Junior Payroll Accountant

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Accounting & Journals

• Prepare payroll journals for weekly, monthly and fleet payrolls.
• Process payroll-related General Ledger entries.
• Check salaries, wages, bonuses and deductions for accuracy.
• Ensure payroll transactions are correctly reflected in the General Ledger.
• Identify and assist with correcting payroll posting discrepancies.
• Maintain appropriate supporting documentation for payroll journals and adjustments.

Payroll & General Ledger Reconciliations

• Prepare regular payroll-related General Ledger reconciliations.
• Reconcile payroll control and balance sheet accounts.
• Investigate reconciling items and follow up on outstanding differences.
• Assist with resolving payroll accounting discrepancies.
• Ensure payroll accounts remain accurately reconciled and supported.

Statutory Payroll Administration

• Assist with the preparation and reconciliation of EMP201 submissions.
• Support the EMP501 reconciliation process.
• Reconcile PAYE, UIF and SDL amounts.
• Assist with payroll tax and statutory payment reconciliations.
• Ensure payroll information is accurately maintained for statutory reporting purposes.

Third-Party Payments & Benefits

• Prepare and reconcile payroll-related third-party payments.
• Reconcile medical aid contributions.
• Reconcile pension and provident fund contributions.
• Reconcile garnishee and other payroll deductions.
• Follow up on discrepancies relating to third-party payments.
• Ensure payments agree to payroll records and supporting schedules.

Payroll Variance Analysis

• Review payroll reports and identify unusual movements or discrepancies.
• Compare current payroll information to previous periods where required.
• Investigate payroll variances and obtain supporting information.
• Escalate unresolved or material discrepancies to the relevant manager.

Audit & Finance Support

• Prepare payroll reconciliations and supporting documents for audit purposes.
• Assist with payroll-related audit queries.
• Maintain accurate payroll accounting records and supporting documentation.
• Assist with correcting identified payroll accounting errors.
• Support the Payroll and Finance teams with ad hoc payroll accounting requirements.

Minimum Requirements

• BCom in Finance / Accounting, or currently studying towards a relevant finance qualification.
• Approximately 2-4 years’ relevant payroll accounting, payroll finance or payroll reconciliation experience.
• Hands-on experience preparing payroll journals and General Ledger entries.
• Practical experience with payroll and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Working knowledge of PAYE, UIF and SDL.
• Exposure to EMP201 and EMP501 reconciliations.
• Experience reconciling payroll-related third-party payments.
• Strong Excel skills.
• Good numerical ability and attention to detail.
• Able to investigate and resolve discrepancies.
• Comfortable working with confidential payroll and employee information.
• Able to work accurately within payroll and month-end deadlines.

Advantageous

• Experience using Sage 300 / Sage 300 People.
• Previous experience working within a finance or payroll accounting team.
• Exposure to weekly and monthly payroll environments.

Skills & Competencies

• Payroll accounting.
• Payroll reconciliations.
• General Ledger reconciliations.
• Payroll journals.
• Statutory payroll knowledge.
• Third-party payment reconciliations.
• Advanced Excel.
• Numerical accuracy.
• Attention to detail.
• Problem solving.
• Deadline management.
• Confidentiality.
• Teamwork and communication.

Ideal Candidate Profile

Candidates may currently be working as a:

• Payroll Accountant
• Junior Payroll Accountant
• Payroll Finance Clerk
• Payroll Administrator with strong finance and reconciliation exposure
• Payroll Reconciliation Clerk