Hiring Now | Assistant Payroll Manager | Centurion, Gauteng | Permanent Position Available

AFGRI Group is seeking an experienced and driven Assistant Payroll Manager to join their team in Centurion, Gauteng. This is a permanent, skilled-level opportunity for a payroll professional with a minimum of 5 years’ experience at junior management level who is ready to step into a strategic support role within a large, compliance-driven group payroll environment. You will work closely with the Group Payroll Manager to ensure accurate, timely payroll processing, full statutory compliance, and continuous improvement of payroll operations across the business.

Don’t miss this opportunity — vacancies are filling fast. Apply today.

Job Overview

Detail	Information
Job Title	Assistant Payroll Manager
Reference Number	AO-2126
Department / Industry	Finance / Human Resources – Payroll
Job Type	Permanent
Work Level	Skilled
Salary	Market Related
Location	Centurion, Gauteng
Closing Date	05 June 2026
EE Position	Yes
Application Status	Open – Accepting Applications Now

Please note: The filling of this position will be aligned with AFGRI’s Employment Equity Policy. Preference will be given to candidates from designated groups in line with AFGRI’s EE targets.

Please note: In order to be considered for this position, AFGRI will process your personal information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act, 4 of 2013 (POPIA). Applicants are requested to download and read the HR Processing Notice available at https://www.agh.co.za before applying.

About the Role

AFGRI Group is a leading agricultural services and food processing company with operations across South Africa and beyond. As a large, multi-entity group, AFGRI’s payroll function operates at considerable scale and complexity — making the Assistant Payroll Manager role a critical position within the broader Finance and Human Resources landscape.

Reporting to the Group Payroll Manager, you will share accountability for the full payroll cycle across all employees, ensuring that wages, benefits, deductions, and taxes are calculated accurately and processed within agreed service level timelines. You will play a key role in maintaining payroll data integrity, driving compliance with South African labour law and statutory requirements, and ensuring that SARS, UIF, SDL, and COID obligations are met without exception.

Beyond operational payroll management, this role carries meaningful people leadership responsibilities. You will supervise and mentor the payroll team, conduct performance reviews, coordinate training, and contribute actively to the development and refinement of payroll policies and procedures. Involvement in internal and external audits, budget preparation, and payroll-related projects — including support during mergers and acquisitions — makes this a broad, high-impact management role suited to a payroll professional who is ready to grow.

Please note: A valid Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, or a related field is an essential requirement for this role. Applications without this qualification will not be considered.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Processing & Cycle Management

• Manage the full payroll cycle for all employees, ensuring accurate calculations of wages, salaries, benefits, deductions, and taxes across all business units.
• Ensure payroll is processed within the timelines stipulated under the service level agreement (SLA) with each business unit, without exception.
• Compile and submit accurate worksheets for annual increases and bonuses to relevant business units within required deadlines.
• Prepare monthly payroll reports and costing reports for business units, ensuring accuracy and completeness before distribution.
• Provide payroll-related support on special projects, including assistance required during mergers and acquisitions.

Statutory Compliance & Regulatory Reporting

• Ensure timely and accurate submission of mid-year and year-end statutory reports to SARS and COID in accordance with legislative deadlines.
• Maintain full compliance with all applicable South African labour laws and statutory bodies, including UIF, SDL, and COID obligations.
• Ensure all payroll activities are conducted in compliance with POPIA (Protection of Personal Information Act, 4 of 2013) and AFGRI’s data protection standards.
• Stay current with changes to South African tax legislation and labour regulations and proactively update payroll processes to reflect legislative amendments.

Data Integrity & Systems Management

• Maintain payroll data integrity at all times, identifying and resolving discrepancies before they impact payroll outputs or statutory submissions.
• Collaborate closely with HR and Finance departments to ensure data consistency and integrity across all connected systems.
• Leverage proficiency in payroll systems (SAP, Sage VIP) to manage large data volumes accurately and efficiently.
• Understand and apply knowledge of payroll GL postings to ensure correct financial integration between payroll and the general ledger.

Audit, Risk & Process Improvement

• Participate actively in internal and external audits, ensuring full compliance with audit requirements and resolving findings promptly.
• Identify inefficiencies within existing payroll processes and implement improvements to enhance accuracy, reduce risk, and improve service delivery.
• Assist in developing and refining payroll policies and procedures to reflect best practice and evolving legislative requirements.
• Contribute to budget preparation for the payroll function and ensure ongoing adherence to approved financial limits.

People Leadership & Team Development

• Supervise and mentor payroll staff, providing day-to-day guidance, technical support, and developmental coaching.
• Conduct performance reviews for payroll team members, setting clear expectations and supporting individual growth.
• Coordinate training for the payroll team to ensure technical competence and awareness of legislative and system changes.
• Resolve complex payroll issues escalated by team members, applying advanced technical knowledge and sound judgement.

Minimum Requirements

Educational Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, or a related field — essential; applications without this qualification will not be considered.
• Certified Payroll Practitioner (CPP) or Certified Payroll Administrator (CPA) — advantageous.

Experience

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in payroll administration and processing at a junior management level — essential.
• Demonstrated experience managing the full payroll cycle in a large, multi-entity or group environment.
• Prior involvement in statutory reporting, audits, and payroll system management is essential.
• Experience supporting mergers, acquisitions, or payroll-related business projects is advantageous.

