Payroll Accountant

SYSPRO; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 400,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent software company in Johannesburg is seeking a Payroll Accountant to ensure accurate and compliant payroll recording. The role requires strong knowledge of payroll legislation and the ability to automate processes for efficiency. Candidates should have a bachelor's degree and at least 5 years of payroll accounting experience. Proficiency in payroll systems like Sage, SimplePay, and SYSPRO is essential.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in payroll accounting.
• Strong knowledge of payroll legislation and tax rules.
• Experience with payroll systems and general ledger reconciliation.

Responsibilities

• Ensure accurate, compliant payroll recording into financial systems.
• Guide HR in validating payroll calculations.
• Own the monthly payroll interface into the general ledger.

Skills

Advanced Excel proficiency

Understanding payroll-related legislation

Project management skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or Finance

Certification in payroll processing

Tools

Sage

SimplePay

SYSPRO ERP

Job description

Payroll Accountant

Department: Finance

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: SA | Central | Johannesburg

Description

This role ensures accurate, compliant, and timely recording of payroll into SYSPRO's financial systems, while supporting and validating calculations performed by HR. A focus on global payroll considerations is essential. The Payroll Accountant uses their technical knowledge and experience to build, test and improve the payroll support process and all related systems, and owns the payroll interface into the general ledger for accurate recording, cost coding and analysis.

Key Responsibilities

• Strong contributor to the development and continuous improvement of a system of internal control and sound governance regarding all aspects of human capital compensation.
• Guide HR in validating payroll calculations, ensuring consistency with contracts and statutory requirements.
• Own the monthly payroll interface into the general ledger, including correct cost allocations.
• Reconcile payroll accounts monthly, including PAYE, UIF, SDL, pension/provident funds and medical aid.
• Automate processes and systems, while building controls that ensure such automation results in accurate financial information.
• Maintain accurate payroll-related GL codes, cost centres and master data.
• Review and support submission of statutory returns and third-party reconciliations in South Africa (EMP201s, IRP5s, etc) and around the globe.
• Where regional nuances are not known, be a keen learner of all aspects of human capital compliance and processing.
• Prepare audit schedules and support internal and external payroll-related audits.
• Assist with process improvement, controls documentation, and automation of recurring payroll-related tasks.
• Identify risks, suggest improvements, and provide technical payroll guidance across entities.
• Liaise with HR, external payroll providers and finance teams globally to ensure alignment and compliance.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Qualification

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, or related payroll discipline
• Certification or Diploma in human capital and/or payroll processing
• Completed articles or payroll-specific accreditation is an advantage

Experience

• Minimum 5 years of experience in payroll accounting
• Strong working knowledge of payroll-related legislation and tax rules
• Experience capturing payroll costs and reconciling across multiple entities or cost centres
• Experience working with and evolving payroll systems and general ledger systems

Systems and Tools

• Strong advanced Excel proficiency - mandatory
• Use of payroll programs such as Sage, SimplePay, ADP or other - mandatory
• Experience with SYSPRO ERP, especially the Finance module - advantageous
• Experience with outsourced payroll providers and their systems - advantageous

Abilities

• Organized, strong administrative skills and a very structured approach to work.
• Excellent reporting skills, in terms of financial and non-financial data, how to construct meaningful report components and design the layout so that it best conveys the results accurately.
• Detail oriented, good at project management concepts and a driver of efficiency.
• Ability to manage tight deadlines, be proactive and inclusive.
• Systems thinking and the ability to create and pursue common goals.
• Knowledge of (or at least the ability to competently be curious about) financial legislation, tax rules and all other statutory laws, policies and procedures.