Payroll Team Lead / Payroll Specialist

About the role

Career Directions Limited is recruiting, on behalf of its client, an experienced Payroll Team Lead / Payroll Specialist for a full-time position (40 hours per week) in Nairobi. The role covers end-to-end management and governance of payroll, compensation and benefits administration for an international organisation, working closely with HR, Finance and external payroll providers.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the end-to-end payroll process, ensuring timely and accurate processing
• Develop and manage payroll schedules across internal teams and external service providers
• Review and validate monthly payroll results and prepare sign-off reports in line with audit requirements
• Design, implement and maintain payroll controls and governance processes
• Manage external payroll providers, including reviewing and auditing their outputs and performance
• Coordinate payroll reporting, regulatory filings, financial and benefits reconciliations
• Prepare payroll datasets and reports supporting financial reconciliation, budgeting and business planning
• Provide subject-matter expertise on payroll and compensation and benefits for HR process improvements and new C&B initiatives
• Oversee compensation and benefits administration, including leave management, and act as first point of escalation for payroll and C&B matters
• Investigate payroll issues, root cause them and propose solutions
• Ensure employee compensation records, allowances and one-off payments are accurate and processed on time
• Lead, coach and develop payroll and compensation and benefits administrators

Required profile

• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in payroll and compensation and benefits administration, preferably in an international or multinational environment
• Ideally 2-5 years of team/people management experience
• Master's degree in human resources or equivalent combination of education and experience
• HR or payroll-management professional qualification desirable
• Excellent English required; working knowledge of French advantageous

Required skills

• Strong Workday experience; Workday certification an advantage
• End-to-end payroll management and compensation and benefits administration
• Payroll controls, audit requirements, reconciliations and record management
• Data management, analytical and reporting capability, advanced Excel
• Demonstrated experience improving HR and payroll processes
• Ability to work across HR, Finance, external providers and other stakeholders