.Detector;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.core.ml.job.config.Job;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.core.ml.utils.ExceptionsHelper;
@@ -91,15 +90,8 @@ private static ConstructingObjectParser<AnomalyRecord, Void> createParser(boolea
                 a -> new AnomalyRecord((String) a[0], (Date) a[1], (long) a[2]));
 
         parser.declareString(ConstructingObjectParser.constructorArg(), Job.ID);
-        parser.declareField(ConstructingObjectParser.constructorArg(), p -> {
-            if (p.currentToken() == Token.VALUE_NUMBER) {
-                return new Date(p.longValue());
-            } else if (p.currentToken() == Token.VALUE_STRING) {
-                return new Date(TimeUtils.dateStringToEpoch(p.text()));
-            }
-            throw new IllegalArgumentException("unexpected token [" + p.currentToken() + "] for ["
-                    + Result.TIMESTAMP.getPreferredName() + "]");
-        }, Result.TIMESTAMP, ValueType.VALUE);
+        parser.declareField(ConstructingObjectParser.constructorArg(),
+                p -> TimeUtils.parseTimeField(p, Result.TIMESTAMP.getPreferredName()), Result.TIMESTAMP, ValueType.VALUE);
         parser.declareLong(ConstructingObjectParser.constructorArg(), BUCKET_SPAN);
         parser.declareString((anomalyRecord, s) -> {}, Result.RESULT_TYPE);
         parser.declareDouble(AnomalyRecord::setProbability, PROBABILITY);
diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/results/Bucket.java b/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/results/Bucket.java
index 8a7fe2395b4e0..76d28a621a293 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/results/Bucket.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/results/Bucket.java
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@
 import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.ObjectParser.ValueType;
 import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.ToXContentObject;
 import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.XContentBuilder;
-import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.XContentParser.Token;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.core.ml.job.config.Job;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.core.ml.utils.ExceptionsHelper;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.core.ml.utils.time.TimeUtils;
@@ -74,15 +73,8 @@ private static ConstructingObjectParser<Bucket, Void> createParser(boolean ignor
                 a -> new Bucket((String) a[0], (Date) a[1], (long) a[2]));
 
         parser.declareString(ConstructingObjectParser.constructorArg(), JOB_ID);
-        parser.declareField(ConstructingObjectParser.constructorArg(), p -> {
-            if (p.currentToken() == Token.VALUE_NUMBER) {
-                return new Date(p.longValue());
-            } else if (p.currentToken() == Token.VALUE_STRING) {
-                return new Date(TimeUtils.dateStringToEpoch(p.text()));
-            }
-            throw new IllegalArgumentException("unexpected token [" + p.currentToken() + "] for ["
-                    + Result.TIMESTAMP.getPreferredName() + "]");
-        }, Result.TIMESTAMP, ValueType.VALUE);
+        parser.declareField(ConstructingObjectParser.constructorArg(),
+                p -> TimeUtils.parseTimeField(p, Result.TIMESTAMP.getPreferredName()), Result.TIMESTAMP, ValueType.VALUE);
         parser.declareLong(ConstructingObjectParser.constructorArg(), BUCKET_SPAN);
         parser.declareDouble(Bucket::setAnomalyScore, ANOMALY_SCORE);
         parser.declareDouble(Bucket::setInitialAnomalyScore, INITIAL_ANOMALY_SCORE);
diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/results/BucketInfluencer.java b/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/results/BucketInfluencer.java
index 8b18562ec6d1e..90a6484ea0849 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/results/BucketInfluencer.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/results/BucketInfluencer.java
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@
 import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.ObjectParser.ValueType;
 import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.ToXContentObject;
 import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.XContentBuilder;
-import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.XContentParser.Token;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.core.ml.job.config.Job;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.core.ml.utils.ExceptionsHelper;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.core.ml.utils.time.TimeUtils;
@@ -53,15 +52,8 @@ private static ConstructingObjectParser<BucketInfluencer, Void> createParser(boo
                 ignoreUnknownFields, a -> new BucketInfluencer((String) a[0], (Date) a[1], (long) a[2]));
 
