

We’re looking for a Workday Finance Systems Specialist (known internally as a Workday Functional Specialist) to help own, support and continuously improve our Core Financials environment within Workday.
Based in Darlington, this is a hybrid, permanent role. It’s a great opportunity for someone who enjoys combining finance knowledge with system ownership, and who wants to be the trusted expert others turn to when things need to be right.
Railpen is responsible for the safekeeping and investment of around £34 billion in assets and the administration of several pension schemes, including the Railways Pension Scheme, one of the UK's largest and longest established pension funds.
Our heritage of looking after the pension needs of the rail industry and its employees gives us our name and our unique outlook on how we serve our members. Railpen takes a holistic view, focusing on how we serve members today and how we can positively impact the communities and the world they will retire into.
To learn more about Railpen including our values, culture and purpose, visit our LinkedIn Life page here.
This role sits at the intersection of Finance, systems and controls, ensuring our general ledger, journals, allocations and finance structures are accurately configured and work as intended. You’ll play a key role in supporting month‑end close, maintaining financial data integrity, and making sure Workday genuinely supports the needs of Finance and the wider organisation.
Key responsibilities include:
Configuring and maintaining Workday finance components including ledgers, books, periods, projects and allocations
Supporting Finance teams through month‑end close, ensuring journals, revaluations and allocations are processed accurately and on time
Managing finance calendars and ledger periods to ensure the system is ready for close
Owning the integrity of core finance data structures such as chart of accounts, cost centres and companies
Working closely with Accounting Operations, Financial Control and Financial Reporting to ensure system outputs align with accounting policy and reporting requirements
Acting as a point of contact for troubleshooting ledger and journal issues, identifying root cause and implementing fixes
Supporting testing, release cycles and post‑deployment validation for Workday changes
Maintaining clear documentation of configurations, data logic and finance data rules
Supporting audit and financial control activity related to system data
While the focus is Core Financials, you’ll also develop a working knowledge of related Workday Finance areas to support resilience across the wider team.
This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK.
We’re looking for someone who brings a strong mix of finance understanding and systems capability, and who enjoys working closely with stakeholders to make systems work better.
You’re likely to bring:
Experience working with Workday Financials or another complex finance / ERP system, in a systems, configuration or finance systems role
A solid understanding of accounting principles, general ledger structures and journal processing
Experience translating business or finance requirements into system configuration or rules
Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with close attention to data accuracy and controls
The confidence to work with Finance stakeholders, challenge constructively and explain system behaviour clearly
A collaborative, accountable working style and comfort operating in a small, close‑knit team
Our values of integrity, community and alignment are the guiding principles that influence our behaviour. They help us make decisions and shape our relationships with others. They’re what we stand for. You will actively demonstrate our values, helping to create a safe environment, to place the needs of the community above oneself and, through a culture of ‘fair challenge’, align to the best interests of our members.
A competitive salary (depending on experience)
28 days annual leave plus bank holidays
Generous annual bonus plan
We provide membership of the Railways Pension Scheme, a Defined Benefit arrangement under which you get a pension for life and a lump sum when you retire, based on your length of service and pay
4x Life Assurance cover
Private Medical Insurance
Employee assistance programme
Health cash plan
Eye care vouchers
Flu vaccination
We support hybrid and flexible working along with very generous family leave including 12 months full pay maternity leave and 6 months full pay paternity leave
Buy and sell holidays
Give as you earn scheme
Paid volunteering days
Flexible half days leave
Electric vehicle leasing
Cycle to work scheme
Please apply via the apply button or visit Careers by 5pm on Thursday 28th May 2026.
Railpen is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse environment, we value diversity and welcome people from all backgrounds and walks of life.