Payroll & Benefits Manager - Midrand

Dis-Chem Pharmacies' in Midrand has an opportunity available for a Payroll and Benefits Manager to join the Head Office team. The purpose of the role is to manage the payroll function by ensuring precise and timely processing of employee compensation while overseeing the administration of salaries, bonuses, employee benefits, leave, and time and attendance. This role includes reviewing and improving payroll processes, developing relevant policies, and ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

• Oversee the accurate and timely processing of salary, bonus, and benefit payments for all employees, ensuring compliance with local tax laws and internal policies.
• Manage two payrolls - Dis-Chem and Baby City - ensuring payroll data is processed efficiently and accurately for both organizations.
• Continuously assess and refine payroll processes, identify opportunities for automation, and implement solutions to improve efficiency and accuracy.
• Generate rule based and automated payroll processing, ensuring real time visibility into payroll data and improving the overall payroll experience.
• Lead payroll reporting, address payroll related queries, and participate in long term payroll planning to ensure consistency and alignment with business goals.
• Perform payroll reconciliations to ensure the accuracy of payroll transactions and resolve discrepancies as needed.
• Ensure compliance with South African tax laws by accurately calculating, withholding, and remitting PAYE for employees.
• Manage the timely and correct filing of employee tax submissions to SARS, ensuring that appropriate tax codes and deductions are applied to each employee's record.

• Manage employee benefits programs, including medical aid, health insurance, provident fund, leave programmes, and wellness initiatives, ensuring accurate benefit deductions and enrollments.
• Administer the employee benefit fund, ensuring timely payments and compliance with fund management guidelines and regulations.
• Work collaboratively with the team to promptly address employee queries and provide necessary support.
• Regularly review and audit benefits programmes to ensure cost effectiveness and competitiveness within the industry.
• Collaborate with insurance providers, brokers, and other vendors to maintain current benefits offerings and negotiate pricing and terms.
• Manage the administration of the Dis Chem Provident Fund and ensure its effective oversight.

• Oversee the management and administration of employee leave programmes, ensuring accurate tracking and monitoring of leave balances across all systems.
• Manage the time and attendance systems to ensure accurate tracking of work hours, overtime, and leave usage, and ensure compliance with company policies and labour laws.
• Work with managers and HR to address leave and attendance related issues, ensuring consistent application of policies.
• Maintain real time visibility of leave balances and ensure employees' leave requests are processed promptly.
• Collaborate with HR, SAP team and department heads to optimise leave and time management processes, streamlining workflows and reducing administrative overhead.

• Keep abreast of current payroll, benefits, leave and attendance regulations, ensuring all processes comply with legal requirements.
• Oversee the preparation of payroll related filings (e.g., tax filings, year end reports) and ensure timely submission to relevant authorities.
• Manage the preparation of internal payroll, benefits and leave reports for leadership and external stakeholders, ensuring data accuracy and compliance with reporting standards.
• Lead payroll related audits and respond to regulatory enquiries or requests for documentation.

• Continuously assess and refine payroll, benefits, leave and attendance processes to improve efficiency and effectiveness, utilising technology for automation and real time reporting.
• Lead initiatives to build and implement policies that improve overall payroll and benefits management.
• Partner with the Senior Total Reward Manager and provide inputs into the development of a Total Reward Strategy for Dis Chem.
• Address payroll audit findings and implement corrective actions to mitigate risks, ensuring compliance and accuracy in payroll processes.

• Assess and manage the team to continually improve processes and outcomes.
• Promote a culture of accountability, innovation and performance management across the teams, whilst modelling the company's values.
• Train and guide team members on initiatives to ensure successful implementation of best practices and strategies.
• Assist in setting objectives for the team and tracking progress.
• Facilitate the creation of accountable, full service teams who understand and strive to meet the needs of all stakeholders.

• Essentials: Matric or equivalent Senior Certificate.
• Degree or Diploma in Human Resources, Payroll Management, Finance or related field.
• 5+ years of payroll experience, with 2-3 years in a supervisory or managerial role.
• Familiarity with SARS regulations (PAYE, UIF, SDL), BCEA, COIDA, tax year end processes and HR and payroll systems (e.g., SAP).
• Advanced certifications such as South African Payroll Association (SAPA) Certification - Certified Payroll Professional (Advanced) are advantageous.
• Project Management experience is an advantage.

• Strong knowledge of payroll systems, benefits administration, leave management and time & attendance systems.
• Understanding and interpreting South African tax laws, including PAYE and related regulations.
• Knowledge of SARS requirements for tax filings, employee tax certificates and related reporting.
• Advanced Excel skills, including VLOOKUP functions.
• Proficient in payroll software (e.g., SAP ECC, SAP ECP), HRIS systems and time & attendance platforms (e.g., Kronos).
• Interpersonal, communication, and quality orientation skills.
• Capacity to manage multiple projects and adapt to changing priorities in a fast paced environment.
• Management and leadership skills.
• Computer skills - Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

• South African citizenship.
• Minimum Information on Employment (MIE), clear criminal and credit records.
• Driver's licence and/or own reliable transport.

• Market related salary.
• Medical aid.
• Provident fund.
• Staff account.

Dis-Chem Pharmacies is an equal opportunity employer. Dis-Chem's approved Employment Equity Plan and targets will be considered as part of the recruitment process aligned to Dis-Chem's Employment Equity & Transformation Strategy. Dis-Chem actively supports the recruitment of People with Disabilities.