Workday Payroll Systems Analyst in Coventry

We're proud to be part of STARK Building Materials UK and dedicated to providing top-quality products and exceptional service to our customers. We're a friendly and collaborative team, passionate about what we do and committed to doing it well.

We’re searching for a Workday Payroll Systems Analyst to join us on a permanent basis at our head office in Coventry.

JOB PURPOSE

To act as the subject matter expert for Workday Payroll, ensuring accurate, compliant and efficient payroll-related system processes that support a high-quality colleague experience and meet business and service level requirements. To own and support Workday Payroll configuration and processing dependencies across Time and Absence, Compensation and Benefits, ensuring changes are assessed, tested and implemented effectively. To support the Head of HR Systems and Payroll Manager in maintaining payroll data integrity, optimising payroll-related Workday processes, supporting release management, and delivering enhancements, controls and reporting that reduce risk and improve service delivery.

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of 3+ years of focused Workday configuration or support experience, with strong expertise in Payroll and a good understanding of system flows, business process design, security and payroll-related integrations.
• Demonstrable experience supporting and enhancing Workday Payroll, with working knowledge of Time and Absence and Compensation and Benefits dependencies and how they impact payroll outcomes.
• Strong understanding of payroll processes, controls and legislation, together with HR systems knowledge and either relevant qualifications or demonstrable equivalent experience.
• Experience of analysing payroll requirements, process mapping, test planning and defect resolution, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver system improvements effectively through structured project delivery and change management.
• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to advise on payroll-related system issues and build effective working relationships across HR, Payroll, Finance, IT and third-party providers.
• Working understanding of payroll governance, audit requirements, data protection obligations including GDPR, and the importance of data accuracy and confidentiality.
• Excellent problem solving and analytical skills, with the ability to investigate payroll issues, identify root causes and recommend practical solutions.
• Excellent attention to detail and a strong focus on accuracy, with the ability to manage sensitive payroll data and prioritise work effectively within a fast-paced environment.
• Knowledge of agile delivery methods, process improvement techniques, and core project and change management principles, with the ability to support the successful delivery and adoption of system changes.

DESIRABLE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

• Experience of AI and automation in HR or payroll system environments, with the ability to identify opportunities to improve efficiency, accuracy, controls or user experience, would be desirable.
• Experience supporting or working with payroll-related integrations, interfaces and downstream data dependencies would be desirable.
• Knowledge of Jersey, Isle of Man payroll considerations.

KEY RESULT AREAS

• Act as the lead specialist for Workday Payroll processes and configuration, ensuring payroll-related activities are delivered accurately, on time and in line with business requirements and service expectations.
• Own ongoing post-production support, ticket triage, issue resolution, defect management and enhancement activity for payroll-related Workday functionality, working with the Head of HR Systems to prioritise the backlog according to business need and risk.
• Analyse, design, test and implement payroll-related system changes, ensuring impacts across Time and Absence, Compensation and Benefits, integrations and downstream processes are fully understood and controlled, with clear test plans, test scripts and business sign-off where required.
• Support Workday biannual release management for payroll-related functionality, including reviewing release content, assessing impacts, coordinating regression testing and user acceptance testing, managing deployment readiness and recommending adoption where beneficial.
• Maintain strong payroll data quality, controls and security within Workday and related systems, supporting audit readiness and compliance with relevant regulations and legislation including GDPR.
• Provide expert guidance, documentation and user support to Payroll, HR and key stakeholders to ensure payroll-related processes are understood and executed effectively.
• Produce and maintain reporting, reconciliations and status updates relating to payroll changes, tickets, incidents, service performance and key controls, escalating issues where appropriate.
• Develop, run and support payroll and workforce reports in Workday to meet operational, audit and business requirements, working with reporting colleagues where needed.
• Support payroll-related cyclical activity such as pay reviews, bonus processing, annual reward events and year-end requirements, ensuring configuration and processing impacts are managed effectively.
• Work closely with Payroll, Finance, IT, external providers and wider HR Systems colleagues to maintain and improve payroll integrations and end-to-end process effectiveness.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with stakeholders across HR, Payroll, Reward, Finance, Digital and external partners to support effective payroll service delivery and change management.
• Support payroll-related projects and change initiatives by contributing to planning, impact assessment, testing, stakeholder engagement, process improvement activity and implementation readiness.
• Use insight, process knowledge and best practice to identify opportunities to improve payroll accuracy, simplify and automate processes, strengthen controls and enhance user experience within Workday.
• Keep up to date with Workday payroll best practice and product developments, using vendor resources and support partners to troubleshoot issues and maximise system capability.

COMMUNICATIONS AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

• Head of HR Systems, HR Systems team, Payroll team, People Services teams and HR functional experts including Reward and People Operations.
• Finance teams and relevant payroll governance or compliance stakeholders.
• Workday support partners, AMS providers and external payroll or benefit vendors as required.
• UK IT departments, IT Service Desk, Integrations and digital support teams.
• Managers and colleagues across the business who rely on accurate payroll, time, absence and reward data.
• Department heads and stakeholders involved in payroll change, reporting, controls and continuous improvement activity.
• Third-party system and service partners supporting payroll, benefits, time recording and related HR technology processes.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?

• Hybrid Working – 4 days at our Binley, Coventry office and 1 day WFH.
• Discretionary bonus
• Retirement savings plan
• Life assurance
• Enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption leave for anyone expecting or adopting a child
• A wide range of voluntary benefits including holiday buying, discounted gym membership, car salary sacrifice scheme, Cycle2Work, Benenden Healthcare and more.
• Access to a wealth of health and wellbeing services including access to online GP appointments and mental health support.
• WorkPerks – A platform home to hundreds of all your favourite high street and online discounts via the provider Reward Gateway.