Workday Payroll Transformation Lead

Accenture PLC; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Accenture is seeking a Workday Payroll Lead in Australia to design, implement and deliver Workday Payroll solutions for clients, acting as a trusted advisor and driving payroll transformation. You will lead end-to-end payroll deployments, own architecture, oversee configuration, govern testing, and mentor cross-functional delivery teams while engaging senior stakeholders.

The role combines delivery leadership, client management, and business development, with mandatory Australian citizenship and

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in Workday Payroll implementations and delivery leadership OR extensive experience in Australian Payroll implementations on other core Payroll solutions.
• Strong knowledge of end-to-end payroll processes and compliance frameworks.
• Proven ability to lead large-scale transformation programs and client engagements.
• Experience managing integration and data migration activities in complex environments.
• Strong commercial acumen with experience in pre-sales and solutioning.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end Workday Payroll implementations and transformations.
• Own solution architecture and payroll process design, ensuring alignment with client business and compliance requirements.
• Oversee configuration of payroll elements (earnings, deductions, taxes) and ensure data integrity, validation, and reconciliation.
• Govern payroll testing strategy (SIT, UAT) and ensure quality delivery outcomes.
• Execute parallel payroll testing and coordinate remediation with customer payroll teams.
• Manage the migration of the payroll solution into a production environment.
• Support the payroll team with the transition onto the new payroll solution and the operational changes they will need to make.
• Act as the primary client interface for payroll workstreams, building strong relationships with senior stakeholders.
• Facilitate workshops and advise on payroll leading practices, transformation strategy, and optimisation opportunities.
• Provide governance, escalation management, and risk mitigation across engagements.
• Lead and mentor cross-functional delivery teams (functional, integration, and testing).
• Drive team performance, capability development, and Workday Payroll knowledge uplift.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and retention of Workday talent.
• Support sales pursuits, proposals, and RFP responses for Workday Payroll opportunities.
• Contribute to solutioning, effort estimation, and commercial modelling.
• Identify and drive add-on opportunities within existing clients (e.g., payroll optimisation, extensions, AMS services).
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders (e.g., Workday practice leads, sales teams) to grow pipeline.
• Contribute to ANZ Workday Payroll practice growth through asset development, accelerators, and reusable solutions.
• Stay current with Workday Payroll product updates and legislative changes.
• Support internal training, certification, and knowledge-sharing initiatives.

Skills

Workday Payroll

Payroll leadership

Client liaison

Communication

Education

Workday Payroll Certification

HR/Finance/IT degree

Job description

Accenture is seeking a Workday Payroll Lead in Australia to design, implement and deliver Workday Payroll solutions for clients, acting as a trusted advisor and driving payroll transformation. You will lead end-to-end payroll deployments, own architecture, oversee configuration, govern testing, and mentor cross-functional delivery teams while engaging senior stakeholders.

The role combines delivery leadership, client management, and business development, with mandatory Australian citizenship and