Workday Data Manager/Senior Manager in London

The Workday Data Manager/Senior Manager is an experienced data professional who plays a key leadership role across data migration, harmonisation, governance, and long term data capability within the Workday ecosystem. This role is ideal for a senior consultant who combines deep Workday knowledge with strong data strategy and delivery expertise across HR and Finance domains. You will guide clients through complex data transformation programmes, ensuring high quality, accurate, and strategically governed data through initial implementation and into postproduction AMS support. You will bring strong consulting skills, a collaborative mindset, and a passion for helping clients build sustainable and scalable Workday data foundations.

Responsibilities:

• Become a Workday data expert with deep knowledge of data migration, harmonisation, governance, and ongoing data operations across HCM and/or Financials.
• Lead clients through the end-to-end data lifecycle, including extraction, transformation, cleansing, validation, and cutover.
• Design and govern enterprise level data strategies, including quality frameworks, data standards, lineage, ownership models, and controls.
• Oversee data mapping, conversion, and loading activities using Workday tools such as iLoad, EIB, Object Transporter, Advanced Load, and Migration Recipes.
• Guide clients through data cleansing and preparation activities, ensuring accuracy and consistency across HR and Finance data sets.
• Lead the development of data quality metrics, dashboards, reporting, and tools to support ongoing monitoring and governance.
• Support data related elements of Workday configuration, business processes, security, and cross domain dependencies.
• Drive harmonisation initiatives across multiple legacy systems and business units to create unified data structures and definitions.
• Validate loaded data across multiple cycles and coordinate resolution of issues through testing and reconciliation processes.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders, providing insights, recommendations, and clear decision frameworks for complex data scenarios.
• Lead data workstreams within Workday projects and AMS engagements, ensuring delivery excellence and client satisfaction.
• Mentor consultants and contribute to developing data capability across the wider Workday practice.
• Support pre‑sales activities such as solutioning, estimate development, and proposal creation.
• Perform multiple tasks under limited direction while keeping project leadership and client stakeholders informed of progress and risks.

Skills & Requirements:

• Significant experience (typically 6+ years) in Workday data migration, data quality, data harmonisation, or data governance, ideally across both HCM and Financials domains.
• Strong experience delivering data conversion or migration in ERP/HCM environments (Workday expertise essential).
• Hands on proficiency with Workday data tools, including iLoads, EIB, Object Transporter, Advanced Load, and Migration Recipes.
• Strong understanding of data governance principles, data lineage, standards, controls, and data quality frameworks.
• Experience with ETL logic, scripting, or transformation processes for high volume, complex data sets.
• Advanced Excel skills and comfort working with large, multi‑source data sets.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders.
• This is a senior individual contributor role with the potential for people management (can be discussed at interview).
• Eligible for SC Clearance: must have been a UK resident for the last five years and have the legal right to work in the UK.
• Minimal travel required, but must be willing to travel on‑site as needed.

Why choose Cognizant:

• Entrepreneurial environment that welcomes your ideas.
• Opportunity to do great work.
• Outreach programs that support communities and tap into your volunteer spirit.
• Learning opportunities to help current needs and advancement.
• Global operations, with opportunities in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.
• An abundance of Affinity groups to meet your needs.

Cognizant Core Values:

• Work as One: We think beyond roles, relying on each other’s strengths to win as a team.
• Raise the Bar: We always aim for excellence in how we work and what we deliver.
• Dare to Innovate: We push boundaries and take chances to reimagine what’s possible.
• Do the Right Thing: We all lead with integrity and always make the ethical choice.
• Own It: We own the outcomes for our company, colleagues, and community.