Benefits Manager at Equity Bank Kenya

Job Description

THE ROLE PURPOSE

The role provides strategic leadership and operational oversight of staff benefits, and Payroll administration across all Group entities in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan, and DRC Congo. It ensures the effective management of HR costs, benefits programs, supports payroll accuracy, statutory compliance, account reconciliations, productivity metrics, and service delivery standards. The role is responsible for optimizing employee cost structures, managing Group Life, Medical, GPA, Pension and Benevolent schemes, ensuring automation of key Reward processes, strengthening internal controls, and maintaining audit-ready documentation. It further ensures alignment with regulatory requirements across multiple jurisdictions while supporting subsidiaries to achieve consistency, accuracy, and operational excellence in Total Rewards execution.

THE KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage HR benefits structures, spearhead staff cost leadership initiatives, Ensuring benefit terms are fully in line with for Group policies.
• Oversee multicountry payroll support functions, ensuring SLA adherence, reduced error rates, and timely delivery of annual review exercises.
• Maintain accurate benefits administration processes including Group Life updates, GPA claims, medical membership management, and pension administration.
• Support in monthly reconciliations of HR-related financial accounts including Oracle disbursement, 100% accuracy of medical database and pension trustee accounts.
• Support in the automation initiatives such as benevolent benefit management processes, and other benefits-related workflows in liaison with all the key stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with statutory obligations across all operating countries, achieving zero penalties and operational losses.
• Maintain complete, audit-ready documentation and support all internal/external audit processes.
• Drive risk awareness, internal controls, and maintenance of an updated risk log across benefits.
• Provide continuous staff education on benefits, ensuring at least two sensitization sessions per quarter.
• Ensure timely service delivery on benefits SLAs and working closely with the medical team to ensure complete coverage of staff on the medical benefit and timely staff query resolution.

CORE ACCOUNTABILITIES AND DELIVERABLES 

 Financial Accountabilities

• Achieve zero penalties and zero operational losses through strong compliance and financial controls.
• Ensure accurate reconciliations of all HR benefits accounts by the 5th of every month.
• Maintain accurate GL postings, financial schedules, and audit-ready documentation for benefits.

 People Accountabilities

• Enhance capability of benefits teams across subsidiaries through training, coaching, and technical guidance.
• Conduct regular staff education sessions on Benefits programs (minimum two sessions quarterly).
• Promote engagement, transparency, and service excellence in responding to employee and stakeholder queries.

Processes & Systems Accountabilities

• Ensure full adherence to Group benefits and payroll-related SLAs.
• Drive automation, standardization, and digitization to reduce manual work and improve accuracy.
• Maintain updated SOPs, process documentation, and benefits governance frameworks.
• Manage periodic internal control self-assessments and process effectiveness reviews.

 Qualifications
 
KEY TECHNICAL SKILLS & LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES

Technical Skills

• Compensation & Benefits Administration
• Multicountry Payroll & Statutory Compliance
• Benefits Accounting & Financial Reconciliations
• HRIS/ERP Systems (Payroll, Medical, Pension systems)
• Group Life, Medical, GPA & Pension Scheme Management
• Risk Management & Internal Controls
• Data Accuracy, Reporting & Analytics
• SLA Management & Service Delivery Governance

Leadership Competencies

• Analytical Thinking & Problem Solving
• Stakeholder Management & Communication
• Capacity Building & Coaching
• Change Management & Process Transformation
• Integrity, Confidentiality & Professional Conduct
• Decision-making & Accountability

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS  

• Minimum seven years of HR experience with direct exposure to Compensation & Benefits and multicountry payroll/benefits processes.
• Demonstrated expertise in HR systems, HR processes, pay legislation, and benefit regulations across Kenya and the Group’s regional markets.
• Strong background in financial reconciliations, statutory reporting, and internal control frameworks.
• Proven ability to manage Group Life, Medical, GPA, Pension, and other benefits schemes.
• Experience with SLA-driven service environments and accurate reporting structures.
• Strong documentation rigor, process discipline, and proactive issue resolution skills.

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS 

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field
• CPA (K) or ACCA
• Human Resource Certificate/Diploma is desired