Senior Workday Payroll & HRIS Analyst

Location: San Jose, CA (Onsite)

Employment Type: Full-Time

Work Authorization: Must be authorized to work in the U.S.

Overview

Our client is a large, complex organization seeking a Senior Workday Payroll & HRIS Analyst to serve as a functional expert and strategic partner across Payroll, HR, Accounting, and IT. This role owns the configuration, optimization, and ongoing support of Workday Payroll, Time Tracking, and Absence, acting as the primary liaison between business stakeholders and technical teams.

This is a high-impact, hands-on role for a seasoned Workday professional who thrives in regulated environments, understands payroll at scale, and can lead system enhancements from requirements through deployment.

This position is onsite in San Jose, CA.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead discovery and working sessions with business stakeholders to define, design, and deploy Workday solutions and enhancements
• Serve as the primary functional owner for Workday Payroll, Time Tracking, and Absence, including implementations, releases, and day-to-day operations
• Translate complex business requirements into scalable Workday configurations and functional designs
• Configure, document, and maintain Workday Payroll and Time Tracking processes and system logic
• Act as the Payroll SME, partnering closely with Payroll, HR, Accounting, and IT to ensure alignment and execution
• Drive continuous process improvement by leveraging deep business and system knowledge
• Lead testing strategy, test plan development, execution, and defect resolution for enhancements and releases
• Provide year-end payroll and reporting support, including audits and compliance activities
• Maintain and enhance Workday configurations using best practices and newly released features
• Collect and incorporate end-user feedback to improve usability and adoption
• Ensure compliance with SOX and internal control requirements
• Support disaster recovery planning and execution
• Perform work onsite and other related duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Accounting, Information Systems, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 5+ years of hands-on Workday experience supporting Payroll, Time Tracking, and Absence
• Strong functional expertise in payroll processing, configuration, and troubleshooting
• Experience with Workday integrations, security, and data privacy concepts
• Proven ability to manage Workday releases and system updates
• Strong understanding of SOX, audit controls, and compliance requirements
• Advanced skills with Workday Report Writer and analytical tools
• Excellent communication, documentation, and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook
• Valid California Driver’s License
• Ability to work onsite in San Jose, CA

Preferred Qualifications

• Workday Payroll and/or Absence Certification
• Experience supporting large or complex payroll environments

Compensation

Salary Range: $124,600 – $222,800

(Compensation will be commensurate with experience, skills, and certifications.)

Why This Role

• Own mission-critical Workday Payroll functionality
• High visibility and direct partnership with senior stakeholders
• Opportunity to drive real process and system improvements
• Stable, long-term role within a complex enterprise environment