Head of Department: Finance - Payroll

SUMMARY:
Head of Department: Finance – Payroll | Houghton, Johannesburg

POSITION INFO:
A leading organisation within the services sector is seeking an experienced Head of Department: Finance - Payroll to lead and oversee its payroll function. This is a senior leadership opportunity for a technically strong payroll professional with extensive experience in large-scale, multi-entity payroll operations, payroll accounting, statutory compliance and team management. The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring the accuracy, integrity and efficiency of payroll processes while strengthening internal controls, driving continuous improvement and leveraging technology to enhance payroll service delivery. You are a strategic and detail-oriented payroll leader who combines strong technical payroll accounting expertise with exceptional people management and stakeholder engagement skills. You are comfortable managing complex payroll environments, strengthening controls, navigating legislative changes and leading system and process improvements. If you have the experience and leadership capabilities to drive excellence in a complex, multi-entity payroll environment, we would welcome your application. Apply now through Salix Recruitment. Duties: Payroll Operations & Leadership: Oversee the end-to-end payroll function, ensuring accurate, complete and timeous payroll processing across multiple legal entities and payrolls. Payroll Controls & Accounting: Implement and maintain robust payroll controls, oversee reconciliations, review salary journals and ensure accurate allocations to general ledger and balance sheet accounts. Tax & Statutory Compliance: Ensure compliance with applicable tax legislation, labour laws and statutory requirements, including PAYE, IRP5 certificates and third-party deductions. Payroll Systems & Transformation: Drive the effective utilisation, optimisation and integration of payroll systems, champion digitisation initiatives and improve processes through technology. Payroll Implementation: Lead the onboarding, setup and integration of new payrolls arising from acquisitions, business expansion and organisational changes. Reporting & Analytics: Oversee payroll reporting, management information and data integrity to support informed business decision-making. Governance & Auditing: Ensure adherence to internal policies, corporate governance standards, data privacy requirements and internal and external audit processes. Stakeholder Management: Collaborate with HR, Finance, business units and external service providers to ensure seamless payroll delivery. People Management: Lead, mentor and develop the payroll team, fostering accountability, continuous improvement and a high-performance culture. Job Experience & Skills Required: Qualifications: Matric (Grade 12) Degree in Payroll, Finance or Accounting BCom Honours or an equivalent qualification Professional Membership CA(SA), ACMA or ACCA Experience: At least 10 years' experience managing large-scale payroll operations, including payroll accounting. A minimum of 5 years' experience managing multiple legal entities and payrolls. At least 5 years' experience managing a team of approximately 8-12 employees. Expert knowledge of remuneration structuring, tax implications, employee benefits and payroll legislation. Experience managing African and expatriate payrolls. Proven experience implementing projects while maintaining day-to-day payroll operations. Minimum of 8 years' experience with VIP Payroll \/ Sage 300 People. Advanced Excel skills. Strong technical knowledge of payroll systems and payroll service delivery. Experience with Kronos or a similar time and attendance system will be advantageous. Experience with Syspro or a similar accounting system will be advantageous. Skills & Competencies: Payroll Management & Administration Payroll Accounting & Reconciliations Multi-Entity Payroll Management Payroll Taxation & Statutory Compliance Remuneration Structuring & Benefits Administration VIP Payroll \/ Sage 300 People Payroll Systems Implementation & Integration Payroll Controls & Risk Management Advanced Excel & Payroll Reporting General Ledger & Balance Sheet Reconciliations African & Expatriate Payroll Management Internal & External Audit Support Payroll Process Improvement & Digitisation HR, Finance & Stakeholder Collaboration Team Leadership & Performance Management If you have not had any response in two weeks, please consider the vacancy application unsuccessful. Your profile will be kept on our database for any other suitable roles \/ positions.