Payroll Specialist

JM Consulting; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 360,000 - 480,000; Full time

Job summary

JM Consulting in Cape Town is seeking an experienced Payroll Specialist for a fixed-term, standalone role. You will own the payroll function end-to-end for SA payroll with exposure to international processes, working 5 days a week on-site in Claremont.

The role requires a hands-on, independent practitioner who can manage statutory submissions, payroll tax reconciliations, and benefits administration with strict deadlines.

Qualifications

• Hands-on SA payroll know-how and statutory submissions.
• Ability to operate payroll independently without a team.
• Detail-oriented with strict deadline adherence.

Responsibilities

• Independently manage and process the monthly payroll cycle end-to-end, as the sole payroll resource.
• Handle South African payroll with exposure to international payroll processes.
• Process employee movements, allowances, and fringe benefits accurately and timeously.
• Prepare and submit SARS and other statutory submissions, including payroll tax reconciliations.
• Perform payroll-to-GL reconciliations and prepare month-end payroll journals.
• Administer employee benefits (Provident Fund, Medical Aid, Gap Cover, EAP).
• Manage leave administration and reporting.
• Process benefits provider payments and related reconciliations.
• Liaise with internal stakeholders and external providers to ensure accurate, compliant payroll delivery.

Skills

Independent payroll management

Attention to detail

SA payroll knowledge

Payroll compliance

Tools

SAGE 300

Job description

Location: Claremont, Cape Town (5 days a week on-site)

Contract Duration: 8 months, starting 1 November

About the Business

Our client is a well-established asset management and investment firm based in Claremont, Cape Town. They are seeking an experienced Payroll Specialist to join on a fixed-term contract basis, taking full ownership of the payroll function.

About the Role

This is a standalone payroll position (there is no payroll team), so the successful candidate will be the sole person responsible for the function and must be entirely comfortable working independently, without a team around them to lean on for day-to-day support. You'll manage both South African monthly payroll and have exposure to international payroll, working closely with Finance and HR, but owning the process end-to-end yourself.

Key Responsibilities

• Independently manage and process the monthly payroll cycle end-to-end, as the sole payroll resource
• Manage South African payroll, with exposure to international payroll processes
• Process employee movements, allowances, and fringe benefits accurately and timeously
• Prepare and submit SARS and other statutory submissions, including payroll tax reconciliations
• Perform payroll-to-GL reconciliations and prepare month-end payroll journals
• Administer employee benefits, including Provident Fund, Medical Aid, Gap Cover, and EAP
• Manage leave administration and reporting
• Process benefits provider payments and perform related reconciliations
• Liaise with internal stakeholders and external providers to ensure accurate, compliant, and timeous payroll delivery

Requirements

• Strong, hands-on experience with SAGE 300 is essential
• Proven track record of independently managing payroll at a similar level of accountability, ideally as a sole practitioner or standalone payroll function
• Comfortable working solo, without a payroll team, and confident making decisions independently
• Solid understanding of SA payroll legislation, statutory submissions, and payroll tax
• Experience with payroll-to-GL reconciliations and month-end journal processing
• Experience administering employee benefits (Provident Fund, Medical Aid, Gap Cover, EAP)
• Strong attention to detail and ability to work to strict deadlines
• Available to work 5 days a week on-site in Claremont