Payroll Accountant: Journals, GL & Reconciliations

O'Brien Recruitment; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 350,000 - 480,000; Full time

Job summary

O'Brien Recruitment in Cape Town invites a Payroll Accountant to manage payroll journals, GL postings and reconciliations in a busy finance team.

The role requires meticulous accuracy, strong Excel skills and experience with PAYE, UIF, SDL, EMP201/501 processes, and confidential payroll handling.

Suitable for professionals with 24 years’ payroll experience seeking a hands-on, process-driven environment.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience preparing payroll journals and General Ledger entries.

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 correctly reflected in the General Ledger.
• Identify and assist with correcting payroll posting discrepancies.
• Maintain appropriate supporting documentation for payroll journals and adjustments.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

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

Tools

Sage 300 / Sage 300 People

Job description

O'Brien Recruitment in Cape Town invites a Payroll Accountant to manage payroll journals, GL postings and reconciliations in a busy finance team.

The role requires meticulous accuracy, strong Excel skills and experience with PAYE, UIF, SDL, EMP201/501 processes, and confidential payroll handling.

Suitable for professionals with 24 years’ payroll experience seeking a hands-on, process-driven environment.