Sr. Workday HRIS Analyst

About the role

California Water Service

About the role

California Water Service Group invites you to build a meaningful career with the third-largest publicly traded water utility. Guided by our mission to be the leading provider of water and wastewater services, we are dedicated to improving quality of life for the customers, communities, and employees we serve.

Our culture is grounded in core values-integrity, service, value, health and safety, respect and collaboration, and corporate citizenship-and reflected in our recognition as a Top Workplace®, a Great Place to Work®, and a J.D. Power leader in customer satisfaction for multiple years. Join Cal Water and be part of a purpose-driven organization where your work makes a lasting impact.

The Sr. Workday HRIS Analyst serves as a key liaison between business stakeholders and IT to optimize and support Workday solutions. This role is responsible for gathering and translating business requirements into functional system configurations, leading testing and implementation activities, and ensuring the ongoing stability and enhancement of Workday modules.

The analyst partners closely with Payroll, HR, and Accounting teams to resolve issues, manage system changes, and deliver new capabilities that improve efficiency and accuracy. The ideal candidate demonstrates strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to design, configure, and test solutions across multiple Workday functional areas, ensuring seamless integration and alignment with the business.

This position is located in San Jose, CA.

Essential Functions

• Leads and facilitates sessions with business stakeholders to define, plan, and deploy Workday application solutions and enhancements.
• Serves as the primary point of contact for Workday Payroll, Time Tracking, and Absence, overseeing the implementation, release management, and ongoing operational activities.
• Collaborates with senior leadership and key stakeholders to gather, analyze, and translate business requirements into effective software solutions.
• Documents and configures Workday Time Tracking and Payroll modules; develops and maintains detailed process and configuration documentation.
• Acts as a Payroll Functional Subject Matter Expert (SME) and liaison between Payroll, Human Resources, and IT to ensure alignment and effective cross-functional communication.
• Identifies and drives process improvements by leveraging business and system knowledge to evaluate and enhance current workflows and system functionality.
• Facilitates review and feedback sessions with functional owners, subject matter experts, and end users to validate requirements and confirm the solution design.
• Provides year-end support for reporting, audits, and other critical payroll and system-related activities within Workday.
• Maintains and enhances Workday configurations, ensuring optimal use of new features, continuous improvement of business processes, and adherence to best practices.
• Engages with end-users to collect usability feedback, improve employee experience, and promote system adoption through clear communication and targeted training.
• Ensures compliance of systems and processes with Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) requirements and other internal control standards.
• Supports disaster recovery planning and execution in collaboration with the Disaster Recovery Specialist.
• Performs work on site at the assigned location and fulfills other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Accounting, Information Systems, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Five years of hands-on experience with Workday Payroll, Time Tracking, and Absence modules, including configuration, processing, and troubleshooting.
• Familiarity with third-party integrations, system security features, and data privacy regulations.
• Strong understanding of Payroll, Time Tracking, and Absence business processes, including their IT dependencies and implications.
• Excellent time management and prioritization skills with the ability to perform effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Proven customer service and change management capabilities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Valid California Driver's License.
• Workday Payroll or Absence Certification preferred.
• Performs work on site in the assigned office location.
• Ability to perform work on site as needed.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated expertise in project planning, coordination, and documentation, including the development of functional specifications, business cases, and test plans.
• Ability to anticipate, design, and execute test scenarios, and to troubleshoot system issues resulting from enhancements, configuration changes, or fixes.
• Experience managing Workday system updates and release cycles to ensure smooth adoption and compliance.
• Strong understanding of security controls, audit requirements, and SOX/internal control adherence.
• Proficiency with the Workday Report Writer and other analytical/reporting tools.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage and collaborate effectively across diverse teams and organizational levels.

Salary Range: $124,600 - $222,800

Deadline to submit resume: OPEN UNTIL FILLED