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Payroll Team Lead Payroll Specialist


Job Location:

Nairobi - Kenya

Monthly Salary: Not provided by the employer
Experience Required: 5-7years
Posted: 24 September 2026 (19 hours ago)
Application Deadline: 22 December 2026
Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Job Title: Payroll Team Lead / Payroll Specialist

Working Arrangement
Full-time
40 hours per week
Role requires close collaboration with HR Finance and external payroll providers.

Role Overview
Our client seeks an experienced Payroll Team Lead / Payroll Specialist to support an international organisation with responsibility for the end-to-end management and governance of payroll compensation and benefits administration.
The role requires a strong payroll and HR operations professional who can ensure accurate and timely payroll processing maintain robust controls manage external payroll providers support compensation and benefits administration and drive continuous improvement across payroll-related processes.

The successful candidate will operate in a complex multi-stakeholder environment and will work closely with HR Finance and external service providers.

Key Responsibilities
Lead and oversee the end-to-end payroll process ensuring timely and accurate payroll processing.
Develop and manage payroll schedules across internal teams and external service providers.
Review and validate monthly payroll results and prepare payroll sign-off reports in accordance with audit requirements.
Design implement and maintain strong payroll controls and governance processes.
Manage and oversee external payroll providers including reviewing and auditing their outputs and performance.
Coordinate payroll-related reporting regulatory filings financial reconciliations and benefits reconciliations.
Prepare payroll datasets and reports to support financial reconciliation budgeting and business planning.
Provide subject-matter expertise on payroll and Compensation & Benefits administration for HR process improvements policy changes and new C&B initiatives.
Oversee Compensation & Benefits administration including payroll and leave-management processes.
Act as the first point of escalation for payroll compensation and benefits matters.
Investigate payroll issues identify root causes and develop appropriate solutions.
Ensure employee compensation records allowances one-time payments and related employee information are accurate and processed within required timelines.
Oversee employee termination and leave-management processes from a payroll/C&B perspective.
Identify opportunities to streamline payroll and C&B processes and improve operational efficiency.
Lead coach and develop payroll/Compensation & Benefits administrators while promoting a strong service and continuous-improvement culture.

Requirements
Candidate Requirements Category Requirement

Experience
Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in payroll Compensation & Benefits administration preferably within an international or multinational environment

People Management
Ideally 25 years of team/people management experience

Education
Masters degree in human resources or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience

Professional Qualification
HR or payroll-management professional qualification desirable

HR Systems
Strong Workday experience; Workday certification would be an advantage

Payroll Expertise
Strong end-to-end payroll management and Compensation & Benefits administration

Controls & Compliance
Payroll controls audit requirements reconciliations employment policies and record management

Data & Reporting
Strong data management analytical controlling and reporting capability; advanced Excel skills

Process Improvement
Demonstrated experience developing implementing and improving HR/payroll processes and policies

Stakeholder Management
Ability to work effectively across HR Finance external payroll providers and other stakeholders

Leadership
Strong team management coaching problem-solving and decision-making capability

Language
Excellent English required; working knowledge of French would be advantageous

Professional Attributes
High level of confidentiality integrity professional judgement organisation and client-service orientation
The experience and qualification requirements above are directly reflected in the client specification.

Key Competencies
Payroll Management
Compensation & Benefits Administration
Workday
Payroll Controls & Governance
Payroll Reconciliation
HR Operations
Vendor / Payroll Provider Management
Audit & Compliance
Data Management & Reporting
Process Improvement
Policy Implementation
Stakeholder Management
People Management
Problem Solving
Service Delivery



Required Education:

Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in payroll Compensation & Benefits administration preferably within an international or multinational environment