Payroll Manager

SUMMARY:
Are you a seasoned payroll professional ready to lead a high-volume, fast-paced payroll function?

POSITION INFO:
This is a critical leadership role that requires technical expertise, exceptional accuracy, and the ability to drive compliance and efficiency across all payroll processes.

This role is based in Sandton.

Key Responsibilities:

End-to-End Payroll Leadership

• Manage and oversee all payroll operations, ensuring employees are paid accurately, on time, and in full compliance with labour and tax legislation.
• Establish, improve, and maintain payroll policies, procedures, and internal control frameworks.
• Ensure strict adherence to regulatory requirements such as SARS, UIF, SDL, BCEA, PSIRA, and MIBCO.

Financial Governance & Reporting

• Prepare payroll-related general ledger entries, reconciliation files, and detailed variance analyses.
• Investigate irregularities or discrepancies and implement corrective and preventative solutions.
• Prepare and submit statutory returns, including EMP201, bi-annual SARS submissions, WCA returns, and other required reports.

Audit & Compliance

• Provide full support during internal and external audits, including documentation preparation and explanation of payroll processes.
• Ensure new companies are set up correctly in the payroll system and registered with all legislative bodies.

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Work closely with Finance and HR to align payroll cycles with accounting requirements and ensure accurate employee data management.
• Provide guidance and high-level support on complex payroll, tax, benefit, and legislative queries.

Team Leadership & Performance

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of payroll professionals, driving accuracy, teamwork, and service excellence.
• Promote continuous improvement, automation, and innovation within payroll processes and technology.

Operational Responsibilities

• Oversee termination calculations, leave administration, employee onboarding on systems, and statutory benefit integrations (e.g., provident funds).
• Ensure all monthly payroll reconciliations are complete—including salary cost uploads, deduction reconciliations, and banking approvals.
• Load bank payments and ensure correct segregation of duties for all payroll and banking activities.
• Produce weekly and monthly payroll, leave, and absence statistics for HR and management.
• Ensure optimal usage of ESS for leave and employee records.

System & Process Expertise

• Support the implementation of new payroll setups and system configurations.
• Ensure employee information is accurately linked to systems such as clocking, ESS, and financial platforms.
• Drive system improvements and leverage technology (automation, AI, digital workflows) to streamline operations.

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or similar.
• 10+ years’ experience in full-function payroll, with at least 5 years in a supervisory or managerial role.
• Strong knowledge of payroll legislation, tax rules, and compliance requirements.
• Solid understanding of financial principles, GL processes, and payroll accounting.
• Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, formulas, reconciliations).
• Proven ability to lead teams in a high-volume, deadline-driven environment.
• Valid driver’s licence and willingness to visit client sites when required.