<p>We are looking for an experienced Workday Payroll Implementation Specialist to join a large retail organization in Gardena, California. This Long-term Contract opportunity is ideal for a payroll specialist with strong attention to detail who can support a complex system implementation while helping maintain accuracy and continuity across biweekly payroll operations. The role works closely with payroll, HR, IT, and project stakeholders to strengthen payroll processes, validate data integrity, and support successful execution of Workday payroll activities.</p><p><br></p><p>Responsibilities:</p><p>• Contribute to Workday payroll implementation efforts by supporting setup activities, system validation, and readiness planning for payroll operations.</p><p>• Perform detailed testing of payroll processes, compare results across systems, and investigate variances before key implementation milestones.</p><p>• Review converted employee and payroll records to confirm accurate transfer of earnings, taxes, deductions, benefits, and related payroll data.</p><p>• Help administer biweekly payroll processing for a workforce of more than 1,200 employees across multiple states while maintaining compliance and precision.</p><p>• Work with payroll, HR, IT, and project team members to resolve processing issues, system defects, and operational questions during implementation and stabilization.</p><p>• Analyze payroll exceptions and discrepancies, identify root causes, and recommend corrective actions to protect payroll accuracy.</p><p>• Document updated payroll procedures, process flows, and operating guidelines to support consistency within the Workday environment.</p><p>• Provide hands-on support during post-go-live activities to help sustain payroll continuity and address urgent payroll concerns in a timely manner.</p>
Key responsibilities:<br><br>Benefits Administration and Employee Support<br>- Serve as a primary point of contact for employee benefits inquiries through email and ServiceNow, researching and resolving enrollment and claims issues<br>- Administer life events in Workday, including leave of absence events, from initiation through completion and close-out<br>- Review and approve dependent eligibility in Workday and process Evidence of Insurability approvals and denials<br>- Prepare benefit verification letters, new hire enrollment reminders, and The Hartford conversion letters<br>- Process child support orders (medical support) in coordination with Payroll<br><br>Billing, Premium Reconciliation and COBRA<br>- Reconcile and process monthly carrier invoices<br>- Manage premium receipts and deposits, arrears clearance, and late-premium notices for employees on leave<br>- Administer COBRA end to end, including WageWorks reconciliation and auditing COBRA files against Workday to resolve discrepancies<br><br>Audits, Reporting and Payroll Integration<br>- Partner with Payroll each semi-monthly and biweekly pay cycle to ensure benefit retros and arrears are processed accurately<br>- Run and analyze recurring audit reports, including retro recalculation by pay date, benefit status events, terminated employees with benefits, and dependent validation<br>- Audit passive life events (coverage end dates, overage dependents, ACA eligibility)<br>- Track part-time faculty benefit eligibility<br>- Audit carrier integration files (including The Hartford) and resolve discrepancies<br>- Prepare the VOP report for the Jesuit community with Payroll<br><br>Open Enrollment<br>- Coordinate benefits fair logistics, including carrier invitations, catering, and event setup<br>- Provide administrative and employee support throughout the Open Enrollment period