National Payroll & HR Manager

Network Finance; Randburg; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Network Finance is seeking a National HR & Payroll Manager to lead payroll governance and HR administration across multiple regions and Distribution Centres in South Africa. You will drive employee lifecycle processes, compliance, reporting, and national team performance, ensuring payroll accuracy and governance across sites.

The role requires leadership, a degree in HR/Payroll/Finance, and 3–5 years of relevant experience in a multi-site distribution or FMCG environment.

Qualifications

• Degree in Human Resources, Payroll, Finance, Business Administration or related field.
• 3 - 5 years' HR and Payroll management experience.
• Experience leading HR and Payroll teams in multi-site or distribution environments.
• Strong knowledge of payroll controls, governance, reconciliation and compliance.
• Proficient in Excel and payroll/HR systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end monthly and bi-weekly payroll processes with governance.
• Oversee HR administration, onboarding, transfers, promotions and terminations.
• Manage payroll controls, records, and compliance standards across sites.
• Lead, coach and develop national HR and payroll teams.
• Drive recruitment, interviews, reference checks and talent initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with labour legislation and payroll governance requirements.
• Produce HR and payroll reports and support audits; drive improvements.

Skills

People leadership

Payroll governance

HR administration

Analytical thinking

Attention to detail

Education

Degree in Human Resources, Payroll, Finance, Business Administration

Tools

Payroll systems

ESS platforms

Time-and-attendance systems

Excel (Advanced)

Job description

Are you an experienced HR and Payroll professional with a passion for people leadership, payroll governance, and operational excellence? Do you thrive in fast-paced, multi-site environments where accuracy, compliance, and service delivery are critical?

A leading national organisation within the FMCG and distribution sector is seeking a National HR & Payroll Manager to lead and oversee its HR administration and payroll operations across multiple regions and Distribution Centres nationwide.

This is a pivotal leadership role responsible for ensuring the effective management of payroll, HR administration, employee lifecycle processes, compliance, reporting, and national HR team performance. The successful candidate will play a critical role in maintaining payroll accuracy, strengthening governance controls, developing HR teams, and driving continuous process improvement across the business.

Key Requirements:

Payroll Management & Governance

• Manage the end-to-end monthly and bi-weekly payroll process.
• Review and approve payroll inputs, reconciliations, and submissions.
• Resolve payroll queries, variances, and processing issues.
• Maintain payroll controls, records, and compliance standards.

Distribution Centre Payroll Oversight

• Review and validate payroll submissions from all Distribution Centres.
• Verify hours worked, payroll adjustments, and employee changes.
• Investigate payroll exceptions and ensure accurate processing of terminations.

Overtime Management

• Review and approve overtime submissions.
• Ensure compliance with company policies and labour requirements.
• Monitor overtime trends and elevate concerns where necessary.

HR Administration & Employee Lifecycle

• Oversee employee onboarding, transfers, promotions, and terminations.
• Manage employee benefits, leave, and HR records.
• Provide support and guidance on HR policies, procedures, and employee queries.

National HR Team Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop HR and payroll teams nationally.
• Manage performance, workloads, and service delivery standards.
• Act as the escalation point for complex HR and payroll matters.

Recruitment & Talent Support

• Manage recruitment processes from sourcing to onboarding.
• Conduct interviews, screening, and reference checks.
• Support learnership, internship, and succession planning initiatives.

Compliance, Reporting & Continuous Improvement

• Ensure compliance with labour legislation, company policies, and payroll governance requirements.
• Produce and analyse HR and payroll reports.
• Support audits and drive continuous process improvements across the function.

Job Experience and Skills Required:

Degree in Human Resources, Payroll, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.

3 - 5 years' relevant experience within HR and Payroll management.

Proven experience leading HR and Payroll teams within a multi-site, distribution, FMCG, logistics, retail, or operational environment.

Demonstrated experience managing both monthly and bi-weekly payroll processes.

Strong understanding of payroll controls, governance, reconciliation, and compliance requirements.

Advanced Excel skills

Experience working with payroll systems, ESS platforms, and time-and-attendance systems.

Sound knowledge of South African labour legislation and HR best practices.

Strong administrative, organisational, and problem-solving skills.

Exceptional attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.