Cape Town: Payroll Administrator posted by Red Panda

Purpose of the job 

The Payroll Administrator is responsible for delivering accurate, compliant, and timely payroll processing across multiple local and international entities within the RedPanda group.

The role includes managing employee data, processing monthly payroll cycles, administering employee benefits and performing statutory submissions while supporting HR and Finance with reporting, audits and reconciliations.

This position plays a critical part in ensuring employees are paid correctly, statutory deadlines are met, and the payroll function supports smooth financial operations.

Key Responsibilities 

Payroll Processing 

• Monthly management of Payroll Calendar, Memos, payroll deadlines and checklists.
• End-to-end monthly payroll processing for ±200 employees across 3 local entities (PaySpace).

Keep Payroll records for auditing 

• Maintain employee master file and supporting documents for all payroll changes on PaySpace.
• Maintain Consultant Invoices, Payments and Contracts on SharePoint.
• Support Finance with annual AFS Audits and archiving with Metrofile.

Preparing Payroll Reports

• Prepare monthly payroll reports for all payroll runs and submissions.
• Prepare and distribute reports, payslips and proof of payments for SETA Internship programmes.
• Prepare and submit UIF documentation for terminations and claims.

Prepare salary payments, overtime calcultions & Processing 

• Export monthly salary payments and third-party payments to Netcash and Standard Bank Business Online, ensuring accurate and timely payment.
• Process salary payments on Netcash Bank account on Sage One.
• Coordinate and calculate monthly overtime for processing on PaySpace for Lewis (Lewis Support Rates) and Other Teams (BCEA Overtime).
• Calculate and submit monthly Overtime for client billing.

Leave Processing as well as cost centre and Team Changes 

• Administer monthly leave processing, including capturing, verifying and reconciling leave applications across all entities.
• Administer all employee reporting line and team changes on PaySpace.

Employee Benefits Administration 

• Coordinate, reconcile and administer all monthly and annual benefit updates (Medical Aid, GAP Cover, Pension Fund, Group Life Cover) on PaySpace and Sage One.
• Ensure compliance with all 3rd parties by submitting monthly and annual schedules, with payments prepared by the due date/s to each provider.

Statutory Compliance & Submissions

• Prepare and submit:

          -EMP201 (monthly PAYE, UIF, SDL)

          -EMP501 (Bi-annual reconciliation and annual reconciliation with IRP5/IT3A certificates)

          -UIF monthly declarations

• Ensure alignment between PaySpace, Sage One and SARS.

Raising Payroll Journals, Other Staff and Consultant Payments 

• Raising monthly payroll journals cost centre allocations and intercompany charges.
• Process Consultant invoices, expenses claims, staff loans, salary advance for payment on Standard Bank Online and raise the expense/supplier on Sage One.

Manage Payroll Procedure, PaySpace Setup and Workflows

• Update and maintain Payroll Procedures.
• Manage PaySpace setup and ensure system maintenance with automatic updates.
• Contribute to continuous improvement and innovation on the Payroll Portfolio.

HR Collaboration

• Work jointly with HR on onboarding, offboarding, verification of leave, and ensure data accuracy.
• Assist with employee queries in a professional, confidential manner.
• Support HR with Annual DOL & BBBEE Audits. 

Skills/Competencies

Mandatory Technical Skills / Abilities required to do the Job

• Strong knowledge of payroll and HR legislation (BCEA, PAYE, ETI, UIF, SDL, OID)
• PaySpace Payroll processing experience (Advanced Payroll training essential)
• Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Excel experience (Lookups, Pivot Tables)
• Microsoft Office suite (Microsoft Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams)
• Understanding of payroll-finances integration and accounting entries (Sage One)
• Employee benefits administration (Discovery Health/Life & Allan Gray Pension Fund)
• Experience with preparing payments (Netcash and Standard Bank Business Online)

Minimum Requirements 

• Matric certification
• Payroll qualification or Diploma in Payroll/HR/ Accounting (Advantageous)
• 2-4 years Payroll experience (PaySpace and Excel experience is essential).
• Experience with multi-entity payroll (advantageous)
• Experience managing employee benefits and statutory submissions.
• Experience working in an IT environment (advantageous)