Payroll Manager

Red Ember Recruitment (PTY) Ltd; Durban; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 900 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment firm is searching for an experienced Payroll Manager to oversee payroll operations for over 5,500 employees in Durban. You will manage end-to-end payroll processes, ensuring compliance with all relevant legislation, and lead a dedicated payroll team. The ideal candidate will have expert-level knowledge of Sage 300, extensive payroll experience, and the ability to analyze and report effectively. This is a permanent position offering competitive benefits.

Qualifications

• 5–10 years’ payroll management experience in a large, high-volume environment.
• Strong understanding of taxation, payroll legislation, job costing, and statutory reporting.
• Proven ability to lead and develop a payroll team.

Responsibilities

• Manage payroll for 5,500+ employees on weekly and bi-weekly cycles.
• Ensure compliance with BCEA, LRA, WCA/COIDA and other labour laws.
• Produce payroll, headcount, costing, and compliance reports.

Skills

Expert-level knowledge of Sage 300 payroll

Strong analytical skills

Advanced Excel skills

Proactive problem-solving

Education

Degree in HR, Payroll, Finance, or related field

Matriculation (Grade 12)

Tools

Sage 300

Job description

Red Ember Recruitment (PTY) Ltd | Permanent

Payroll Manager

Durban, South Africa | Posted on 21/01/2026

Red Ember Recruitment is looking for an experienced Payroll Manager to lead payroll operations for a large, growing workforce in Durban. The role involves managing end-to-end payroll, ensuring compliance with legislation, overseeing payroll systems (Sage 300), and leading a high-performing team.

Responsibilities:

Payroll & Systems Management

• Manage payroll for 5,500+ employees on weekly and bi-weekly cycles.
• Ensure accurate payroll processing, reconciliations, reporting, and statutory submissions.
• Maintain full Sage 300 system ownership, including configurations, controls, and reporting.
• Oversee payroll inputs: benefits, job costing, deductions, allowances, and third-party payments.
• Ensure compliance with ETI, PAYE, UIF, SDL, and SARS submissions (501, 201, IRP30).

Legislation & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with BCEA, LRA, WCA/COIDA, and other labour laws.
• Manage payroll compliance across bargaining councils.
• Oversee payroll for labour brokers, including reporting and cost controls.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the payroll team, driving performance and accountability.
• Allocate workloads, manage deadlines, and implement process improvements.

Client & Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as a payroll expert to clients and internal stakeholders.
• Confidently explain and “sell” payroll system knowledge.
• Handle complex queries, escalations, and audits professionally.

Reporting & Analysis

• Produce payroll, headcount, costing, and compliance reports.
• Utilize advanced Excel for analysis, reconciliations, and decision support.

Requirements

• Matriculation (Grade 12) and a degree in HR, Payroll, Finance, or related field.
• 5–10 years’ payroll management experience in a large, high-volume environment.
• Expert-level knowledge of Sage 300 payroll.
• Strong understanding of taxation, payroll legislation, job costing, benefits, and statutory reporting.
• Experience working with bargaining councils and labour brokers.
• Advanced Excel skills for reporting and analysis.
• Proven ability to lead and develop a payroll team.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and attention-to-detail skills.
• Confident communicator able to engage clients and stakeholders.
• Proactive, solutions-oriented, and able to work under pressure.