Payroll and Benefits Officer

We have an exciting opportunity for a Payroll and Benefits Officer within the People Support Department. The overall responsibilities of the successful incumbent are to process payroll professionally, accurately and timeously as well as to provide professional, efficient, accurate and effective payroll and benefits administration support to the department and business. Key Responsibilities 1. Payroll Processing • Ensures accurate, timeous and consistent processing of monthly payrolls (hourly and salaried employees) by the agreed due dates of each month. • Administers payroll, benefits and leave systems accurately and timely. • Processes all additional earnings and deductions (i.e. standby allowance, shift allowance, etc.) to ensure that all payroll inputs are processed by the agreed due dates of each month. • Load new employees on SAGE 300 People system by the 10th of each month. • Terminates employees on SAGE 300 People system prior to payroll roll over. • Updates hierarchy changes on SAGE 300 People system as and when requested. • Approves claims and personal detail changes (incl employee banking details) on SAGE 300 People ESS by the agreed due dates of each month. • Engages with Contact Centre Operations Managers on payroll related information such as sign-off payroll hours or incentive related information to ensure information is accurate. • Obtains approval from Payroll and Reward Manager for any changes on payroll (these changes may include and/or may not be limited to earnings, deductions, fringe benefits and company contributions.) • Ensures that all payroll processes are compliant and adhered to as prescribed by the business. 2. Payroll Administration • Checks all contractual entitlements and payment methods for proper authorisation and for consistency with the Company’s payment policies and other statutory regulations. • Refer any discrepancy matters to Payroll and Reward Manager for review and guidance. • Update and maintain payroll records on Sage 300 People. • Liaises with staff and management on payroll and employee benefit related queries. • Prepares the reconciliation of PAYE, UIF and SDL. • Prepares the reconciliation of payroll related GL accounts. • Prepares statutory submissions (monthly, bi-annual and annual) by the prescribed due dates. • Prepares third party reconciliations and payments (Discovery, Momentum etc.). • Assists with external payroll audits (DOL, PWC etc.). • Responsible for confirmation of employment with external companies or providers. • Check and approve /decline personal changes (incl bank details) and claims receive via Sage ESS. • Prepares and completes accurate and timeous delivery of monthly reports for payroll and the business. • Updates and maintains the Parking Schedule monthly with eligible employee movement. • Allocates company parking bays to employees as per the Parking Policy and communicates parking bay eligibility monthly to employees. • From time to time assist the People Support team with preparations of UI19 and UI2.7 forms (terminations & maternity leave) when required. • Assist with preparing monthly absenteeism stats for back office and contact centre reporting. • Prepares monthly payroll files and files all documentation accurately. 3. Benefits Administration • Assists with administration & manage the billing of employee benefits in accordance with Committee decisions, Fund rules and company Remuneration Policy. • Assists employees with all Medical Aid, Medical Insurance and Gap Cover queries and applications, submit changes to the service provider & process deductions on the payroll. • Inform benefits service providers (e.g. Medical Aid, Medical Insurance, Gap Cover and Extended Funeral) of employee movements no later than 7th of each month. • Prepare benefit reconciliation reports and compliance reports for the Payroll and Reward Manager, confirming employee movements and changes monthly by the 7th of each month. • Assist with the annual benefits open period and ensure that all benefit changes are reconciled and processed correctly on Sage 300 People. Reports any discrepancies to the Payroll & Reward Manager and People Support Services Manager. • Processes provident fund withdrawal forms upon termination on the provider’s online portal to ensure retirement benefits are processed correctly and follow up on outstanding withdrawal forms by the 7th of each month. • Update and maintain record of un-submitted withdrawal forms from ex-employees and ensures that forms are received for timeous processing.