Payroll Manager at Ford Middle East & Africa

• Payroll processing for approx. 4,000 hourly & 700 salaried employees:
• Experience in processing payroll for weekly, hourly paid unionized workers and salaried employees
• Working level knowledge in South Africa Income tax aspects relevant for Payroll function
• Working knowledge of SAP Payroll System.
• Familiar with Medical aid and Provident Fund related rules
• Accounting, Reconciliation & Reporting of Payroll related financial information
• Administration of time keeping process and the attendance system
• Manage a team of approx. 10 payroll employees located primarily in Pretoria, but also in Port Elizabeth and India.
• Maintain appropriate relationships and communication with local labour union partners.
• Play a leadership role in the coordination and communication of payroll inputs from both local and global business partners (Local Human Resources, Global Shared Services and manufacturing).
• Monthly review and approval on the payroll results for MEA per HR inputs and policy requirements to ensure timely & accurate payment of staff in MEA
• Coordinate with Office of Internal Control to ensure full compliance with control & audit requirements
• Provide reports / metrics on a regular basis, and as directed or requested to the senior management of the status of payroll activities.
• Maintain and control appropriate payroll related processes to reflect changes in the needs of the organization or regulatory requirements.
• Ensure alignment of procedures to Corporate Finance Manual (FM) and other compliance requirements and Perform Controls Self-Assessment Tool (MCRP in Ford) to mitigate risks, raise Operations Identified Comments (OICs), develop, implement and sustain corrective actions
• Support all audits (Internal Audit, PwC, etc).
• Ad-hoc Process Improvement and Project Management

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong supervisory experience & ability to manage & lead payroll hourly team members
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong Emotional Resilience
• Expert level knowledge in South Africa Payroll practices
• Expert level knowledge in SAP Payroll Module – to lead change and be able to understand business requirements vs payroll functionality
• Knowledge of payroll SAP testing of new developments entail to sign off on tested enhancements prior implementation
• Working knowledge of SARS procedures relevant for payroll function
• Payroll accounting knowledge to track and monitor system generated entries
• Attention to details, accuracy and ability to manage many aspects at same time
• Mental agility and ability to learn quickly
• Advanced Excel Skills and familiarity with Payroll and Time office Systems

Qualifications and Experience:

• Qualification: Degree in Accounting
• Proven track record and experience of SAP Payroll Application and Administration
• 5+ years’ experience handling Payroll for large industrial organizations
• Experience in handling Union relationship