Payroll Manager, Workday

Manager, Payroll

The Washington Post invites you to join our team as a Payroll Manager and help reinvent the way payroll functions within Workday. This role is not a routine payroll job; it’s an opportunity to reimagine payroll processes, amplify automation, redesign workflows, and leverage AI‑driven insights to make payroll faster, cleaner, and more strategic.

Our team spans multiple departments—Brand & Events, Communications, Customer Care, Engineering & Product, Finance, Human Resources, Legal, Marketing & Advertising, Print Operations, and Sales—bringing together passion and talent to deliver riveting storytelling across America.

You will partner closely with HRIS, Finance, and Benefits to simplify integrations, streamline handoffs, and reduce manual corrections. Your focus will be on continuous improvement—fully utilizing Workday’s capabilities and embedding data‑driven decision‑making across payroll operations.

• Leading transformation and modernization efforts that create measurable business impact.
• Applying technology and automation to solve complex payroll challenges.
• Collaborating across HR, Finance, and Benefits to improve processes that serve every employee.
• Ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timeliness in a function that touches every part of the organization.
• Building scalable systems and processes that simplify work and enable growth.

• Oversee all payroll processes to ensure timely and accurate payments for all U.S. employees within Workday.
• Lead quarterly and annual payroll tax activities, including reconciliation, amendments, and W‑2 processing, using Workday and ADP.
• Manage garnishment processing, union and pension payments, and ensure compliance with all associated requirements.
• Administer Workday Timekeeping transactions and updates, ensuring accuracy and seamless integration with payroll.
• Own Workday Payroll configurations, integrations, and testing; continuously identify automation opportunities that reduce manual work.
• Implement process improvements that shorten payroll cycles, improve audit readiness, and minimize reconciliation effort.
• Utilize Workday’s AI and machine learning tools (such as anomaly detection and smart audits) to proactively prevent errors and increase accuracy.
• Collaborate with HRIS, Benefits, and Finance to create standardized, scalable processes that ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Develop reports and dashboards that provide insight into payroll metrics, trends, and compliance status.
• Partner with Finance to ensure accurate journal entries, general ledger postings, and reconciliations.
• Support year‑end processing, including W‑2 reconciliation, audits, and reporting.
• Serve as the Workday Payroll subject‑matter expert for system releases, internal audits, and stakeholder inquiries.
• Mentor and guide payroll team members to foster professional growth and operational excellence.
• Contribute to a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement across the payroll function.

• 10+ years of progressive payroll experience, including 5+ years leading payroll operations.
• 5+ years of Workday Payroll experience, including configuration, reporting, integrations, and timekeeping.
• Demonstrated success modernizing payroll through automation, AI tools, and process redesign.
• Strong understanding of payroll compliance across federal, state, and local regulations.
• Proven ability to analyze complex data and translate insights into process improvements.
• Excellent communication and customer service skills; trusted collaborator across HR, Benefits, and Finance.
• Advanced proficiency with reporting and spreadsheet software.
• Ability to balance multiple priorities, manage deadlines, and maintain accuracy under pressure.
• Experience conducting performance reviews and setting team goals.
• Preferred:
  Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) and/or Workday Payroll Certification.
• Flexibility to support occasional holiday or weekend work as needed for payroll deadlines.

Our offices are designed with open layouts, modern technology, and easy access to transportation. With certain…