Payroll Manager

Red Ember Recruitment is looking for a experienced Payroll Manager to lead payroll operations for a large, growing workforce in Durban. The role involves managing end-to-end payroll, ensuring compliance with legislation, overseeing payroll systems (Sage 300), and leading a high-performing team. Responsibilities: Payroll & Systems Management Manage payroll for 5,500+ employees on weekly and bi-weekly cycles. Ensure accurate payroll processing, reconciliations, reporting, and statutory submissions. Maintain full Sage 300 system ownership, including configurations, controls, and reporting. Oversee payroll inputs: benefits, job costing, deductions, allowances, and third-party payments. Ensure compliance with ETI, PAYE, UIF, SDL, and SARS submissions (501, 201, IRP30). Legislation & Compliance Ensure compliance with BCEA, LRA, WCA/COIDA, and other labour laws. Manage payroll compliance across bargaining councils. Oversee payroll for labour brokers, including reporting and cost controls. Team Leadership & Management Lead, mentor, and develop the payroll team, driving performance and accountability. Allocate workloads, manage deadlines, and implement process improvements. Client & Stakeholder Engagement Act as a payroll expert to clients and internal stakeholders. Confidently explain and “sell” payroll system knowledge. Handle complex queries, escalations, and audits professionally. Reporting & Analysis Produce payroll, headcount, costing, and compliance reports. Utilize advanced Excel for analysis, reconciliations, and decision support. Requirements Matriculation (Grade 12) and a degree in HR, Payroll, Finance, or related field. 5–10 years’ payroll management experience in a large, high-volume environment. Expert-level knowledge of Sage 300 payroll. Strong understanding of taxation, payroll legislation, job costing, benefits, and statutory reporting. Experience working with bargaining councils and labour brokers. Advanced Excel skills for reporting and analysis. Proven ability to lead and develop a payroll team. Strong analytical, problem-solving, and attention-to-detail skills. Confident communicator able to engage clients and stakeholders. Proactive, solutions-oriented, and able to work under pressure.