Payroll & Benefits Manager (FTC) - Midrand

Dis-Chem Pharmacies’ in Midrand has an opportunity available for a Payroll and Benefits Manager to join the Head Office team. The purpose of the role is to manage the payroll function by ensuring precise and timely processing of employee compensation while overseeing the administration of salaries, bonuses, employee benefits, leave, and time and attendance. This role includes reviewing and improving payroll processes, developing relevant policies, and ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Minimum Requirements…

Essential:

• Matric or equivalent Senior Certificate
• Degree/Diploma in Human Resources or Payroll Management, Finance, or a related field
• 5+ years of payroll experience, with 2–3 years in a supervisory or managerial role
• Familiarity with:
  • SARS regulations (PAYE, UIF, SDL)
  • BCEA (Basic Conditions of Employment Act)
  • COIDA
  • Tax Year-End processes
  • HR and Payroll systems (e.g., SAP, others)

Advantage:

• Advanced certifications such as South African Payroll Association (SAPA) Certification - Certified Payroll Professional (Advanced)
• Project Management experience

Job Specification...

Payroll Management:

• Oversee the accurate and timely processing of salary, bonus, and benefit payments for all employees, ensuring compliance with local tax laws and internal policies.
• Manage two payrolls i.e. Dis-Chem and Baby City by ensuring payroll data is processed efficiently and accurately for both organizations.
• Continuously assess and refine payroll processes, identifying opportunities for enhancement and implement automation where possible to improve efficiency and accuracy.
• Generate rule-based and automated payroll processing, ensuring real-time visibility into payroll data and improving the overall payroll experience.
• Lead payroll reporting, addressing payroll-related queries, and participating in long-term payroll planning to ensure consistency and alignment with business goals.
• Perform payroll reconciliations to ensure the accuracy of payroll transactions and resolve discrepancies as needed.
• Ensure compliance with South African tax laws by accurately calculating, withholding, and remitting PAYE (Pay As You Earn) taxes for employees.
• Manage the timely and correct filing of employee tax submissions to SARS (South African Revenue Service), ensuring that appropriate tax codes and deductions are applied to each employee's record.

Benefits Administration:

• Manage employee benefits programs, including medical aid, health insurance, provident fund, leave programs, and wellness initiatives, ensuring accuracy in benefit deductions and enrollments.
• Administer the employee benefit fund, ensuring timely payments and compliance with fund management guidelines and regulations.
• Work collaboratively with the team to promptly address employee queries and provide necessary support.
• Regularly review and audit the benefits programs to ensure cost-effectiveness and competitiveness within the industry.
• Collaborate with insurance providers, brokers, and other vendors to maintain current benefits offerings and negotiate pricing and terms.
• Manage the administration of the Dis-Chem Provident Fund and ensure its effective oversight.

Employee Leave and Time & Attendance Management:

• Oversee the management and administration of employee leave programs, ensuring accurate tracking and monitoring of leave balances across all systems.
• Manage the time and attendance systems to ensure accurate tracking of work hours, overtime, and leave usage. Ensure compliance with company policies and labor laws.
• Work with managers and HR to address leave and attendance-related issues, ensuring consistent application of policies.
• Maintain real-time visibility of leave balances and ensure employees' leave requests are processed promptly.
• Collaborate with HR, SAP team and department heads to optimize leave and time management processes, streamlining workflows and reducing administrative overhead.

Compliance and Reporting:

• Keep abreast of current payroll, benefits, leave, and attendance regulations, ensuring all processes comply with legal requirements.
• Oversee the preparation of payroll-related filings (e.g., tax filings, year-end reports) and ensure timely submission to relevant authorities.
• Manage the preparation of internal payroll, benefits, and leave reports for leadership and external stakeholders, ensuring data accuracy and compliance with reporting standards.
• Lead payroll-related audits and respond to regulatory enquiries or requests for documentation.

Process Improvement:

• Continuously assess and refine payroll, benefits, leave, and attendance processes to improve efficiency and effectiveness, utilizing technology for automation and real-time reporting.
• Lead initiatives to build and implement policies that improve overall payroll and benefits management.
• Partner with the Snr Total Reward Manager and provide inputs into the development of a Total Reward Strategy for Dis-Chem.
• Address payroll audit findings and implement corrective actions to mitigate risks, ensuring compliance and accuracy in payroll processes.

Team Management:

• Assess and manage the team to continually improve processes and outcomes.
• Promote a robust culture of accountability, innovation, and performance management across the teams, whilst modelling the company’s values.
• Train and guide team members on initiatives to ensure successful implementation best practices and strategies.
• Assist in setting objectives for the team and tracking progress.
• Assist in facilitating the creation of accountable, full-service teams who understand and strive to meet the needs of all stakeholders.

Competencies...

Essential:

• Strong knowledge of payroll systems, benefits administration, leave management, and time & attendance systems.
• Understanding and interpreting South African tax laws, including PAYE, and other payroll-related tax regulations.
• Familiar with SARS requirements for tax filings, employee tax certificates (IRP5/IT3(a)), and tax-related reporting.
• Advanced Excel skills, including VLOOKUP functions. Proficient in payroll software (e.g., SAP ECC and ECP etc.), HRIS systems, and time & attendance platforms (e.g. Kronos).
• Interpersonal skills.
• Communication skills.
• Quality orientation.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Management & leadership skills.
• Computer skills – Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook.

Special Conditions of Employment...

• South African citizen
• MIE, clear criminal and credit
• Driver’s license and/or own reliable transport

Remuneration and Benefits...

• Market-related salary

ONLY SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS WILL BE CONTACTED. IF YOU HAVEN’T BEEN CONTACTED WITHIN TWO WEEKS AFTER THE CLOSING DATE CONSIDER YOUR APPLICATION AS UNSUCCESSFUL.

Dis-Chem Pharmacies is an equal opportunity employer. Dis-Chem’s approved Employment Equity Plan and targets will be considered as part of the recruitment process aligned to Dis-Chem’s Employment Equity & Transformation Strategy. Dis-Chem actively supports the recruitment of People with Disabilities.