Senior Payroll Manager

Boardroom Appointments; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment firm seeks a Senior Payroll Manager to oversee payroll functions across multiple business units. The ideal candidate should have at least 8 years of payroll experience, including 5 years in a management role, with knowledge of payroll systems like Workday and PaySpace. Strong leadership and communication skills are essential for success in this role. This is a key position requiring strategic thinking and strong compliance with payroll legislation.

Qualifications

• 8 years of progressive, professional experience in payroll.
• 5 years of experience in payroll management.
• Experience with management of multiple business unit payroll.

Responsibilities

• Administer and maintain payroll systems.
• Manage group payroll function for efficiency.
• Resolve escalated stakeholder queries.

Skills

Payroll Certifications

Excellent communication skills

Strong planning and organizing skills

People leadership

Expert knowledge of relevant legislation

Strong computer proficiency

Education

BCom degree (Accounting) or equivalent

Tools

Workday

PaySpace

Job description

About the job Senior Payroll Manager

Qualifications

• BCom degree (Accounting) or equivalent
• Payroll Certifications
• HR Information System and/or Payroll System certifications (Workday and/or PaySpace will be advantageous)
• 8 years of progressive, professional experience in payroll within a multinational listed company
• 5 years of progressive experience in payroll management
• International experience with Payroll management and administration
• Experience with the management of multiple business unit payroll administration
• Experience in Payroll Bureau service management
• Workday and PaySpace exposure will be advantageous
• Professional membership in South African Payroll Association (SAPA) or related professional institutes
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal)
• Deep knowledge and experience with HR Information Systems and/or Payroll systems (e.g., Workday, Payspace) managing vendors and service providers
• Experience operating at a strategic and tactical operational level
• Strong planning, organizing and analytical skills with excellent attention to detail
• Ability to adapt programmes according to cultural norms
• People focused with the ability to strongly lead a team through any circumstance
• Ability to influence and build strong relationships at all levels and throughout the organization
• Demonstrated success in managing multiple projects to deliver results under tight deadlines
• High level of resilience and emotional intelligence to engage with different stakeholders
• Strong passion for technology
• Strong presentation skills
• Strong financial and business acumen
• Excellent numerical skills and advanced accounting skills
• Expert knowledge of business and industry standards and best practices in payroll principles, remuneration and employee benefits
• Strong knowledge and understanding of tax as related to Remuneration and Benefits
• Expert knowledge of relevant legislation i.e., Tax, BCEA, LRA, COIDA and UIF
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Strong time management skills
• Self-driven and independent
• Strong computer proficiency (MS Office with PowerPoint, Word, Outlook & Excel)

Responsibilities

• Administer and maintain payroll and the relevant payroll system to ensure that payroll delivers a value-added service.
• Effectively manage the group payroll function to ensure accurate and efficient service delivery to the multiple business units, both nationally and internationally.
• Day to day administration of the payroll, including month end activities, interface with finance, calculation, and payment of payroll tax, plus coordination of the superannuation contributions.
• Responsible for the general ledger (GL) integrations and troubleshooting.
• Investigate and report on payroll queries and act on findings/recommendations as required.
• Resolve all escalated and directed stakeholder queries and complaints.
• Responsible for 3rd party and statutory reports, reconciliations, and payments.
• Processing of the remuneration reviews and bonus payments.
• Responsible for the payroll cash forecast, payment releases and monthly payroll roll-overs.
• Responsible for the annual IRP5 reconciliations.
• Provide annual reports to the tax department and guidance to HR teams on tax matters related to payroll, compensation, or benefits as needed.
• Ensure compliance and manage leave accrual, allocation, and payment upon termination per company policies and legislative requirements.
• Partner with HC Leadership and HC teams to identify payroll needs and ensure customer satisfaction.
• Utilise trends to develop best practice initiatives and provide strategic direction on payroll management to the payroll team and across the company.
• Provide in-depth technical and functional subject matter expertise for payroll activities.
• Define metrics to measure, analyse, and report on payroll activities and performance.
• Prepare payroll reports for various stakeholders as required.
• Advise and drive actions for payroll platforms and related systems to optimise the payroll function.
• Review and monitor initiatives across the group to ensure alignment and compliance with legislation and standards.
• Enable a learning culture and maximise automation of payroll activities through technology and platforms.
• Maintain up-to-date policies and procedures aligned to best practice and policy requirements related to payroll.
• Ensure payroll compliance with statutory requirements, regulations, standards, and governance principles.
• Participate in audits and resolve any issues in a timely manner; attend meetings and follow through on actions related to payroll activities with stakeholders.
• Manage service level agreements for payroll with internal or external parties; develop strategic relationships with partners and service providers.
• Manage payroll system and integrations (e.g., Workday, D365) and ensure reporting and regulatory compliance (BBBEE, COIDA, Employment Equity, Skills Development, etc.).
• Staff leadership and management: develop PDPs, provide KPIs, conduct performance reviews, maintain high performance with regular feedback.
• Governance and risk management: ensure legal compliance, governance mechanisms, SLAs/SOPs, manage payroll risks, and uphold ethical employment practices.
• External relations: engage regulators and partners, manage consultants/service providers, and communicate HC-related matters across the business and externally.