Department: Finance Location: Onsite in Virginia or Remote from NC, SC, FL, GA, AL, LA, WV Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent Salary Range: $120,000 – $155,000 Reports To: Finance Leadership
Our Client is seeking a Workday Payroll Application Manager to lead and optimize the organization’s Workday Payroll environment following a major two‑year implementation. With the implementation partner transitioning off the project, this role requires a Workday‑certified professional with strong hands-on configuration and implementation experience who can guide the organization in fully leveraging Workday’s capabilities.
This position partners closely with an experienced Payroll Manager who excels in payroll operations but has limited Workday expertise. The Workday Payroll Application Manager will serve as the system expert—driving enhancements, advising on best practices, and ensuring Workday is configured to support efficient, compliant payroll operations.
This is a hands-on functional role with no direct reports and is ideal for someone who enjoys post‑implementation optimization, problem-solving, and process improvement.
Serve as the primary Workday Payroll subject matter expert, owning configuration, optimization, and ongoing support.
Recommend system enhancements and process improvements based on Workday capabilities and industry best practices.
Partner with Payroll leadership to translate operational needs into Workday solutions.
Lead post‑implementation stabilization, enhancements, and roadmap planning.
Maintain and update Workday Payroll configuration, including earnings, deductions, tax setup, pay components, and payroll processing rules.
Troubleshoot payroll issues, perform root‑cause analysis, and ensure timely resolution.
Support semi‑monthly and off‑cycle payroll cycles from a systems perspective.
Collaborate with HRIS, Finance, and IT teams to ensure system integrity and cross-functional alignment.
Monitor Workday releases, evaluate new features, and lead adoption of relevant updates.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and organizational payroll policies.
Document configuration decisions, system changes, and process flows.
Provide training, knowledge transfer, and functional guidance to Payroll and HR stakeholders.
Workday Payroll Certification (Required)
5+ years of Workday Payroll experience, including configuration and implementation
Strong understanding of Workday business processes, reporting, and integrations
Experience advising stakeholders on Workday capabilities and system-driven improvements
Ability to analyze payroll processes and recommend optimization strategies
Strong problem-solving skills and ability to troubleshoot complex payroll issues
Excellent communication skills with both technical and non-technical audiences
Experience in a post‑implementation environment preferred
Experience supporting large, multi‑entity payroll environments
Familiarity with Workday Time Tracking, Absence, or related modules
Experience in healthcare or similarly regulated industries
Background in process improvement or operational optimization