Sharon Tayfield, operations director at Praxima, says the time has come for an HR/payroll super-user.
She defines a super-user as a visionary, whose role extends past HR and payroll duties to facilitate the strategic goals of the company.
"The role of the super user is becoming increasingly essential - especially in bigger companies where planning and careful management of resources and finances, and compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements is imperative. The super-user, typically a member of middle management, needs a number of talents and skills, however, if he or she is to assist the organisation to grow and agilely adapt to ongoing internal and external change," says Tayfield.
According to Tayfield, a payroll administrator needs skills such as numerical literacy, attention to detail and basic knowledge of tax and labour legislation.
Adding on that, a super-user needs either an accounting, information technology, HR or payroll background, and past experience as an HR/payroll administrator helps.
Tayfield also believes that HR/payroll administrators should keep abreast with any developments in tax and labour legislation in the country. She also explains that knowing the legislation well helps for a company's international expansion.
"The retail industry in South Africa offers a key instance where HR and Payroll policies and operations need fine-tuning. New legislation and regulations, tax, accounting and employment practices, as well as remuneration in foreign currency must be taken into account," she says
Super-users aside, there are many companies that still lack proper basic HR and payroll administrators. Tayfield recommends companies starting out to find someone who has general payroll knowledge and who isn't afraid of technology.
She also warns that the first six months are difficult when training relevant staff properly. Tayfield says, more often than not, people blame the system itself when the problem is really just incompetent staff.
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