Payroll Manager at Unilever

ABOUT THE ROLE

• We are seeking a highly analytical, customer-focused, and experienced Payroll Manager, 1UL Africa & Expat Payroll to lead end-to-end payroll delivery across Africa and global expatriate payroll operations.
• This role is responsible for ensuring accurate, timely, compliant, and efficient payroll processing across a complex multi-country landscape. The successful candidate will combine operational excellence with transformation leadership, driving continuous improvement, governance, controls, vendor performance, and service excellence while delivering an exceptional employee experience.
• As a key member of the payroll leadership team, this role will partner closely with HR, Finance, Global Mobility, Payroll Vendors, and external stakeholders to ensure payroll operations are managed effectively, compliantly, and efficiently across multiple markets.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Payroll Operations & Service Delivery

• Lead end-to-end payroll operations across multiple African markets, ensuring accurate and timely payroll processing.
• Ensure payroll activities are delivered in accordance with local legislative requirements, business policies, and service level agreements.
• Drive operational excellence and payroll service quality through robust delivery processes and governance.
• Monitor payroll performance and implement actions to continuously improve employee experience and service outcomes.
• Ensure consistent execution of payroll processes across all supported markets.

Expatriate Payroll Management

• Manage end-to-end payroll activities for expatriate employees across global assignments.
• Oversee shadow payroll processes, tax equalization calculations, and expatriate payroll reconciliations.
• Ensure accuracy and compliance of local payroll files supporting expatriate employees.
• Partner with Global Mobility and external providers to ensure seamless payroll delivery for globally mobile employees.
• Proactively identify and resolve expatriate payroll risks and issues.

Compliance, Governance & Risk Management

• Ensure payroll operations comply with local legislative requirements, tax regulations, and statutory obligations.
• Maintain compliance with Unilever internal controls, SOX requirements, and audit standards.
• Manage payroll governance frameworks and ensure appropriate controls are embedded and consistently executed.
• Support internal and external audits, ensuring timely resolution of findings and recommendations.
• Develop and oversee risk mitigation plans to reduce payroll exposure across all supported countries.

Process Excellence & Transformation

• Partner with Payroll and HR Centres of Expertise to standardize and optimize payroll processes.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance efficiency, compliance, and employee experience.
• Lead implementation of payroll policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Support payroll transformation and digitalization initiatives across the Africa payroll landscape.
• Identify opportunities to simplify processes, reduce manual interventions, and improve service outcomes.

Vendor & Stakeholder Management

• Manage relationships with payroll vendors and service providers to ensure delivery against contractual obligations and performance expectations.
• Partner with HR, Finance, Tax, Global Mobility, Equity, and business stakeholders to resolve complex payroll matters.
• Provide expert payroll guidance and support across the organization.
• Drive strong collaboration across internal and external partner networks.
• Ensure effective escalation management and resolution of payroll-related issues.

Reporting, Analytics & Insights

• Generate and analyze payroll reports to identify trends, risks, and opportunities.
• Provide payroll insights and recommendations to support business decisions and operational improvements.
• Monitor key performance indicators and service metrics to measure payroll effectiveness.
• Deliver accurate management reporting to support governance and compliance requirements.
• Leverage data-driven insights to improve payroll accuracy, controls, and employee experience.

People Leadership & Capability Building

• Lead, coach, and develop payroll professionals across the team.
• Foster a high-performance culture focused on accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and customer service excellence.
• Strengthen payroll capability through coaching, development planning, and knowledge sharing.
• Support succession planning and talent development initiatives.
• Promote best practice sharing across Payroll Expertise and PEX leadership teams.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Demonstrated extensive payroll operations experience, including specific payroll experience within South Africa.
• Experience supporting or managing payroll operations across multiple African countries.
• Minimum two years' people management experience.
• Proven experience managing end-to-end, in-house payroll operations.
• Strong experience managing multi-country payroll environments, payroll vendors, and cross-functional stakeholders.
• In-depth understanding of payroll compliance, SOX controls, governance, and audit requirements.
• Strong financial and business acumen.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Strong stakeholder management, communication, and influencing skills.
• Ability to manage confidential and sensitive information with the highest level of integrity.
• Experience leading change, transformation, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Proven ability to develop and execute a shared vision and strategy for change.
• Strong leadership capability with experience managing remote and cross-cultural teams.
• Professional fluency in English, both written and verbal; French or additional African language capability would be advantageous.
• High levels of agility, resilience, and adaptability in a complex global environment.