Payroll Specialist Lead - South Africa/ Sub-Sahara

Remote; South Africa; Remote; ZAR 577 000 - 1 283 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global employment solutions company is seeking a Payroll Specialist Lead to manage payroll operations for South Africa. This fully remote position requires expertise in payroll management, strong analytical skills, and proficiency with SAP and Excel. The role emphasizes mentorship and compliance while allowing flexibility in work hours to promote life-work balance.

Benefits

Budget for local in‑person social events

Co-working spaces

Qualifications

• Experience in payroll management is essential.
• Knowledge of payroll best practices is necessary.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills required.

Responsibilities

• Act as a subject matter expert for Payroll in South Africa.
• Manage relationships with key stakeholders.
• Process full payroll operations and ensure compliance.
• Mentor payroll specialists and support regional managers.

Skills

Payroll management or equivalent experience

Knowledge of payroll best practices

Proficient in using software tools like SAP, Excel / Google Sheet

Analytical mindset

Problem-solving abilities

Adaptability to fast-paced environments

Fluent in English

Remote experience

Tools

SAP

Excel

Google Sheets

Job description

Payroll Specialist Lead - South Africa/ Sub-Sahara

Remote-South Africa

About Remote

Remote is solving modern organizations’ biggest challenge – navigating global employment compliantly with ease. We make it possible for businesses of all sizes to recruit, pay, and manage international teams. With our core values at heart and future focused work culture, our team works tirelessly on ambitious problems, asynchronously, around the world. All positions are fully remote.

What this job can offer you

This is an exciting time to join Remote and make a personal difference in the global employment space as a Payroll Specialist Lead joining our Global Payroll Operations Team.

What you bring

• Payroll management or equivalent experience
• Knowledge of payroll best practices
• Proficient in using software tools like SAP, Excel / Google Sheet
• An analytical mindset with great problem‑solving abilities
• Ability to adapt to a fast‑paced, international work environment with a passion for making an impact
• Productivity geek who constantly seeks ways to improve and speed up work
• Fluent in English, written and spoken
• Remote experience considered a plus

Key Responsibilities

• Act as a true subject matter expert for the South Africa region
  • Manage existing relationships with key stakeholders within Payroll Implementation, Finance, Product, Engineers
  • Process full end‑to‑end payroll in‑house, statutory filing requirements, exceptions, approvals, payments and compliance
  • Ensure full data integrity and quality
• Accounting and reconciliations
• Focus on KPIs and SLAs
• Implement and improve processes
• Mentor and support payroll specialists
• Back up regional managers during absence

Practicals

• Report to: Manager, Payroll Operations
• Team: Payroll Operations
• Location: South Africa (remote)

Salary & Benefits

The annual salary range for this full‑time position is $33,300 - $74,000 USD.

• Budget for local in‑person social events or co‑working spaces

How you’ll plan your day (and life)

We work asynchronously at Remote which means you can plan your schedule around your life, not meetings. You will be empowered to take ownership and be proactive, and have a life‑work balance that allows you to put yourself and your family first.

How to apply

• Please fill out the form below and upload your CV in PDF format.
• Submit your application and CV in English.
• If you don’t have an up‑to‑date CV, you may attach a LinkedIn profile instead.

We encourage applicants from all ethnic groups, genders, sexualities, ages, abilities, disability status and other under‑represented groups to apply. We prioritize a sense of belonging and provide accommodations upon request.