Junior Payroll Accountant

O'Brien Recruitment; Wes-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 360,000 - 480,000; Full time

Job summary

O'Brien Recruitment is seeking a hands-on Payroll Accountant to manage payroll journals, GL entries, and reconciliations across weekly, monthly and fleet payrolls in a structured finance environment.

Ideal candidates have 2–4 years’ payroll experience, strong Excel skills, and familiarity with EMP201/EMP501 and PAYE/UIF/SDL. This role focuses on accuracy, confidentiality, and timely month-end processing.

Qualifications

• BCom in Finance / Accounting or currently studying towards a relevant finance qualification.
• Approximately 2–4 years’ payroll accounting, payroll finance or payroll reconciliation experience.
• Hands-on experience preparing payroll journals and General Ledger entries.
• Practical experience with payroll and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Working knowledge of PAYE, UIF and SDL.
• Exposure to EMP201 and EMP501 reconciliations.
• Experience reconciling payroll-related third-party payments.
• Strong Excel skills.
• Good numerical ability and attention to detail.
• Able to investigate and resolve discrepancies.
• Confidential payroll and employee information handling.
• Ability to meet payroll month-end deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Prepare payroll journals for weekly, monthly and fleet payrolls.
• Process payroll-related General Ledger entries.
• Check salaries, wages, bonuses and deductions for accuracy.
• Ensure payroll transactions are reflected in the General Ledger.
• Identify and assist with correcting payroll posting discrepancies.
• Maintain supporting documentation for payroll journals and adjustments.
• Prepare payroll-related General Ledger reconciliations.
• Reconcile payroll control and balance sheet accounts.
• Investigate reconciling items and follow up on differences.
• Assist with resolving payroll accounting discrepancies.
• Ensure payroll accounts remain reconciled and supported.
• Assist with EMP201 and EMP501 reconciliations.
• Reconcile PAYE, UIF and SDL amounts.
• Ensure payroll information is maintained for statutory reporting purposes.
• Prepare and reconcile third-party payments and benefits such as medical aid, pension, and other deductions.
• Review payroll reports to identify discrepancies and investigate variances.
• Support audit queries and maintain payroll accounting records.
• Assist with ad hoc payroll accounting requirements.

Skills

Payroll accounting

Payroll reconciliations

General Ledger reconciliations

Payroll journals

Statutory payroll knowledge

Third-party payment reconciliations

Advanced Excel

Numerical accuracy

Attention to detail

Problem solving

Deadline management

Confidentiality

Teamwork and communication

Education

BCom in Finance / Accounting

Currently studying towards finance qualification

Tools

Sage 300 / Sage 300 People

Job description

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Accounting & Journals

• Prepare payroll journals for weekly, monthly and fleet payrolls.
• Process payroll-related General Ledger entries.
• Check salaries, wages, bonuses and deductions for accuracy.
• Ensure payroll transactions are correctly reflected in the General Ledger.
• Identify and assist with correcting payroll posting discrepancies.
• Maintain appropriate supporting documentation for payroll journals and adjustments.

Payroll & General Ledger Reconciliations

• Prepare regular payroll-related General Ledger reconciliations.
• Reconcile payroll control and balance sheet accounts.
• Investigate reconciling items and follow up on outstanding differences.
• Assist with resolving payroll accounting discrepancies.
• Ensure payroll accounts remain accurately reconciled and supported.

Statutory Payroll Administration

• Assist with the preparation and reconciliation of EMP201 submissions.
• Support the EMP501 reconciliation process.
• Reconcile PAYE, UIF and SDL amounts.
• Assist with payroll tax and statutory payment reconciliations.
• Ensure payroll information is accurately maintained for statutory reporting purposes.

Third-Party Payments & Benefits

• Prepare and reconcile payroll-related third-party payments.
• Reconcile medical aid contributions.
• Reconcile pension and provident fund contributions.
• Reconcile garnishee and other payroll deductions.
• Follow up on discrepancies relating to third-party payments.
• Ensure payments agree to payroll records and supporting schedules.

Payroll Variance Analysis

• Review payroll reports and identify unusual movements or discrepancies.
• Compare current payroll information to previous periods where required.
• Investigate payroll variances and obtain supporting information.
• Escalate unresolved or material discrepancies to the relevant manager.

Audit & Finance Support

• Prepare payroll reconciliations and supporting documents for audit purposes.
• Assist with payroll-related audit queries.
• Maintain accurate payroll accounting records and supporting documentation.
• Assist with correcting identified payroll accounting errors.
• Support the Payroll and Finance teams with ad hoc payroll accounting requirements.

Minimum Requirements

• BCom in Finance / Accounting, or currently studying towards a relevant finance qualification.
• Approximately 2–4 years’ relevant payroll accounting, payroll finance or payroll reconciliation experience.
• Hands-on experience preparing payroll journals and General Ledger entries.
• Practical experience with payroll and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Working knowledge of PAYE, UIF and SDL.
• Exposure to EMP201 and EMP501 reconciliations.
• Experience reconciling payroll-related third-party payments.
• Strong Excel skills.
• Good numerical ability and attention to detail.
• Able to investigate and resolve discrepancies.
• Comfortable working with confidential payroll and employee information.
• Able to work accurately within payroll and month-end deadlines.

Advantageous

• Experience using Sage 300 / Sage 300 People.
• Previous experience working within a finance or payroll accounting team.
• Exposure to weekly and monthly payroll environments.

Skills & Competencies

• Payroll accounting.
• Payroll reconciliations.
• General Ledger reconciliations.
• Payroll journals.
• Statutory payroll knowledge.
• Third-party payment reconciliations.
• Advanced Excel.
• Numerical accuracy.
• Attention to detail.
• Problem solving.
• Deadline management.
• Confidentiality.
• Teamwork and communication.

Ideal Candidate Profile

This position would suit someone who has already gained practical payroll and finance experience and is now looking to build further experience within a structured payroll accounting environment.

Candidates may currently be working as a:

• Payroll Accountant
• Junior Payroll Accountant
• Payroll Finance Clerk
• Payroll Administrator with strong finance and reconciliation exposure
• Payroll Reconciliation Clerk

The position is hands-on and operational rather than managerial, and would be best suited to someone with 2–4 years’ relevant experience who is still developing their payroll accounting career.