Payroll Accountant

SUMMARY:
Payroll Accountant | Cape Town | Permanent

POSITION INFO:
Are you a detail-oriented finance professional with a passion for payroll accounting and reconciliations? Join a leading South African business with a strong national footprint and a reputation for operational excellence. This is an opportunity to become part of a stable, well-established organisation that offers exposure to a high-volume, complex payroll environment while working alongside experienced finance professionals.
 
Join a market-leading organisation with a proud South African heritage and the opportunity to work within a large, dynamic payroll environment. This role offers exposure to multiple payroll cycles and complex payroll operations, while providing the chance to collaborate closely with experienced finance and payroll professionals. You will play an integral role in driving process improvements and strengthening financial controls, all within a stable business that is committed to operational excellence and offers long-term career growth and development opportunities.
 
As the Payroll Accountant, you will be responsible for ensuring the accurate accounting, reconciliation, and financial control of payroll transactions. You will play a key role in maintaining the integrity of payroll-related financial information, ensuring statutory compliance, and supporting audit and governance requirements.
 
If you enjoy working with numbers, have a passion for accuracy, and are looking to join a respected organisation where your contribution will make a meaningful impact, we'd love to hear from you.
 
 
Duties:

• Prepare payroll journals across weekly and monthly payroll cycles.
• Process payroll-related general ledger entries.
• Analyse payroll data to ensure accuracy and completeness.
• Ensure payroll transactions are correctly reflected in the general ledger.
• Perform reconciliations of salaries, wages, employee liabilities, and third-party accounts.
• Investigate and resolve reconciling items promptly.
• Maintain supporting documentation and ensure all payroll accounts balance accurately.
• Prepare and submit EMP201 returns.
• Support bi-annual and annual EMP501 reconciliation processes.
• Ensure accurate accounting for PAYE, UIF, and SDL.
• Maintain compliance with payroll legislation and statutory requirements.
• Manage and reconcile payments relating to medical aid schemes, retirement funds, garnishees, and other payroll-related service providers.
• Resolve discrepancies and ensure timely settlement of payroll liabilities.
• Analyse payroll variances and investigate significant movements.
• Identify risks, discrepancies, and irregularities.
• Provide insights to support sound financial decision-making.
• Prepare payroll reconciliations and supporting schedules for audit purposes.
• Respond to internal and external audit queries.
• Support the implementation of corrective actions and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Matric (Grade 12)
• BCom Degree in Finance

• 3–5 years' relevant payroll accounting experience.
• Strong understanding of employee taxes, benefits, and statutory deductions.
• Advanced Excel skills.
• Experience with SAGE300 will be advantageous.

• Has exceptional numerical accuracy and attention to detail.
• Maintains a high level of confidentiality and professionalism.
• Possesses strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Thrives in a collaborative team environment.
• Can effectively manage deadlines and priorities in a fast-paced setting.