Workday HCM Lead Analyst - EMEA

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 Lead Analyst with core HCM and absence/time tracking experience to join the Workday Services Team providing post go-live support.

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 team of analysts located in Romania and India
• Assign tickets to analysts and ensure they are progressed efficiently and effectively to meet our release schedule
• Manage change requests, establish underlying requirements, propose options and fully document
• Manage tickets from assignment, including P1 or P2 incidents, taking to production, keeping the requestor informed at all times
• Support data requests and maintenance including rescind, correct and EIBs
• Provide guidance to our team of analysts when troubleshooting complex issues
• 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
• Provide creative solutioning for enhancements to our Workday deployment
• Maintain expertise on data standards/functionality/features/capabilities in Workday and technology trends

What you'll need:

• Certified or experienced in Workday core HCM/absence/time tracking/compensation
• Takes ownership of queries and successfully resolve
• Experience of using Jira, ServiceNow or similar service management software
• Effective team player and experience of working with others to achieve a common goal
• Excellent listening and communication skills; able to challenge stakeholders to fully understand a requirement
• 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: