Test Lead and Global Payroll Transformation

We are hiring a Test Lead and Global Payroll Transformation Specialist.

This role is part of a Global Payroll Transformation Program and sits within the Global Payroll Center of Excellence (CoE). The position is critical to driving payroll transformation across all markets, ensuring governance, standardized vendor services, and successful testing protocols.

The Global Payroll Transformation Test & Vendor Services Lead is responsible for defining and executing the end-to-end test strategy and governance for the payroll transformation program, while managing vendor relationships and ensuring high-quality service delivery. The role ensures that all market test programs are delivered successfully during transition and that vendor services meet agreed standards to support a seamless transformation.

• Define, own, and continuously improve the global test strategy
  , governance, protocols, and processes for the payroll transformation program.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive test plans, test cases, test scripts, and documentation
  .
• Oversee all phases of testing —
  unit, integration, UAT, regression, parallel
  , and hypercare — across multiple markets.
• Coordinate and manage test execution, defect tracking, and reporting
  , ensuring timely delivery for each market.
• Define and manage entry/exit criteria
  , acceptance criteria, and dependencies for each test phase.
• Ensure compliance with required quality, security, and regulatory standards
  .
• Lead and mentor a distributed team of testers
  , including internal staff and vendor resources.
• Facilitate knowledge transfer and training for local teams on test processes and tools.
• Track and report on test progress, risks, and quality metrics to stakeholders.
• Coordinate closely with global and local teams, vendors, and key stakeholders
  .

• Design and implement governance structures for payroll transformation.
• Oversee execution of transformation deliverables across global markets.
• Provide payroll functional and business analysis support during vendor workshops to bridge gaps between markets and vendor teams.
• Support market implementation specialists with complex issues regarding:
• Payroll logic, rules, and methods of calculation validation
• Workday / payroll compensation mapping
• Wage code matrix / compensation plan validation, analysis, clean-up, and implementation
• Validation of statutory, mandatory, taxable, and non-taxable payroll fields
• Interfaces (functional analysis, validation, formats), including GL, bank files, and time & attendance
• Collaborate with markets to resolve issues and maintain compliance.
• Drive consistency and accuracy in payroll processes across regions.

• Own and maintain the standardized global payroll service catalogue
  .
• Design and maintain the query management system (CRs/vendor) including framework and categorization.
• Conduct payroll service analysis
  : gather issues, perform categorization, identify remedies, and manage implementation.
• Perform service mapping for markets: map incumbent vendor services to the global service catalogue and support structural change plans.
• Ensure all markets and vendors align with the new global payroll service standards
  .
• Monitor vendor performance to ensure high-quality service delivery
  .
• Drive service remediation
  : conduct service gap analysis and manage remediation plans to meet global standards and service levels.
• Coordinate with internal teams and vendors to ensure alignment on deliverables and timelines.

• Act as the primary liaison between the Global CoE, vendors, and market teams.
• Provide guidance and support to local payroll teams during transformation periods.
• Communicate progress, risks, and mitigation plans to leadership and stakeholders.

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Engineering, Information Systems
  , or related field.
• 5+ years experience in software testing and/or service delivery, including 2+ years in a lead role (preferably within payroll, HR, or finance systems).
• Experience managing third-party vendors in a technology implementation environment.
• Strong knowledge of testing methodologies and test tools (e.g., JIRA, HP ALM), plus exposure to automation frameworks.
• Understanding of service management frameworks (e.g., ITIL).
• Certifications such as ISTQB
  , PMP/PRINCE2
  , or Agile are highly advantageous.
• Strong leadership, communication, stakeholder management
  , and negotiation skills.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities with the ability to evaluate risks and implement mitigation strategies.
• Ability to work across multiple markets and time zones
  , managing diverse teams and priorities.

Location
:
Durban

Salary
: R47 000 per month

Duration
: 12 months (with possibility of being renewed)