Technical Skills

• Proficiency in payroll systems, specifically SAP and/or Sage VIP — essential.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including the ability to manage and analyse large data volumes.
• Understanding of payroll GL postings and integration with HR and finance systems.
• Working knowledge of employee benefits administration.
• Familiarity with POPIA compliance as it applies to payroll data processing.

Knowledge Requirements

• Strong knowledge of South African labour laws and tax regulations, including SARS, UIF, SDL, and COID requirements.
• Understanding of payroll SLA frameworks and how they govern service delivery to business units.
• Knowledge of budget preparation processes within a payroll or finance function.
• Awareness of current developments in payroll technology and best practice.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to resolve complex payroll issues accurately and efficiently.
• Advanced data management capability, including reconciliation, reporting, and large-volume data handling.
• Effective communication and stakeholder engagement skills across Finance, HR, and business unit levels.
• Proven leadership and team management ability, including performance management and staff development.
• Strong writing and reporting skills for producing accurate payroll and costing reports for management and business units.

Personal Attributes

• Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy — the payroll function leaves no room for error.
• High integrity and confidentiality — handles sensitive employee remuneration data with absolute discretion.
• Results-driven and deadline-focused — consistently delivers on time within a demanding monthly payroll cycle.
• Adaptable and flexible — able to manage competing priorities and adjust to legislative and business changes.
• Collaborative and customer-focused — builds effective working relationships with internal stakeholders and business unit clients.

This is a designated EE position. AFGRI encourages applications from suitably qualified candidates from previously disadvantaged groups in line with its Employment Equity Policy.

Core Values

Accuracy & Accountability

AFGRI’s payroll function operates across a large, complex group structure where precision is paramount. The Assistant Payroll Manager is accountable for the accuracy of every payroll run, every statutory submission, and every report produced. There is no acceptable margin for error when it comes to employee remuneration, tax compliance, or statutory obligations — and this role demands a professional who understands and embraces that accountability fully.

Integrity & Confidentiality

Payroll data is among the most sensitive information within any organisation. The Assistant Payroll Manager has access to remuneration details, benefits information, and tax records across the entire employee base. AFGRI places the highest value on professional discretion, and all payroll data must be handled in strict compliance with POPIA and AFGRI’s internal data protection standards — without compromise.

Compliance Leadership

South African payroll is governed by a complex and evolving legislative framework. The Assistant Payroll Manager is expected to stay ahead of changes to tax law, labour legislation, and statutory reporting requirements, and to ensure that AFGRI’s payroll function remains fully compliant at all times. Proactive compliance management — not reactive correction — is the standard.

People Development

The Assistant Payroll Manager is not just a technical expert — it is a leadership role. Supervising, mentoring, and developing the payroll team is as important as managing the payroll cycle itself. AFGRI expects its managers to invest in their team members’ growth, conduct meaningful performance conversations, and build a payroll function capable of delivering excellence sustainably.

Continuous Improvement

Great payroll functions are never static. The Assistant Payroll Manager is expected to bring a continuous improvement mindset to every aspect of the role — identifying inefficiencies, proposing solutions, refining policies, and leveraging technology to reduce risk and improve accuracy. AFGRI is a growing business, and its payroll operations must grow with it.

Career Growth Opportunities

AFGRI Group offers meaningful career progression within its Finance and Human Resources functions for high-performing payroll professionals:

• Assistant Payroll Manager → Group Payroll Manager
• Group Payroll Manager → Senior Payroll Manager / Head of Payroll
• Head of Payroll → HR Operations Director / Group Finance Executive
• HR Operations Director → Chief Human Resources Officer / Chief Financial Officer

Your career path is in your hands.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a Bachelor’s degree strictly required to apply for this role? Yes. A Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, or a related field is listed as essential. Applications that do not meet this minimum educational requirement will not be considered. A professional payroll certification such as CPP or CPA is advantageous but not compulsory.

How much experience is required for the Assistant Payroll Manager position? A minimum of 5 years’ experience in payroll administration and processing at a junior management level is required. This is not an entry-level role — candidates must have demonstrated experience managing complex payroll environments, including full payroll cycle management, statutory reporting, and team supervision.

Which payroll systems should I be proficient in? Proficiency in SAP and/or Sage VIP is specifically required. Advanced Microsoft Excel skills are also essential given the large data volumes involved. Candidates who are proficient in both SAP and Sage VIP will have a significant advantage during shortlisting.

 

Is this an Employment Equity position? Yes. This is a designated EE position and the appointment will be made in alignment with AFGRI’s Employment Equity Policy. Suitably qualified candidates from previously disadvantaged groups are encouraged to apply.

When does this vacancy close, and how will I know if I have been shortlisted? The closing date is 05 June 2026. Correspondence will be limited to shortlisted candidates only. Applicants who have not received feedback within 30 days of the closing date may assume their application was unsuccessful.

How to Apply

Ready to advance your payroll management career within one of South Africa’s leading agricultural and food processing groups? Applications are open now. Quote reference number AO-2126 in all correspondence.

👉 Apply Online via the AFGRI Group Careers Portal

 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Applicants who have not received feedback within 30 days of the closing date (05 June 2026) may consider their applications unsuccessful.

This position will be filled in accordance with AFGRI’s Employment Equity Policy.

Apply early — this vacancy closes on 05 June 2026.

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