About the position
Red Ember is seeking to hire a Payroll and HR Officer based in Boksburg.
Payroll & Benefits Administration
- Lead the full payroll function with a strategic and analytical approach using SAGE Premier VIP as a super-user.
- Ensure payroll is processed accurately, timeously and in compliance with all statutory bodies including SARS, Department of Labour, and the Motor Industry Bargaining Council (MIBCO).
- Apply advanced tax calculation knowledge, including tax rules for perks tax, retirement benefits, travel allowances, and back pay.
- Reconcile and analyse payroll-related reports such as costing, general ledger entries (GLs), leave balances, third-party submissions, and ensure alignment with financial systems.
- Oversee benefits administration including medical aid, provident fund, garnishees, AHP/SAF, and ensure timely and accurate third-party reconciliation and payments.
- Evaluate service providers and brokers regularly to ensure optimum value for money and benefit offering to employees.
- Administer ESS, time & attendance systems, and manage associated calculations such as short time, leave trends, and anomalies.
- Ensure effective year-end tax submissions and alignment with SARS compliance requirements.
- Take a forward-thinking approach by identifying automation and smart process improvements in payroll operations, including integration between systems and Excel.
- Maintain accurate system backups, version updates, and support business continuity and audit readiness.
- Support month-end reporting including BIM, costing, and audit packs in collaboration with finance.
Recruitment Support
- Assist in recruitment administration with a specific focus on tasks that interlink with payroll, such as:
- Validating salary benchmarks and packages against internal pay scales and parity.
- Drafting job offers aligned to internal grading and benefits structures.
- Preparing onboarding packs that ensure correct employee data for payroll processing.
- Capturing new employee data and updating payroll system records (VIP).
- Ensuring compliance with EE targets during recruitment tracking.
Performance, Training & Skills Development
- Support performance and skills development functions including but not limited to:
- Recording performance review outcomes on an increase tracking sheet
- Supporting accurate recording of training costs and reporting for Workplace Skills Plans (WSP).
- Implementation & support on skills module on VIP.
HR Policies & Labour Relations
- Assist in labour relations processes by preparing payroll-related documentation for hearings (e.g. time & attendance reports, earnings data).
- Support HR by representing the company in disciplinary hearings when needed.
- Contribute to the development, review, and implementation of HR policies, particularly where policies affect earnings, leave, time management, and benefits.
- Ensure payroll and benefit-related practices are consistent with internal policies and current labour legislation.
Employment Equity & Compliance
- Manage and maintain Employment Equity data within VIP and Excel to support annual reporting.
- Assist with the submission of EE & COIDA reports to the Department of Labour and RMA.
- Ensure employee data aligns with EE planning, WSP submissions, and payroll records.
General HR Support
- Provide ongoing HR system and policy advisory support to management and staff.
- Maintain updated and compliant employee files and records.
- Participate in internal audits and contribute to payroll-related compliance reviews.
- Assist in staff file audits and recommend system or process improvements.
- Foster a collaborative HR service culture, working across departments to deliver smart, efficient HR/payroll practices, and wellness related benefits
Requirements
- Matric + relevant HR/Payroll qualification.
- Minimum 5–10 years’ experience in a payroll-heavy HR role, with a strong compliance and reporting focus.
- Advanced Sage Premier VIP experience (super-user level).
- In-depth knowledge of South African tax rules, perks tax, fringe benefits, and payroll legislation.
- Experience working with or in the Motor Industry Bargaining Council (MIBCO).
- Working knowledge of MERSETA processes and requirements, including the management of MOAs/tranche payments.
- Solid understanding of payroll reconciliation, cost centre reporting, and integration with finance systems.
- Proven ability to work with and analyse payroll data.
- Strong skills in Excel, data automation, and system-driven efficiencies.
- Experience supporting recruitment, performance, and training processes with payroll data.
- High level of confidentiality, integrity, and professionalism.
- Strong attention to detail and analytical thinking.
- Proactive, solution-oriented, and deadline-driven.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to think critically and introduce smart, automated approaches to improve efficiency.
- Resilient under pressure and capable of managing competing deadlines.
- Ability to work independently.
Desired Skills:
Desired Qualification Level:
About The Employer:
We are passionate professionals driven to provide Payroll and HR solutions that deliver true business value to your organisation.
Our proven track record and expertise will enable you to maximise your return on investment on any Sage Payroll & HR implementation.
Partner with a Talent Team that suits your customised needs. Recruiting top talent is a powerful and reliable foundation of strength in any business. When partnered with the best recruitment team, it’s an opportunity for long-term growth, and can bring companies a competitive advantage in their industry.
Red Ember Technology is a Certified Sage Platinum Business Partner, here to support any Sage client with the extra value-added services to complement and support their Sage products.
The Red Ember Recruitment team has combined Payroll, HR and Finance industry-specific experience, customised to the Sage products, as well as vast experience supporting various other products and industries.
Red Ember Recruitment can assist on any level of recruitment, from Interns to Executive placements, bulk recruitment, response handling, or specialised headhunting.
Employer & Job Benefits:
