Workday Business Analyst (Payroll)

We are currently looking for a Business Analyst Workday Payroll for one of our clients in Utrecht.

Our client is transforming its global HR landscape to create simpler, more consistent and employee-focused process. As a Business Analyst – Workday Payroll, you will play a key role in that transformation.

You will be the link between HR, Payroll, IT, Procurement, Product Owners, Solution Specialists, Architects and external vendors, translating complex business challenges into sustainable Workday solutions. Your expertise will help ensure that payroll processes are efficient, compliant and aligned with the organization's global HR strategy. This is a role for someone who enjoys working at the intersection of business, technology and people, and who can turn requirements and challenges into practical solutions.

What you'll do

Business Analysis & Solution Design

• Gather, analyze and challenge business requirements from HR, Payroll and business stakeholders.
• Translate business needs into epics, features, user stories and functional designs.
• Perform impact assessments and identify dependencies across the Workday landscape.
• Facilitate workshops and stakeholder sessions to understand challenges and align on solutions.
• Support solution design, prioritization and roadmap discussions.
• Act as a trusted advisor to Product Owners and business stakeholders.
• Identify opportunities to simplify, standardize and improve HR and payroll processes.

Workday Payroll

• Act as a Workday Payroll subject matter expert, supporting the continuous improvement of global payroll processes.
• Analyze payroll processes and employee journeys and identify opportunities for optimization.
• Assess the impact of Workday releases on Payroll functionality and related processes.
• Support SIT, UAT and regression testing, ensuring solutions meet functional and business requirements.
• Work closely with Payroll Operations to maintain stable, efficient and compliant payroll processes.
• Support payroll enhancements, process improvements and transformation initiatives.
• Analyze dependencies between Workday Payroll, HR processes, integrations and downstream systems.
• Contribute to the continuous evolution of the organization's global HR technology ecosystem.

RFP & Vendor Management

You will also contribute to strategic sourcing and vendor-selection initiatives, including:

• Leading or coordinating RFP processes from requirements definition through vendor evaluation.
• Defining business and functional requirements for sourcing initiatives.
• Supporting market assessments and supplier evaluations.
• Participating in vendor presentations, solution assessments and proposal reviews.
• Preparing business cases and recommendation materials for key stakeholders.
• Ensuring alignment between HR, Payroll, IT, Procurement and suppliers throughout the selection process.
• Supporting transition and implementation activities following vendor selection.

Stakeholder Management

Success in this role depends on your ability to connect people, processes and technology.

You will:

• Build strong relationships with HR, Payroll, IT, Procurement and external suppliers.
• Act as the bridge between business and technology teams.
• Facilitate decision-making and help stakeholders navigate competing priorities.
• Explain complex Workday and payroll topics clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Support change management, communication and business adoption.
• Work with international stakeholders across different functions, countries and organizational levels.

What you bring

Essential experience

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent working and thinking level.
• 3+ years of experience as a Business Analyst or in a comparable role.
• 3+ years of hands-on Workday Payroll experience.
• Experience leading or supporting RFP and vendor-selection processes.
• Strong experience gathering, analyzing and translating business requirements into functional solutions.
• Experience working in Agile/Scrum environments.
• Experience working within large, complex corporate organizations.
• Strong stakeholder-management and facilitation skills.
• Excellent written and spoken English.

Nice to have

• Experience in financial services or another highly regulated environment.
• Experience with international HR transformation programs.
• Broader knowledge of HRIS and enterprise HR technology landscapes.
• Workday certification(s).
• Experience with procurement, sourcing strategies and supplier management.
• Understanding of payroll compliance, integrations and downstream systems.

What we're looking for

Beyond your technical and functional expertise, you are someone who:

• Thinks analytically and enjoys getting to the root of complex problems.
• Is comfortable challenging requirements and asking the questions others may overlook.
• Can balance business needs, technology possibilities, compliance and operational realities.
• Builds trust easily and enjoys working with diverse stakeholders.
• Takes ownership and works independently while knowing when to involve others.
• Is structured, quality-focused and comfortable working in a complex international environment.
• Has a continuous-improvement mindset and looks for ways to make processes simpler and more effective.
• Communicates clearly and can connect business and technology perspectives.
• Is curious about new technologies, Workday capabilities and evolving HR practices.

What we offer

• Minimum 1 year, with the option to extend.
• Salary between 4.000-6.000EUR depending on experience.
• 40 hours per week.
• Hybrid work (1-2 days from home).
• Opportunity to influence how payroll and HR technology evolve across an international organization.
• You will work on meaningful transformation initiatives, collaborate with senior stakeholders and help create solutions that are scalable, compliant and fit for the future.

For more information, please contact Ritsa at ritsa.paraskevopoulou@experis.nl