Workday Payroll Project Manager/Business Manager – Interim

Job Description We are currently seeking a highly capable Payroll PM / BA Hybrid to join our Workday Implementation Team in Milton Keynes.You will bring a strong background in payroll operations, project delivery and process mapping. To ensure that Workday Payroll is designed, configured, and implemented to meet organisational, compliance, and statutory requirements. This position requires strong coordination skills, attention to detail and the ability to bridge the gap between technical teams, payroll SMEs, and wider programme stakeholders to ensure a smooth and successful payroll transformation.We offer a hybrid working arrangement to be discussed but you will be required to work onsite at our Milton Keynes office.Key responsibilities of the Payroll Project Manager / Business Analyst:

• Lead the payroll workstream within the Workday programme ensuring milestones, deliverables and dependencies are clearly defined and met.
• Conduct end-to-end payroll process analysis, mapping as-is and to-be workflows aligned with Workday capabilities.
• Work closely with payroll SMEs and implementation partners to define requirements, validate configuration, and support solution design.
• Manage payroll related risks, issues, and changes. Providing mitigation strategies and maintaining accurate documentation.
• Coordinate payroll testing activities (including parallel runs), ensuring scenarios, data and expected outcomes are well-defined and validated.
• Support integrations between Workday and external payroll providers, ensuring data accuracy and compliance with statutory requirements.
• Facilitate workshops to gather requirements, review process designs and confirm decisions with key stakeholders.
• Monitor critical path items and escalate blockers impacting payroll delivery.
• Support readiness, cutover planning and go-live preparation with a strong focus on payroll accuracy, compliance and operational continuity.
• Act as a subject-matter liaison between the payroll team, programme leadership and technical/configuration teams

Experience & skills required to be successful as a Payroll Project Manager / Business Analyst:

• Strong background in payroll operations with experience in delivering payroll projects or supporting payroll implementations.
• Experience working on Workday Payroll or Workday-integrated payroll solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to lead workstreams or small projects, preferably within large transformation or SaaS environments.
• Solid business analysis skills, including requirements gathering, process mapping and documenting functional specifications.
• Strong understanding of payroll legislation, compliance requirements and statutory reporting.
• Experience supporting or leading payroll testing cycles, including user acceptance testing and parallel payroll runs.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills with the ability to engage payroll teams, technical resources and external vendors.
• Strong communication and documentation skills with the ability to translate complex payroll needs into clear deliverables.
• Ability to manage risks, issues and deadlines within a fast-paced project environment.
• Familiarity with HRIS or payroll system integrations and data flows is highly advantageous.

Connells Group UK is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, transgender status, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.CF00804