Payroll Manager

AtripleA recruitment & temps; Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

AtripleA recruitment & temps in Pretoria seeks a Payroll Manager to lead a high‑volume payroll function and drive strict timelines. You will act as PaySpace Super User, ensuring data integrity, compliance, and multi-entity processing for 1,500+ staff.

The role requires 8+ years in payroll with 5+ years in a leadership capacity, and a degree or diploma in payroll, accounting, finance, or HR. Strong MS Excel and eFiling skills are essential.

Qualifications

• 8+ years hands-on payroll administration experience.
• 5+ years direct managerial or team leadership experience.
• Experience in multi-entity payroll environments.
• Experience setting up and registering companies with statutory bodies.

Responsibilities

• Lead and scale the payroll department; manage 3 payroll officers.
• Oversee end-to-end payroll processing for 1,500+ staff across entities.
• Ensure SARS, IRP5, EMP201/EMP501 compliance and reporting.
• Act as PaySpace Super User; configure parameters and controls.

Skills

People leadership

Analytical thinking

High accuracy

Delegation

Confidentiality

Education

Grade 12

Payroll/Accounting/Finance degree or diploma

Tools

PaySpace

MS Excel

E-Filing / EasyFile

Job description

Job Title: Payroll Manager

Location: Pretoria

Position Overview

We are seeking an authoritative, highly analytical, and process-driven Payroll Manager to lead and scale our payroll department. This role demands a strong leader capable of driving strict payroll timelines, maintaining absolute data integrity, and holding team members accountable in an environment set for growth.

The successful candidate will act as the PaySpace Super User, responsible for end-to-end multi-entity payroll processing, system parameter configuration, entity registrations, and flawless tax and statutory compliance across 1,500+ staff members.

Key Responsibilities

Departmental Leadership, Structure & Governance

• Team Management: Direct, train, motivate, and manage performance for 3 Payroll Officers, establishing structured workflows and delegating responsibilities as the team expands.
• Accountability & Discipline: Enforce strict adherence to monthly payroll deadlines and hold team members accountable to a "first-time right" standard.
• Process Optimization: Design, implement, and maintain internal control systems and checking mechanisms to minimize risk and improve departmental efficiency.
• System Administration: Act as the internal PaySpace Super User. Establish access controls, audit user rights, configure parameters, and set up system rules for new operational requirements.

End-to-End Payroll Processing & Financial Controls

• High-Volume Payroll: Oversee the monthly rolling payroll execution for 1,500+ employees across multiple corporate and store entities.
• Data Integration: Review and process wage sheets, biometric clocking data, new hires, salary adjustments, variable pay, and terminations in PaySpace.
• Financial Reconciliations: Perform deep-dive payroll account ledger reconciliations, clear payroll-related queries, authorize bank payment uploads, and generate executive reporting via Smart Reports.

Compliance, Entity Registrations & Statutory Submissions

• SARS Compliance: Flawlessly execute monthly, bi-annual, and annual SARS returns (EMP201 and EMP501) via eFiling/EasyFile; oversee IRP5 run configurations and distribution.
• Entity Registrations: Register new corporate entities/companies with relevant bodies including SARS, COIDA/WCA, Department of Employment and Labour, and Bargaining Councils.
• Statutory Body Management: Reconcile and submit data for Bargaining Councils, Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), Compensation Fund (WCA/COIDA), and Provident Funds (Sanlam/Momentum/IRetire).
• Legislative Alignment: Ensure all payroll operations comply strictly with South African employment laws, including the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA), Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA), and SARS legislation.

Minimum Education & Qualifications

• Grade 12 (Matric)
• Degree/Diploma in Payroll, Accounting, Finance, or Human Resources
• 8+ years of hands-on payroll administration experience.
• 5+ years in a direct managerial or team leadership capacity overseeing payroll staff.
• Volume Capacity: Proven track record managing complex, multi-entity payroll environments exceeding 1,500 employees.
• Demonstrated experience in setting up and registering new companies with statutory bodies (SARS, Labour, WCA).
• Background working within a payroll bureau or multi-client/multi-entity structure is highly desirable.

Technical & System Skills

• PaySpace Mastery: Deep functional understanding of PaySpace, including parameter changes, module setups, and advanced system configuration.
• Advanced MS Excel: proficiency (VLOOKUPs, Pivot Tables, data matching, payroll reconciliations).
• E-Filing / EasyFile: Expert level in managing EMP201, EMP501 periodic, and annual submissions.

Key Competence

• Assertive Leadership: Confident in setting clear expectations, enforcing boundaries, and holding staff accountable without sacrificing morale.
• Analytical Thinking: Strong problem-solving abilities with high numerical accuracy to catch discrepancies before processing
• Even-Tempered & Resilient: Maintains composure under high pressure and strict deadline environments.
• Delegation & Strategic Planning: Ability to assign tasks effectively, freeing capacity to focus on systems, controls, and team growth.
• Confidentiality & Integrity: Absolute discretion when handling sensitive executive and workforce remuneration data.