Payroll Compliance Analyst

Role Overview

This position sits at the centre of payroll governance for a multi-jurisdiction banking group, making sure that every payroll runs accurately, that statutory obligations are settled on time, and that payroll data flowing into the general ledger can be trusted. Day to day, the holder tests controls, reconciles accounts, and works with IT, vendors, auditors and regulators to keep payroll risk contained. The role matters because payroll failures translate directly into tax penalties, audit findings and reputational damage — so this person acts as the group's assurance point for all things payroll compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Run scheduled compliance testing across Group payroll operations, measuring how well tax, regulatory, policy and process obligations are met, and recommend corrective action where gaps are identified.
• Prepare monthly payroll-to-general-ledger reconciliations for the Kenyan entities while monitoring that international businesses complete the same reconciliation cycle each month.
• Reconcile statutory deductions and ensure they reach the relevant authority inside the required deadlines, actively reducing exposure to payroll-related risk across the Group.
• Confirm that the Bank's retirement schemes receive contributions in line with the funding rules set out in each scheme's governing documents.
• Clear payroll suspense and control accounts in accordance with the Group Suspense Accounts Policy, escalating and resolving long-outstanding entries promptly.
• Work alongside internal IT teams and payroll system vendors to deliver approved changes to payroll systems and banking interfaces, including user testing, efficiency checks and control validation.
• Supply payroll data and evidence to internal and external auditors, and compile routine compliance and payroll reporting that supports management decision-making.
• Maintain relationships with statutory authorities, payroll system vendors and other key contacts on compliance and system matters, keep departmental process maps and risk registers current, file monthly Ethics and Compliance self-assessments with Group Risk, verify payroll costs are posted to the correct ledgers before month end, and review payroll system user access against the approved role matrix.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Education: A Bachelor's degree from a recognised university is required. Professional qualifications in accounting, payroll or taxation are an added advantage.
• Overall experience: At least four years in a comparable role within a similar-sized organisation, covering the following areas:
• Payroll processing: Four years administering and processing payroll.
• Compliance and tax: Three years handling payroll compliance, taxation and statutory requirements.
• Analytical tools: Three years working with advanced Excel, data manipulation tools and analysis.
• Systems: Three years using payroll and finance systems.
• Reconciliation: Three years performing payroll or general ledger reconciliations.
• Stakeholder management: Three years managing relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Risk and compliance: Three years operating within risk and compliance frameworks, with working knowledge of labour laws and employment regulations.
• Personal attributes: Strong analytical ability and close attention to detail; absolute discretion in handling confidential employee data and privacy controls; sound problem-solving judgement; high ethical standards; and clear verbal and written communication skills.