Job Description

As a senior leader within the regional Centre of Excellence, the Principal Consultant plays a pivotal role in delivering world-class Sage HR and Payroll solutions. Collaborating closely with Project Managers, IT specialists, Product Managers, Developers, Sales Engineers, and customer teams globally, you will architect and implement innovative solutions that align with best practices, ensuring exceptional quality, scope adherence, and budget control.




You will act as both a solution and technical architect, guiding regional teams to design and deliver sophisticated, scalable implementations that meet complex business requirements. Your expertise will support not only critical presales activities but also seamless project delivery and escalated support cases, ensuring our customers and Business Partners receive unparalleled service.




Location - 3 days per week out of our Johannesburg office.

Key Responsibilities

- Serve as a trusted expert and architect, leading design, setup, configuration, customization, testing, delivery, documentation, and transition of Sage HR and Payroll solutions primarily for Business Partners supporting end customers.


- Lead and actively participate in discovery sessions, workshops, UAT, migrations, upgrades, and technical/functional reviews, fostering knowledge sharing and collaboration among diverse project stakeholders.


- Mentor and train consultants, Business Partners, and customer teams, elevating their capabilities and driving adoption of best practices.


- Engage in presales efforts, conducting feasibility assessments, scoping, and estimating to tailor solutions that meet evolving customer needs.


- Proactively propose value-added services, driving business growth through innovative and customer-centric implementations.


- Take full accountability for delivery excellence, including monthly billing, utilization management, and contributing to the profitability of the Centre of Excellence.


- Develop and refine best practice methodologies and toolkits aligned with the latest product updates.


- Identify and mitigate project risks early, ensuring timely, cost-effective delivery.


- Maintain deep product expertise across Sage applications, and stay current with HR and Payroll certifications and market developments.


- Communicate complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences, always championing customer and partner satisfaction.




What You Bring:


- 5-7+ years of hands-on HR and Payroll implementation experience, preferably within Sage environments.


- Proven leadership in key project activities including discovery, workshops, migrations, upgrades, and UAT.


- Exceptional ability to mentor and guide teams through technical and functional challenges.


- Strong problem-solving skills with the agility to address complex support escalations.


- Expertise in designing advanced, scalable software solutions with comprehensive documentation.


- Proficiency with APIs and tools such as Postman is highly desirable.


- Solid understanding of SaaS offerings, regulatory compliance, and HR/Payroll statutory requirements.


- Excellent written and verbal communication skills tailored for diverse audiences.


- Commercial acumen with experience in billing and financial management.


- Self-driven, enthusiastic, and capable of managing multiple priorities independently and collaboratively.


- Degree-level qualification or equivalent, with relevant Sage certifications (e.g., Sage Business Cloud Payroll Professionals, Premier Payroll).


- Experience with Sage 300 People Payroll & HR is a plus.




Why Join Us?


Become part of a dynamic, global Centre of Excellence where your expertise shapes the future of HR and Payroll technology. Drive innovation, mentor rising talent, and deliver exceptional value to partners and customers worldwide. If you're passionate about technology, collaboration, and excellence, this role offers a rewarding challenge with significant impact.




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