Global Payroll & Reward Specialist

About the role

At Luno, you will oversee global payroll operations, ensuring compliance and accuracy across various regions such as South East Asia, Africa, and Europe. Your role will involve managing the entire payroll cycle, collaborating with the Finance team, and maintaining operational governance over third-party partners.

In addition to payroll, you will lead the development of compensation strategies, including salary bands and incentive schemes. Your expertise in payroll, compensation, and reward will be crucial in benchmarking benefits and delivering management reports on workforce costs. Success in this position requires a strong understanding of payroll regulations and excellent communication skills.

The salary range reflects the compensation for a middle-level position in a specialized payroll role.

Skills that matter here

• Payroll Management: You will manage the full monthly payroll cycle and ensure compliance with statutory reporting.
• Compensation Strategy: The role involves leading the rollout of global compensation reviews and managing incentive schemes.
• Project Management: You will utilize your project management experience to lead system implementations.
• Communication: Excellent communication skills are essential for explaining complex payroll concepts to stakeholders.
• Numeracy and Spreadsheet Skills: High numeracy and advanced spreadsheet skills are required for payroll calculations and data analysis.

Who this role suits

• An experienced payroll professional with over 7 years in the field.
• Someone who values precision and accountability in their work.
• A proactive communicator who can simplify complex topics for diverse audiences.
• Comfortable in a fast-paced, evolving tech environment.

From the employer

Global Payroll Operations, Governance & Accuracy (60%)

• Manage the full monthly payroll cycle across all regions including South East Asia, Africa and Europe.
• Take direct responsibility for calculation integrity, system inputs, and gross-to-net reconciliations prior to sign-off submissions.
• Partner with the Finance team to distribute global salary payments in accordance with the payroll calendar.
• Guarantee strict compliance with statutory reporting, deductions, and withholdings globally.
• Maintain operational governance over third-party’s and platform partners.
• Maintain living Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and runbooks to keep processes continuously audit-ready.
• Serve as the authoritative, empathetic main point of contact for payroll queries.

Compensation Strategy, Analytics & Variable Pay (20%)

• Lead the data modeling and operational rollout of the global compensation review.
• Maintain structured salary bands, leveling frameworks, and compa-ratio dashboards.
• Manage and calculate company incentive schemes, discretionary bonuses, and operational standby policies.
• Deliver regular management reports detailing total workforce costs.

Reward Strategy (20%)

• Benchmark regional benefit packages against top-tier tech standards.
• Oversee provider administration, enrollments, and monthly premium reconciliations for company schemes.
• Own the company’s reward principles and pay philosophy.

Experience & Scope

• 7+ years of specialised Payroll, Compensation and Reward experience.
• Demonstrated hands-on operational knowledge of statutory payroll, tax compliance, and benefit regulations in South Africa and the United Kingdom.
• 3+ years of project management experience leading system implementations.

Skills

• High accountability and personal pride in calculation precision.
• Highly numerate with advanced spreadsheet skills.
• Comfortable navigating changes in an evolving tech environment.
• Excellent communication skills, able to explain complex payroll concepts clearly.

Education & Credentials

• A tertiary qualification in Finance, Accountancy, Commerce, Human Resources, or equivalent practical experience.

• Remote but reachable work policy.
• Option to buy and sell up to 5 days leave.
• Excellent private medical insurance.
• Retirement fund benefit.
• Access to learning platforms for personal and professional development.
• 6 months primary care-giver leave.
• Paw-ternity leave for your furry friend.
• Annual Inspiration Day in addition to your annual leave.