Workday HCM Consultant

WPP is embarking on a major 3-year transformation to simplify, modernise, and unify its technology platforms across the group. This change is critical to:

• Enable cost-effective transformation and operational efficiency
• Accelerate adoption of AI, data, and digital platforms
• Ensure consistent delivery of value and benefits across all agencies and markets
• Minimise disruption and maximise engagement during large-scale change

Workday is a cornerstone of this transformation, providing a single, modern system of record for people data and for driving efficiency through our operations and finance functions. By standardising core processes, improving data quality and enabling better insights, Workday supports consistent ways of working, stronger governance and future‑ready capabilities, while creating the foundation for scalable change, automation and AI‑enabled decision making across WPP.

Why we're hiring:

We are looking for a Workday HCM Consultant with core HCM and absence/time tracking experience to join the Workday Services Team providing post go-live support.

Reporting to the Workday Services HCM Product Manager, the purpose of the role is to deliver high-quality advice and support across Workday HCM. This will include diagnosis and resolution of issues raised by colleagues, create and maintain organizations & structures, configuration across core HCM, absence, compensation and organizations.

This is an exciting and varied role in a dynamic team where you will work with the wider Workday Services Team to provide a world class level of Workday support and development on a day-to-day basis. You will also work with the WPP Workday implementation team and People teams to understand, improve and deliver an efficient and effective solution.

What you'll be doing:

• Manage complex change requests, establish the underlying problem, propose options and fully document the solution
• Diagnose and resolve core HCM, absence, compensation and Time Tracking issues raised by the business
• Support global merger activities and deployments
• Manage tickets from assignment, including P1 or P2 incidents, taking to production, keeping the requestor informed at all times
• Provide guidance to our team of analysts when troubleshooting complex issues
• Professionally manage escalations should they occur and communicating with senior stakeholders
• Provide functional expertise and guidance to our People Teams
• Accountable for maintaining up-to-date process documentation
• Safeguard global standards and principles against competing requests and priorities
• Participate in testing activities as required
• Proactively identify opportunities to extend and improve our Workday usage
• Maintain expertise on data standards/functionality/features/capabilities in Workday and technology trends

Who you'll be working with:

The Workday HCM Consultant will report to the Workday HCM Product Manager and will liaise with the global Workday Services team.

What you'll need:

• Five years’ Workday experience across Workday HCM including absence, time tracking, recruitment and talent, preferably in a global organisation
• Ability to identify opportunities to extend Workday usage to meet business requirements
• able to challenge stakeholders to fully understand a requirement
• Take ownership of queries and successfully resolve
• Experience of using ServiceNow or similar service management software
• Effective team player and experience of working with others to achieve a common goal
• Excellent organisational skills, attention to detail and confident communicator across all mediums
• Ability to deliver to deadlines and prioritise effectively
• Experience of improving ways of working and processes
• Knowledge and experience of cross functional working on both HR and finance processes an advantage

Who you are: