Workday Payroll Specialist & Time Tracking Expert

PAYROLL AND TIME TRACKING ANALYST DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES CITY OF WORCESTER The City of Worcester is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Payroll and Time Tracking Analyst within the Payroll Division of the Human Resources Department. Under the direction of the Director of Payroll and Time Tracking, this position is responsible for leading and performing complex payroll processing and analysis for the City of Worcester using the Workday Human Capital Management (HCM) and Payroll system. The Payroll and Time Tracking Analyst serves as a subject matter expert in Workday Payroll, municipal payroll regulations, collective bargaining agreements, and applicable state and federal laws. This position will serve as the primary liaison between HR, Finance and departmental stakeholders for payroll related matters. This role will work closely with the Director of Payroll and Time Tracking to ensure accurate and timely pay for all employees. Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply. ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS Lead and execute end-to-end payroll processing in Workday for multiple employee groups, including weekly, biweekly, semi, monthly and supplemental payrolls Validate gross-to-net calculations and manage retroactive adjustments Research and resolve complex payroll discrepancies and corrections Serve as a Workday Payroll subject matter expert (SME), maintaining pay components, assisting with testing, troubleshooting, and continuous system improvements Maintain and run Workday payroll reports, custom reports, calculated fields, and dashboards to support operational and compliance needs Assist with payroll configuration review, testing and validation related to upgrades/enhancements Assist with payroll-related integrations, including time tracking, benefits, absence and finance Audit for payroll compliance with federal, state, and local laws, including tax regulations, union agreements, wage and hour laws, and reporting requirements Support audits by internal and external entities and respond to initial payroll-related inquiries Conduct detailed payroll reconciliations and variance analyses, provide feedback Prepare & run custom payroll reports to analyze payroll data to identify trends, and discrepancies Work with departments to review and correct any discrepancies found Assist with W-2, ACA reporting and year end balancing Serve as the secondary escalation point for payroll, time tracking, and benefits issues, stepping in when frontline or customer service staff cannot resolve a matter. Provide guidance to team members and departmental HR contacts on payroll processes and Workday functionality REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES Knowledgeable in Workday Payroll end‑to‑end processing or similar software Ability to process payroll across multiple employee groups and all pay frequencies, including weekly, biweekly, semi‑monthly, monthly, and supplemental cycles Knowledgeable in gross‑to‑net payroll calculations, retroactive pay adjustments, and payroll accounting concepts Knowledgeable of federal, state, and local payroll laws, including wage and hour regulations, tax rules, and union contract requirements Knowledgeable of payroll compliance and audit standards, including internal controls and documentation practices Knowledgeable in payroll‑related integrations, including time tracking, benefits, absence management, and finance Experience in year‑end payroll processes, including W‑2, ACA reporting, and year‑end balancing Reconciliation and variance analysis methodologies for payroll data Ability to perform comprehensive testing and quality assurance for Workday upgrades, enhancements, configuration changes, payroll integrations, and system updates Skilled in data analysis and reporting skills, including developing and interpreting custom payroll reports Skilled in audit preparation Experience with cross‑functional department collaboration Excellent communication skills to explain payroll processes and system functionality to employees of all levels Skilled in time management and prioritization, especially when managing multiple payroll cycles and deadlines Ability to identify trends, discrepancies, and root causes through detailed payroll data analysis Ability to serve as an escalation point for payroll, time tracking, and benefits issues Ability to train and support payroll team members and departments on Workday processes and best practices Ability to maintain high attention to detail while managing complex calculations and compliance requirements Ability to adapt to system changes and enhancements Ability to work independently and as part of a team Regular onsite attendance is required MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS Any equivalent combination of education, training and five (5) years of relevant experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job Three (3) years of experience executing payroll using Workday or similar software Two (2) years of experience with payroll compliance laws and requirements PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Five (5) years of experience executing payroll using Workday or similar software Four (4) years of experience with payroll compliance laws and requirements Four (4) years of experience working with payroll auditing and reporting SALARY RANGE $75,199 - $98,283 annually, full-time, exempt, with an excellent benefits package. The City of Worcester is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. Women, minorities, people with disabilities and protected veterans are encouraged to apply. #J-18808-Ljbffr