Role: Benefits Analyst
Location: Chicago, IL (Remote but need from IL only)
Duration: 12+ month
The Senior Benefits & Absence Analyst (Contract) will provide hands-on support for Workday Benefits and Absence implementation and stabilization, with primary responsibility for benefits and absence data review, validation, testing, and issue resolution. This role partners closely with Total Rewards, HRIS, Payroll, and implementation consultants to ensure
benefits and absence configuration, eligibility, and data are accurate, compliant, and ready for go-live and post-implementation operations.
This is a time-limited, project-based role focused on execution, testing, and stabilization rather than long-term program design or ongoing administration.
Key Responsibilities
Workday Benefits & Absence Implementation Support
• Support Workday Benefits and Absence implementation activities, including data mapping, configuration review, testing, and stabilization.
• Review and validate Workday configuration related to benefit plans, plan eligibility rules, coverage levels, dependent eligibility, event rules, accruals, and absence plans.
• Participate in unit testing, integration testing, parallel testing, and user acceptance testing; document and track defects, issues, and resolutions.
• Partner with HRIS, Payroll, and implementation consultants to resolve benefits- and absence-related system issues
prior to and following go-live.
Benefits & Absence Data Review and Validation
• Perform detailed data audits, reconciliation, and validation of benefits enrolment, dependent data, accrual balances, and absence history.
• Support data cleansing and conversion readiness efforts to ensure benefits and absence data accuracy and completeness in Workday.
• Identify data inconsistencies, eligibility gaps, and configuration risks; recommend and execute corrective actions.
• Validate outputs of benefits and absence processes (e.g., open enrolment, life events, accrual calculations, leave processing) for system accuracy and alignment.
Operational Analysis & Support
• Provide analytical support for benefits and absence decisions during implementation and stabilization.
• Assist with reconciliation of vendor feeds, payroll integrations, and accrual calculations as needed.
• Prepare reports and ad-hoc analyses to support issue resolution, audit readiness, and leadership decision-making.
Collaboration & Documentation
• Work closely with Total Rewards, HR Operations, Payroll, HR Business Partners, and vendors to support implementation timelines.
• Document benefits and absence processes, configuration decisions, data rules, and testing outcomes to support transition to steady-state operations.
• Support knowledge transfer to internal team members as implementation activities conclude.
Qualifications Required
• Progressive experience in benefits and/or absence administration, analysis, or data review within a complex organization.
• Hands-on experience with Workday Benefits and/or Workday Absence, preferably during an implementation or major system change.
• Strong experience with data validation, reconciliation, and testing.
• Advanced Excel skills and strong attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced, project-driven environment.
Preferred
• Prior Workday implementation or post-go-live stabilization experience.
• Experience supporting benefits eligibility rules, accruals, or leave programs in Workday.
• Healthcare, academic medical center, or similarly complex environment experience.
Engagement Characteristics
• Contract / temporary role aligned to Workday implementation and stabilization
• Execution-focused with clearly defined deliverables
• No people management responsibilities