Assistant Manager, Payroll Administration & Benefits

<p><span style="font-weight: bold">Job Purpose:</span><br></p>
<ul>
<li>The role holder is responsible for the effective end-to-end management of payroll and payroll-related processes, ensuring salaries and related payments are processed accurately, on time, and in full compliance with internal policies, statutory requirements, and regulatory standards.</li>
<li>The role also supports the administration and oversight of employee benefits, including medical, pension, and other staff schemes, and provides operational support during the annual reward cycle.</li>
<li>The position plays a critical role in safeguarding payroll accuracy, strengthening controls, supporting audits, and delivering reliable payroll, benefits, and reward data for decision-making, and supports employee understanding of payroll and benefits processes through clear, structured communication.</li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: bold">Key Responsibilities:</span><br><span style="font-weight: bold">Payroll Management &amp; Control:</span><br></p>
<ul>
<li>Manage the end-to-end in-house monthly payroll process to ensure accurate and timely salary processing.<br></li>
<li>Review, validate, and consolidate payroll inputs including new hires, exits, transfers, promotions, salary changes, allowances, deductions, unpaid leave, and other payroll movements.<br></li>
<li>Ensure payroll changes are supported by appropriate approvals and documentation before processing.<br></li>
<li>Review payroll outputs for accuracy, completeness, and alignment to approved inputs before final sign-off.<br></li>
<li>Ensure all payroll-related payments, including salaries, allowances, reimbursements, advances, and other approved employee payments, are processed within agreed timelines.</li>
<li>Investigate payroll variances, exceptions, and anomalies, and ensure timely resolution before payroll closure.</li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: bold">Payroll Compliance, Reconciliations &amp; Reporting:</span><br></p>
<ul>
<li>Ensure accurate and timely computation, deduction, reconciliation, and remittance of all statutory obligations including PAYE, NSSF, SHIF, Housing Levy, pension contributions, and other applicable deductions.<br></li>
<li>Prepare and review payroll reconciliations, journals, schedules, and supporting reports for submission to Finance and other stakeholders.<br></li>
<li>Reconcile payroll outputs against approved movements, statutory schedules, and general ledger requirements, and investigate any variances.<br></li>
<li>Ensure payroll records, reports, and supporting documentation are complete, accurate, and audit-ready at all times.</li>
<li>Monitor changes in payroll, tax, and employment legislation and ensure timely implementation of required updates.</li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: bold">Benefits Administration &amp; Oversight:</span><br></p>
<ul>
<li>Support the administration and oversight of employee benefits including medical, pension, group life, and other approved staff benefit schemes.<br></li>
<li>Coordinate with internal stakeholders and service providers to ensure eligible employees are accurately enrolled, updated, or exited from benefit schemes in a timely manner.<br></li>
<li>Provide guidance to employees on benefits processes, including pension onboarding and leaver processes, and liaise with scheme administrators or providers as required.<br></li>
<li>Review benefit-related deductions and employer contributions to ensure correctness and timely processing through payroll.</li>
<li>Support annual renewals, provider updates, employee communications, and benefit-related reporting as required.</li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: bold">Reward Cycle Operational Support:</span><br></p>
<ul>
<li>Support the annual salary review and bonus processes through data preparation, system set-up, validation of employee data, and reporting.<br></li>
<li>Prepare reports, schedules, and analysis required to support reward decision-making and implementation.<br></li>
<li>Validate reward-cycle outputs to ensure approved adjustments are accurately reflected in payroll.</li>
<li>Maintain accurate records of reward-cycle changes, approvals, implementation logs, and any appeals or exceptions.</li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: bold">Systems, Data Integrity &amp; Continuous Improvement:</span><br></p>
<ul>
<li>Maintain high levels of payroll and benefits data integrity across relevant HR and payroll systems.<br></li>
<li>Ensure payroll system parameters are updated accurately for approved changes in statutory rates, deductions, benefit rules, and employee data.<br></li>
<li>Identify process gaps, system inefficiencies, and control weaknesses, and recommend practical improvements.</li>
<li>Support testing and implementation of payroll-related system enhancements, upgrades, and process changes.</li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: bold">Stakeholder, Vendor &amp; Service Management:</span><br></p>
<ul>
<li>Work closely with HR, Finance, and other internal stakeholders to ensure seamless payroll and benefits administration.<br></li>
<li>Act as a key contact point for payroll and benefits-related queries, escalating material issues promptly where necessary.<br></li>
<li>Liaise with pension administrators, medical providers, insurers, and other third parties to ensure timely and accurate service delivery.<br></li>
<li>Provide clear, accurate, and timely communication to employees on payroll, statutory deductions, and benefits processes to enhance understanding, reduce queries, and improve overall employee experience.</li>
<li>Support employee awareness and understanding of compensation, payroll, and benefits processes through structured communication initiatives, FAQs, and guidance materials.</li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: bold">Financial Responsibility:</span><br></p>
<ul>
<li>Responsible for the integrity and control of monthly payroll processing, including accurate salary payments, statutory deductions and remittances, payroll journals, benefit-related deductions, and related reconciliations.</li>
<li>The role safeguards significant employee payment flows and supports the prevention of financial, compliance, and reputational risk arising from payroll errors, delays, or control failures.</li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: bold">Academic Qualifications:</span><br>Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Finance, Accounting, or related field.<br><span style="font-weight: bold">Professional Qualifications / Membership to professional bodies/ Publication: </span><br>Relevant HR professional qualification, payroll, taxation, finance, or reward-related certification is an added advantage.<br><span style="font-weight: bold">Work Experience Required:</span><br></p>
<ul>
<li>At least 4–6 years’ relevant experience in payroll administration, payroll operations, compensation and benefits administration, or a related HR operations role.<br></li>
<li>Demonstrated experience managing end-to-end payroll processes, statutory deductions and remittances, reconciliations, payroll reporting, and sensitive employee data in a controlled environment.</li>
<li>Experience supporting benefits administration and annual reward-cycle implementation is an added advantage.</li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: bold">Competencies:</span><br></p>
<ul>
<li>Strong payroll processing and controls mindset.<br></li>
<li>High attention to detail and accuracy.<br></li>
<li>Strong knowledge of statutory payroll and employment compliance requirements.<br></li>
<li>Analytical, reconciliation, and reporting capability.<br></li>
<li>Planning, prioritization, and ability to work to strict deadlines.<br></li>
<li>Confidentiality, sound judgment, and high ethical standards.<br></li>
<li>Problem-solving, exception management, and continuous improvement mindset.<br></li>
<li>Systems aptitude and strong stakeholder management skills.<br></li>
<li>Strong oral and written communication skills.</li>
</ul>
<p><br></p>
<p>If you believe you meet the above requirements log onto our www.imbankgroup.com/ke and click on careers and apply for the position. Your application should reach us as soon as possible but not later than 26th May 2026.<br></p>