Head of Department: Finance - Payroll

Salix Recruitment; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Salix Recruitment is seeking an experienced Head of Department: Finance - Payroll to lead a high-impact payroll function across multiple entities in South Africa. You will combine technical payroll accounting with strategic leadership to ensure accurate processing, controls and service delivery.

You will manage a sizeable team, drive system transformations, and partner with HR and Finance to optimise payroll outputs while staying compliant with tax and statutory requirements across all entities.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in large-scale payroll operations.
• 5+ years managing multiple legal entities and payrolls.
• Experience leading a payroll team of 8–12 employees.
• Expert knowledge of remuneration structuring, tax implications and payroll legislation.
• Experience with African and expatriate payrolls.

Responsibilities

• Oversee end-to-end payroll across multiple entities and payrolls.
• Implement and maintain robust payroll controls and reconciliations.
• Ensure PAYE, IRP5 and third-party deductions compliance.
• Drive payroll systems optimisation and digitisation initiatives.
• Lead onboarding, setup and integration of new payrolls from acquisitions.
• Oversee payroll reporting and analytics for decision-making.
• Governance, data privacy and audit support for payroll.
• Lead and develop the payroll team with a culture of excellence.

Skills

Multi-Entity Payroll

VIP Payroll

Sage 300 People

Advanced Excel

Taxation & Compliance

Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement

Systems Transformation

Education

Degree in Payroll, Finance or Accounting

BCom Honours or equivalent

CA(SA) / ACMA / ACCA membership

Tools

VIP Payroll

Sage 300 People

Kronos

Job description

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.

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.