At a Glance
- Tasks: Support and improve our Core Financials environment in Workday while collaborating with finance teams.
- Company: Join Railpen, a leader in pension fund management with a strong community focus.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous leave, private medical insurance, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Embrace a culture of integrity and community while enjoying excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Be the go-to expert in finance systems and make a real impact on financial integrity.
- Qualifications: Experience with Workday Financials or similar systems and a solid understanding of accounting principles.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
We’re looking for a Workday Finance Systems Specialist (known internally as a Workday Functional Specialist) to help own, support and continuously improve our Core Financials environment within Workday. Based in Darlington, this is a hybrid, permanent role. It’s a great opportunity for someone who enjoys combining finance knowledge with system ownership, and who wants to be the trusted expert others turn to when things need to be right.
Railpen is responsible for the safekeeping and investment of around £34 billion in assets and the administration of several pension schemes, including the Railways Pension Scheme, one of the UK's largest and longest established pension funds. Our heritage of looking after the pension needs of the rail industry and its employees gives us our name and our unique outlook on how we serve our members. Railpen takes a holistic view, focusing on how we serve members today and how we can positively impact the communities and the world they will retire into.
This role sits at the intersection of Finance, systems and controls, ensuring our general ledger, journals, allocations and finance structures are accurately configured and work as intended. You’ll play a key role in supporting month-end close, maintaining financial data integrity, and making sure Workday genuinely supports the needs of Finance and the wider organisation.
Key Responsibilities Include:
- Configuring and maintaining Workday finance components including ledgers, books, periods, projects and allocations
- Supporting Finance teams through month-end close, ensuring journals, revaluations and allocations are processed accurately and on time
- Managing finance calendars and ledger periods to ensure the system is ready for close
- Owning the integrity of core finance data structures such as chart of accounts, cost centres and companies
- Working closely with Accounting Operations, Financial Control and Financial Reporting to ensure system outputs align with accounting policy and reporting requirements
- Acting as a point of contact for troubleshooting ledger and journal issues, identifying root cause and implementing fixes
- Supporting testing, release cycles and post-deployment validation for Workday changes
- Maintaining clear documentation of configurations, data logic and finance data rules
- Supporting audit and financial control activity related to system data
While the focus is Core Financials, you’ll also develop a working knowledge of related Workday Finance areas to support resilience across the wider team. This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK.
The Person:
We’re looking for someone who brings a strong mix of finance understanding and systems capability, and who enjoys working closely with stakeholders to make systems work better.
You’re Likely To Bring:
- Experience working with Workday Financials or another complex finance / ERP system, in a systems, configuration or finance systems role
- A solid understanding of accounting principles, general ledger structures and journal processing
- Experience translating business or finance requirements into system configuration or rules
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with close attention to data accuracy and controls
- The confidence to work with Finance stakeholders, challenge constructively and explain system behaviour clearly
- A collaborative, accountable working style and comfort operating in a small, close-knit team
Our values of integrity, community and alignment are the guiding principles that influence our behaviour. They help us make decisions and shape our relationships with others. They’re what we stand for. You will actively demonstrate our values, helping to create a safe environment, to place the needs of the community above oneself and, through a culture of ‘fair challenge’, align to the best interests of our members.
What we can offer you:
- A competitive salary (depending on experience)
- 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- Generous annual bonus plan
- Membership of the Railways Pension Scheme, a Defined Benefit arrangement under which you get a pension for life and a lump sum when you retire, based on your length of service and pay
- 4x Life Assurance cover
- Private Medical Insurance
- Employee assistance programme
- Health cash plan
- Eye care vouchers
- Flu vaccination
Lifestyle:
- Hybrid and flexible working along with very generous family leave including 12 months full pay maternity leave and 6 months full pay paternity leave
- Buy and sell holidays
- Give as you earn scheme
- Paid volunteering days
- Flexible half days leave
- Electric vehicle leasing
- Cycle to work scheme
Please apply via the apply button or visit Careers by 5pm on Thursday 28th May 2026. Railpen is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse environment, we value diversity and welcome people from all backgrounds and walks of life.
Workday Core Financials Specialist – Hybrid employer: Railpen
Railpen is an exceptional employer that prioritises the well-being and growth of its employees, offering a competitive salary, generous annual leave, and a robust benefits package including private medical insurance and a defined benefit pension scheme. With a strong commitment to integrity, community, and alignment, Railpen fosters a collaborative work culture where employees can thrive in a hybrid working environment while making a meaningful impact on the financial futures of its members.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Workday Core Financials Specialist – Hybrid
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the finance and systems space. Let them know you're on the lookout for opportunities, especially roles like the Workday Core Financials Specialist. You never know who might have the inside scoop on openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by brushing up on your Workday knowledge. Make sure you can confidently discuss how you've tackled challenges in finance systems before. Show them you’re not just a candidate, but the expert they need!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t forget to research Railpen! Understanding their values and mission will help you tailor your responses during interviews. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of their community-focused culture.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step to connect directly with us. Let’s get you that Workday role!
We think you need these skills to ace Workday Core Financials Specialist – Hybrid
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the Workday Core Financials Specialist role. Highlight your experience with finance systems and any relevant Workday knowledge. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've tackled similar challenges in the past, and let your passion for finance and systems come through.
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills:In your application, don’t forget to mention times when you’ve solved complex problems or improved processes. We love candidates who can think critically and bring innovative solutions to the table, especially in finance systems!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us that you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Railpen!
How to prepare for a job interview at Railpen
✨Know Your Workday Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your Workday Financials knowledge. Understand the key components like ledgers, journals, and allocations. Be ready to discuss how you've configured or maintained these elements in past roles.
✨Showcase Your Finance Expertise
Prepare to demonstrate your understanding of accounting principles and general ledger structures. Think of examples where you've translated finance requirements into system configurations, as this will show your ability to bridge the gap between finance and systems.
✨Be Ready for Problem-Solving Questions
Expect questions that assess your analytical skills and problem-solving abilities. Prepare specific scenarios where you've identified issues within financial systems and how you implemented fixes. This will highlight your proactive approach.
✨Emphasise Collaboration and Communication
Since this role involves working closely with stakeholders, be prepared to discuss how you've effectively communicated complex system behaviours to non-technical team members. Share examples of how you've collaborated in a small team to achieve common goals.
