Occupational Qualification · P17
Discretionary Grant · UpcomingPayroll Manager
- NQF Level
- NQF Level 6
- Credits
- 240
- Duration
- —
- SAQA ID
- 121787
Official QCTO Registry Profile
Source: SAQA / QCTO registry- SAQA ID
- 121787
- Min Credits
- 240
- Registered
- 2024-01-30
- Re-registration
- 2029-01-30
- Field
- Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies
- Sub-field
- Finance, Economics and Accounting
Sample Asset Preview





Overview & Scope
Programme Profile
- Target Designation
- Certified Payroll Manager Practitioner
- Competency Focus
- Master specialised practical applications, safety criteria, and regulatory mandates required of a qualified Payroll Manager.
- Academic Weight
- Full national recognition at NQF Level 6 yielding 240 credits upon successful PoE verification.
- Work Opportunities
- Deployment across As a qualified payroll manager, you can find employment opportunities in Business Services, Cleaning, Security, Real Estate. Your skills will be in demand across both public and private sectors, and you may also choose to work as an independent contractor or start your own business in this field. operations under SERVICES SETA scope.
- Audit Objective
- Bridges operational skills deficits under the governing SERVICES SETA quality matrix.
- Value Proposition
- Measurable, legally compliant skills that optimise productivity, satisfy Workplace Skills Plans (WSP), and unlock B-BBEE scorecard weight.
Introduction▾
The Payroll Manager is a Advance Occupational Certificate set at NQF Level 6, comprising 240 credits. This qualification has been carefully developed to provide you with the essential knowledge, practical skills, and workplace experience needed to excel in your chosen field. Whether you are starting your career or looking to formalise your existing expertise, this programme offers a structured pathway to competence and recognition.
Purpose▾
The purpose of this qualification is to provide qualifying learners with the knowledge, understanding, competence and experience required to operate as a Payroll Manager. A Payroll Manager manages the organisation's employment costs and directs the activities of payroll staff and monitors the payroll processing objectives including audits and relevant legislative compliance (affecting employer/employee relationship). The learner attributes (including problem solving, interpreting information and communication) will be integrated in the learning process. Learners will have to prove competence of the above knowledge, skills, attitudes, responsibilities, and tasks imbedded in the exit level outcomes. A qualified learner will be able to: • Manage accurate payment of employees within a company. • Oversee and manage overall company payroll objectives. • Manage compliance to policies, procedures, and legislation to mitigate governance risks.
Entry Requirements▾
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): RPL for Access to the qualification. Learners will gain access to the qualification through RPL for Access as provided for in the QCTO RPL Policy. RPL for access is conducted by accredited education institution, skills development provider or workplace accredited to offer that specific qualification/part qualification. RPL for Credits Learners who have acquired competencies of the modules of a qualification or part-qualification will be credited for modules through RPL. RPL for access to the external integrated summative assessment Accredited providers and approved workplaces must apply the internal assessment criteria specified in the related curriculum document to establish and confirm prior learning. Accredited providers and workplaces must confirm prior learning by issuing a statement of result. Entry Requirements: An NQF Level 5 qualification (Human Resource Management or Accounting or Finance).
SAQA Rationale▾
Currently, no formal training qualifications exist targeting this specific occupational group and instead some unit standards from other related qualifications are used to enhance employee skills. This qualification is important to address the skills of the current and future employees serving all sectors of the economy. Many commercial entities draw Payroll Managers from payroll clerks and several other internal employees trained either by software providers, bookkeeper, and other occupations. The need for formalisation of the qualification was emphasised by many role-players that included the following tprofessional body, i.e. The South African Payroll Association. This specific qualification is aligned with one of the three designations registered with the SAQA. The specific function of Payroll Manager is critical for all public and private sector organisations for the specific purpose of complying with statutory requirements related to pension administration, tax compliance and various labour legislation. The performance of the function is important for adherence to good corporate governance and corporate risk management. Adherence to the rule of law is important for economic performance and promotion of credible environment for investment. Whereas the immediate challenge is formalisation of existing employees' experience into this qualification, the actual training will increase the intake of young people into the occupation. Opportunities for growth are abundant for many qualified people. Not only will they have a qualification that can very easily enable them to move horizontally in human resource management amongst others but vertically into Payroll Executive and Financial Management. This qualification will contribute to the full development of the learner within the commercial industry by providing recognition, further mobility, and transportability within various sectors. This qualification forms part of a suite of related qualifications as registered by the professional body with SAQA. Learners wishing to become a Payroll Manager can enrol for the Occupational Qualification: Payroll Practitioner, NQF Level 5. Should such a learner wish to, at a later stage, enrol for the Occupational Certificate: Payroll Manager he/she will be granted recognition for modules already completed (CAT). In a similar manner, learners will be able to move from any of the designations registered with SAQA by the professional body.
Learning Assumed to be in Place & RPL▾
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): RPL for Access to the qualification. Learners will gain access to the qualification through RPL for Access as provided for in the QCTO RPL Policy. RPL for access is conducted by accredited education institution, skills development provider or workplace accredited to offer that specific qualification/part qualification. RPL for Credits Learners who have acquired competencies of the modules of a qualification or part-qualification will be credited for modules through RPL. RPL for access to the external integrated summative assessment Accredited providers and approved workplaces must apply the internal assessment criteria specified in the related curriculum document to establish and confirm prior learning. Accredited providers and workplaces must confirm prior learning by issuing a statement of result. Entry Requirements: An NQF Level 5 qualification (Human Resource Management or Accounting or Finance).
