Workday - Payroll, Absence and Time Tracking Associate Consultant

Cognizant Workday practice is recruiting for upcoming graduates who are looking for an exciting, entry level consulting opportunity starting in the summer of 2026. We proudly partner with Workday, one of the leading cloud-based software solutions for HR, finance and payroll management. As a Payroll, Absence and Time Tracking Associate Consultant, you will be part of a technical project team working with customers to get the most out of their Workday HCM and Payroll implementation.

Our Payroll, Absence and Time Tracking Associate position is best suited for self-starters who are eager to work with exciting Fortune 500 companies and dive headfirst into all phases of Workday system implementations. Our associates' diverse set of backgrounds offer varied perspectives and inspire new ways of thinking. We provide world-class, on-the-job training; an exceptionally supportive network of mentors and an environment that encourages collaboration.

• Buddy‑up with other new hires to attend our Freshmen Orientation, Workday certification and Consulting 101 training as part of your onboarding experience. Earn your Workday HCM, Absence Management, and Time Tracking Certifications and continue to seek out opportunities for learning, development, and mentorship.

• Partner with our talented Workday Absence, Time Tracking and Payroll teams to continue learning “tricks of the trade”, best practices, and how to “speak” Workday after completing onboarding training. Continue to network with other “Collabies,” as well as others in the Workday “ecosystem” as you draw upon your strong communication and interpersonal skills.

• Learn how to best support our customers and how to work with a variety of employee levels. Contribute to all phases of our Workday implementations from assisting lead consultant(s) in gathering business requirements, designing and prototyping Absence and Time Tracking solutions, and thoroughly testing and implementing those solutions while developing and using Collaborative tools. This helps ensure excellence in all tasks and deliverables and will empower our customers to succeed after their projects are “live.”

• Assist in configuring the system to the customers’ expectations and requirements under the supervision of your lead consultant. This includes core configuration, data conversion tasks, tenant‑to‑tenant configuration migration, business processes, security, testing, fit gap analysis, reports, and much more. We will provide you with the tools and training to become an expert in these areas.

• 1 year of work experience in an office environment preferred

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Economics, Information Systems, Mathematics, or Finance is required

• Strong skills for critical thinking and logic problems with an appetite for problem solving.

• Exceptional resourcefulness, planning and time management, attention to detail and process, and research skills

• Intermediate Microsoft Office skills, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word

• Travel to customer site, when needed

• Any experience with management/administration of time off and/or leave of absence plans such as FLSA, FMLA and ACA a huge plus!

• Fluency in other languages highly desirable!

• Flexible work schedules or working out of one of our hub locations to cultivate personal and professional balance.

• Competitive benefits including 401(k) matching program, Medical, Dental, Life, and Vision insurance, and perk benefits such as commuter plans and pet insurance.

• Inclusive benefits that support mental health, gender affirmation journeys, caregiving and all paths to parenthood, excellent paid parental leave programs.

• Established Employee Resources Groups (ERG’s) that provide a safe space for employees to build relationships, connect, and develop initiatives to enhance diversity and inclusion.

• Committed to giving back to improve our communities and environmental impact.

• Learning and development opportunities through established corporate programs, on and off‑site trainings, and on‑demand online learning courses.

Applications are accepted on an ongoing…