Workday HCM Payroll Lead

Workday HCM – Payroll Lead

Client: Deloitte
Location: Atlanta, GA
Employment Type: Contract
Duration: 12 Months + Extension
Work Arrangement: Hybrid
Travel: 1–2 weeks per quarter
Industry: Consulting / Higher Education & Government

About the Opportunity

Our client, Deloitte, is seeking an experienced Workday HCM – Payroll Lead to support the design, configuration, and delivery of the Workday Payroll workstream for a higher education and government client.

The ideal candidate will have strong functional Workday Payroll experience, excellent client-facing skills, and the ability to lead Payroll activities throughout implementation, testing, knowledge transfer, and rollout.

Position Overview

The Workday HCM – Payroll Lead will serve as the functional lead for the Payroll workstream, providing expertise across Workday Payroll design, configuration, testing, and deployment.

This role will work closely with the client team to understand business requirements, demonstrate Workday functionality, document requirements and design decisions, configure the solution, and support testing and rollout activities.

The Payroll Lead will also be responsible for supporting and guiding Payroll team members throughout the engagement.

Key Responsibilities

Workday Payroll Leadership

• Lead the design, configuration, and delivery of the Workday Payroll workstream.

• Provide functional expertise across Workday Payroll processes and functionality.

• Lead Payroll support team members and provide functional guidance.

• Work closely with clients to understand Payroll requirements and business processes.

• Demonstrate Workday Payroll features and functionality to client stakeholders.

Configuration & Implementation

• Configure Workday Payroll based on approved business requirements and design decisions.

• Document requirements, configurations, and design decisions.

• Support end-to-end Payroll implementation activities.

• Provide knowledge transfer and functional guidance to the client team.

• Support rollout and deployment activities.

Testing & Payroll Compare

• Develop user stories and end-to-end testing scenarios.

• Plan and execute Payroll Compare activities.

• Analyze Payroll Compare results and identify gaps or discrepancies.

• Communicate findings and recommended next steps to the client.

• Support resolution of Payroll-related gaps throughout testing.

Cutover & Delivery

• Provide functional input into the cutover plan.

• Support implementation readiness and deployment activities.

• Coordinate with client and project teams to ensure Payroll deliverables are completed on schedule.

• Communicate project status, issues, and required actions to stakeholders.

Travel

• Travel approximately 1–2 weeks per quarter.

• Most travel will be within the Atlanta metropolitan area, Athens, or Macon.

• Airfare, hotel, per diem in accordance with GSA rates, and taxi/rideshare or rental car expenses are covered by the client.

Required Qualifications

• Workday Payroll Certification is required.

• Strong prior Workday Payroll experience.

• Experience leading Workday Payroll workstreams.

• Strong functional knowledge of Workday Payroll.

• Experience with Workday Payroll configuration and implementation.

• Experience developing user stories and end-to-end testing scenarios.

• Experience with Payroll Compare planning and execution.

• Strong client-facing and communication skills.

• Experience documenting requirements and design decisions.

• Experience providing knowledge transfer to client teams.

• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting higher education clients.

• Experience working with government organizations.

• Experience leading complex Workday Payroll implementations.

• Experience with Payroll cutover planning and rollout activities.

• Strong experience working in consulting or client-facing environments.