Acuvance ROI - Workday Payroll & Absence Lead

Acuvance ROI is a team of experienced professionals dedicated to helping our customers effectively integrate technology, people, and processes to achieve optimal adoption, utilization, and business performance. Together, we help our Workday customers connect and improve business functions in the areas of Human Capital Management, talent management, and business intelligence. We are seeking a Certified Payroll & Absence Lead to join our Workday Consulting team. In this role, you will serve as the functional expert responsible for the design, configuration, testing, and deployment of Workday Payroll and Absence Management solutions. You will partner with client stakeholders to deliver scalable, compliant, and high-performing Workday solutions while providing strategic guidance throughout the implementation lifecycle. This position plays a critical role in supporting enterprise Workday deployments, including complex healthcare environments and large-scale transformation initiatives. Key Responsibilities Functional Configuration & DesignLead the configuration of Workday Payroll and Absence Management solutions.Design and configure payroll structures, earnings and deductions, pay groups, off-cycle processing, accrual rules, leave plans, eligibility criteria, and related business processes.Ensure solutions align with business requirements and Workday best practices.Client Advisory & Requirements GatheringFacilitate discovery sessions and design workshops with payroll, HR, and business stakeholders.Translate legacy payroll and absence management processes into scalable Workday solutions.Advise clients on process improvements and organizational change management considerations.Testing & Deployment LeadershipLead payroll parallel testing, system validation, and user acceptance testing (UAT).Coordinate and execute testing strategies to ensure payroll accuracy and deployment readiness.Drive issue resolution and support go-live activities.Cross-Functional CollaborationPartner with HCM, Benefits, Time Tracking, and Integration teams to ensure seamless solution design.Coordinate payroll-related interfaces including GL, tax, benefits, and third-party vendor integrations.Support end-to-end system alignment across the Workday ecosystem.Compliance & GovernanceEnsure compliance with applicable payroll regulations, tax requirements, wage and hour laws, FMLA, and state leave programs.Maintain audit-ready configuration and documentation standards.Promote best practices for payroll governance and operational excellence.Required QualificationsBachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.Current Workday Deployment Certifications in: HCM CorePayrollAbsence ManagementMinimum of 3 years of Workday consulting experience.Experience participating in at least two large-scale Workday deployments.Strong understanding of payroll processing, absence management, and Workday configuration.Excellent client-facing communication and stakeholder management skills.Preferred QualificationsAdditional Workday certifications, including: Time TrackingBenefitsAdvanced CompensationLearningHealthcare industry experience, especially: Acute CareLong-Term Care (LTC)Sub-Acute CarePrior consulting experience supporting complex payroll environments.Experience with healthcare IT consulting organizations or Workday implementation partners.What We're Looking For The ideal candidate is a certified Workday professional who combines technical expertise with strong consulting and leadership skills. You thrive in client-facing environments, can navigate complex payroll and absence requirements, and enjoy guiding organizations through transformational Workday implementations. Travel Some travel required for onsite leadership and scheduled in advance.