         parser.declareString(ConstructingObjectParser.constructorArg(), Job.ID);
-        parser.declareField(ConstructingObjectParser.constructorArg(), p -> {
-            if (p.currentToken() == Token.VALUE_NUMBER) {
-                return new Date(p.longValue());
-            } else if (p.currentToken() == Token.VALUE_STRING) {
-                return new Date(TimeUtils.dateStringToEpoch(p.text()));
-            }
-            throw new IllegalArgumentException("unexpected token [" + p.currentToken() + "] for ["
-                    + Result.TIMESTAMP.getPreferredName() + "]");
-        }, Result.TIMESTAMP, ValueType.VALUE);
+        parser.declareField(ConstructingObjectParser.constructorArg(),
+                p -> TimeUtils.parseTimeField(p, Result.TIMESTAMP.getPreferredName()), Result.TIMESTAMP, ValueType.VALUE);
         parser.declareLong(ConstructingObjectParser.constructorArg(), BUCKET_SPAN);
         parser.declareString((bucketInfluencer, s) -> {}, Result.RESULT_TYPE);
         parser.declareString(BucketInfluencer::setInfluencerFieldName, INFLUENCER_FIELD_NAME);
diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/results/Forecast.java b/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/results/Forecast.java
index 47f6769a07f9d..03a9b801167e7 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/results/Forecast.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/results/Forecast.java
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@
 import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.ObjectParser.ValueType;
 import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.ToXContentObject;
 import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.XContentBuilder;
-import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.XContentParser.Token;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.core.ml.job.config.Job;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.core.ml.utils.time.TimeUtils;
 
@@ -51,15 +50,8 @@ private static ConstructingObjectParser<Forecast, Void> createParser(boolean ign
 
         parser.declareString(ConstructingObjectParser.constructorArg(), Job.ID);
         parser.declareString(ConstructingObjectParser.constructorArg(), FORECAST_ID);
-        parser.declareField(ConstructingObjectParser.constructorArg(), p -> {
-            if (p.currentToken() == Token.VALUE_NUMBER) {
-                return new Date(p.longValue());
-            } else if (p.currentToken() == Token.VALUE_STRING) {
-                return new Date(TimeUtils.dateStringToEpoch(p.text()));
-            }
-            throw new IllegalArgumentException("unexpected token [" + p.currentToken() + "] for ["
-                    + Result.TIMESTAMP.getPreferredName() + "]");
-        }, Result.TIMESTAMP, ValueType.VALUE);
+        parser.declareField(ConstructingObjectParser.constructorArg(),
+                p -> TimeUtils.parseTimeField(p, Result.TIMESTAMP.getPreferredName()), Result.TIMESTAMP, ValueType.VALUE);
         parser.declareLong(ConstructingObjectParser.constructorArg(), BUCKET_SPAN);
         parser.declareInt(ConstructingObjectParser.constructorArg(), DETECTOR_INDEX);
         parser.declareString((modelForecast, s) -> {}, Result.RESULT_TYPE);
diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/results/Influencer.java b/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/results/Influencer.java
index 97ed643c44dd5..65199d9db2575 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/results/Influencer.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/results/Influencer.java
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@
 import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.ObjectParser.ValueType;
 import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.ToXContentObject;
 import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.XContentBuilder;
-import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.XContentParser.Token;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.core.ml.job.config.Job;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.core.ml.utils.ExceptionsHelper;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.core.ml.utils.time.TimeUtils;
@@ -52,15 +51,8 @@ public class Influencer implements ToXContentObject, Writeable {
         LENIENT_PARSER.declareString(ConstructingObjectParser.constructorArg(), Job.ID);
         LENIENT_PARSER.declareString(ConstructingObjectParser.constructorArg(), INFLUENCER_FIELD_NAME);
         LENIENT_PARSER.declareString(ConstructingObjectParser.constructorArg(), INFLUENCER_FIELD_VALUE);
-        LENIENT_PARSER.declareField(ConstructingObjectParser.constructorArg(), p -> {
-            if (p.currentToken() == Token.VALUE_NUMBER) {
-                return new Date(p.longValue());
-            } else if (p.currentToken() == Token.VALUE_STRING) {
-                return new Date(TimeUtils.dateStringToEpoch(p.text()));
-            }
-            throw new IllegalArgumentException("unexpected token [" + p.currentToken() + "] for ["
-                    + Result.TIMESTAMP.getPreferredName() + "]");
-        }, Result.TIMESTAMP, ValueType.VALUE);
+        LENIENT_PARSER.declareField(ConstructingObjectParser.constructorArg(),
+                p -> TimeUtils.parseTimeField(p, Result.TIMESTAMP.getPreferredName()), Result.TIMESTAMP, ValueType.VALUE);
         LENIENT_PARSER.declareLong(ConstructingObjectParser.constructorArg(), BUCKET_SPAN);
         LENIENT_PARSER.declareString((influencer, s) -> {}, Result.RESULT_TYPE);
         LENIENT_PARSER.declareDouble(Influencer::setProbability, PROBABILITY);
diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/results/ModelPlot.java b/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/results/ModelPlot.java
index c331d8b043797..64101db0e617e 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/results/ModelPlot.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/job/results/ModelPlot.java
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@
 import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.ObjectParser.ValueType;
 import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.ToXContentObject;
 import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.XContentBuilder;
-import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.XContentParser.Token;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.core.ml.job.config.Job;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.core.ml.utils.time.TimeUtils;
 
