Payroll Manager

AppLovin; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 137,000 - 158,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Unlimited PTO

10 paid holidays per year

Sick leave 80 hours

Job summary

AppLovin is seeking a driven Payroll Manager to own global payroll operations across the US and key international markets. Lead compliance frameworks, partner cross-functionally, and scale payroll like infrastructure.

You’ll manage tax compliance across the US, SG, DE, IE, CY, and IT, and oversee end-to-end payroll with vendors, HR, and Finance. You will also drive equity-related payroll events, improve controls, and support month-end close.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of progressive payroll experience in a multi-country environment; at least 2 years in a lead or manager capacity.
• Deep working knowledge of US payroll tax (federal, state, local) — multi-state is required; experience with CA, NY, or WA is a plus.
• Direct, hands-on experience processing payroll in at least two of the following: Singapore, Germany, Ireland, Cyprus, or Italy.
• Proficiency with Workday HCM/Payroll or equivalent global processor; strong Excel/Google Sheets skills required.
• Track record of managing payroll tax filings, year-end reconciliations, and statutory reporting across multiple jurisdictions simultaneously.
• Experience processing equity-related payroll transactions (RSU, ESPP, NQ, ISO) in a public company environment.
• Exceptionally detail-oriented with strong reconciliation instincts; you are comfortable building processes to detect errors before they become problems.
• Clear, direct communicator who can translate complex payroll mechanics for a non-payroll audience.
• Comfortable in a lean, high-velocity environment where you own outcomes end-to-end with limited hand-hanging.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end payroll processing across the US (multi-state) and international entities — ensuring accuracy and on-time delivery each cycle.
• Manage relationships with external payroll vendors and in-country service providers; hold them accountable to SLAs and quality standards.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for all payroll-related matters across Finance, Accounting, HR, and Legal.
• Handle off-cycle payrolls, manual calculations, retroactive adjustments, and termination runs.
• Maintain deep, current knowledge of payroll tax obligations in each covered jurisdiction — federal/state/local in the US and statutory requirements in SG, DE, IE, CY, and IT.
• Ensure timely and accurate filing of all payroll tax returns, year-end forms (W-2, P60, IR8A equivalents), and local employer statutory filings.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory changes across all jurisdictions; assess impact and implement required changes proactively.
• Partner with Tax and Legal on cross-border employment structures, shadow payrolls, and treaty-related matters.
• Support external payroll audits, tax authority inquiries, and statutory inspections.
• Process and reconcile equity-related payroll events including RSU vesting, ESPP purchase cycles, NQ exercises, and ISO exercises.
• Ensure proper tax withholding and reporting for stock transactions across all jurisdictions, including applicable FBT, social security, and spread income treatment.
• Monitor integrations and manual business processes between Workday HCM and payroll systems (Workday, Cloudpay, local partners).
• Audit input data, validate outputs, and maintain strong internal controls around payroll authorization and data integrity.
• Support month-end close: prepare payroll journal entries, headcount reconciliations, accruals, and benefits reconciliations in coordination with the GL/Accounting team.
• Identify and drive process improvements — automate where possible, document where critical, and eliminate manual workarounds.

Skills

Payroll management

US payroll tax

Cross-functional collaboration

Attention to detail

Communication

Tools

Workday HCM/Payroll

Job description

About AppLovin

AppLovin makes technologies that help businesses of every size connect to their ideal customers. The company provides end-to-end advertising solutions for businesses to reach, monetize and grow their global audiences. For more information about AppLovin, visit: www.applovin.com.

To deliver on this mission, our global team is composed of team members with life experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives that mirror our developers and customers around the world. At AppLovin, we are intentional about the team and culture we are building, seeking candidates who are outstanding in their own right and also demonstrate their support of others.

The Role

AppLovin is looking for a driven Payroll Manager to own global payroll operations across the US and key international markets. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who thrives on building compliance frameworks from the ground up, partnering cross-functionally, and making payroll run like infrastructure — accurate, on time, and scalable.

You will be the subject matter expert on payroll tax and statutory compliance across our primary geographies: United States, Singapore, Germany, Ireland, Cyprus, and Italy. You will manage vendor relationships, own the end-to-end payroll cycle, and work closely with Finance, Accounting, and HR/PeopleOps to support month-end close, audit readiness, and equity-related payroll events.

