Senior Associate - Workday HCM Technical Specialist

Position Summary:  

The Workday Specialist will serve as a technical professional responsible for the configuration, maintenance, and optimization of Cerity Partners' Workday HCM, Payroll, Compensation, and Talent modules. This role requires deep technical expertise in Workday configuration and the ability to design and implement solutions across these core areas to support our rapidly growing organization of 1,600+ employees and 30-40 annual acquisitions. The ideal candidate will partner closely with HC Operations leadership to translate business requirements into technical solutions, manage system integrations, and ensure platform stability and data integrity.

Primary Responsibilities 

• Configure and maintain Workday HCM, Payroll, Benefits, and Talent modules including business processes, security groups, calculated fields, eligibility rules, and integrations to support evolving business needs

• Design and implement technical solutions for annual open enrollment cycles and connections to our 3rd party vendors

• Manage complex payroll configurations including earnings, deductions, tax setups, retroactive calculations, and payroll integrations with third-party systems

• Configure talent management processes including performance reviews, goal management, succession planning, and career development workflows

• Administer Workday security framework including role-based access, security groups, domain policies, and user provisioning across HCM, Payroll, Compensation, and Talent

• Lead system testing, troubleshooting, and resolution of configuration issues; serve as escalation point for complex technical challenges across all four modules

• Support acquisition integrations by configuring new legal entities, organizational structures, compensation plans, and employee data conversions in Workday

• Partner with HC Operations team and business stakeholders to gather requirements, design solutions, and implement configurations that optimize people, benefits, payroll and talent workflows

• Maintain system documentation including configuration guides, business process workflows, security matrices, and compensation plan designs

• Stay current on Workday releases and proactively identify opportunities to leverage new functionality in HCM, Payroll, Compensation, and Talent modules

Required Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's degree in Information Systems, Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field

• 3-5 years of hands-on Workday configuration experience with demonstrated expertise in at least three of the following: HCM, Payroll, Benefits, and Talent modules

• Strong payroll configuration knowledge including earnings codes, deductions, tax setups, retroactive processing, and payroll calculations

• Experience configuring talent management processes including performance reviews, goals, succession planning, and development plans

• Deep understanding of Workday data model, security framework, business process framework, and calculated fields

• Experience with Workday integrations (EIBs, Core Connectors, Studio) and mass operations for data management

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with meticulous attention to detail and data integrity

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Workday Pro Certification in HCM & Payroll

• Experience supporting all four modules (HCM, Payroll, Benefits, Talent) in an integrated environment

• Experience supporting organizations with high acquisition activity and managing multiple compensation plans and payroll entities

•  Familiarity with Workday Advanced Compensation, Prism Analytics, or custom reporting for compensation and talent analytics

• Experience with merit benefits configuration & provider integrations

Skills and Competencies: 

• Deep technical proficiency in Workday configuration across HCM, Payroll, Benefits, and Talent modules

• Strong analytical thinking with ability to design and troubleshoot complex benefits, tax, and payroll calculations

• Excellent communication skills with ability to explain technical concepts to HR, Finance, and business stakeholders

• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple concurrent projects

• Collaborative approach with ability to work effectively across HC Operations, Finance, and business leadership

• Process improvement mindset with focus on automation and efficiency

• Adaptability and comfort with ambiguity in a fast-paced, high-growth environment with frequent acquisitions

• Continuous learning mindset to stay current with Workday platform updates and compensation/talent best practices

Compensation Range:

$100,000 - $120,000

Why Cerity Partners:

Our people drive our success by working together to deliver exceptional service to our clients. Below is a glimpse of the key elements of our total rewards package:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance – day 1!

• 401(k) savings and investment plan options with 4% match

• Flexible PTO policy

• Parental Leave

• Financial assistance for advanced education and professional designations

• Opportunity to give back time to local communities

• Commuter benefits

Cerity Partners is committed to providing an environment where all individuals can be their authentic selves. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer who respects each individual and supports the diverse cultures, perspectives, and experiences of our colleagues. We are dedicated to building an inclusive and diverse workforce and will not discriminate based on race, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability status, or any other applicable characteristics protected by law. 

Cerity Partners is committed to working with and providing accommodations to applicants with disabilities or special needs. For those needing accommodations, please reach out to [email protected]. Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S.