HR Processing Assistant

ICF (www.icf.com) is a consultancy firm with offices in the UK, Belgium, the US and worldwide. At ICF, we help governments, public agencies and international institutions solve complex problems and improve the quality of life of people around the world. We offer critical insight and rigorous analytical techniques to deliver innovative solutions and thought-provoking analyses for our clients.

Role Summary:

The Processing & Employee Transactions Specialist is an experienced HR operations professional responsible for the end-to-end execution and validation of employee lifecycle transactions in Workday and related HR systems (e.g. new hires, job changes, terminations) with accuracy and timeliness. The role ensures data integrity and compliance by auditing all HR data changes, adhering to internal controls (including SOX) and service level agreements (SLAs). This role partners closely with HR Business Partners, Payroll, Recruiting and other stakeholders to resolve issues and ensure zero downstream payroll or reporting errors. The role also supports payroll readiness through proactive discrepancy resolution, actively contributes to process standardization and continuous improvement initiatives, and maintains thorough documentation while upholding confidentiality, data security, and high customer service standards. The ideal candidate not only executes processes diligently but also seeks to learn and improve those processes to enhance overall team performance.

This position can be hybrid or fully remote with ability to travel as needed to our Bangalore or New Delhi, India locations.

Key Responsibilities:

• HR Transaction Processing: Perform and validate accurate, timely processing of employee data changes in Workday and other HR systems (onboarding, promotions, transfers, terminations, compensation changes, etc.) ensuring all transactions are completed within prescribed timelines and quality standards.

• Data Audit & Compliance: Audit completed transactions end-to-end to ensure data accuracy, compliance with internal controls and policies (including SOX requirements), and readiness for internal/external audits. Take corrective action immediately to prevent any downstream errors (e.g. payroll or reporting issues).

• Payroll Support: Coordinate closely with the payroll team by reviewing HR changes for pay-impacting issues, identifying and correcting discrepancies, and confirming all necessary adjustments so that payroll runs smoothly and on schedule.

• Work Queue Management: Manage and prioritize daily work queues of requests (e.g. ticketing system, shared inbox, Workday tasks), maintaining SLAs and high quality on each case to ensure timely, customer-focused resolutions.

• Process Improvement Projects: Actively contribute to HR operations projects, audits, and system enhancements by providing subject-matter input and helping implement process improvements (leveraging tools and automation where possible).

• Documentation & Reporting: Prepare and maintain detailed audit logs, trackers, reports, and metrics to provide visibility into data quality, compliance issues, and process performance. Ensure all transaction records and documentation are comprehensive and readily available for audit and reporting purposes.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner effectively with HR Business Partners (HRBPs), Talent Acquisition, Payroll, and other cross-functional stakeholders to troubleshoot complex cases, resolve data issues, and continuously optimize HR processes in alignment with business needs.

• Governance & Controls: Ensure strict adherence to all Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), data privacy regulations, security guidelines, and the company’s code of conduct when handling sensitive employee information. Take ownership of assigned tasks with minimal supervision, promptly escalating any risks or non-compliance issues through the proper channels to achieve resolution.

• Continuous Improvement: Proactively identify inefficiencies or recurring issues in daily operations and recommend solutions to streamline workflows and improve data quality. Contribute to team best practices and help keep process documentation and knowledge repositories up to date as processes evolve.

Basic Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in human resources, Business, or a related discipline (or equivalent experience).

• Experience: 2+ years of professional experience in an operations or administrative role with defined processes and performance metrics (SLAs), including at least 1 year in HR data processing or HR operations handling sensitive employee data and transactions.

• Technical Skills: Hands-on experience performing HR transactions on a Workday or a similar HR Information System (minimum 1 year). Demonstrated proficiency with standard business software, especially Microsoft Excel, for data review and reporting in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree or MBA in a relevant field (e.g. Human Resources, Business Administration).

• Professional HR certification (e.g. PHR, SHRM-CP) or Workday HCM certification.

Key Skills & Competencies:

• Detail Orientation: Meticulous attention to detail and accuracy in data entry and validation tasks.

• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to convey information clearly to diverse stakeholders.

• Customer Focus: Strong customer service orientation, ensuring high levels of satisfaction for internal clients and stakeholders.

• Time Management: Proven ability to manage multiple tasks, meet tight deadlines, and adapt in a fast-paced, high-volume work environment.

• Collaboration: Effective team player who can work independently with minimal supervision and collaborate with colleagues across global/remote teams and time zones.

• Analytical & Proactive Mindset: Solid problem-solving and decision-making skills, with a process-oriented approach and a proactive drive for continuous improvement in HR operations.

Working at ICF