What You'll Do

Global Payroll Operations

• Own end-to-end payroll processing across the US (multi-state) and international entities in SG, DE, IE, CY, and IT — ensuring accuracy and on-time delivery each cycle


• Manage relationships with external payroll vendors and in-country service providers; hold them accountable to SLAs and quality standards


• Serve as the primary point of contact for all payroll-related matters across Finance, Accounting, HR, and Legal


• Handle off-cycle payrolls, manual calculations, retroactive adjustments, and termination runs

Tax & Statutory Compliance

• Maintain deep, current knowledge of payroll tax obligations in each covered jurisdiction — federal/state/local in the US and statutory requirements in SG, DE, IE, CY, and IT


• Ensure timely and accurate filing of all payroll tax returns, year-end forms (W-2, P60, IR8A equivalents), and local employer statutory filings


• Monitor legislative and regulatory changes across all jurisdictions; assess impact and implement required changes proactively


• Partner with Tax and Legal on cross-border employment structures, shadow payrolls, and treaty-related matters


• Support external payroll audits, tax authority inquiries, and statutory inspections

Equity & Stock Compensation

• Process and reconcile equity-related payroll events including RSU vesting, ESPP purchase cycles, NQ exercises, and ISO exercises


• Ensure proper tax withholding and reporting for stock transactions across all jurisdictions, including applicable FBT, social security, and spread income treatment

Systems & Controls

• Monitor integrations and manual business processes between Workday HCM and payroll systems (Workday, Cloudpay, local partners)


• Audit input data, validate outputs, and maintain strong internal controls around payroll authorization and data integrity


• Support month-end close: prepare payroll journal entries, headcount reconciliations, accruals, and benefits reconciliations in coordination with the GL/Accounting team


• Identify and drive process improvements — automate where possible, document where critical, and eliminate manual workarounds

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Serve as a trusted resource for HR/PeopleOps on all payroll implications of compensation decisions, new hires, LOAs, and terminations


• Partner with Accounting Ops on payroll-related reconciliations and audit support


• Respond to employee escalations and payroll inquiries promptly and with clarity

What We’re Looking For

• 6+ years of progressive payroll experience in a multi-country environment; at least 2 years in a lead or manager capacity


• Deep working knowledge of US payroll tax (federal, state, local) — multi-state is required; experience with CA, NY, or WA is a plus


• Direct, hands-on experience processing payroll in at least two of the following: Singapore (CPF, IRAS IR8A), Germany (Lohnsteuer, SV contributions), Ireland (PAYE/PRSI/USC/ASC), Cyprus (PAYE, GHS contributions), or Italy (INPS, IRPEF, busta paga)


• Proficiency with Workday HCM/Payroll or equivalent global processor; strong Excel/Google Sheets skills required


• Track record of managing payroll tax filings, year-end reconciliations, and statutory reporting across multiple jurisdictions simultaneously


• Experience processing equity-related payroll transactions (RSU, ESPP, NQ, ISO) in a public company environment


• Exceptionally detail-oriented with strong reconciliation instincts — you are comfortable building processes to detect errors before they become problems


• Clear, direct communicator who can translate complex payroll mechanics for a non-payroll audience


• Comfortable in a lean, high-velocity environment where you own outcomes end-to-end with limited hand-hanging

Nice to Have

• APAC payroll experience beyond Singapore (e.g., Japan, South Korea, Australia, or India)


• CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) or equivalent international credential


• Experience supporting payroll for a company that went through rapid international expansion or M&A


• Prior exposure to NetSuite in a payroll accounting context

AppLovin provides a competitive total compensation package with a pay for performance rewards approach. Total compensation at AppLovin is based on a number of factors including market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Depending on the position offered, equity, and other forms of incentive compensation (as applicable) may be provided as part of a total compensation package, in addition to dental, vision, and other benefits.

• Health Insurance: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability


• Retirement Benefits: 401(k) Retirement Plan


• Paid Time Off: Unlimited Discretionary Time Off


• Paid Holidays: 10 paid holidays per year


• Paid Sick Leave: 80 hours per year

Application Window: The application window is expected to close within 30 days of the posting date.

All questions or concerns about this posting should be directed to [e-mail] .

CA Base Pay Range

$137,110 — $157,900 USD

AppLovin is proud to be an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about EEO rights as an applicant here.

If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send us a request at [e-mail]

AppLovin will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable law. If you’re applying for a position in California, learn more here.

To support an efficient and fair hiring process, we may use technology-assisted tools, including artificial intelligence (AI), to help identify and evaluate candidates. All hiring decisions are ultimately made by human reviewers.

Please read our Global Applicant Privacy Notice to learn more about how AppLovin processes your personal information.