IT Lead Analyst - Workday Financials and Projects

IT Lead Analyst – Workday Financials and Projects

Location/Schedule: Onsite at the North Chicagoland HQ office or remote with up to 10% annual travel.

Employment Type: Full-Time, Direct Hire, Exempt

Pay Range: $124,900 – $182,100 annually

Position Overview

A leading organization is seeking a skilled and motivated IT Lead to oversee the technology platforms and applications that support financial and accounting operations. The Workday Lead – Finance and Accounting Applications will play a critical role in supporting the organization’s financial and accounting systems.

This position is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations, maintenance, and enhancements of the Workday finance and accounting platform, including core financials, Accounting Center, Projects, Procurement, and related modules. The IT Lead will collaborate closely with stakeholders to implement system improvements and ensure data integrity, performance, and compliance across financial systems.

This role requires a blend of financial and accounting expertise and strong IT acumen to align planning and implementation with the organization’s technology strategy and support strategic decision-making. The role also champions standardized methodologies to ensure consistent service delivery and successful completion of milestones and deliverables.

Responsibilities

· Manage the day-to-day operations of Workday core financials, Accounting Center, Projects, Procurement, Prism, and related modules, including system configurations, business process workflows, custom objects, security, and integrations

· Serve as a highly visible individual contributor responsible for the outcomes and success of Workday financial systems that directly support organizational goals

· Play a pivotal role during Workday implementation efforts and subsequently assume ownership of the platform, leading configuration, supporting design decisions, optimizing processes, and partnering closely with Finance, Accounting, FP&A, AP/AR, and IT stakeholders

· Collaborate with stakeholders to define system requirements, participate in system implementation and testing, and oversee deployment of system upgrades to ensure smooth transitions with minimal user disruption

· Identify opportunities for system enhancements and customizations, proposing innovative solutions to optimize business processes, drive end-to-end automation initiatives, and improve user experience

· Perform Workday tenant configuration, data loads using EIBs, and manage sandbox environments by defining, documenting, and enforcing system standards

· Ensure data integrity and quality across Workday Financials and HR workstreams by monitoring data feeds, executing data audits, and resolving discrepancies in a timely manner

· Generate regular and ad-hoc reports using Workday reporting tools to provide insights into financial metrics, trends, and compliance requirements

· Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Finance, Accounting, FP&A, AP/AR, HR, IT, and business leadership to gather requirements, provide guidance on system capabilities, and recommend best practices

· Maintain accurate and up-to-date system documentation, including process workflows, system configurations, and standard operating procedures, to support knowledge sharing and ongoing system maintenance

· Stay current on industry trends, best practices, and updates related to Workday and supporting technologies, bringing forward innovative ideas to improve business processes

· Partner with cross-functional teams to ensure project timelines, deliverables, and objectives are met, including managing data migration activities during system implementations, upgrades, and integrations

· Implement and maintain security controls to safeguard financial data and ensure appropriate access management; partner with internal and external auditors to support financial system audits and documentation requests

· Identify opportunities to enhance financial processes through automation and system improvements, leveraging technologies such as robotic process automation (RPA) and AI-driven analytics

Required Qualifications

· Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field

· Proven experience serving as a Lead or Manager implementing and managing Workday core financials, Accounting Center, Projects, Procurement, Prism, and related modules

·6+ years of hands-on experience with strong technical expertise in Workday Financials, including configuration, integrations, business processes, reporting, and security

· Strong understanding of core financial processes such as general ledger, accounts payable and receivable, budgeting, and financial reporting

· Workday certifications in Financials and Projects are preferred

· Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to translate business requirements into technical solutions

· Experience working in cross-functional environments with the ability to communicate effectively with non-technical stakeholders

· Demonstrated experience troubleshooting and resolving technical issues within finance-related applications

Benefits: In addition to competitive pay, the organization offers Paid Time Off, a 401(k) plan, Employee Assistance Program, Roadside Assistance, employee discounts, paid parental leave (if eligibility requirements are met), tuition reimbursement (if eligibility requirements are met), and on-the-job training opportunities. Full-time employees are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverage. Part-time employees are offered access to dental and vision coverage.