Payroll Specialist

Job Title

Payroll Specialist

Department

Human Capital

Location

Head Office

Reporting to

Remuneration and Benefits Manager

Direct reports

None

Main purpose of the job

The job purpose is to ensure the accurate, compliant, and timely delivery of payroll services by maintaining strong payroll governance, controls, systems, and processes; safeguarding data integrity; supporting audit readiness; and driving continuous improvement to meet organisational and legislative requirements.

High level job objectives

1. Ensure accurate and timely payroll processing, salary payments, third-party payments, and reconciliations.

2. Ensure compliance with all statutory, tax, and legislative requirements, including SARS, UIF, COIDA, and employee benefit regulations.

3. Develop, maintain, and review payroll policies, procedures, and SOPs to ensure compliance and operational effectiveness.

4. Maintain a robust payroll control framework and ensure payroll records and processes are audit-ready and compliant.

5. Support payroll systems, data integrity, system enhancements, and integration requirements.

6. Perform payroll validation and quality assurance checks to ensure payroll accuracy.

7. Partner with Finance, HR, IT, and external stakeholders to ensure effective payroll governance and service delivery.

8. Serve as the primary point of contact for payroll-related queries and issue resolution.

9. Support continuous process improvement, risk mitigation, and payroll efficiencies.

10. Facilitate knowledge transfer, training, and documentation to support business continuity and improvement.

Requirements

Qualifications

Essential

Desirable

• 3-year tertiary qualification in Finance/Accountancy/Payroll

x

Experience

Time Span

Essential

Desirable

• Administered a payroll headcount of 600+ in South Africa including permanent and contract employees

5 years

x

• Project Management experience

2 years

x

• Experience working with different ERP, payroll and HCMIS

3 years

x

Knowledge

Essential

Desirable

• Knowledge of BCEA and relevant labour legislation

x

• Knowledge of payroll/ accounting software

x

• Demonstrable knowledge of current legislation with regards to pay conditions and the tax treatment of fringe benefits

x

• Knowledge of HR processes and employee life cycle

x

Technical Skills/ Functional Skills

Essential

Desirable

• Ability to interpret and to reconcile complex financial data.

• Benefits administration and working with 3rd party benefit providers

• Applying statutory requirements affecting payroll and payments

• Proficient in Microsoft Office with advanced Excel

• Business/ financial acumen

x

Competency Profile: Behavioural

Essential

Desirable

• Adhering to Principles and Values

• Applying Expertise and Technology

• Analysing

• Planning and Organising

• Coping with Pressures and Setbacks

• Deciding and Initiating Action

• Delivering Results and Meeting Customer Expectations

• Relating and Networking

• Persuading and Influencing

x

Physical and other

Essential

Desirable

• Business travel – Locally and Nationally

x

• Good health

x

Disclaimer:

This job description is merely a summary of the typical functions of the job. It is not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all the possible job responsibilities, tasks and duties associated with this position.