Payroll Manager

Payroll Operations Management:

• Own the operational delivery of monthly payrolls across
  assigned African countries.
  
• Oversee payroll processing, reconciliation, and payment
  preparation activities across teams.
  
• Ensure payrolls are processed in line with approved
  calendars, cut-offs, and internal controls.
  
• Coordinate payroll activities across Payroll Supervisors,
  Payroll Specialists, and Payroll Bookkeepers.
  
• Provide regular payroll operational status, risks, and
  dependencies to the Head of Payroll.
  
  

Payroll Review, Risk and Control Oversight:

• Provide second-level review and challenge over payroll
  outputs, reconciliations, and variances.
  
• Ensure first-level and second-level reviews are performed
  by Supervisors and Specialists, respectively.
  
• Review high-risk payroll
  items, material adjustments, and control exceptions.
  
• Ensure payroll outputs,
  reconciliations, and payment schedules are fully supported and approved prior
  to escalation.
  
• Monitor payroll risks,
  control findings, and corrective actions.
  
  

3rd-Party Payroll Payment
Governance:

• Accountable for the
  governance and oversight of all payroll-related third-party payments, including:
    o Tax authorities
    o Pension, provident, and
  retirement funds
    o Medical aid and insurance
  providers
    o Garnishees and statutory
  bodies
  
• Oversee preparation and
  review of third-party payment schedules and supporting reconciliations.
  
• Ensure segregation of duties
  between payroll processing, review, booking, and payment release.
  
• Monitor statutory deadlines,
  payment timelines, and confirmation of settlement.
  
• Escalate payment risks or
  material discrepancies to the Head of Payroll.
  
  

Payroll Bookkeepingand Financial Integration:

• Oversee payroll bookkeeping
  activities performed by Payroll Bookkeepers.
  
• Ensure accurate posting of
  payroll journals, accruals, and reversals to the general ledger.
  
• Review payroll control
  account reconciliations and variance explanations.
  
• Ensure payroll outputs
  reconcile to third-party payments and financial records.
  
• Liaise with Finance on
  payroll-related accounting, reporting, and audit requirements.
  
  

Sage 300 People – Operational
Ownership:

• Act as the operational owner
  of Sage 300 People payroll execution.
  
• Ensure Payroll Supervisors
  and Administrators follow approved system processes and controls.
  
• Oversee operational testing
  for legislative updates, patches, and payroll cycle readiness.
  
• Escalate system
  configuration, design, or risk matters to the Payroll Specialist (System Owner).
  
• Ensure stability and
  reliability of payroll outputs and interfaces.
  
  

Team Leadership and Performance Management:

• Lead, manage, and coach
  Payroll Supervisors, Payroll Specialists, and Payroll Bookkeepers.
  
• Ensure clear role
  accountability and effective collaboration across payroll functions.
  
• Set performance objectives
  aligned to accuracy, timeliness, controls, and compliance.
  
• Manage team capacity,
  succession planning, and skills development.
  
• Reinforce a culture of
  accountability, quality, and ethical conduct.
  
  

Compliance, Audit and Governance:

• Ensure payroll operations
  comply with country-specific legislation across African jurisdictions.
  
• Support and manage responses
  to internal and external payroll audits.
  
• Ensure audit-ready
  documentation, controls evidence, and resolution of findings.
  
• Drive continuous improvement
  in payroll governance and risk management Stakeholder & Executive
  Engagement.
  
• Act as the primary
  operational escalation point for payroll, payments, and reconciliations.
  
• Engage with HR, Finance,
  Treasury, Tax, and external service providers.
  
• Provide clear, concise
  reporting and advice to the Head of Payroll.
  
• Support payroll-related
  change initiatives and regional projects.
  
  

Competencies:

• Strong leadership across specialist and transactional teams.
  
• High control awareness and risk-based judgement.
  
• Ability to manage complexity and competing deadlines.
  
• Clear executive-level communication.
  
• High ethical standards and confidentiality.
  
• Sage 300 People (operational oversight and payroll
  execution).
  
• Payroll controls, approvals, and risk management.
  
• Payroll bookkeeping, control accounts, and reconciliations.
  
• Third-party payment governance.
  
• Advanced payroll reporting and Excel analysis.
  

Requirements