Payroll Manager
Vacancy at a glance
Confirm details and submission instructions on the original advert.
Overview
As a Payroll Manager, you will play a key leadership role in delivering accurate, compliant, and efficient payroll services to multiple business units across South Africa — supporting over 9,000 employees. You’ll lead a team based in Pretoria and Malelane, contribute to the strategic direction of HR Shared Services, and ensure our payroll operations grow alongside the business.
Requirements
- A relevant Bachelor’s Degree
- 8 years’ payroll experience, including at least 3 years at a managerial level
- Proven track record of professional leadership and team development
- In-depth knowledge of HR/IT systems (preferably SAP), accounting procedures, and South African employment and tax legislation
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Proficiency in payroll systems and advanced Excel skills (ideally at a super user level)
- High attention to detail and strong organisational skills
- Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities
- Ability to manage confidential information with discretion
- Valid Code EB driver’s license and willingness to travel when required
Responsibilities
- Oversee the full payroll process, ensuring accurate and timely payments
- Ensure compliance with company policies, tax regulations, and legal standards
- Manage payroll reconciliations, superannuation, third-party payments, and general ledger journals
- Lead the update of payroll reference materials and manage system upgrades
- Drive ongoing auditing and continuous improvement initiatives
- Maintain accurate, confidential payroll records
- Provide detailed reports for management, finance, and audit purposes
- Analyse payroll data to forecast trends and support strategic HR decision-making
- Partner with IT and vendors to maintain payroll systems integrity
- Ensure UAT testing is completed and ITGC compliance is met
- Contribute to the broader HR technology strategy
- Lead or contribute to HR/IT project teams driving operational efficiencies
- Identify and implement process improvements and best practices
- Stay abreast of payroll-related legislation and regulatory changes
- Ensure the business remains compliant with all payroll tax obligations
- Provide clear direction and support to your team, applying RCL Values in Action
- Set clear targets, provide regular feedback, and drive professional development
- Champion succession planning to build a strong future leadership pipeline
- Foster open communication, build team engagement, and uphold people-centric leadership practices
Prepare for this opportunity
SpanSam guidance · Practical advice based on this listing, not additional employer requirements.
Match your background to the requirements
Compare the qualification named in the requirements with your completed studies. Use the exact qualification title and completion date in your CV. If your studies are still in progress, say so clearly. Check the source before assuming that a different qualification will be accepted.
Check the type and length of experience requested. Make relevant roles easy to find with consistent start and end dates, then explain your own responsibilities. Label internships, practical training and volunteering accurately so the recruiter can distinguish them from other employment.
Check any licence or professional registration mentioned in the requirements, including its category and validity. Confirm the wording against your own documents. Do not assume that a pending application or a different licence category meets the advertised condition.
Use the duties to tailor your CV
For Payroll Manager, use the responsibilities above to decide which examples deserve space in your application. Choose a relevant task or project, explain what you personally did and describe the outcome. Use a measurable result where you have one, without inventing figures or sharing confidential information.
You do not need to repeat the whole advert in your CV. Help the reader connect your evidence to the advertised work. If you have not performed a duty before, describe relevant learning or transferable experience honestly rather than presenting it as a task you have already done.
Plan your submission
Check the original application page before preparing your final submission. If it uses a portal, review the required fields and file formats, complete each required step and look for a submission confirmation. Uploading a CV or creating a profile may be only part of the process.
Before applying, consider the advertised workplace and employment arrangement. Check any practical conditions that affect your availability with the employer rather than relying on another vacancy with a similar title.
About this listing: SpanSam is an opportunity discovery service and is not the hiring employer unless explicitly stated. Application decisions and source-listing changes are controlled by the employer or institution.