Payroll Manager

Red Ember Recruitment (Pty) Ltd; Wes-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 800,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Red Ember Recruitment (Pty) Ltd is seeking a Payroll Manager to oversee end-to-end payroll operations across multiple African countries using Sage 300 People. The role focuses on accuracy, governance, and audit readiness, providing leadership to payroll teams and reporting to the Head of Payroll.

Responsibilities include operational delivery, third-party payments, and payroll controls, with a strong emphasis on risk management, timelines, and stakeholder engagement across HR, Finance and

Qualifications

• 5–8 years’ payroll experience, including multi-country African payroll exposure.
• Hands-on experience with Sage 300 People in a leadership capacity.
• Strong exposure to payroll reviews, reconciliations, and audits.

Responsibilities

• Oversee end-to-end payroll operations for multiple African countries.
• Lead payroll reviews, reconciliations, and third-party payments.
• Ensure payrolls are processed in line with calendars, cut-offs and controls.
• Coordinate payroll activities across Payroll Supervisors, Specialists and Bookkeepers.
• Provide regular payroll status, risks and dependencies to the Head of Payroll.

Skills

Payroll management

Sage 300 People

Multi-country payroll

Leadership

Education

Payroll certification (SAIPA, SAPA, CIPP)

Tools

Excel

Sage 300 People

Job description

Job Description

The Payroll Manager is accountable for the end-to-end operational delivery, governance, and performance of payroll and payroll-related third-party payments across multiple African countries using Sage 300 People.

The role ensures payroll processing, reconciliations, and payments are accurate, compliant, controlled, and audit-ready, while providing leadership to payroll teams and assurance to the Head of Payroll that all payroll outputs are prepared for regional review and final sign-off.

Responsibilities:

Payroll Operations Management:

• Own the operational delivery of monthly payrolls across assigned African countries.
  
• Oversee payroll processing, reconciliation, and payment preparation activities across teams.
  
• Ensure payrolls are processed in line with approved calendars, cut-offs, and internal controls.
  
• Coordinate payroll activities across Payroll Supervisors, Payroll Specialists, and Payroll Bookkeepers.
  
• Provide regular payroll operational status, risks, and dependencies to the Head of Payroll.
  

Payroll Review, Risk and Control Oversight:

• Provide second-level review and challenge over payroll outputs, reconciliations, and variances.
  
• Ensure first-level and second-level reviews are performed by Supervisors and Specialists, respectively.
  
• Review high-risk payroll items, material adjustments, and control exceptions.
  
• Ensure payroll outputs, reconciliations, and payment schedules are fully supported and approved prior to escalation.
  
• Monitor payroll risks, control findings, and corrective actions.
  

3rd-Party Payroll Payment Governance:

• Accountable for the governance and oversight of all payroll-related third-party payments, including:
  o Tax authorities
  o Pension, provident, and retirement funds
  o Medical aid and insurance providers
  o Garnishees and statutory bodies
  
• Oversee preparation and review of third-party payment schedules and supporting reconciliations.
  
• Ensure segregation of duties between payroll processing, review, booking, and payment release.
  
• Monitor statutory deadlines, payment timelines, and confirmation of settlement.
  
• Escalate payment risks or material discrepancies to the Head of Payroll.
  

Payroll Bookkeepingand Financial Integration:

• Oversee payroll bookkeeping activities performed by Payroll Bookkeepers.
  
• Ensure accurate posting of payroll journals, accruals, and reversals to the general ledger.
  
• Review payroll control account reconciliations and variance explanations.
  
• Ensure payroll outputs reconcile to third-party payments and financial records.
  
• Liaise with Finance on payroll-related accounting, reporting, and audit requirements.
  

Sage 300 People – Operational Ownership:

• Act as the operational owner of Sage 300 People payroll execution.
  
• Ensure Payroll Supervisors and Administrators follow approved system processes and controls.
  
• Oversee operational testing for legislative updates, patches, and payroll cycle readiness.
  
• Escalate system configuration, design, or risk matters to the Payroll Specialist (System Owner).
  
• Ensure stability and reliability of payroll outputs and interfaces.
  

Team Leadership and Performance Management:

• Lead, manage, and coach Payroll Supervisors, Payroll Specialists, and Payroll Bookkeepers.
  
• Ensure clear role accountability and effective collaboration across payroll functions.
  
• Set performance objectives aligned to accuracy, timeliness, controls, and compliance.
  
• Manage team capacity, succession planning, and skills development.
  
• Reinforce a culture of accountability, quality, and ethical conduct.
  

Compliance, Audit and Governance:

• Ensure payroll operations comply with country-specific legislation across African jurisdictions.
  
• Support and manage responses to internal and external payroll audits.
  
• Ensure audit-ready documentation, controls evidence, and resolution of findings.
  
• Drive continuous improvement in payroll governance and risk management Stakeholder & Executive Engagement.
  
• Act as the primary operational escalation point for payroll, payments, and reconciliations.
  
• Engage with HR, Finance, Treasury, Tax, and external service providers.
  
• Provide clear, concise reporting and advice to the Head of Payroll.
  
• Support payroll-related change initiatives and regional projects.
  
• Strong leadership across specialist and transactional teams.
  
• High control awareness and risk-based judgement.
  
• Ability to manage complexity and competing deadlines.
  
• High ethical standards and confidentiality.
  
• Sage 300 People (operational oversight and payroll execution).
  
• Payroll controls, approvals, and risk management.
  
• Payroll bookkeeping, control accounts, and reconciliations.
  
• Third-party payment governance.
  
• Advanced payroll reporting and Excel analysis.
  

Requirements

• Diploma or Degree in Payroll, Finance, Human Resources, or a related field.
  
• Payroll certification (SAIPA, SAPA, CIPP, or equivalent) – advantageous.
  
• 5–8 years’ payroll experience, including multi-country African payroll exposure.
  
• Strong exposure to payroll reviews, third-party payments, reconciliations, and audits.
  
• Hands-on experience with Sage 300 People in a leadership capacity.
  

Requirements
5–8 years’ payroll experience, including multi-country African payroll exposure. Proven experience managing Payroll Specialists, Payroll Supervisors, or Payroll Bookkeepers. Strong exposure to payroll reviews, third-party payments, reconciliations, and audits. Hands-on experience with Sage 300 People in a leadership capacity.