Workday Payroll Configuration Analyst

Title: Workday Payroll Configuration Analyst 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** Key Responsibilities: Workday Configuration (Payroll) 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 Payroll Cycle Support  Partner with Payroll teams to support payroll processing activities, ensuring system readiness, accuracy, and timely issue resolution Payroll Process / Business Process Optimization Partner with Payroll and People teams to design and enhance business processes and system functionality across Workday, ensuring alignment with operational and compliance needs System Enhancements & Releases Support Workday releases, including impact analysis, payroll-specific testing, and deployment of new functionality Reporting & Compliance Develop and maintain payroll reports, audit controls, and data extracts to support compliance, reconciliations, and reporting requirements Integrations Support Assist with monitoring and troubleshooting payroll-related integrations (e.g., tax agencies, custom integrations for benefit vendors) Data Integrity & Audits Ensure accuracy and consistency of set-up data through audits, reconciliations, and adherence to governance standards Stakeholder Collaboration Partner with Payroll and business teams to gather requirements, troubleshoot issues, and deliver effective Workday solutions User Support & Documentation 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 Compliance & Controls Support adherence to payroll regulations, tax requirements, audit standards, and Workday security protocols Mass Data Loads Plan, coordinate and execute high-volume data loads using EIBs across multiple functional areas Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in information systems, computer science, data analytics, business administration, or a related field required 8 + years of experience in Compensation, HRIS, IT, or HR technology environments supporting enterprise systems Hands-on experience required in Workday Compensation module Proficient in compensation cycles (e.g., ASR, bonus planning) within Workday or similar systems Demonstrated hands-on expertise configuring Workday Compensation, Advanced Compensation and HCM Modules with deep knowledge of business process frameworks, security model, and reporting; able to independently design, build, and deploy complex configurations Proven track record of delivering scalable Workday solutions, with extensive experience actively configuring and optimizing system