Senior Payroll Specialist

On behalf of our client, we are seeking a Senior Payroll Specialist to join a high-priority HCM Modernization program. This is a critical technical and functional role focused on the successful transition to the Dayforce platform. You will act as the vital link between Payroll, HR, Finance, and IT, ensuring that system configurations meet real-world operational needs. Your primary mission is to mitigate payroll risk and ensure a stable, accurate "Go-Live" by providing hands-on expertise throughout the validation, testing, and reconciliation phases of the implementation.

The Senior Payroll Specialist is a vital safeguard for our client’s payroll integrity during this massive system migration. If you are a Dayforce expert who enjoys the "detective work" of data reconciliation and the fast-paced nature of large-scale IT transformations, we want to hear from you. This role offers the opportunity to take ownership of a critical business outcome and ensure thousands of employees are paid accurately and on time from day one.


Advantages
• High-Impact Project: Play a leading role in a major digital transformation and HCM modernization.
• Collaborative Environment: Work within a cross-functional team of experts, including Systems Integrators and senior HRIT leadership.
• Professional Growth: Deepen your expertise in Dayforce implementation, complex parallel runs, and large-scale data conversion.


Responsibilities
• Requirements & Design: Gather and document complex payroll, integration, and data conversion requirements; identify edge cases and potential design gaps.
• Testing & Validation: Execute Payroll System Integration Testing (SIT) and User Acceptance Testing (UAT), meticulously tracking defects through to resolution.
• Data Migration: Reconcile migrated payroll data and Year-to-Date (YTD) balances to ensure 100% accuracy from legacy systems.
• Parallel Runs: Execute and sign off on parallel payroll cycles, performing detailed variance analysis to validate the new system against current results.
• Cutover & Go-Live: Create cutover readiness artifacts, manage final data extracts, and provide stabilization support during initial payroll cycles.
• Knowledge Transfer: Document new processes and provide hands-on training to Business-As-Usual (BAU) teams to ensure long-term stability.


Qualifications
- Prior experience with JDE HR/Payroll or Kronos.
- Background in Business Analysis (process mapping and gap analysis).
- Experience working alongside global Systems Integrators (SIs).
- Dayforce Expertise: Proven hands-on experience with Dayforce payroll configuration, execution, and implementation (including parallel runs).
- Complex Environments: Experience navigating unionized environments with intricate pay rules, premiums, and retro-pay calculations.
- System Conversion: Direct experience supporting payroll data conversion from legacy systems to modern HCM platforms.
- Audit & Compliance: Strong understanding of statutory compliance, internal controls, and regulatory reporting.
- Testing Rigor: Demonstrated success in SIT/UAT testing environments and managing third-party integrations (Finance/GL, Benefits, Pension).


Summary
This is an exceptional opportunity for a seasoned professional to play a key role as a Senior Payroll Specialist within Dayforce/HCM. If you have a strong technical background and a commitment to safety and accountability, we want to hear from you. Please apply directly to this job ad or reach out to your Randstad Digital representative immediately!

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We look forward to supporting you in your job search!

Good luck!

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