Benefits Manager Job in Kenya

Responsible for managing employee benefits programmes, ensuring effective administration of benefits, supporting staff welfare, and maintaining compliance with relevant policies and regulations. Requires a relevant qualification in human resources, business administration, finance, or a related field. The role is based in Nairobi with duties performed on-site.

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.

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.