Payroll Operations Manager

Virgin Active; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 200 000 - 300 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading fitness organization in Cape Town is seeking an experienced payroll specialist to manage payroll functions, third-party payments, and enhance member experiences. The ideal candidate will have over 3 years of relevant experience, strong communication skills, and a keen attention to detail. This role includes leading a payroll team and fostering a positive environment while ensuring accuracy in financial processes. Join us in making a positive difference every day!

Benefits

Pension and risk benefits

Employee wellness programs

Qualifications

• 3+ years' experience as a payroll specialist or payroll manager.
• Proven experience in managing incentive or commission scheme schedules.
• Ability to manage pension fund and risk calculations.

Responsibilities

• Be the host while owning every interaction to enhance member experience.
• Accurately track and reconcile pension and risk contributions.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the payroll team.

Skills

Proficiency in payroll systems

Strong Excel and reporting skills

Excellent communication skills

High attention to detail

Ability to manage third-party payments

Proactiveness

Education

Related tertiary qualification

Job description

Responsibilities

• Be the host while owning every interaction and make the member experience memorable.
• Drive a social wellness club by having a natural service orientation with a deep passion for wellness and a desire to make a positive difference every day.
• Pension and risk benefits
  • Accurately track, record and reconcile all employee and employer pension and risk contributions.
  • Ensure all pension and risk calculations and employee deductions are valid, accurate and complete.
  • Prepare pension and risk payment batches.
  • Prepare monthly data for Discovery in specific format and address all queries raised.
  • Maintain and update documents as changes occur, ensuring they reflect the latest policies and participant information.
  • Supervise and oversee staff benefit payments, including withdrawals, disability payments, funeral, death payments and critical illness payments.
  • Prepare for and assist during external audits, providing necessary documentation and records.
  • Serve as a point of contact for employees who have questions about their pension or risk plans or deductions.
• Third‑party employee payments (including medical aid)
  • Prepare third‑party payment batches and ensure payments are made according to the deadlines.
  • Oversee payroll data submitted to third‑party providers ensuring accuracy and compliance.
  • Investigate and resolve payroll third‑party issues swiftly to maintain trust and accuracy.
• Sales incentives and commission payment
  • Prepare monthly reporting for various role‑players.
  • Ensure timely processing of sales incentives received from the sales department.
  • Ensure timely updating of the commission due to staff on payroll.
  • Submit daily reporting to IT department for creation of sales codes.
  • Make the necessary adjustments to figures according to instructions received from the commission team.
  • Manage senior staff leave pay by ensuring that the correct leave pay is paid to senior sales staff.
• Payroll team management
  • Lead, mentor and develop the payroll team and foster a positive and productive work environment.
  • Conduct performance evaluations and provide training as needed.
  • Manage the maintenance of thorough documentation of payroll processes.
  • Provide training to staff on payroll‑related issues and procedures.

Minimum Requirements

• Related tertiary qualification with minimum years' working experience within payroll.
• 3+ years' experience as a payroll specialist or payroll manager.
• Proven experience in managing third‑party payments such as medical scheme payments, pension provider payments, SARS payments or any other third‑party payment schedules.
• Proven experience in managing incentive or commission scheme schedules and payments.
• Proven experience in managing pension fund and risk calculations and payments.
• Ability to manage and oversee risk and pension processes from withdrawals and benefit claims.
• High attention to detail, speed, agility and accuracy.
• Pro‑activeness, collaborative, innovative and determined initiative.
• Proficiency in payroll systems and statutory employee deductions.
• Strong Excel and reporting skills.
• Excellent communication skills.

Attributes

• Adaptability (must be able to adapt to a fast‑paced, changing environment).
• Curiosity (must be willing to succeed, seek opportunities to learn and grow).
• Winning mentality (must be willing to go above and beyond to achieve success).
• Motivation to achieve success.
• Commitment to making a difference in people's lives.
• Growth mindset.
• Ability to work independently.
• Trustworthiness (must always act in doing the right thing).
• Drive to create moments of magic for our members.
• Decision‑making, ownership, and responsibility.
• Action orientation.

Additional Skills

• Wellness knowledge to engage and inspire others to take a holistic approach to wellness.
• Ability to be agile.
• Ability to be collaborative.
• High interpersonal skills (EQ).