Associate Analyst: Payroll & People Analytics-(12 Months) at Cellulant Corporation

Role Overview: 

As the Associate Analyst for Payroll & People Analytics, you will take charge of the payroll function while harnessing the power of data analytics to provide valuable insights. Reporting to the Senior Manager - HR Shared Services and Compensation & Benefits, you will play a critical role in optimising payroll processes and contributing data-driven perspectives for informed decision-making.

What You'll do:

Payroll Processing (40%)

• Manage end-to-end payroll processing for Cellulant Group entities with high accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ensure full compliance with statutory regulations, tax filings (e.g., KRA, NSSF, SHA), and remittance schedules across all operational regions.
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance payroll efficiency and support technology integration.

Payroll Administration (35%)

• Proactively resolve payroll discrepancies and manage payroll inquiries to ensure employee satisfaction.
• Maintain accurate records and streamline payroll workflows to enhance operational efficiency and accuracy.
• Serve as the primary liaison between the People & Culture team and the finance department for payroll budgeting and forecasting.
• Monitor and analyze team budget utilization to ensure expenditure remains within approved limits.
• Conduct periodic audits to verify payroll data accuracy, statutory adherence, and internal policy compliance.
• Generate regular and ad-hoc payroll reports and communicate findings effectively to Finance and HR stakeholders.

Benefits Administration (15%)

• Administer company benefit programs, including health insurance, retirement plans, and leave management.
• Act as the primary point of contact for employees regarding benefits enrollment, changes, and eligibility inquiries.
• Collaborate with insurance providers and vendors to ensure timely enrollment and accurate plan administration.
• Ensure all benefit-related data is updated in HRIS systems and aligns with data protection regulations.

Data-Driven Payroll & People Analytics (10%)

• Leverage data analytics to optimize payroll operations, identify cost-to-company trends, and track workforce metrics.
• Develop and maintain robust dashboards to provide leadership with actionable insights into payroll and people data.
• Collaborate with HR stakeholders to support data-driven talent acquisition and retention strategies, utilizing reports from HRIS and payroll systems.

What we are looking for:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, or a related field.
• 2+ years of hands-on experience in end-to-end payroll processing, including statutory deductions, tax compliance, and benefit administration.
• Demonstrated expertise in statutory filing (e.g., KRA, NSSF, NHIF, and other regional statutory bodies) and payroll reconciliations.
• Proven proficiency in payroll systems (e.g., Sage, SAP SuccessFactors, Workday, or similar Payroll software).
• Strong data handling skills, specifically advanced Excel (Pivot Tables, VLOOKUPs, Formulas) and experience in building basic HR/Payroll dashboards.
• High degree of organization, with a proven ability to manage strict deadlines and high-volume data without compromising accuracy.

Key Competencies

• Payroll Operations & Compliance: Solid understanding of the full payroll lifecycle, including end-to-end processing, tax regulations, and statutory remittances. Ability to interpret labor laws and internal policy to ensure 100% compliance.
• Operational Rigor: Highly organized and structured approach to work. Proven ability to handle high-pressure deadlines and manage complex reconciliations with high attention to detail.
• People Analytics: Proficiency in leveraging data to track payroll trends, cost-to-company analysis, and workforce metrics. Ability to translate raw payroll data into actionable insights for leadership.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Strong interpersonal skills to bridge communication between Finance and HR stakeholders, ensuring seamless payroll integration and budgeting accuracy.