Payroll Officer / Administrator

Smith Garb; Kempton Park; On-site; ZAR 350,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

Smith Garb in Gauteng is seeking a detail-driven Payroll Accountant to own the monthly payroll cycle for about 70–80 employees. You will maintain master data and ensure accurate payroll journals and related accounting entries, collaborating with Finance and Operations.

Ideal candidate has a BCom in accounting with 3–5 years payroll experience, strong Excel skills, and hands-on experience with Sage 300, AS400 or D365 FO.

Qualifications

• BCom Accounting degree is required.
• 3–5 years' experience in a payroll environment.
• Strong understanding of payroll and financial accounting.
• Advanced Excel skills and MS Office proficiency.
• Experience with Sage 300, AS400 and/or D365 FO is required.
• Attention to detail and accuracy; process-oriented with controls.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of the monthly payroll for 70–80 employees.
• Maintain accurate payroll master data.
• Process payroll and prepare payroll journals and accounting entries.
• Manage payroll-related provisions including leave and incentives.
• Prepare payroll balance sheet reconciliations and risk schedules.
• Monitor leave balances and highlight concerns to management.
• Analyze employee costs, FTEs, working hours and labour broker costs.
• Identify opportunities to reduce employee-related costs.
• Ensure timely monthly, quarterly and year-end payroll reporting.
• Act as link between Finance and Operations on payroll matters.
• Support budgeting process with payroll input.
• Ensure consistent payroll processes across the business.

Skills

Payroll management

Financial accounting

Analytical thinking

Attention to detail

Time management

Communication skills

Education

BCom Accounting

Honours qualification

Tools

Sage 300

AS400

Microsoft D365 FO

MS Excel

MS Office

Job description

Key Responsibilities

• Take ownership of the monthly payroll process for approximately 70–80 employees.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date payroll master data.
• Process payroll and prepare payroll journals and related accounting entries.
• Manage payroll-related provisions, including leave and management incentives.
• Prepare payroll-related balance sheet reconciliations and risk/opportunity schedules.
• Monitor leave balances and highlight potential concerns to management.
• Analyse employee costs, FTEs, working hours and labour broker costs.
• Identify opportunities to improve and manage employee-related costs.
• Manage salary recharges between entities.
• Support payroll-related aspects of the budgeting process.
• Ensure accurate and timely monthly, quarterly and year-end payroll reporting.
• Act as the key link between Finance and Operations on payroll-related matters.
• Ensure relevant financial and payroll processes are consistently followed across the business.
• Provide support to the General Ledger function when required.
• Assist with financial reporting to Country Management and the Finance Manager.
• Manage monthly task lists and ensure deadlines are consistently achieved.
• Provide support on ad hoc payroll and finance-related requirements.

Minimum Requirements

• BCom Accounting degree.
• 3–5 years' experience within a payroll environment.
• Strong understanding of payroll and financial accounting.
• Advanced proficiency in MS Office, particularly Excel.
• Experience with Sage 300, AS400 and/or Microsoft D365 FO.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Process- and controls-driven approach.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving ability.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Good understanding of local and Group financial compliance.
• Excellent time management and organisational skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication.
• Ability to work collaboratively with both Finance and Operations.
• Self-motivated, proactive and comfortable working with initiative.
• Valid driver's licence.

Advantageous

• Honours qualification.
• Experience working in a smaller finance environment, with exposure to both payroll and accounting functions.

The Ideal Candidate

We're looking for someone who is detail-driven, analytical and commercially aware — someone who can take full ownership of payroll while understanding the financial impact behind the numbers.
If you're ready to step into a role where your payroll expertise directly supports both Finance and the wider business, we'd like to hear from you.