Director of Workday Payroll

Title: Director of Workday Payroll

Full-Time, Permanent

Schedule: Monday-Friday 8am-5pm - Onsite

Job Description:

The Director of Workday Payroll provides strategic and operational leadership for payroll services supporting a complex healthcare workforce, including clinical, non-clinical, hourly, salaried, and per diem employee populations. This role oversees the management and administration of the Bi-weekly end to end payroll using Workday Payroll, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing across multiple entities, shifts, pay rules, and regulatory environments. The Director will seek out industry best practices and identify efficiencies through automation and process improvement that adopt new capabilities as they come available within our Workday platform. The Director partners closely with HR, HRIS, Finance, Compliance, and Clinical Leadership to support excellence and a best in class payroll function.

Requirements:

• 10 years of progressive Workday Payroll experience, including multi state payroll.
• 5 years of leadership experience managing payroll teams.
• Bachelors Degree
• Deep hands on experience with Workday Payroll, Time Tracking, GL, Absence and Benefits
• Strong knowledge of payroll tax, wage and hour laws, and compliance requirements
• Proven experience leading payroll transformations or system optimization.
• Workday Payroll Certification(s) preferred
• CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) certification preferred
• Experience supporting organizations in stages of expansion and heavy growth, as well as complex organizations.

Payroll Leadership & Strategy

• Lead the payroll function for a healthcare organization operating across hospitals, clinics, and ancillary services.

• Follow industry and regulatory changes impacting the payroll function. Partner with HR for system changes to comply with these changes.

• Develop and execute a payroll strategy that supports continuous operations, workforce growth, and patient care priorities.

• Establish payroll governance, policies, internal controls, and standard operating procedures.

• Build, mentor, and retain a highly skilled payroll and Workday payroll team.

• Serve as the executive escalation point for payroll issues impacting clinical operations or employee satisfaction.

Workday Payroll Ownership

• Serve as the functional owner of Workday Payroll, including configuration, maintenance, testing, and optimization.

• Optimize Workday utilization through automation and by leveraging system functionality.

• Ensure seamless integration with Workday HCM, Time Tracking, Absence, Benefits, and Scheduling

• Lead payroll-related Workday upgrades, releases, and healthcare-specific enhancements.

• Support implementations, acquisitions, and new facility onboarding into Workday Payroll

• Ensure system configuration supports healthcare pay practices (shift differentials, on call, premiums, bonuses, and retro pay)

Healthcare Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll laws as well as healthcare specific regulations.

• Oversee payroll audits, reconciliations, and regulatory reporting.

• Partner with Compliance, Legal, and Labor Relations on wage and hour matters

• Monitor regulatory changes and assess impacts to payroll systems, policies, and processes.

Operational Excellence & Accuracy

• Oversee accurate and timely payroll processing for large, diverse employee populations working varied shifts.

• Drive continuous improvement, automation, and controls within Workday Payroll with a focus on industry best practices.

• Establish KPIs and service metrics focused on accuracy, timeliness, and employee experience.

• Oversee payroll tax filings, garnishments, retroactive pay, and year end activities (e.g., W 2s)

• Manage payroll vendors including tax service providers and third party administrators.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Collaborate closely with HR, HRIS, Finance, Accounting, Scheduling, and Clinical Operations

• Ensure payroll aligns with timekeeping, staffing models, compensation frameworks, and benefits programs.

• Support workforce initiatives including hiring surges, emergency response staffing, and seasonal fluctuations.

• Provide payroll analytics and insights to senior leadership.