@@ -54,15 +53,8 @@ private static ConstructingObjectParser<ModelPlot, Void> createParser(boolean ig
                 a -> new ModelPlot((String) a[0], (Date) a[1], (long) a[2], (int) a[3]));
 
         parser.declareString(ConstructingObjectParser.constructorArg(), Job.ID);
-        parser.declareField(ConstructingObjectParser.constructorArg(), p -> {
-            if (p.currentToken() == Token.VALUE_NUMBER) {
-                return new Date(p.longValue());
-            } else if (p.currentToken() == Token.VALUE_STRING) {
-                return new Date(TimeUtils.dateStringToEpoch(p.text()));
-            }
-            throw new IllegalArgumentException("unexpected token [" + p.currentToken() + "] for ["
-                    + Result.TIMESTAMP.getPreferredName() + "]");
-        }, Result.TIMESTAMP, ValueType.VALUE);
+        parser.declareField(ConstructingObjectParser.constructorArg(),
+                p -> TimeUtils.parseTimeField(p, Result.TIMESTAMP.getPreferredName()), Result.TIMESTAMP, ValueType.VALUE);
         parser.declareLong(ConstructingObjectParser.constructorArg(), BUCKET_SPAN);
         parser.declareInt(ConstructingObjectParser.constructorArg(), DETECTOR_INDEX);
         parser.declareString((modelPlot, s) -> {}, Result.RESULT_TYPE);
diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/notifications/AuditMessage.java b/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/notifications/AuditMessage.java
index 850d89d0a7282..1763006afbe91 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/notifications/AuditMessage.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/notifications/AuditMessage.java
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@
 import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.ToXContentObject;
 import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.XContentBuilder;
 import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.XContentParser;
-import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.XContentParser.Token;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.core.ml.job.config.Job;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.core.ml.utils.time.TimeUtils;
 
@@ -41,14 +40,8 @@ public class AuditMessage implements ToXContentObject, Writeable {
             }
             throw new IllegalArgumentException("Unsupported token [" + p.currentToken() + "]");
         }, LEVEL, ValueType.STRING);
-        PARSER.declareField(AuditMessage::setTimestamp, p -> {
-            if (p.currentToken() == Token.VALUE_NUMBER) {
-                return new Date(p.longValue());
-            } else if (p.currentToken() == Token.VALUE_STRING) {
-                return new Date(TimeUtils.dateStringToEpoch(p.text()));
-            }
-            throw new IllegalArgumentException("unexpected token [" + p.currentToken() + "] for [" + TIMESTAMP.getPreferredName() + "]");
-        }, TIMESTAMP, ValueType.VALUE);
+        PARSER.declareField(AuditMessage::setTimestamp,
+                p -> TimeUtils.parseTimeField(p, TIMESTAMP.getPreferredName()), TIMESTAMP, ValueType.VALUE);
         PARSER.declareString(AuditMessage::setNodeName, NODE_NAME);
     }
 
diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/utils/time/TimeUtils.java b/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/utils/time/TimeUtils.java
index 6b334972366c9..019668f1a3c89 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/utils/time/TimeUtils.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/ml/utils/time/TimeUtils.java
@@ -7,8 +7,11 @@
 
 import org.elasticsearch.common.ParseField;
 import org.elasticsearch.common.unit.TimeValue;
+import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.XContentParser;
 import org.elasticsearch.index.mapper.DateFieldMapper;
 
+import java.io.IOException;
+import java.util.Date;
 import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit;
 
 public final class TimeUtils {
@@ -16,6 +19,16 @@ private TimeUtils() {
         // Do nothing
     }
 
+    public static Date parseTimeField(XContentParser parser, String fieldName) throws IOException {
+        if (parser.currentToken() == XContentParser.Token.VALUE_NUMBER) {
+            return new Date(parser.longValue());
+        } else if (parser.currentToken() == XContentParser.Token.VALUE_STRING) {
+            return new Date(TimeUtils.dateStringToEpoch(parser.text()));
+        }
+        throw new IllegalArgumentException(
+                "unexpected token [" + parser.currentToken() + "] for [" + fieldName + "]");
+    }
+
     /**
      * First tries to parse the date first as a Long and convert that to an
      * epoch time. If the long number has more than 10 digits it is considered a