Permanent - Payroll Officer - Ekurhuleni (East Rand) - South Africa

Position Purpose:

• To administer and process monthly payroll with a high degree of accuracy within prescribed deadlines.
• The Payroll Officer is responsible for ensuring payroll integrity, statutory compliance, and adherence to the Metal and Engineering Industries Bargaining Council (MEIBC) Main Agreement.
• The role requires advanced proficiency in SAGE 300 People, strong reconciliation skills, and meticulous attention to detail to ensure accurate payroll processing and reporting.

Key Areas of Responsibility in this Position include:

Payroll Administration (Core Focus)

• Process end-to-end payroll on SAGE 300 People with a high level of accuracy 
• Ensure compliance with MEIBC Main Agreement, including but not limited to leave provision and leave enhancement pay. 
• Accurately capture and process all payroll inputs (deductions  and allowances) 
• Review and validate Employee Self-Service (ESS) timesheets submitted by Branch Administrators, ensuring that all payroll related entries have been accurately captured and correctly classified before approval. 
• Reconcile payroll before review to ensure zero or minimal errors  Administer statutory deductions (PAYE, UIF, SDL) and ensure compliance with SARS requirements 
• Process terminations, final payments, and leave payouts in line with legislation and MEIBC provisions 
• Generate and validate payroll reports for HR and Finance manager  Prepare annual RMA reconciliation and return of earnings for review and submission.

Benefits and Bargaining Council Administration 

• Administer employee benefits (e.g. provident fund, medical aid, MEIBC-related contributions) 
• Ensure accurate calculation and submission of bargaining council levies and contributions 
• Liaise with external stakeholders (e.g. MEIBC, Old Mutual and other benefit providers) where required

Statutory Reporting & Compliance 

• Prepare and submit EMP201 and EMP501 to ensure compliance with SARS and payroll legislation 
• Administer Provident Fund submissions and schedules. 
• Process Medical Aid contributions and amendments. 
• Ensure full compliance with MEIBC Main Agreement, BCEA, LRA, and other applicable legislation 
• Prepare and submit all required statutory and council reports (STATSSA and UIF) 
• Assist with internal and external audits, ensuring all records are accurate and audit-ready 
• Maintain strict confidentiality of payroll and HR information

Payroll Accounting & Reconciliations 

• Prepare payroll General Ledger journals and Cashbook 
• Perform payroll to General Ledger reconciliations. 
• Reconcile payroll control accounts. 
• Assist the finance department with monthly payroll reconciliations.  Resolve payroll-related discrepancies.

General Support 

• Provide payroll and HR administrative support. 
• Assist management with ad hoc reporting. 
• Respond to payroll-related employee queries. 
• Support continuous improvement of payroll processes. 
• Perform additional duties as required by management

Minimum Qualifications Required:

• Diploma or Degree in Human Resources, Finance, Payroll, or related field.

Experience

• Minimum 3–5 years’ experience in payroll and HR administration  Proven experience working with SAGE 300 People 
• Strong working knowledge and practical application of MEIBC Main Agreement

Knowledge

Comprehensive knowledge of South African payroll legislation and statutory requirements.
Sound understanding of:
PAYE
UIF
SDL
EMP201 and EMP501 submissions
Practical knowledge of:
Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA)
Labour Relations Act (LRA)
MEIBC Main Agreement

Technical Competencies Required:

• Advanced SAGE 300 People proficiency. 
• Strong payroll reconciliation and analytical skills. 
• High level of numerical accuracy. 
• Excellent payroll reporting capability.