Exit Level Outcomes▾
- Manage payroll environment to ensure accurate payment of employees.
- Manage compliance to policies, procedures and legislation to mitigate governance risks.
Learning Material Included
- Learner Guide (Theory and Knowledge Modules)
- Facilitator Guide
- Workplace Logbook
- Formative and Summative Assessment
- Assessor Guide & Marking Memorandum
- SETA / QCTO Alignment Matrix
- Administrative & Onboarding Pack
- Implementation Plan
Moderator-Ready Curriculum Breakdown
16 modules · 240 creditsTheory, regulatory and safety knowledge. Each row carries the registered module code, NQF level and credit weight used for formative assessment rubric mapping.
- 121102-000-00-KM-0116 cr
Business Management Concepts and Applications
NQF Level 5
- 121102-000-00-KM-0226 cr
Payroll Theory and Application
NQF Level 6
- 121102-000-00-KM-0321 cr
Introduction to Management
NQF Level 6
- 121102-000-00-KM-0426 cr
Introduction to Human Resource Management
NQF Level 6
- 121102-000-00-KM-0531 cr
Payroll Accounting
NQF Level 6
Qualification 121787 · Curriculum Architecture
Advance Occupational Certificate: Payroll Manager · NQF Level 6 (240 Credits)
Three Curriculum Pillars
Knowledge Modules
Classroom & E-Learning
- Facilitated lectures & self-study
- Written question banks
- Formative comprehension checks
Practical Skill Modules
Simulated Line Tasks
- Simulated line tasks
- Observation rubrics
- Structured task sheets
Work Experience Modules
On-the-Job Production
- On-the-job rotation
- Mentor logbooks
- Workplace sign-offs
Evidence & Audit Pipeline
Learner Portfolio of Evidence (PoE)Owner · Candidate▾
Admin & Registration
ID, learner contract, induction pack, POPIA consent.
Knowledge Evidence
Written assessments & question banks — KM-01 to KM-07.
Practical Evidence
Task sheets, observation rubrics, assessor photos.
Workplace Evidence
Logbooks, mentor sign-offs, supervisor letters.
Assessor Master FileOwner · Registered Assessor▾
Assessment Reports
Judgements, learner feedback, remediation agreements, appeals log.
Internal Moderation & Quality FileOwner · Moderator / SDP▾
Moderation Evidence
10% sampling matrix, HACCP/LOTO compliance sheets, SDP sign-off.
Final Accreditation Gateway
Issued by the accredited Skills Development Provider once internal moderation is signed off.
Provider submits declaration + PoE to the Assessment Quality Partner (AQP).
QCTO awards the SAQA-registered certificate on successful EISA outcome.
Audit & Compliance
Evidence & Audit Pipeline
From portfolio assembly to external sign-off — the exact route your evidence travels.
- Step 1
PoE Assembly
Learner evidence, formative records and logbook entries filed against the alignment matrix.
- Step 2
Internal Assessment
Registered assessor judges each KM/PM/WM outcome using the supplied instruments.
- Step 3
Internal Moderation
Sampling and verification of assessor decisions, with remediation loop before submission.
- Step 4
External Moderation
SETA/QCTO desktop audit and certification upload against registered credits.
Broken Standard vs i2Graduates Standard
The measurable delta between improvised material and an audit-ready suite.
Broken Standard
i2Graduates Standard
Curriculum Mapping
Photocopied guides with mismatched outcomes
5 KM + 6 PM + 5 WM modules mapped to NQF Level 6
Assessment Bank
Missing formative and summative assessments
Pre-validated assessment bank per module
Alignment Evidence
No alignment matrix — audit fails
SERVICES SETA alignment matrix included
Facilitation
Facilitators improvise Payroll Manager delivery
Facilitator scripts + learner activities per credit
Portfolio of Evidence
PoE gaps flagged in moderation
PoE templates that survive external moderation
Pricing & Delivery Tiers
Base licence from R72 000
Digital Master Suite
Editable master files, licensed to your SDP
- Learner Guide, Facilitator Guide & Assessment Suite
- Workplace logbook + alignment matrix (editable)
- Instant digital delivery under institutional licence
- Free minor corrections for 12 months
Turnkey Print & Bound Package
Printed, bound and couriered per learner
- Everything in the Digital Master Suite
- Full-colour print, wire-bound learner packs
- Per-learner PoE folders and dividers
- Nationwide courier with tracked delivery
Full Enterprise Accreditation Bundle
Assets plus accreditation support end-to-end
- Everything in the Print & Bound Package
- Bespoke QMS build mapped to your scope
- Moderation dry-run + written remediation report
- Brand & metadata integration across the suite
Complementary Services
Optional add-ons that harden your accreditation scope before an external audit.
Bespoke QMS Build
We author your Quality Management System — policies, procedures, records, matrices — mapped to your accreditation scope. From R18,500.
Request QuoteModeration Consultation
External moderation dry-run on your PoE + delivery pack. Written report with fixes before your real audit. From R4,900.
Book Moderation SessionThe i2Graduates Quality Guarantee
Every page of this bundle is checked for sequence and structural accuracy — no missing pages, no shortcuts. You get pre-validated assessment instruments ready to survive rigorous compliance moderation, wrapped in a curriculum your facilitators will enjoy teaching.
