Workday Payroll Configuration Analyst

About the role

KBR is looking for a Workday Payroll Configuration Analyst to report to the HRIS leadership team; this position will play a key role in configuring, supporting, and optimizing the Workday platform across multiple functional areas. This role’s emphasis will be on the payroll module to support critical payroll operations and compliance requirements, and it will operate as a cross-functional Workday partner, contributing to the ongoing configuration, enhancement, and support of other modules as needed (e.g., HCM, Recruiting, Absence). The Workday Payroll Configuration Analyst will translate payroll and business requirements into scalable Workday solutions, blending technical configuration with functional expertise to ensure accurate payroll execution, maintain data integrity, and drive continuous platform improvement throughout the year. Preferably this position will be located on site at our Houston Office, but we will consider remote work for the right candidate.

At KBR, we are passionate about our people and our Zero Harm culture. These inform all that we do and are at the heart of our commitment to, and ongoing journey toward being a People First company. That commitment is central to our team’s philosophy and fosters an environment where everyone can Belong, Connect and Grow. We Deliver – Together.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a hands-on configuration expert across Workday, with a strong focus on Payroll—designing, building, and maintaining earnings, deductions, payroll calculations, and pay groups in alignment with business and regulatory requirements—while also supporting configuration across Core HCM, Recruiting, Absence, and related modules to ensure cohesive, compliant, and scalable system design aligned with business needs.
• Partner with Payroll teams to support payroll processing activities, ensuring system readiness, accuracy, and timely issue resolution.
• Partner with Payroll and People teams to design and enhance business processes and system functionality across Workday, ensuring alignment with operational and compliance needs.
• Support Workday releases, including impact analysis, payroll-specific testing, and deployment of new functionality.
• Develop and maintain payroll reports, audit controls, and data extracts to support compliance, reconciliations, and reporting requirements.
• Assist with monitoring and troubleshooting payroll-related integrations (e.g., tax agencies, custom integrations for benefit vendors).
• Ensure accuracy and consistency of set-up data through audits, reconciliations, and adherence to governance standards.
• Partner with Payroll and business teams to gather requirements, troubleshoot issues, and deliver effective Workday solutions.
• Manage the Workday Help support queue as Tier 2 support across all functional areas; triage, investigate, and resolve issues with appropriate urgency while providing clear communication to end users; develop and maintain knowledge base documentation and training materials.
• Support adherence to payroll regulations