Associate Director, Payroll - Rewards

Position Overview ABOUT APOLLO

Apollo is a global, high-growth alternative asset manager with approximately $938 billion of assets under management as of December 31, 2025. We seek to generate excess return at every point along the risk-reward spectrum, from investment-grade credit to private equity, through our fully integrated platform. Through Athene, our retirement services business, we provide innovative retirement savings products and solutions that help deliver financial security to millions of individuals globally.

We operate with a Principal Mindset — holding ourselves to high standards of accountability, rigor, and long-term value creation.

Apollo is seeking an Associate Director, Payroll to join the Human Capital – Total Rewards team. Key contributor to the U.S. payroll operations team, which has oversight for approximately 1,800 employees while supporting global payroll processes and driving continuous improvement across payroll systems, controls, and service delivery. The Associate Director will play a key role in modernizing payroll operations—strengthening internal controls, enhancing data transparency, and leading automation and artificial intelligence-enabled transformation initiatives that improve accuracy, scalability, and employee experience.

• Oversee end-to-end administration of multiple semi-monthly U.S. payrolls and support global payroll cycles, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and operational integrity.

• Own payroll governance framework, including reconciliations, controls, documentation, audit readiness, and regulatory compliance across jurisdictions.

• Review and approve payroll calculations, equity transactions, off-cycle payments, tax with holdings, and complex compensation items.

• Partner with Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS), Compensation, Benefits, Finance, Tax, and external vendors to ensure seamless system integration and data accuracy.

• Lead payroll-related month-end and year-end processes, including W-2, W-2c, taxable fringe benefits, 401(k) compliance support, and audit coordination.

• Oversee payroll accounting interfaces and general ledger reconciliations in partnership with Finance.

• Design and implement scalable process improvements, strengthening controls while reducing manual intervention.

• Champion payroll transformation initiatives, including:

• Serve as an escalation point for complex payroll matters, exercising sound judgment and discretion.

• Mentor junior payroll team members and contribute to a high-performance, accountable team environment.

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, Human Resources, or related field, or equivalent practical experience.

• 6–10 years of progressive multi-state U.S. payroll experience, including ownership of full-cycle payroll operations.

• Demonstrated experience operating in a complex, multi-entity, or highly regulated environment.

• Hands‑on expertise with Workday Payroll and ADP Workforce Now.

• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local tax regulations, wage and hour laws, and payroll compliance requirements.

• Experience designing or enhancing payroll controls, reconciliations, and audit frameworks.

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including large data set analysis and reconciliation.

• Proven ability to manage confidential information with professionalism and sound judgment.

• Exposure to or experience supporting international payroll operations.

• Experience leading payroll system enhancements, implementations, or process redesign initiatives.

• Familiarity with payroll accounting, journal entries, and financial close processes.

• Experience leveraging automation tools, robotic process automation (RPA), AI-driven validation controls, or data analytics platforms to modernize payroll operations.

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation.

• Experience with in financial services, asset management, insurance, or similarly regulated industries.

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