Remuneration Manager/ Head of Department - Payroll

Fempower Personnel; Sandton; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Fempower Personnel in Gauteng seeks an experienced payroll leader to oversee end-to-end payroll processing for 1,000+ employees, ensuring accuracy and SARS compliance, while driving improvements in reporting and controls. You will manage payroll systems and interfaces, lead a payroll team, and collaborate with finance to ensure timely month- and year-end closes.

The role requires strong technical payroll knowledge, system experience (Payspace), and a proactive approach to policy development and

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification and/or relevant payroll-related qualification.
• 10 years relevant payroll management experience, including at least 3 years in a managerial payroll role.
• Subject matter expert for payroll, payroll system, payroll taxes and complex payroll processing.
• Proven track record in payroll implementation and interfaces to other applications.
• Payroll programming skills will be a huge advantage.
• Extensive experience in monthly and weekly payrolls for 1,000+ employees with multiple conditions of employment.
• Solid financial and accounting acumen.
• Ability to perform complex reconciliations and journals.
• In-depth knowledge of Labour laws including SARPBAC/MIBCO, LRA, BCEA, POPIA, Income Tax Act.
• Knowledge of bus passenger industry is an advantage.
• Advanced MS Office, particularly Excel, is essential.
• Report writing skills essential

Responsibilities

• Oversee end-to-end payroll processing, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and legislative compliance.
• Manage Payroll and Time & Attendance systems, including interfaces and reporting.
• Lead and manage the payroll team.
• Compile and manage departmental budgets, monitoring against actuals.
• Prepare month-end, year-end, and tax year-end financial reports, provisions, and reconciliations.
• Perform complex reconciliations (payroll-to-GL and third-party).
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve payroll policies and workflows.
• Ensure compliance with SARS submissions and statutory reporting.
• Conduct regular audits and risk assessments with mitigation strategies.
• Build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Drive payroll projects and contribute to strategy development.
• Meet all statutory and operational deadlines.

Skills

Payroll management

Team leadership

Excel

Payroll programming

Education

Payroll-related qualification

Tools

Payspace payroll system

Time & Attendance systems

Job description

Qualifications & Experience:

• Tertiary qualification and/or relevant payroll-related qualification

• 10 years relevant Payroll management experience, of which:

  • At least 3 years in a managerial payroll role

  • At least 3 years in a payroll system/ implementation/ interface role

• Subject matter expert for payroll, payroll system, payroll taxes and complex payroll processing

• Proven track record and experience in payroll implementation and interfaces to other applications is essential

• Payroll programming skills will be a huge advantage

• Extensive experience in monthly and weekly payrolls in excess of 1,000 employees with multiple conditions of employment

• Solid financial and accounting acumen

• Ability to perform complex reconciliations and journals

Systems Knowledge:

• Payspace payroll system experience at parameter level is a prerequisite – candidates must be able to configure the system and create reports

• Extensive knowledge/hands-on experience of Payroll and Time & Attendance systems

• Advanced MS Office, particularly Excel is essential

• Report writing skills essential

Legislative Knowledge:

• In-depth knowledge of relevant Labour laws including:

  • In-depth knowledge of Bargaining Council Agreements, specifically SARPBAC and or MIBCO, as well as LRA, BCEA, POPIA, and the Income Tax Act

  • Payroll best practices

• Knowledge of the bus passenger industry is an advantage

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee end-to-end payroll processing, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and legislative compliance

• Manage Payroll and Time & Attendance systems, including system interfaces and reporting

• Lead and manage the payroll team

• Compile and manage departmental budgets, monitoring against actuals

• Prepare month-end, year-end, and tax year-end financial reports, provisions, and reconciliations

• Perform complex reconciliations (payroll-to-GL and third-party)

• Develop, implement, and continuously improve payroll policies, procedures, and workflows

• Ensure compliance with SARS submissions and statutory reporting

• Conduct regular audits and risk assessments, implementing mitigation strategies

• Build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders

• Drive payroll projects and contribute to strategy development

• Ensure all statutory and operational deadlines are met