Regional Payroll Manager

Job description

**This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Regional Payroll Manager based in South Africa.** We are seeking an experienced payroll professional to oversee regional payroll operations, compliance, vendor partnerships and implementation activities across multiple countries. In this role, you will ensure accurate, timely and scalable payroll delivery while adapting to diverse regulatory requirements and employment models. You will serve as a regional subject matter expert, bridging payroll operations, technology and product development to improve service quality and operational efficiency. Working closely with teams across sales, customer service, product and engineering, you will help optimize payroll systems, resolve complex issues and support new country launches. You will also build strong relationships with local payroll providers and maintain robust processes that ensure compliance and audit readiness. This remote opportunity is ideal for a detail-oriented, solutions-driven professional who thrives in a fast-growing international environment and enjoys combining operational ownership with cross-functional collaboration. ### Accountabilities: - **Manage regional payroll operations:** Oversee end-to-end payroll execution across assigned countries, ensuring accurate calculations, timely processing, operational readiness and consistent service delivery across multiple employment and payroll models. - **Serve as a regional payroll expert:** Maintain in-depth knowledge of local payroll procedures, statutory requirements, regulatory frameworks and partner capabilities, providing guidance to internal teams and regional stakeholders. - **Oversee payroll implementations:** Coordinate new country and client payroll implementations, ensuring appropriate system configuration, operational readiness, reliable delivery processes and scalable solutions. - **Drive payroll platform readiness:** Develop advanced proficiency with the payroll platform, deliver training and guidance to internal teams, and support effective adoption of payroll tools and workflows. - **Collaborate on product improvements:** Partner with sales, customer service, product and engineering teams to identify operational gaps, document enhancement requirements, test proposed changes and communicate feedback to improve platform functionality. - **Troubleshoot payroll and integration issues:** Investigate discrepancies, resolve technical and operational challenges, manage escalations and coordinate with internal teams and external providers to deliver timely, accurate solutions. - **Ensure regional compliance:** Monitor changes in payroll legislation and employment regulations, assess their operational impact, maintain compliance documentation and communicate relevant updates to stakeholders. - **Manage payroll vendor relationships:** Identify, onboard and oversee local payroll providers, monitoring service quality, performance, operational alignment and compliance with regional requirements. - **Maintain documentation and controls:** Create and update standard operating procedures, payroll setup guides, process documentation, compliance records and audit-ready reports to support consistency and transparency. - **Oversee year-end payroll deliverables:** Ensure accurate and timely preparation and submission of applicable employee tax documents and year-end reporting, in accordance with relevant country requirements. - **Optimize workflows and processes:** Identify opportunities to improve payroll efficiency, strengthen controls, reduce errors and establish repeatable processes that support regional growth. - **Support global payroll delivery:** Coordinate across time zones, employment structures and service delivery models to ensure reliable payroll operations and a high-quality experience for internal stakeholders and clients. ## Requirements: - **Professional experience:** At least five years of proven payroll experience managing regional or multi-country payroll operations, preferably in a high-growth company, startup or similarly dynamic international environment. - **Regional payroll expertise:** Strong understanding of payroll processing, statutory requirements, tax documentation, compliance obligations and country-specific payroll practices across multiple jurisdictions. - **End-to-end payroll ownership:** Hands-on experience managing payroll delivery, overseeing implementations, resolving escalations and ensuring accurate, timely payroll execution across different employment and delivery models. - **Managed payroll services experience:** Familiarity with managed payroll service models, external payroll providers and the coordination of distributed payroll operations. - **Vendor management capabilities:** Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective vendor relationships, manage provider performance, coordinate onboarding and resolve operational issues. - **Compliance and regulatory knowledge:** Strong research skills and the ability to monitor legislative changes, assess their impact on payroll operations and communicate requirements clearly to relevant stakeholders. - **Analytical and problem-solving skills:** Experience reviewing payslips, reconciling payroll data, investigating discrepancies and resolving complex payroll and integration issues with accuracy and sound judgment. - **Technology and systems proficiency:** Comfort working with payroll platforms, testing system functionality, documenting product requirements and collaborating with technical teams to improve payroll workflows. - **Communication skills:** Excellent written and verbal English communication skills, with the ability to explain complex payroll data, compliance matters and technical issues clearly to diverse audiences. - **Client-centric approach:** Experience supporting enterprise clients or high-touch accounts, managing escalations professionally and maintaining a strong focus on service quality and stakeholder satisfaction. - **Documentation and process improvement:** Strong organizational skills, attention to detail and experience developing standard operating procedures, compliance records and structured reporting processes. - **Remote working capability:** Ability to work independently in a remote environment, manage competing priorities and collaborate effectively with distributed teams across multiple time zones. - **Adaptability and initiative:** Comfortable navigating ambiguity, changing priorities and evolving regulatory environments while maintaining accuracy, accountability and operational consistency. - **Language skills:** Fluency in English is required. Additional languages are an advantage, particularly when supporting diverse regional markets. ## Benefits: - **Remote work flexibility:** Work remotely from an eligible location, with opportunities to collaborate with international teams across different time zones. - **Full-time professional opportunity:** Take ownership of regional payroll operations within a growing international business. - **International exposure:** Work across multiple countries, payroll jurisdictions, employment structures and service delivery models. - **Cross-functional collaboration:** Partner with colleagues across product, engineering, sales and customer service to improve payroll systems and operational performance. - **Professional development:** Expand your expertise in global payroll, regional compliance, managed payroll services and payroll technology. - **Operational ownership:** Play a key role in shaping regional payroll processes, managing strategic vendor relationships and supporting new market implementations. - **Process innovation:** Contribute to improving payroll systems, automation, documentation and scalable operational workflows. - **Career growth potential:** Develop your capabilities in international payroll management within a fast-paced, evolving business environment. - **Compensation and additional benefits:** Salary range, healthcare coverage, paid leave, bonuses and other benefits were not specified in the original job description and may be confirmed during the recruitment process.