People Operations, Payroll & Systems Manager

Who are we?

In November 2020 in Côte d’Ivoire, and then in December 2023 in Senegal, we launched a revolutionary financial super app, offering a full range of services, including online and offline payments, peer-to-peer transactions, money transfers, as well as savings and budgeting tools.

To date, we have enabled thousands of users to carry out these financial activities with complete transparency, and our rapid growth continues unabated. Our main objective is to create the next generation of digital financial solutions in French-speaking Africa, a region where less than 25% of the population currently has access to traditional banking services.

The financial landscape in this region is undergoing a profound transformation, with millions of individuals moving from basic financial transactions (mobile money) to more sophisticated financial management. Djamo is uniquely positioned to become the first choice for meeting these evolving financial needs.

We are proud to have secured the support of world-renowned investors, including Y Combinator, Partech, Kima, and Norskeen, which underscores our potential and commitment to reshaping the financial services landscape in Africa.

To support the launch and growth of our Djamo Entities business, we are looking for a People Operations, Payroll & Systems Manager.

Your role

Reporting to the Head of People, the People Operations, Payroll & Systems Manager is responsible for building, optimizing, and scaling the operational backbone of the People function across all Djamo entities.

This role owns payroll operations, HR administration, HR systems, compliance, people data, and process excellence initiatives. You will ensure that People Operations remain accurate, compliant, scalable, and employee-centric while supporting Djamo's rapid growth across multiple countries.

As the functional owner of People systems and payroll operations, you will drive automation, process optimization, reporting, and operational excellence while partnering closely with Finance, Legal, Operations, and external providers.

Scope

• 5 Djamo entities
• Multi-country payroll operations
• HRIS and People Systems ownership
• HR compliance and administration
• People analytics and reporting
• Management of 2 HR Assistants (Côte d'Ivoire & Senegal)
• Management of payroll, benefits, and HR technology providers.

Your responsibilities

• Payroll Operations & Compliance
  • Own and oversee the end-to-end payroll process across all Djamo entities.
  • Ensure payroll accuracy, completeness, timeliness, and compliance with local regulations.
  • Manage all payroll-related changes including hires, exits, promotions, salary reviews, bonuses, benefits, taxes, deductions, and statutory declarations.
  • Coordinate payroll reconciliations with Finance and ensure appropriate controls are maintained.
  • Manage relationships with payroll providers, social security institutions, labor authorities, and external auditors.
  • Ensure compliance with labor laws, tax regulations, social security obligations, and internal policies across all jurisdictions.
  • Continuously improve payroll processes to reduce risk, increase accuracy, and improve employee experience.

• HR Operations & Administration
  • Oversee and coordinate employee lifecycle administration activities across all entities.
  • Ensure employee records, contracts, amendments, and HR documentation are accurate and compliant.
  • Develop, maintain, and improve HR operational policies, procedures, templates, and workflows.
  • Support employee relations processes and administrative investigations when required.
  • Ensure audit readiness across all People Operations activities.
  • Serve as a subject matter expert on HR administration, payroll, and compliance matters.

• HR Systems & Digital Transformation
  • Serve as the primary administrator and operational lead for People Systems, ensuring configuration, maintenance, adoption, and continuous improvement.
  • Lead HR systems implementations, upgrades, integrations, and optimization initiatives.
  • Identify opportunities for automation and digitization across People Operations.
  • Configure workflows, approval chains, reporting structures, permissions, and system controls.
  • Ensure data integrity, security, and governance across all People platforms.
  • Partner with IT and vendors to troubleshoot issues and improve system performance.
  • Process Excellence & Continuous Improvement
  • Review, document, and redesign People processes to improve efficiency, scalability, and employee experience.
  • Build and maintain "As-Is" and "To-Be" process maps.
  • Develop SOPs, operational playbooks, and internal controls.
  • Measure process performance and identify opportunities for optimization.
  • Lead operational excellence initiatives across the People function.

• People Analytics & Reporting
  • Produce and maintain People dashboards, reports, and analytics to support decision-making by the Head of People and business leaders.
  • Produce recurring reporting on headcount, turnover, payroll, compensation, hiring, performance, and workforce planning.
  • Ensure HR data quality and reporting accuracy.
  • Support leadership with workforce analytics and data-driven decision-making.
  • Partner with Finance to improve people cost forecasting and workforce planning.
  • Project & Change Management
  • Coordinate and support the execution of People projects and transformation initiatives under the direction of the Head of People.
  • Build project plans, timelines, stakeholder communications, and change management strategies.
  • Coordinate cross-functional initiatives involving Finance, Legal, IT, Operations, and external providers.
  • Support organizational scaling initiatives and new country launches.
  • Drive adoption of new systems, policies, and processes across the organization.

• People Leadership
  • Manage, coach, and develop HR Assistants across Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal.
  • Establish operational standards and service-level expectations.
  • Promote continuous improvement, accountability, and customer service excellence.
  • Build capability within the broader People team through training and knowledge sharing.
  • Act as a role model for Djamo's values and culture.

Your profile

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Information Systems, Organizational Development, or a related field.
• 5+ years of progressive experience in HR Operations, Payroll, HR Administration, or People Systems.
• 3+ years of experience managing payroll in Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, or multiple African jurisdictions.
• Strong knowledge of labor law, payroll legislation, taxation, social security, and HR compliance requirements.
• Proven experience implementing or administering HRIS, payroll systems, and HR technology platforms.
• Demonstrated experience leading process improvement, digital transformation, or operational excellence initiatives.
• Strong analytical skills with advanced Excel/Google Sheets proficiency.
• Experience working with HR analytics, dashboards, and workforce reporting.
• Strong project management and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced and high-growth environment.
• Excellent communication skills in French.
• Professional working proficiency in English.
• Success Metrics
  • Payroll accuracy and timeliness
  • HR compliance and audit readiness
  • HRIS adoption and system utilization
  • Process automation and efficiency gains
  • Employee satisfaction with People Operations services
  • Data quality and reporting accuracy
  • Project delivery timelines and outcomes
  • Internal SLA achievement
  • Team engagement and development

Why Work at Djamo?

At Djamo, you help build the financial infrastructure for the next generation of users in Africa. We operate in a market that is still being shaped, where much remains to be built: access to money, savings, credit, and wealth creation.

Why Join Us?

Real and Measurable Impact

Your work directly influences how millions of people access and use financial services every day.

High Ownership and Autonomy

We trust our teams. You will be empowered to own your work, make decisions, and deliver meaningful results with the autonomy needed to succeed.

A Complex and Fast-Growing Environment

Fintech in Africa is challenging and exciting. You will work on real-world problems involving payments, lending, risk management, and infrastructure within a rapidly growing company.

High Standards, Low Politics

We value performance, transparency, accountability, and direct feedback. Our goal is simple: execute, improve, and build together.

Genuine Growth Opportunities

As Djamo grows, so do your opportunities. We promote and invest in people who consistently deliver results and raise the bar for those around them.

Diversity, Inclusion, and Equal Opportunity

We review every application fairly and respectfully. Djamo is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.

Don't meet every requirement, or think you bring unique skills we haven't considered yet? Apply anyway. We are always looking for exceptional talent at every level.

Contract Type

• Permanent Contract (CDI)

Work Locations

• Dakar, Senegal

Industry

• Mobile Financial Services