Guidehouse Helps California Counties Modernize Core Operations

San Joaquin and Santa Cruz Counties adopt unified Workday ERP to strengthen financial management, workforce operations, and service delivery

MCLEAN, Va., Sept. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Guidehouse, a global professional services firm serving the commercial and government sectors, has successfully deployed Workday ERP (enterprise resource planning) solutions for San Joaquin County and Santa Cruz County, helping both counties modernize core agency operations and strengthen long-term organizational performance.

As governments across the country work to replace aging financial, workforce, and operational systems, demand continues to increase for integrated cloud platforms that improve transparency, streamline processes, and support better decision-making. Through its long-standing partnership with Workday, Guidehouse helps public sector agencies transform critical functions while positioning themselves to better serve employees, residents, and communities.

"Public sector leaders are focused on creating more efficient, transparent, and proactive organizations," said Chad Rorden, Partner and Workday Practice Leader at Guidehouse. "Alongside Workday, we help our clients rethink how finance, workforce, and operational functions work together to improve decision making, planning, and the employee experience while creating lasting value for the people that depend on them."

For San Joaquin County, Guidehouse deployed Workday Financial Management as the first phase of a broader modernization program. The implementation went live on schedule, unifying financials, procurement, inventory, banking, project and labor costing, reporting, and integrations across county departments and a 24/7 hospital environment, including custom reports and integrations, centralized inventory management, automated internal billing of IT services, and a comprehensive costing framework. Guidehouse is now implementing phase two, a full Workday Human Capital Management deployment with a planned go-live in fall 2027.

"Implementing a cloud-based ERP system for a county our size is a once-in-a-career experience for most people. Guidehouse proved to be a pivotal partner throughout the experience, helping to make sense of the process and working through the minutia to address our concerns with intelligent expertise and impressive efficiency," said Jeff Woltkamp, Auditor-Controller, San Joaquin County.

For Santa Cruz County, Guidehouse implemented Workday Human Capital Management (HCM) to replace a decades-old system supporting approximately 2,600 employees. The deployment modernized HR, payroll, benefits, talent management, and reporting across 19 special districts and 12 unions while introducing paperless self-service capabilities, enhanced workforce reporting, and new integrations designed to streamline operations and improve the employee experience.

"Guidehouse brought the expertise, structure, and partnership we needed to modernize a system that touches every employee. By aligning technology with our operational realities, they've set the County on a stronger, more sustainable path forward," said Laura Bowers, Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector, County of Santa Cruz.

Together, these deployments demonstrate how state and local governments are modernizing financial and workforce operations to create a foundation for future innovation. Recent work with Spokane County and the City of Arvada has helped strengthen financial controls, improve workforce management, increase transparency, and enhance operational effectiveness.

As a trusted Workday Services Partner, Guidehouse combines strategy, transformation, and operations capabilities to help organizations modernize finance, workforce, planning, and operational functions. By bringing together deep public sector experience and Workday expertise, Guidehouse helps clients navigate complex transformation initiatives and achieve sustainable outcomes that support long-term success.

About Guidehouse 
Guidehouse is a global professional services firm delivering advisory, technology, and managed services to the commercial and government sectors. With an integrated business technology approach, Guidehouse drives efficiency and resilience in the healthcare, financial services, energy, infrastructure, and national security markets. Built to help clients across industries outwit complexity, the firm brings together approximately 18,000 professionals to achieve lasting impact and shape a meaningful future. www.guidehouse.com

Media Contact: Guidehouse Cecile Fradkin [email protected]

SOURCE Guidehouse