Group Compensation & Benefits Lead (Terra Corporate)

The Group Compensation & Benefits Lead is responsible for designing, coordinating, and administering the Group’s Total Rewards framework across all Terra entities.

The Group Compensation & Benefits Lead is responsible for designing, coordinating, and administering the Group’s Total Rewards framework across all Terra entities. The incumbent plays a pivotal role in ensuring equitable, competitive, and compliant compensation and benefits practices, while driving reward analytics, payroll governance, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic & tactical compensation governance

• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous refinement of compensation and benefits policies, ensuring alignment with business objectives and the Terra Group EVP.
• Conduct salary benchmarking, remuneration surveys and analytics (including IAS19 and annual salary reviews), providing insights to leadership for strategic decision-making.
• Ensure compliance with all statutory requirements (CSG, PAYE, PRGF, MRA filings) and act as the custodian of reward governance across business units.
• Liaise with auditors, MRA and external partners on reward-related queries, ensuring accuracy, transparency, and adherence to internal controls.

2. Payroll leadership & accuracy

• Oversee the end-to-end payroll process for the Group, ensuring accuracy, confidentiality, and timely execution.
• Process payroll and generate all required reports for management, finance, and statutory bodies.
• Compile, monitor, verify, and reconcile financial data related to payroll and benefits transactions, ensuring compliance with Group controls.
• Record and maintain employee data (exemptions, job changes, exits) to ensure an up-to-date master payroll database.
• Conduct temporary payroll runs and obtain approval from respective HR Manager before submission to the bank.
• Prepare and reconcile month-end third-party payments and journal entries in coordination with Finance.
• Ensure all salary transfers are completed accurately and employees’ accounts are credited on time.

3. Benefits administration & employee support

• Administer Group-wide employee benefits, including pension schemes (DB & DC), medical insurance, leave management (SESS), and other reward components.
• Liaise with pension administrators and medical insurance partners for onboarding, updates, exits and member queries.
• Support employees and HR Managers with inquiries regarding compensation, benefits, taxes, and insurance deductions, ensuring clarity and a positive employee experience.
• Calculate gratuity and severance allowance as required, ensuring alignment with legislation and internal guidelines.
• Submit to the Corporate Office the required yearly data relating to the annual reporting.

4. Systems, reporting & continuous improvement

• Maintain and update internal payroll and benefits databases, ensuring high data integrity and process reliability.
• Generate e-payslips, payslips for operatives and pensioners, and statements of emoluments.
• Prepare and upload statutory returns (CSG, PAYE, PRGF) on the MNS system in a timely manner.
• Compile statistical reports, dashboards, and summaries using payroll analytics tools to support decision-making.
• Contribute to system enhancements, digitalisation projects, automation initiatives, and best-practice improvements within the C&B function.
• Provide proactive insights and recommendations to strengthen internal equity, cost optimisation, and employee retention.

5. Cross-functional collaboration

• Work closely with HR Managers across all Terra entities to ensure consistency and timely submission of payroll and benefits inputs.
• Partner with Finance, Audit, and external regulatory bodies to ensure accurate reporting and compliance.
• Act as a trusted advisor to leadership on compensation structures, benefits strategies, and Total Rewards optimisation.

Qualifications & Experience

• Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or related field.
• Minimum 5 - 7 years’ experience in Compensation, Benefits, or Payroll administration, preferably in a Group structure.
• Strong knowledge of Mauritian labour laws, statutory returns, remuneration orders, and pension regulations.
• Advanced proficiency in HRIS/payroll systems and MS Excel; experience with digital HR tools is an advantage.
• Excellent analytical, organisational, and communication skills.
• High integrity, discretion, and a strong sense of ownership and confidentiality.