Payroll Accountant

Function

Finance/Administration

Facility

Life Head Office, Dunkeld

Position

Payroll Accountant

Introduction

A permanent vacancy exists for a  Payroll Accountant at the Financial Services Centre based at Life Healthcare Head Office in Dunkeld, reporting to the Finance Manager: Income & Expenses.

Critical Outputs

1. Payroll Accounting and General Ledger Balancing

• Responsible for the payroll general ledger balancing process.
• Ensure payroll transactions are accurately recorded, reviewed and reconciled.
• Investigate and resolve payroll-related general ledger variances or reconciling items.
• Ensure payroll accounting entries are processed accurately and within required timeframes.

2. Payroll Payments

• Prepare and process payments to employees in accordance with approved payroll schedules.
• Manage interim payroll payments.
• Ensure all payroll payments are accurate, complete and appropriately authorized on FNB Online.
• Maintain supporting documentation for all payroll-related payments.

3. Third-Party Payroll Payments

• Prepare and process payments to third-party service providers, including but not limited to:
• Medical aid providers
• Provident fund administrators
• Unions
• Funeral funds
• Other approved payroll-related third parties
• Ensure third-party payments are reconciled to payroll records and supporting schedules.
• Follow up on and resolve discrepancies with relevant internal and external stakeholders.

4. SARS and Statutory Submissions

• Prepare and submit SARS EMP201 and ITA88 returns.
• Ensure related SARS payments are processed accurately and timeously.
• Support compliance with payroll tax requirements and government regulations.
• Maintain accurate records to support statutory submissions and audits.

5. Reconciliations and Financial Analysis

• Prepare payroll-related accounting reconciliations and analyses.
• Identify, investigate and resolve payroll reconciling items.
• Ensure reconciliations are completed in line with month-end timeframes and company standards.
• Provide meaningful commentary and explanations for variances.

6. Month-End Payroll Processes

• Responsible for month-end payroll processes relating to head office payroll, including actual versus budget analysis.
• Prepare month-end journals, reports, reconciliations and supporting analysis.
• Ensure payroll costs are accurately reflected in the financial records.
• Assist with month-end review procedures and respond to payroll-related finance queries.

7. Salary Budgets

• Prepare salary budgets in line with business requirements and upload onto OneStream.
• Support budget reviews through accurate payroll data and analysis.
• Assist with headcount, cost and payroll-related budget reporting.
• Provide input into payroll forecasting.

8. Stakeholder Engagement

• Establish and maintain strong working relationships with Human Resources, payroll, financial managers and other relevant departments.
• Regularly follow up with HR on outstanding reconciling items and payroll queries.
• Work closely with internal stakeholders to resolve payroll accounting issues efficiently.
• Provide support and information to management when required.

9. Compliance and Governance

• Ensure compliance with corporate governance requirements, company procedures and internal protocols.
• Ensure payroll finance activities comply with SARS requirements and relevant government regulations.
• Maintain appropriate controls over payroll payments, reconciliations and reporting.
• Support internal and external audit requirements relating to payroll.

10. Projects and Process Improvement

• Assist with ad hoc projects as required.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll finance processes.
• Strive to continuously improve working methods to increase standardisation, accuracy and efficiency.
• Support automation, simplification and control improvement initiatives where applicable.
• Assisting with drafting and maintaining payroll related Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Requirements

• Matric (essential)
• Com degree (essential)
• Certified Payroll Practitioner (CPP) with the South African Payroll Association (SAPA) (preferred)
• Minimum 5 years’ payroll accounting experience with at least 2 years in a large/listed corporate environment
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills (essential)
• SAP experience advantageous
• Strong attention to detail and communication skills

Competencies

• Problem Solving and Analytical Thinking
• Resilience
• Relationship building
• Stakeholder responsiveness
• Highly ethical behaviour
• Drive and energy
• Deadline driven
• Able to work in a pressurised environment

Email

careers@lifehealthcare.co.za

Closing date

Friday, September 25, 2026