Senior Workday Payroll Lead (Higher Education)

Seeking a seasoned Senior Workday Payroll Lead (Higher Education) to lead a complex Higher Education Workday Payroll implementation. This individual will serve as the primary payroll SME, bringing deep expertise in Workday Payroll configuration, payroll engine design, testing, and reconciliation, while providing leadership and credibility with client stakeholders. Candidates should have multiple full lifecycle Workday Payroll implementations, including experience leading complex payroll deployments in Higher Education environments.
Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the Lead Workday Payroll SME for a complex payroll implementation.
• Lead full lifecycle Workday Payroll projects including discovery, design, configuration, testing, deployment, and post-production support.
• Design and configure Workday Payroll solutions including payroll engine setup, earnings, deductions, taxes, retro processing, balancing, and reconciliation.
• Provide expertise in pass-through payroll models, shadow payroll calculations, and payroll validation processes.
• Facilitate payroll workshops, requirements sessions, and solution design discussions with client stakeholders.
• Partner with architects, integration teams, Workday resources, and client leadership to resolve complex payroll challenges.
• Lead payroll testing, parallel payroll execution, reconciliation efforts, and go-live readiness activities.
• Manage payroll-related risks, issues, and client escalations.
• Act as a trusted advisor to client leadership and project sponsors.
• Drive alignment across cross-functional teams to achieve project objectives and successful delivery.

Required Qualifications

• 8+ years of Workday Payroll experience.
• Minimum of 3-4 full lifecycle Workday Payroll implementations, including at least 2 as a Payroll Lead.
• 5+ full lifecycle implementations strongly preferred.
• Expert-level knowledge of:
  • Workday Payroll Configuration
  • Payroll Engine Design
  • Payroll Calculations
  • Earnings & Deductions
  • Payroll Tax Configuration
  • Retro Processing
  • Payroll Testing & Parallel Payroll
  • Payroll Balancing & Reconciliation
• Experience with pass-through payroll environments and shadow payroll calculations.
• Proven ability to lead complex client engagements and manage executive-level stakeholder relationships.
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional teams through challenging implementation scenarios.
• Strong consulting, communication, presentation, and facilitation skills.
• Direct Higher Education payroll experience, including supporting faculty, adjunct pay, academic compensation structures, student workers, and other complex university payroll environments.
• Current or previous Workday Payroll Certification preferred.
• Experience with Workday HCM, Time Tracking, and Absence is a plus.

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