Payroll Officer

• We are looking for a detail-oriented and experienced payroll professional with strong SAGE 300 People expertise, a passion for accuracy, and a commitment to delivering exceptional service. The ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced environment, demonstrate high levels of integrity and confidentiality, and consistently deliver accurate payroll outcomes within strict deadlines.

Purpose of the role

• Coordinate and process the organisation's payroll and compensation-related activities accurately and on time. Ensure payroll payments, benefits, taxes and deductions are correctly processed, supported by complete records and effective payroll controls.

The job responsibilities

• Manage the end-to-end monthly payroll and weekly payment processes on SAGE 300 People, ensuring that all inputs are validated, approved and processed accurately within agreed deadlines.
• Process employee payroll transactions, including appointments, transfers, promotions, salary changes, overtime, leave, allowances, bonuses, benefits, deductions and terminations.
• Maintain SAGE 300 People payroll configurations, rules, leave management, cost allocations, employee and learner salary schedules, and payroll system controls.
• Coordinate payroll-related onboarding and employee changes, including system activation, employee records, banking verification, employment confirmations and payslip simulations.
• Administer employee benefits, including medical aid and provident fund enrolments, amendments, withdrawals, terminations, provider reconciliations and employee queries.
• Manage employee terminations, final-pay calculations, benefit withdrawals and statutory documentation, including UI-19, UI-2.7 and related exit documents.
• Validate payroll inputs and perform pre-payroll and post-payroll audits, reconciliations, variance reviews, exception reporting and control checks.
• Reconcile payroll, bank payments, general ledger and journal accounts, statutory deductions, employee benefits and third-party payments, and resolve discrepancies.
• Prepare salary payment files and coordinate the secure and timely upload of monthly salaries payments to the bank.
• Ensure compliance with South African payroll legislation, tax requirements and applicable bargaining council provisions, including PAYE, UIF, SDL, COIDA, EMP201, EMP501, tax certificates and Statistics South Africa reporting.
• Prepare, analyse and distribute payroll and management reports covering payroll expenditure, variances, headcount, leave, overtime, tax, benefits, third-party payments and month-end results.
• Resolve payroll, leave, tax and benefit queries and liaise with employees, managers, HR, Finance, SARS and third-party service providers.
• Maintain complete and accurate payroll and HR records in line with company policies, confidentiality requirements, audit standards and applicable ISO, POPIA and legislative requirements.
• Support payroll and BBBEE audits, payroll cost analysis, system upgrades, testing, Workday support and continuous process improvement initiatives.
• Review payroll processes and, where required, the work of others; identify control gaps and recommend practical improvements to strengthen accuracy and efficiency
• Perform reasonable ad hoc payroll and HR administration duties as required.

Qualifications

• Relevant diploma or equivalent qualification in Payroll, Human Resources, Finance, Accounting or a related field
• Payroll certification or recognised professional payroll qualification will be advantageous

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years' relevant payroll experience in a complex payroll environment
• Solid hands-on experience working on SAGE 300 People is essential
• Experience in payroll reconciliations, statutory submissions, employee benefits, third-party payments, reporting and audit support
• Experience in a bargaining council MEIBC or industrial environment will be advantageous

Skills and competencies

• Strong working knowledge of SAGE 300 People and payroll administration principles
• Good knowledge of payroll legislation, statutory deductions, tax requirements and payroll controls
• Advanced computer skills, particularly Microsoft Excel and payroll reporting
• High level of numerical accuracy, analytical ability and attention to detail
• Ability to work independently with general supervision and solve difficult but typically non-complex payroll problems using established procedures
• Sound judgement, problem-solving ability and confidence to recommend practical solutions
• Excellent planning, organisational and deadline-management skills
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain payroll facts, policies and practices to stakeholders
• Service-oriented approach and ability to resolve employee enquiries professionally
• Integrity, discretion and strong confidentiality management

Deadline:11th September,2026