Payroll Systems Analyst – Workday Implementation

Primary Services; Austin (TX); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Primary Services in Austin, Texas is seeking a Payroll Systems Analyst for a hybrid contract role. You will support transitioning from ADP Workforce Now to Workday Payroll, handling testing, data validation, and process improvements to ensure accurate and compliant payroll during the go-live window.

The ideal candidate has hands-on Workday Payroll experience and 3+ years of full-cycle payroll, preferably across multiple states, with strong Excel reporting and data analysis skills.

Qualifications

• Hands-on Workday Payroll module experience required.
• 3+ years of full-cycle payroll processing in a multi-state environment.
• Experience with payroll implementations, testing, data migration, or system enhancements preferred.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll regulations.
• CPP certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support the transition from ADP Workforce Now to Workday Payroll, including implementation testing, data validation, and process documentation.
• Participate in user acceptance testing and identify discrepancies in payroll calculations, employee records, and system functionality.
• Validate employee earnings, deductions, tax withholdings, and payroll information during system transition activities.
• Reconcile payroll data across existing payroll systems, Workday, timekeeping platforms, and financial records.
• Support parallel payroll testing and compare payroll results to identify and resolve calculation differences.
• Assist with multi-state payroll processing for hourly, salaried, exempt, and non-exempt employees.
• Investigate payroll discrepancies involving overtime, bonuses, commissions, PTO, benefits, and garnishments.
• Develop payroll reports and analyze large datasets using Workday Payroll and Microsoft Excel.
• Document testing results, payroll procedures, system issues, and recommended workflow improvements.
• Collaborate with HRIS, Payroll, Finance, and Benefits teams to resolve implementation challenges.
• Support payroll compliance, audit preparation, and accurate employee payroll records.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll workflows, reporting accuracy, and system efficiency.

Skills

Workday Payroll

Full-cycle payroll

Data validation

Payroll testing

Excel PivotTables

XLOOKUP

VLOOKUP

Multi-state payroll

Regulatory compliance

ADP familiarity

Reporting and analytics

Payroll documentation

CPP certification

Education

Bachelor’s degree

CPP certification

Tools

ADP Workforce Now

Workday

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Major Payroll System Transition | Hybrid – 1 Day Onsite | Austin, TX

Help drive a major payroll technology transformation with a growing national organization offering a collaborative culture and opportunities to develop specialized systems expertise. Play an active role in transitioning payroll operations from ADP Workforce Now to Workday Payroll by supporting system testing, data accuracy, and payroll process improvements. This contract opportunity offers the flexibility to work onsite in Austin one day per week while gaining valuable implementation experience.

The Payroll Systems Analyst will support the Workday Payroll implementation while helping ensure accurate, compliant payroll operations throughout the transition. This position brings together hands-on Workday Payroll knowledge, full-cycle payroll experience, system testing, and payroll data validation. Working closely with Payroll, HRIS, Finance, and Benefits teams, the role provides an opportunity to contribute to a significant technology initiative while applying practical payroll expertise.

Responsibilities

• Support the transition from ADP Workforce Now to Workday Payroll, including implementation testing, data validation, and process documentation.
• Participate in user acceptance testing and identify discrepancies in payroll calculations, employee records, and system functionality.
• Validate employee earnings, deductions, tax withholdings, and payroll information during system transition activities.
• Reconcile payroll data across existing payroll systems, Workday, timekeeping platforms, and financial records.
• Support parallel payroll testing and compare payroll results to identify and resolve calculation differences.
• Assist with multi-state payroll processing for hourly, salaried, exempt, and non-exempt employees.
• Investigate payroll discrepancies involving overtime, bonuses, commissions, PTO, benefits, and garnishments.
• Develop payroll reports and analyze large datasets using Workday Payroll and Microsoft Excel.
• Document testing results, payroll procedures, system issues, and recommended workflow improvements.
• Collaborate with HRIS, Payroll, Finance, and Benefits teams to resolve implementation challenges.
• Support payroll compliance, audit preparation, and accurate employee payroll records.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll workflows, reporting accuracy, and system efficiency.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with the Workday Payroll module required.
• 3+ years of full-cycle payroll processing experience required, preferably in a multi-state environment.
• Experience with payroll system implementations, testing, data migration, or system enhancements preferred.
• Experience auditing payroll earnings, deductions, tax calculations, and employee records.
• Experience reconciling payroll data across payroll, HRIS, timekeeping, or financial systems.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel proficiency, including PivotTables, XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP, and data analysis.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll regulations and payroll tax compliance.
• Experience with ADP Workforce Now preferred.
• Experience supporting large, multi-location employee populations preferred.
• Experience developing payroll reports and documenting payroll processes.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Business, Information Systems, or a related field preferred.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification preferred.