Divisional Payroll Administrator

PTY; Durban; On-site; ZAR 360,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

Red Ember Recruitment (PTY) Ltd in Durban, South Africa, seeks a Divisional Payroll Administrator to support payroll processing, wage journals, and divisional cost reporting. The role emphasizes accuracy, compliance, and timely wage payments within a busy payroll function.

The ideal candidate has 3–5 years of payroll administration experience, a related diploma, SAPA certification is advantageous, and a valid code 08 license.

Qualifications

• Payroll Diploma or Diploma/Degree in Finance (advantageous)
• SAPA membership or certification advantageous
• Grade 12 (Matric) – Mathematics or Accounting advantageous
• Code 08 (driver's license)
• Minimum 3-5 years payroll administration experience, with exposure to payroll processing, basic reconciliations, UIF, PAYE, ETI, and payroll compliance
• Basic understanding of BCEA, LRA, UIF, COIDA, SARS PAYE, ETI, and 4th Schedule to the Income Tax Act

Responsibilities

• Assist accurate payment of employees by processing permanent and temporary wage payrolls within the division.
• Support verification of employee costs to ensure accurate and compliant payroll.
• Apply prescribed procedures to ensure payroll accuracy.
• Assist with preparation of monthly Wage journals for review by the Divisional Payroll Manager.
• Assist in compiling basic payroll reports for the Divisional Payroll Manager.
• Support preparation of Divisional Wage Cost reports (MOM, QTQ, YOY variances).
• Assist with ETI tracking and measurement data.
• Support the preparation of data for Payroll Flash reports.
• Assist in ensuring payroll processes comply with policies, procedures, and legislation.
• Support internal and external payroll audit preparations.
• Assist with archiving Wage documents and paperwork.
• Flag any non-compliance or anomalies to the Divisional Payroll Manager.
• Assist with Time & Attendance data verification for Contractual Temps.
• Support leave balance tracking and distribution to relevant stakeholders.
• Assist with monitoring of leave costs, leave credits, and leave replacements.
• Flag exceptions including TEMPs longer than 3 months, late terminations, and excessive overtime.
• Assist with verification of allowances, rate of pay comparisons, and foreign national work permit accuracy.
• Support TEMP onboarding accuracy checks.
• Assist with headcount and staff movement reporting (new hires, terminations, promotions, transfers).
• Participate in weekly Wage Administrator training sessions.

Skills

Payroll management

Education

Payroll Diploma or Diploma/Degree in Finance

Grade 12 (Matric) – Math or Accounting

Job description

Red Ember Recruitment (PTY) Ltd | Permanent

Divisional Payroll Administrator

Durban, South Africa | Posted on 22/05/2026

• Work Experience Minimum 10 years at a Payroll Management level
• Date Opened 22/05/2026
• Job Type Permanent
• City Durban
• Country South Africa
• Postal Code 3611

Job Description

Red Ember is seeking a Divisional Payroll Administrator , based in Durban, KZN, to join our client’s team. Divisional Payroll Administrator will be assisting in managing divisional employment costs and supports the payroll processing function, including accurate wage payments, basic reporting, and compliance with relevant legislation affecting the employer/employee relationship.

Accurate Payment of Employees

• Assist with processing of Permanent and Temporary Wage employee payrolls within the division
  
• Support the verification of employee costs to ensure accurate and compliant payroll
  
• Apply prescribed procedures to ensure payroll accuracy
  
• Assist with preparation of monthly Wage journals for review by the Divisional Payroll Manager
  

Payroll Reporting Support

• Assist in compiling basic payroll reports for the Divisional Payroll Manager
  
• Support the preparation of Divisional Wage Cost reports (MOM, QTQ, YOY variances)
  
• Assist with ETI tracking and measurement data
  
• Support the preparation of data for Payroll Flash reports
  

Compliance & Governance Support

• Assist in ensuring payroll processes comply with relevant policies, procedures, and legislation
  
• Support internal and external payroll audit preparations
  
• Assist with archiving and filing of Wage documents and paperwork
  
• Flag any non-compliance or anomalies to the Divisional Payroll Manager
  

Operational Wage & Workforce Administration

• Assist with Time & Attendance data verification for Contractual Temps
  
• Support leave balance tracking and distribution to relevant stakeholders
  
• Assist with monitoring of leave costs, leave credits, and leave replacements
  
• Flag exceptions including TEMPs employed longer than 3 months, late terminations, and excessive overtime
  
• Assist with verification of allowances, rate of pay comparisons, and foreign national work permit accuracy
  
• Support TEMP onboarding accuracy checks
  
• Assist with headcount and staff movement reporting (new hires, terminations, promotions, transfers)
  

Training & Development

• Participate in weekly Wage Administrator training sessions in line with the National Payroll training schedule
  
• Apply learning to daily payroll tasks under the supervision of the Divisional Payroll Manager
  

Meetings & Communication

• Attend operational payroll meetings within the division
  
• Support preparation of feedback for GM and Finance Manager meetings
  
• Escalate payroll queries to the Divisional Payroll Manager timeously
  

Requirements

Payroll Diploma or Diploma/Degree in Finance (advantageous)

South African Payroll Association (SAPA) membership or certification advantageous

Grade 12 (Matric) — Mathematics or Accounting advantageous

Code 08

Minimum 3-5 years payroll administration experience, with exposure to payroll processing, basic reconciliations, UIF, PAYE, ETI, and payroll compliance

Basic understanding of BCEA, LRA, UIF, COIDA, SARS PAYE, ETI, and 4th Schedule to the Income Tax Act