Workday Senior Analyst – Payroll, Absence & Time Tracking

Overview We are seeking a Workday Senior Analyst with deep expertise in Payroll, Absence, and Time Tracking to support and enhance our Workday platform. This role serves as a strategic partner to HR, Payroll, and business stakeholders, leading the design, configuration, and optimization of solutions across these critical functional areas. As a subject matter expert, you will translate complex business and regulatory requirements into scalable system solutions, drive continuous improvement, and ensure operational excellence across time, absence, and payroll processes. Primary Responsibilities Solution Design & Functional Expertise Act as the functional SME for Workday Payroll, Absence, and Time Tracking Partner with Payroll, HR, and business stakeholders to gather requirements and design effective, compliant solutions Translate business needs into clear functional specifications and system configurations Provide guidance on system impacts related to regulatory changes, policy updates, and enterprise initiatives Configuration & Optimization Configure and maintain Workday Payroll, Absence, and Time Tracking modules Drive enhancements and continuous improvement across time capture, leave management, and payroll processing Ensure solutions align with business processes, compliance requirements, and user experience expectations Testing & Implementation Develop and execute test strategies, including test plans and scripts, for system updates and enhancements Serve as a Test Lead/Coordinator for initiatives impacting Payroll, Absence, and Time Tracking Support data mapping, integrations, and conversions related to payroll and workforce time data Stakeholder Engagement Collaborate closely with Payroll teams, HR COEs, and Technology partners to ensure successful delivery Facilitate discussions to refine requirements, troubleshoot issues, and drive resolution Provide clear communication on system capabilities, limitations, and impacts Mentorship & Team Leadership Mentor junior analysts on Workday functionality, analysis, and delivery best practices Promote knowledge sharing and help elevate team expertise in Payroll, Absence, and Time Tracking Risk, Compliance & Audit Ensure all configurations and processes adhere to payroll regulations, internal controls, and audit standards Identify risks and proactively escalate issues impacting compliance or payroll accuracy Support remediation of audit findings and strengthen controls where needed Team & Culture Contribute to a collaborative, high-performing team environment Champion continuous improvement and innovation within Workday Education and Experience Required Minimum of 6 years combined higher education and/or operational/business analytics experience  Workday expertise with 4+ years' experience Workday Pro certified in HCM or specialties like Compensation, Payroll, Time Tracking, Recruiting, Benefits, or Talent/Performance Knowledge of Workday reporting, calculated fields, and custom validation Experience configuring business processes end-to-end Skilled in designing and testing configurations, validations, and specialty processes in Workday Commitment to continuous improvement using agile methodology Strong organizational skills Experience in large organizations (10K+ employees) Exceptional analytical skills to understand COE requirements and deliver efficient solutions in Workday Proven ability in managing medium to large scale technical projects Excellent customer focus, relationship building, and expectation management Effective communicator able to explain technical concepts to non-technical audiences Ability to meet tight deadlines and make decisions under pressure balancing COE needs and functionality Education and Experience Preferred: Bachelor's degree Product Lead in the Workday ecosystem Experience configuring BIRT Previous Workday implementation for an acquisition or optimization Proven mentoring and leadership capabilities Travel: Must be able to travel to Buffalo periodically (4 or 5 times a year) Ideally, candidate will be in the M&T footprint / Eastern or Central time zone. #LI-RS1 M&T Bank is committed to fair, competitive, and market-informed pay for our employees. The pay range for this position is $85,800.00 - $143,000.00 Annual (USD). The successful candidate’s particular combination of knowledge, skills, and experience will inform their specific compensation. The range listed above corresponds to our national pay range for this role. The specific pay range applicable to you may vary based on your location. Location Clanton, Alabama, United States of America