Workday PATT & Payroll Accounting Specialist

The role will be based in the WRI Country Office in New Delhi, India. This is a hybrid position. You will need to be in office at least 8 days per month and living within reasonable commuting distance of the office.

About the Program

Global Accounting keeps WRI's financial records accurate, timely and audit-ready across the institute's offices. The team owns the general ledger, payroll accounting, reconciliations, financial close and reporting, all run on Workday Financials.

Within Global Accounting, the payroll team runs U.S. payroll, time tracking and leave in Workday. It works with Finance, Human Resources and Global IT to make sure every payroll is paid correctly and recorded correctly in the books.

Position Overview

The Workday PATT & Payroll Accounting Specialist is responsible for responsible for managing and supporting employee time tracking, timesheet processing, and U.S. multi-state payroll operations within Workday. The position ensures that employee time, leave, and payroll data are accurate, complete, properly approved, and processed in accordance with established deadlines, internal policies, and applicable regulations.

As part of a two-person payroll team, this position plays a key role in ensuring timely and accurate timesheet processing, payroll validation, regulatory compliance, and the accurate recording of payroll transactions in Workday Financials. The role combines hands-on Workday PATT configuration, payroll operations, payroll accounting, reconciliations, reporting, and continuous process improvement. It’s responsible for supporting, configuring, and optimizing Workday Payroll, Absence, Time Tracking, and payroll accounting processes.

The specialist works closely with Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, and Technology teams to maintain effective controls, resolve system and payroll discrepancies, and improve operational efficiency.

What will you do:

1. Timesheet Management & Payroll Operations – 40%

• Manage and support employee time tracking, timesheet processing, and payroll operations for a multi-state U.S. workforce.
• Review employee timesheets for completeness, accuracy, appropriate approvals, and compliance with established policies and deadlines.
• Monitor timesheet submissions and approvals, follow up with employees and managers on outstanding items, and ensure timely completion of payroll activities.
• Review time calculations, overtime, leave, earnings, deductions, and other payroll inputs for accuracy before payroll processing.
• Investigate and resolve timesheet discrepancies, missing entries, incorrect time allocations, and other payroll-related issues.
• Support payroll processing, payroll validations, and corrections, including retroactive adjustments and changes resulting from employee transfers, terminations, or compensation updates.
• Administer and support Workday Absence and Time Tracking processes, including time-off requests, accruals, eligibility, approvals, and leave balances.
• Serve as a backup payroll processor during high-volume periods and payroll specialist absences.
• Respond to employee and manager inquiries related to timesheets, time off, payroll inputs, and related Workday processes.

2. Workday PATT Administration & Process Improvement – 25%

• Administer and maintain Workday Payroll, Absence, and Time Tracking functionality to support accurate and efficient payroll operations.
• Support configuration of time tracking rules, absence plans, eligibility requirements, accruals, conditional rules, and payroll-related components.
• Maintain payroll components, including earnings, deductions, employer contributions, taxable benefits, allowances, and reimbursements.
• Develop and maintain Workday reports and calculated fields to support timesheet monitoring, payroll validation, leave tracking, and operational reporting.
• Troubleshoot Workday issues and investigate discrepancies affecting time tracking, absence, payroll processing, and related integrations.
• Coordinate with HR, Accounting, Technology, and system administrators to resolve system issues and implement configuration changes.
• Participate in testing Workday enhancements, system releases, integrations, and payroll-related changes.
• Identify opportunities to improve timekeeping and payroll processes, strengthen controls, and reduce manual work.
• Maintain process documentation, standard operating procedures, and user guidance.

3. Payroll Accounting, Reconciliations & Compliance – 20%

• Assist Accounting with payroll-related journal entries and ensure payroll transactions are accurately reflected in Workday Financials.
• Review payroll results and reconcile payroll registers, payroll clearing accounts, payroll-related balance sheet accounts, and payroll data to the general ledger.
• Research and resolve payroll accounting discrepancies, variances, and outstanding balances.
• Perform payroll tax reconciliations, filings, and resolution of payroll tax agency notices.
• Support compliance with applicable federal, state, and local payroll requirements and internal policies.
• Assist with payroll year-end activities, including W-2 and W-2C processing, reconciliation, and corrections.
• Maintain supporting documentation for payroll accounting, internal controls, and audit purposes.
• Support financial, payroll, project, and regulatory audits by providing documentation and responding to audit requests.

4. Reporting, Analysis & Special Projects – 15%

• Prepare timesheet, payroll, and absence reports to support operational monitoring and management review.
• Analyze timekeeping and payroll trends to identify recurring discrepancies, processing delays, and opportunities for improvement.
• Support payroll data requests for financial audits, project audits, and Form 990 preparation.
• Perform data analysis and reconciliations using Excel and Workday reporting tools.
• Participate in payroll, timekeeping, and system improvement initiatives as needed.

What Will you need:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related field.
• At least 10 years of relevant experience in payroll operations, timekeeping, timesheet administration, or a combination of these areas, including substantial experience supporting U.S. payroll.
• Hands-on experience with Workday Time Tracking and Absence; experience with Workday Payroll configuration is a plus.
• Strong experience with ADP payroll systems and familiarity with payroll processing, payroll data validation, and year-end reporting.
• Strong Excel skills, including data analysis, reconciliations, and identifying discrepancies.
• Understanding of payroll accounting, general ledger processes, and payroll-related reconciliations.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll requirements and compliance practices.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills, with attention to detail and data accuracy.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, meet strict deadlines, and work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with employees, managers, HR, Accounting, Finance, and Technology teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Workday Payroll, including configuration, business processes, and troubleshooting.
• Experience supporting multi-state payroll and timekeeping operations.
• Familiarity with Workday Financials and integrations between Workday and ADP.
• Experience with payroll tax amendments, W-2 and W-2C corrections, and payroll audits.
• Experience identifying process improvements and strengthening internal controls.

Potential Salary:

26,00,000 to 34,00,000 INR per annum.

Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.

How to Apply:

Please submit a resume with a cover letter by 12 November 2026. Internal applicants should submit their application through the Jobs Hub portal in Workday. External applicants must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered. We may close for applications sooner if we receive a high volume of applications from qualified candidates.

What we offer:

• Access to the WRI global network with the opportunity to exchange with and learn from passionate colleagues working at the cutting edge of their fields across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the US
• The chance to have an impact and to develop your career within a mission driven organization with access to varied learning and training opportunities
• A workplace that strives to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of our work
• The opportunity to join and get involved in different working groups and affinity groups to shape the future of WRI
• Commitment to hybrid working model with flexible working hours
• Generous leave days that increase with tenure.

About Us:

World Resources Institute works to improve people’s lives, protect and restore nature and stabilize the climate. As an independent research organization, we leverage our data, expertise and global reach to influence policy and catalyse change across systems like food, land and water; energy; and cities. Our 2,000+ staff work on the ground in more than a dozen focus countries and with partners in over 50 nations.

Our mission and values:

WRI’s mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations.

Our values are shared ideals that bind us together: Independence, Integrity, Impact, Partnership and Care.

Our culture:

WRI is committed to advancing gender and social equity for human well-being in our mission including equal opportunities in employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, caste, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or protected Veteran status