Derick
Human Resource Officer – Sygnia Asset Management (Expanded Job Description)
Sygnia Asset Management, an innovative and fast-growing FinTech company listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), is seeking a skilled and detail-oriented Human Resource Officer to join its Business Support HR division in Cape Town. The organisation operates within the financial services sector, providing asset management, stockbroking, administration services, and a range of investment and savings products to both institutional and retail clients.
Sygnia is built on advanced technology platforms and a strong culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement. The company promotes a fast-paced working environment where employees are encouraged to take ownership, think critically, and contribute meaningfully to both operational and strategic HR functions.
The Human Resource Officer role is office-based in Cape Town and requires a highly capable HR professional with strong payroll expertise, solid reporting capabilities, and proven experience within the financial services industry. The role is broad in scope, covering the full employee lifecycle and providing exposure to multiple HR disciplines.
Role Overview
The Human Resource Officer will act as a key support function within the HR department, responsible for ensuring accurate payroll processing, efficient HR administration, compliance reporting, and data integrity across HR systems. The role requires someone who is comfortable working with high volumes of data, tight deadlines, and strict regulatory requirements.
A strong foundation in payroll systems, particularly Sage 300, is essential, as payroll accuracy and compliance form a critical part of the organisation’s operational integrity. In addition, the role involves HR reporting, workforce analytics, employee data management, and support across various HR processes including onboarding, benefits administration, and employee lifecycle management.
The successful candidate will be expected to work independently while also collaborating closely with HR colleagues, finance teams, and external stakeholders.
Payroll Administration Responsibilities
A major function of the role is end-to-end payroll administration using Sage 300. The Human Resource Officer will ensure that payroll is processed accurately and on time each month, with strict attention to detail and compliance requirements.
Responsibilities include managing all payroll inputs such as new employee onboarding data, terminations, maternity leave, salary adjustments, bonuses, overtime, and various deductions. The role also requires reconciliation of payroll data to ensure consistency between HR records and financial outputs.
The officer will be responsible for maintaining payroll integrity by ensuring that all calculations, statutory deductions, and employee payments are accurate and compliant with relevant legislation. Any discrepancies must be investigated and resolved promptly.
HR Generalist Functions
The role includes a broad range of HR generalist duties covering the full employee lifecycle. This includes supporting recruitment onboarding processes, maintaining employee records, and ensuring that HR systems are updated accurately and consistently.
The Human Resource Officer will manage leave administration systems, ensuring that employee leave balances are correctly recorded and aligned with company policies. This includes monitoring leave trends and resolving system discrepancies.
Onboarding and offboarding processes form part of the daily responsibilities. This includes preparing employment documentation, coordinating induction processes, and ensuring that exit procedures are completed correctly, including system deactivation and final payroll processing.
The role also includes administration of employee benefits such as medical aid schemes, retirement funds, and risk insurance products. The officer will liaise with service providers to ensure accurate enrolment, updates, and compliance with benefit policies.
HR system maintenance is a key responsibility, requiring regular updates of employee data, ensuring accuracy of records, and supporting system integrity across HR platforms.
Reporting, Analytics and Compliance
The Human Resource Officer will play a key role in HR reporting and workforce analytics. This includes preparing monthly HR reports, headcount analysis, payroll summaries, and other management information reports.
Advanced Excel skills are required for data analysis, including the use of pivot tables, XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP functions, and complex formula construction. The ability to interpret HR data and present insights clearly is essential for supporting decision-making processes.
The role also includes supporting internal and external audits by providing accurate HR and payroll data. This requires strong organisational skills and the ability to retrieve and present information quickly and accurately.
In addition, the officer will support BBBEE reporting and compliance administration. This includes maintaining accurate employee demographic data, assisting with audit preparation, and ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements.
HR Projects and Continuous Improvement
The role provides exposure to various HR projects and process improvement initiatives. The Human Resource Officer will be expected to contribute ideas for improving efficiency, automation, and accuracy within HR and payroll processes.
This includes supporting system enhancements, refining reporting structures, and assisting in the implementation of improved HR workflows. The role encourages continuous learning and professional development within a dynamic environment.
The successful candidate will also provide ad hoc HR and payroll support as required, ensuring flexibility in responding to business needs and operational demands.
Qualifications and Experience
Applicants should hold an undergraduate degree in Human Resources or a related field. A postgraduate qualification will be considered an advantage.
A minimum of 5 years’ experience in HR and payroll administration is required, with strong preference given to candidates with experience in the financial services sector. Experience in regulated environments is considered essential due to the compliance-driven nature of the organisation.
Proven experience in BBBEE administration and reporting is required. In addition, expert-level knowledge of Sage 300 payroll systems is highly preferred.
Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office is essential, particularly advanced Excel skills including pivot tables, data analysis functions, and financial reporting tools.
Core Competencies
The ideal candidate must demonstrate exceptional attention to detail and a high level of accuracy in all HR and payroll functions. Given the sensitive nature of payroll and employee data, confidentiality and integrity are non-negotiable.
The role requires a highly adaptable and resilient individual who can perform effectively in a fast-changing and high-pressure environment. The ability to prioritise tasks and manage multiple deadlines is essential.
Strong analytical and numerical skills are required, particularly in relation to payroll data analysis, HR reporting, and workforce metrics.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are necessary for engaging with internal teams, employees, and external stakeholders.
A strong team-oriented mindset is essential, with the ability to collaborate effectively while also working independently when required.
Work Environment and Culture
Sygnia Asset Management offers a dynamic, performance-driven environment where innovation and continuous improvement are strongly encouraged. Employees are expected to take ownership of their responsibilities and actively contribute to the organisation’s growth and success.
The HR function plays a critical role in supporting both operational efficiency and employee experience. As such, the Human Resource Officer will be exposed to a wide range of HR disciplines, offering excellent opportunities for professional development and career growth.
Final Overview
This Human Resource Officer position at Sygnia Asset Management is ideal for a highly skilled HR and payroll professional seeking exposure within a leading FinTech and financial services organisation. The role combines technical payroll expertise with HR generalist responsibilities, reporting, compliance, and system management.
It offers an excellent opportunity for a detail-driven, analytical, and adaptable individual to contribute meaningfully within a high-performance environment while developing a well-rounded HR career in one of South Africa’s most innovative financial services companies.
