Global Payroll Director

Cape Town, South AfricaFull-timeExecutiveHybridPosted 20 Oct 2026

Job Overview

The Talent Experts is recruiting a Global Payroll Director for a multi-jurisdictional professional services organisation, in a hybrid role based in Century City, Cape Town (CareerJunction 2646209; permanent; executive position). Payroll in this business supports growth, acquisitions and international expansion, and sits within a collaborative Human Resources and Reward environment where sensitive employee data, regulatory compliance and continuity of service demand consistently high professional standards.

The Director sets the multi-year global payroll strategy, building a scalable operating model, governance framework and technology roadmap across multiple jurisdictions. The role leads acquisition integrations, new market set-ups, audits, regulatory change and process improvement while strengthening controls; acts as senior payroll adviser presenting risks and performance insights to leadership; develops the payroll team; and holds global service providers accountable against agreed standards. It shapes governance, technology, automation and analytics, with travel to the UK and USA required at some stage.

Key Responsibilities

• Set the multi-year global payroll strategy across multiple jurisdictions

• Build a scalable global payroll operating model, governance framework and technology roadmap

• Lead payroll integration of acquisitions and new market set-ups

• Lead payroll audits, regulatory change and process improvement while strengthening controls

• Act as senior payroll adviser, presenting risks and performance insights to leadership

• Develop and lead a geographically dispersed payroll team

• Hold global payroll service providers accountable against agreed standards

• Drive payroll automation, analytics and technology transformation

• Safeguard accuracy, confidentiality and continuity of service for sensitive employee data

Required Qualifications

• Relevant accounting qualification or bachelor’s degree in business administration, HR, finance or related field (essential)

• Master’s degree preferred

• At least 10 years’ payroll or similar experience within professional services, including leadership responsibility

• Established global payroll experience: global team management, regulations, statutory reporting, payroll systems, analytics and project management

• Clear executive communication and cross-cultural collaboration

• Willingness to travel to the UK and USA

Skills & Requirements

Global PayrollPayroll GovernanceOperating Model DesignMulti-Jurisdiction ComplianceStatutory ReportingPayroll SystemsPayroll AnalyticsM&A IntegrationVendor ManagementRemuneration & BenefitsRisk & ControlsProcess AutomationTeam Leadership