Sr. Management Analyst - Payroll

City of Seattle; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 77,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Job summary

The City of Seattle seeks a Senior Management Systems Analyst to lead Workday payroll, time tracking, absence, and compensation configurations. You will align with policy, labor standards, and compliance while guiding cross-functional teams across HR, IT, and payroll.

You will translate complex contract requirements into scalable setups, oversee testing, and ensure data accuracy in EIBs and integrations. A hybrid schedule and city-wide readiness are part of the role.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Information Systems, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 3 years advanced experience supporting or configuring Workday Payroll, Time Tracking or Absence.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex analysis, testing, or configuration work in a large organization.
• Experience interpreting labor or complex contract pay impacting rules, pay policies, or compliance requirements.
• Robust analytical and problem-solving skills using reporting tools or data analysis.
• Experience coordinating cross functional work in IT, HR, payroll, or financial environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic system configuration, governance, and performance evaluations for Workday Payroll, Time Tracking, Absence, and Compensation, ensuring alignment with policy, labor standards, and compliance requirements.
• Translate complex labor contract requirements into scalable, compliant system configurations while overseeing business processes, integrations, retro processing, audit controls, and payroll-related EIB data accuracy.
• Direct requirements gathering, prototyping, analytics-driven performance reviews, and testing governance for Workday configuration updates, releases, and weekly service changes to enhance usability, reliability, and efficiency.
• Conduct root-cause analysis and apply advanced reporting and analytics to detect anomalies, identify trends, support audits, and drive system improvements across payroll and HCM functions.
• Lead cross-functional solution design, stakeholder alignment, and citywide readiness efforts through coordination with HR, Payroll, Information Technology (ITD), Workday Subject Matter Expert (SMEs), developers, reporting analysts, and privacy/security teams.
• Provide clear communication, operational continuity, and issue resolution for decentralized departmental payroll teams while maintaining documentation standards and serving as backup support for payroll staff and leadership.

Skills

Workday Payroll

Analytical skills

Cross-functional coordination

Labor contract interpretation

Education

Bachelor's degree in business or IS

Job description

Key Responsibilities

• Lead strategic system configuration, governance, and performance evaluations for Workday Payroll, Time Tracking, Absence, and Compensation, ensuring alignment with policy, labor standards, and compliance requirements.
• Translate complex labor contract requirements into scalable, compliant system configurations while overseeing business processes, integrations, retro processing, audit controls, and payroll-related EIB data accuracy.
• Direct requirements gathering, prototyping, analytics-driven performance reviews, and testing governance for Workday configuration updates, releases, and weekly service changes to enhance usability, reliability, and efficiency.
• Conduct root-cause analysis and apply advanced reporting and analytics to detect anomalies, identify trends, support audits, and drive system improvements across payroll and HCM functions.
• Lead cross-functional solution design, stakeholder alignment, and citywide readiness efforts through coordination with HR, Payroll, Information Technology (ITD), Workday Subject Matter Expert (SMEs), developers, reporting analysts, and privacy/security teams.
• Provide clear communication, operational continuity, and issue resolution for decentralized departmental payroll teams while maintaining documentation standards and serving as backup support for payroll staff and leadership.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Information Systems, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 3 years advanced experience supporting or configuring Workday Payroll, Time Tracking or Absence.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex analysis, testing, or configuration work in a large organization.
• Experience interpreting labor or complex contract pay impacting rules, pay policies, or compliance requirements.
• Robust analytical and problem-solving skills using reporting tools or data analysis.
• Experience coordinating cross functional work in IT, HR, payroll, or financial environments.

While not required, the desired qualifications below reflect the experience, skills, and abilities that support effective performance in this role.

• Workday HCM certification(s) or equivalent experience.
• Experience supporting public-sector payroll operations and process development and mapping.
• Experience with multi-union environments and complex labor contract interpretation.
• Familiarity with enterprise testing governance or release management.
• Experience developing Workday dashboards, custom reports, or Enterprise Interface Builder (EIBs).

PAY

This civil-service position is classified as a Management Systems Analyst, Senior (Sr. MSA). The full pay range for this step-progression position is $56.23 to $65.54 per hour. New employees begin at Step 1 of the pay progression, which is $56.23 hourly. Current City employees’ starting rate of pay will be based on Personnel Rules regarding promotions.

Work Environment

This position offers the flexibility of a hybrid work schedule. Employees are expected to be in-office three days per week. Individual schedules will be based on agreement between the employee and their supervisor and are subject to change. Collaborative, inclusive team environment.

Background Check

Background Check:Applicants must successfully pass a background check, which will be conducted in accordance with Seattle’s Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SMC 14.17. Applicants will be given a chance to explain or correct background information and provide verifiable information of good conduct and rehabilitation.

Why work at the City of Seattle?

The City of Seattle recognizes every City employee must play a role in ending institutional and structural racism. Our culture is the result of our behavior, our personal commitments, and the ways that we courageously share our perspectives and encourage others to do the same. To cultivate an antiracist culture, we seek employees who will engage in the Race and Social Justice Initiative by working to dismantle racist policies and procedures, unlearn the way things have always been done, and provide equitable processes and services.

Benefits

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holidays, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits.

Who May Apply

This position is open to all applicants that meet the minimum qualifications. The City of Seattle values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The city encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experience.