Payroll Subject Matter Expert (SME) - Rosebank, Gauteng
Manpower SA · Rosebank, Johannesburg, Gauteng
Overview
Manpower SA is looking for a Payroll SME to join a high impact People and Culture shared services team in Rosebank. This contract role runs from 1 November to January 2027 and focuses on payroll accuracy, legislative compliance, and service delivery across a diverse African footprint. If you have strong SAP payroll skills and at least 5 years in payroll operations, this is a great chance to work with vendors, audits, and continuous improvement in a supportive environment.
About the role
This role places you at the heart of a People and Culture shared services environment where payroll accuracy, compliance, and customer experience drive business success. You will strengthen payroll governance and improve service delivery for employees across a diverse African footprint.
Day to day, you can expect to manage payroll operations, work closely with third party vendors and benefits providers, ensure statutory compliance, and handle employee payroll queries through CRM systems. You will also support audits, process improvements, system testing, and reporting.
Application notes: This is a contract role running from 1 November to January 2027 based in Rosebank, Gauteng. The reference for this position is TCT004638-Janin-1. Remuneration is market related.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, Payroll, or a related field
- At least 5 years' experience in payroll management, payroll operations, HR services, or a related shared services environment
- Strong South African payroll tax and statutory knowledge, including SARS PAYE, UIF, COIDA, and related compliance requirements
- Advanced SAP payroll knowledge, with exposure to Workday and CRM or ticket management systems
- Experience managing payroll vendors, benefits providers, audits, controls, and stakeholder expectations
- Strong analytical, problem solving, communication, customer service, and continuous improvement skills
- Professional payroll or tax affiliation would be advantageous
Responsibilities
- Manage payroll services operations to ensure accurate, compliant, and on time payroll delivery
- Act as the key interface with third party payroll vendors, benefits providers, payroll accounting, and internal stakeholders
- Ensure compliance with South African payroll legislation, tax regulations, statutory submissions, and audit requirements
- Maintain strong payroll controls and support internal and external audits, implementing remedial actions where required
- Oversee employee payroll queries through CRM or case management systems and ensure timely resolution
- Support process improvement, automation, SOP maintenance, system testing, and payroll solution enhancements
- Manage payroll reporting, data integrity, Employment Equity data requirements, and tax verification inputs
- Support change management, knowledge sharing, and business continuity within the payroll environment
Job details
- Organisation
- Manpower SA
- Location
- Rosebank, Johannesburg, Gauteng
- Job type
- Contract
- Experience level
- Mid (5+ years)
- Education
- Bachelor
- Category
- Human Resources
- Application Method
- Apply manually
Success Guide
When applying for this Payroll SME role, highlight your hands on experience with SAP payroll and your knowledge of South African statutory requirements like PAYE, UIF, and COIDA. Since the role involves working with vendors and audits, be ready to give examples of how you have managed payroll accuracy and resolved queries in previous roles. A degree in HR, Finance, or Payroll is required, and any professional payroll affiliation will set you apart. Make sure your CV clearly shows at least 5 years in payroll operations or shared services. This is a contract position starting in November, so confirm your availability in your application. Good luck!
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