Must have - Dayforce Architect, WFM, EMA or APEC, Design, integration, implementation experience
Our clients’ People Technology team is seeking an experienced Dayforce Architect Contractor to lead the global payroll migration. This is a critical, highly visible project that will modernize payroll operations for all international employees.
You will serve as the primary technical authority on the Dayforce platform, working closely with the People Technology team, Payroll Operations, Benefits, and external implementation partners to architect, configure, test, and deploy the Dayforce environment. In addition to project work, you will provide day-to-day guidance on Dayforce system health and configuration issues, ensuring platform stability and operational continuity. The People Tech team will provide strategic oversight and subject matter expertise while you drive day-to-day execution.
Responsibilities
Integration Ownership & Architecture
- Serve as Payroll TSDO(Technical service Delivery Owner) for Corporate Engineering organization
- Take formal end-to-end ownership of all Dayforce data fl ows, including inbound integrations (Workday, Schwab, equity platforms) and outbound integrations (Oracle, reporting, and compliance feeds)
- Document and maintain a comprehensive Dayforce integration map covering all connected systems, data payloads, frequencies, transformation logic, error handling, and dependencies
- Design the optimal integration strategy across Dayforce middleware and our middleware systems, establishing standards for reliability, monitoring, and change management
- Monitor integration health, proactively identify failure risks, and resolve issues before they impact payroll processing
System Architecture & Design
- Design the end-to-end Dayforce system architecture including module configuration, data flows, and system hierarchy (legal entities, pay groups, locations)
- Define and implement Dayforce security architecture including role-based access controls, data access profiles, and feature-level security
- Architect Dayforce workflows, approval chains, and business process configurations across Payroll, Time & Attendance, and scheduling modules
- Lead system design sessions with stakeholders to translate business requirements into scalable Dayforce configurations
- Develop and maintain comprehensive technical architecture documentation, configuration workbooks.
Configuration & Implementation
- Configure and validate Dayforce Payroll including pay policies, earnings and deduction codes, tax configurations, and off-cycle payroll rules
- Set up Time & Attendance configurations including schedules, shift policies, accrual rules, and entitlements
- Configure Dayforce reporting and analytics including operational reports, dashboards, and compliance-related outputs
- Perform end-to-end system testing, parallel payroll runs, and user acceptance testing (UAT) coordination
- Lead data migration activities including data mapping, cleansing, load validation, and reconciliation
Keeping the Lights On (KTLO) & Operational Support
- Provide day-to-day support to Payroll, and HR stakeholders on Dayforce configuration and system issues
- Monitor the Dayforce environment for system errors, failed processes, and configuration drift
- Respond to production incidents and resolve platform issues in a timely manner
- Perform root cause analysis for recurring issues and implement preventive configuration measures
- Maintain and optimize Dayforce system settings, workflows, and security configurations
- Conduct knowledge transfer to People Technology team on system architecture and configuration
- Document lessons learned, best practices, and standard operating procedures
- Establish ongoing KTLO processes for long-term Dayforce platform maintenance
Requirements
- 5+ years of hands-on experience implementing and architecting Ceridian Dayforce in enterprise environments
- Strong understanding of International payroll processes ideally in EMEA and SEA regions, country specific statutory tax regulations and compliance requirements
- Deep expertise in Dayforce Payroll configuration including pay groups, tax setups, earnings/deductions, garnishments, and year-end processing
- Strong hands-on experience with Dayforce Time & Attendance including scheduling, accruals, leave management, and timekeeping policies
- Deep understanding of Dayforce system architecture including legal entity setup, org hierarchy, pay group design, and data models
- Proficiency in Dayforce security administration including role-based security, data access profiles, and feature-level permissions
- Experience with Dayforce reporting tools including standard reports, custom reports, and data export configurations
- Strong understanding of Dayforce APIs and data exchange models for integration touchpoints
- Experience with parallel payroll testing methodologies and reconciliation frameworks
- Proficiency in data migration tools, Excel/Google Sheets-based mapping workbooks, and data validation techniques
- Familiarity with SOX compliance requirements for payroll systems
Preferred Qualifications
- Payroll Ceridian Dayforce certification
- Familiarity with Workday HCM as a system of record, particularly in migration contexts
- Knowledge of Dayforce Continuous Payroll and on-demand pay features
- Experience with Dayforce integration studio and partner ecosystem configurations
- Familiarity with Dayforce Intelligence (AI/ML) features and reporting enhancements
- Prior experience in high-growth technology or platform companies
- Familiarity with the Boomi integration platform
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