Workday HCM, Compensation and Absence Analyst

Kantar Group; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading data analytics company is seeking a Workday HCM, Compensation and Absence Analyst in London. This full-time permanent position involves configuring and supporting Workday's HCM, Absence, and Compensation modules. The ideal candidate should have over 4 years of experience with Workday and a strong understanding of HR policies. The role supports key HR functions and requires excellent problem-solving skills to translate HR needs into effective Workday solutions. A hybrid working model with a minimum of 2 days in the office is offered.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of hands-on Workday configuration experience.
• Strong understanding of HR policies and compensation planning.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.

Responsibilities

• Drive accurate leave management via the Workday Absence module.
• Enable effective compensation decisions through Workday Advanced Compensation.
• Deliver successful annual compensation cycles in Workday.

Skills

Workday configuration experience

Understanding HR policies

Problem-solving skills

Analytical skills

Strong communication skills

Detail-oriented

Job description

Workday HCM, Compensation and Absence Analyst

As people increasingly move across channels and platforms, Kantar Media’s data and audience measurement, targeting, analytics and advertising intelligence services unlock insights to inform powerful decision-making.

Working with panel and first-party data in over 80 countries, we have the world’s fastest growing cross-media measurement footprint, underpinned by versatility, scale, technology and expertise, to drive long-term business growth for our clients and partners.

Job Title: Workday HCM, Compensation and Absence Analyst

Location: London, Grays inn Road

Working Pattern: Full time/Permanent/Hybrid

* This is a full-time permanent position, based in our London office. We operate on a hybrid working arrangement and require a minimum of 2 days in the office. We welcome all applications from those with the legal right to live and work permanently in the UK, without requiring VISA sponsorship now or in the future.

Role Description

As a key member of our Workday Application Management Support team, the Workday HCM, Compensation and Absence Analyst will own the configuration, maintenance, and support of our HCM, Absence, and Advanced Compensation modules.

You will partner closely with HR and Reward teams to ensure Workday solutions align with evolving business needs, legal / regulatory requirements, and employee experience goals. This role requires deep functional expertise in Workday configuration, strong problem-solving skills, and the ability to translate HR and Reward requirements into scalable Workday solutions.

Role Responsibilities

• Drive accurate and timely leave management by configuring and optimizing the Workday Absence module, including accruals, carryover rules, and leave types, ensuring compliance with global HR policies.
• Enable effective compensation decisions by leading the configuration and support of Workday Advanced Compensation processes (merit, bonus), aligned with business goals and timelines.
• Deliver successful annual compensation cycles in Workday by owning end-to-end setup and execution, ensuring data accuracy and alignment with reward strategy.
• Translate HR and Reward policy changes into system functionality, ensuring that Workday remains an accurate reflection of business rules and supports operational efficiency.
• Maximize system performance and adoption by evaluating new Workday releases, identifying relevant enhancements, and recommending high-impact improvements to stakeholders.
• Ensure system reliability and business continuity by proactively monitoring health and resolving issues across HCM, Absence, and Compensation modules.
• Improve transparency and knowledge sharing by maintaining clear, user-friendly documentation for configurations, business processes, and system policies.
• Accelerate continuous improvement initiatives through cross-functional collaboration with analysts, IT teams, and business stakeholders, delivering enhancements that add value and reduce manual effort.
• Safeguard data integrity and compliance by ensuring configurations align with internal governance, audit requirements, and security standards.
• Support seamless Core HCM operations through targeted configuration support where needed, maintaining consistency across modules.
• Enhance user confidence and self-service adoption by contributing to the development of end-user training materials in partnership with HR.

Required

• 4+ years of hands-on Workday configuration experience, with expertise in Core HCM, Absence, and Compensation modules.
• Strong understanding of HR policies, compensation planning, and time-off/leave management.
• Experience with Workday business processes, security roles related to HCM/Compensation and change management.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Strong communication skills with ability to translate technical configurations to non-technical stakeholders.
• Detail-oriented with a commitment to data accuracy and process integrity.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver quality results in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred

• Workday certification(s) in HCM, Compensation, or Absence modules.
• Experience supporting Workday release cycles and testing activities.
• Familiarity with Workday reporting basics, including calculated fields and report writer.