Payroll Specialist

Location : Cape Town, South Africa

Date Posted : Oct 24, 2025

Category : Accounting & Finance

Overview

Are you excited to take your payroll expertise to the next level? We’re looking for a detail-oriented, collaborative, and proactive Payroll Specialist to join our People Operations team and help ensure a seamless payroll experience for our employees. In this role, you’ll take ownership of our payroll processing for multiple countries within the EMEA region, while supporting global initiatives, ensuring that every payslip is accurate, on time, and fully compliant.

As a Payroll Specialist at Meltwater, you’ll be a trusted partner to our HR, Finance, and external vendor teams, managing data, solving problems, and driving improvements across payroll operations. Your work will directly impact employee confidence and operational excellence.

At Meltwater, you'll find an environment that values growth, mentorship, and inclusive leadership. Work alongside experienced professionals and respected leaders, continuously learning and evolving in a dynamic global environment. Join our team and be part of a supportive community that values your contributions and helps you succeed.

Responsibilities

• Ensure our employees are paid accurately and on time, while staying fully compliant with local regulations and internal policies.
• Manage the full payroll cycle for the multiple EMEA countries, including calculating wages, bonuses, statutory deductions, and final payments.
• Process all payroll transactions across the employee lifecycle from onboarding to offboarding including changes, absences, and adjustments.
• Review and audit timesheets and payroll data, proactively resolving any discrepancies.
• Generate and share regular reports for HR, Finance, and external stakeholders, ensuring data accuracy at every step.
• Maintain up-to-date employee payroll records, including compensation, benefits, and statutory information.
• Support internal and external audits, and contribute to payroll projects such as M&A integrations and system upgrades.
• Collaborate with our Finance team on reconciliations and payroll-related accounting queries.
• Be the go-to contact for employee payroll questions, providing timely, clear, and professional support.
• Uphold the highest standards of confidentiality and compliance across all payroll activities.
• Continuously seek out ways to improve processes, enhance accuracy, and ensure operational efficiency.
• Take on additional tasks and support the People team as needed, we’re a team-first environment.

Qualifications

Benefits

Where You'll Work : V & A Waterfront, 3 Dock Rd., 8001 Cape Town

When You'll Join : ASAP

Our Story

At Meltwater , we believe that when you have the right people in the right environment, great things happen.

Our best-in-class technology empowers our 27,000 customers around the world to make better business decisions through data. But we can’t do that without our global team of developers, innovators, problem-solvers, and high-performers who embrace challenges and find new solutions for our customers.

Our award-winning global culture drives everything we do and creates an environment where our employees can make an impact, learn every day, feel a sense of belonging, and celebrate each other’s successes along the way.

We are innovators at the core who see the potential in people, ideas and technologies. Together, we challenge ourselves to go big, be bold, and build best-in-class solutions for our customers.

We’re proud of our diverse team of 2,200+ employees in 50 locations across 25 countries around the world. No matter where you are, you’ll work with people who care about your success and get the support you need to unlock new heights in your career.

We are Meltwater. Inspired by innovation, powered by people.

Meltwater is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and Prohibits Discrimination and Harassment of Any Kind : At Meltwater, we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace where every employee feels valued, respected, and empowered. We are committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity and strive to provide a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment.

All employment decisions at Meltwater are made based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, or any other status protected by the applicable laws and regulations.

Meltwater does not tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind, and we actively promote a culture of respect, fairness, and inclusivity. We encourage applicants of all backgrounds, experiences, and abilities to apply and join us in our mission to drive innovation and make a positive impact in the world.

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