Outsourced Payroll Manager

This is a leadership role for a highly motivated payroll professional who combines strong technical payroll expertise with outstanding people management and client relationship skills.

The successful candidate will oversee operational delivery, compliance, quality assurance, team performance, and continuous improvement across a diverse international client portfolio. You will act as the senior escalation point for payroll-related matters while partnering closely with clients, internal stakeholders, and executive leadership.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Operations Leadership

• Oversee the end-to-end payroll lifecycle for multiple international clients.
  
• Ensure payroll accuracy, compliance, timeliness, and service excellence across all client portfolios.
  
• Review and approve high-risk payroll deliverables, including payment processing, reconciliations, tax reviews, and payroll audits.
  
• Ensure payroll calendars, deadlines, and service level agreements are consistently achieved.
  
• Maintain oversight of employee benefits administration, including pensions, social insurance, health insurance, and statutory contributions.
  
• Ensure accurate and timely payment processing for salaries and third-party stakeholders.
  

Compliance & Governance

• Ensure compliance with country-specific payroll legislation and statutory requirements across all jurisdictions.
  
• Monitor regulatory changes and implement updates across payroll systems and processes.
  
• Oversee payroll tax filings and statutory submissions.
  
• Maintain strong payroll controls, audit trails, data integrity, and confidentiality standards.
  
• Ensure compliance with GDPR, POPIA, and other relevant data protection frameworks.
  
• Support internal and external payroll audits.
  

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, coach, and develop a team of payroll professionals.
  
• Manage capacity planning, workload allocation, and service delivery standards.
  
• Conduct performance reviews and identify development opportunities.
  
• Drive continuous learning, succession planning, and employee engagement initiatives.
  
• Foster a collaborative, high-performance culture focused on excellence and client service.
  
• Lead payroll-related projects and ensure successful execution against milestones and deadlines.
  

Client Relationship Management

• Serve as the senior escalation point for client payroll queries.
  
• Build and maintain strong, trusted client relationships.
  
• Participate in client meetings, service reviews, and strategic discussions.
  
• Provide advisory support regarding legislative updates, payroll processes, and system enhancements.
  
• Ensure proactive communication and effective resolution of payroll issues.
  
• Review and validate billing inputs for payroll services delivered.
  

Reporting, Analysis & Process Improvement

• Review payroll reports for clients, management, accounting teams, and auditors.
  
• Analyse payroll data to identify trends, discrepancies, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
  
• Drive process enhancements that improve efficiency, compliance, and service delivery.
  
• Collaborate with internal teams to optimise workflows and implement best practices.
  

Technology & Systems

• Leverage payroll technology and automation tools to improve operational effectiveness.
  
• Support team members in the effective use of payroll software, Microsoft 365, Excel, and platforms such as Zoho.
  
• Ensure payroll records are maintained accurately, securely, and in accordance with company policies.
  

What We're Looking For

Qualifications

• Diploma or Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, Payroll Administration, or a related field.
  

Experience

• Minimum 4-5 years' payroll experience, including experience in a leadership or supervisory capacity.
  
• Proven experience managing multiple payrolls and complex payroll environments.
  
• Experience within an outsourced payroll or payroll services environment will be highly advantageous.
  
• Exposure to international payroll operations would be beneficial.
  

Technical Skills

• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including reporting, reconciliation, and data analysis.
  
• Strong payroll systems knowledge and technical payroll expertise.
  
• Experience with payroll software and Microsoft 365.
  
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
  

Leadership Competencies

• Demonstrated people leadership and team development experience.
  
• Excellent coaching, mentoring, and stakeholder management skills.
  
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and tight deadlines.
  
• Strong commercial awareness and client service focus.
  
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
  

Personal Attributes

• Highly organised and detail-oriented.
  
• Strong numerical and analytical aptitude.
  
• Innovative, adaptable, and solutions-driven.
  
• Ability to work independently while leading a collaborative team environment.
  
• Unwavering commitment to accuracy, confidentiality, and professionalism.