Director – Payroll

JTC Group; Cape Town; Hybrid; ZAR 1,800,000 - 3,000,000; Full time

Job summary

JTC Group is seeking a Director - Payroll to define and deliver a global payroll strategy, ensuring a scalable, compliant operating model to support growth and international expansion. You will provide strategic leadership for governance, risk management and technology transformation across jurisdictions.

You will lead development of a global payroll operating model, governance framework and tech roadmap, and guide payroll integration for acquisitions and market entries.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in payroll or similar in a professional services org, with leadership experience.
• Strong understanding of global payroll principles, regulations, including gender pay gap reporting.
• Experience with payroll governance, risk management and compliance across multiple jurisdictions.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a multi-year global payroll strategy aligned to growth, acquisitions and strategic objectives.
• Establish a scalable global payroll operating model ensuring consistency, efficiency and control.
• Lead governance, risk management and compliance across jurisdictions, including statutory reporting.
• Oversee payroll technology roadmap, automation initiatives and transformation projects.
• Manage external payroll providers and strategic partners, with performance governance.

Skills

Global payroll

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Payroll governance

Data analytics

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business administration / HR / finance

Tools

Payroll software

Job description

EMPLOYMENT TYPE:

Permanent

DEPARTMENT:

Human Resources

DIVISION:

Group

WORKPLACE STRUCTURE:

Hybrid

Role Overview

The Director - Payroll is responsible for defining and delivering JTC's global payroll strategy, ensuring a scalable, efficient and compliant payroll operating model that supports the Group's growth ambitions, acquisition activity and international expansion.

The role provides strategic leadership for payroll governance, risk management, service delivery, technology optimisation and transformation across all jurisdictions. ensuring payroll remains a trusted, employee-centric and commercially effective function.

The Director - Payroll will lead the development of a global payroll operating model, governance framework and technology roadmap that supports organisational growth and enhances the employee experience.

They will also lead payroll integration activities associated with acquisitions, new market entries and organisational transformation initiatives.

Main Responsibilities And Duties

STRATEGY AND TEAM

• Develop and execute a multi-year global payroll strategy aligned to JTC's business growth, acquisition strategy, people agenda and organisational objectives.
• Establish and maintain a scalable global payroll operating model that supports consistency, efficiency and control across all jurisdictions.
• Provide strategic advice and recommendations to Senior Leadership regarding payroll-related risks, opportunities and market developments.
• Lead, develop and inspire a high-performing global payroll function through effective leadership, succession planning, talent development and capability building.
• Build leadership capability within the payroll team and create sustainable succession plans for critical payroll roles.
• Establish governance frameworks and oversight mechanisms to ensure compliance with payroll tax, statutory reporting and employment-related obligations across all jurisdictions.
• Ensure appropriate controls, assurance activities and escalation processes are in place to mitigate operational, financial and reputational risk.
• Provide executive oversight of emerging payroll legislation and regulatory developments, assessing strategic implications for the Group and ensuring timely implementation of required changes.
• Lead payroll workstreams related to acquisitions, business integrations, new jurisdiction set-up and organisational restructuring activities.
• Develop standardised payroll integration methodologies and governance approaches to support future acquisition activity.
• Partner with the wider Human Resources and Reward team to provide payroll leadership on global mobility, cross-border employment, expatriate arrangements and complex workforce structures.
• Develop a global payroll analytics framework that delivers meaningful business insights, workforce cost intelligence and operational performance metrics.
• Leverage payroll data to support strategic workforce planning, reward decision-making, DE&I objectives and executive reporting requirements.

PAYROLL GOVERNANCE & RISK

• Establish global payroll governance policies, standards and controls.
• Oversee payroll audit activity across all jurisdictions and ensure remediation of identified issues.
• Maintain executive oversight of payroll-related risks and compliance obligations.

PAYROLL TRANSFORMATION & TECHNOLOGY

• Develop and deliver the Group's payroll technology and automation roadmap.
• Lead payroll transformation and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Drive standardisation, simplification and scalability across payroll processes.
• Identify opportunities to leverage automation, AI and emerging technologies.

EXTERNAL PROVIDER MANAGEMENT

• Own relationships with all payroll service providers and strategic partners globally.
• Negotiate contracts and monitor supplier performance against service level agreements.
• Implement governance forums and performance review processes for payroll providers

EXECUTIVE STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT

• Act as the senior payroll adviser to Senior Leadership.
• Present payroll risks, performance metrics and strategic recommendations to senior leadership forums.
• Serve as the escalation point for material payroll, compliance and operational issues.

GENERAL

• Actively contribute and be a key member of a multi-jurisdictional HR team building effective working relationships to ensure procedures are accurately followed, allowing for continuity of service during busy periods or times of absence.
• Maintain the highest standard of confidentiality and security in terms of employee data and business information. Treat all HR data in line with GDPR and maintain an ongoing awareness of GDPR legislation.
• Uphold the professional standards expected of an HR practitioner and act as a role model of excellence with all clients, internally and externally.
• Maintain accuracy when handling either employee or company specific data and ensure that the integrity of process is maintained.
• Contribute to the wider HR team, supporting ad hoc projects, exchanging knowledge and supporting standards of good practice.
• Develop self and maintain knowledge in relevant field at all times.
• Consistently demonstrate JTC core values and expected behaviours.
• Adhere to Risk & Compliance procedures in relation to regulatory requirements and AML legislation.
• Adhere to CPD requirements in accordance with qualification level.
• Any other duties as deemed necessary by Management.

Essential Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in payroll or similar within a Professional Services organisation, including experience in a leadership role.
• Accounting qualification or a bachelor’s degree in business administration, human resources, finance, or a related field; master’s degree preferred.
• Strong understanding of global payroll principles, practices, and regulations, including gender pay gap reporting requirements and statutory pay requirements where applicable.
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills, with the ability to analyse complex data and make data-driven decisions.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate complex information clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to lead a team and work collaboratively with internal stakeholders across various geographies and cultures.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet tight deadlines.
• Strong attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy and quality.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and handle sensitive information in a professional manner.
• Experience with global payroll software and systems.

OUR COMMITMENT TO INCLUSION & WELLBEING

JTC is committed to fostering a healthy, inclusive organisation where all individuals feel welcome and feel able to participate in the workplace fully. We value different perspectives, backgrounds and lived experiences. This includes supporting employee wellbeing so that people feel equipped to thrive.