Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer Company: VFX Financial Location: City of London, England, United Kingdom Job Type: FULL_TIME Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design Date Posted: August 21, 2025 Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years) Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the design function within a dynamic fintech company, driving product innovation and user experience excellence.
• Collaborate closely with Product, Engineering, and Client-facing teams to conceptualize and deliver intuitive, elegant, and impactful digital solutions.
• Define and implement design processes, governance, and best practices to elevate the overall design maturity at VFX.
• Leverage user research and data-driven insights to inform product strategy, validate design decisions, and optimize user journeys.
• Champion design principles, accessibility standards, and user advocacy throughout the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a significant step-up, with the expectation that the Product Designer will not only execute design tasks but also shape the design function itself. This implies a need for strategic thinking, process definition, and influencing capabilities beyond typical individual contributor roles.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders to gather product requirements, user needs, and business objectives, translating them into comprehensive design specifications.
• Develop a range of design artifacts, including user flows, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity visual designs for both web and mobile platforms.
• Conduct user research activities such as interviews, surveys, and usability testing to gather qualitative and quantitative data, informing design iterations and product roadmap decisions.
• Design, maintain, and evolve the company's design system, ensuring consistency, scalability, and efficiency across all digital products.
• Advocate for and implement best practices in user experience design, interaction design, visual design, and accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) across all product touchpoints.
• Iterate on designs based on constructive feedback from product managers, engineers, clients, and other stakeholders, as well as performance data and A/B test results.
• Confidently and clearly present design concepts, rationale, and user insights to diverse audiences, including senior leadership and clients, to gain buy-in and alignment.
• Collaborate with Product Management to define, implement, and analyze A/B tests to optimize user engagement, conversion rates, and overall product performance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of individual contribution and process leadership. The expectation to "define processes and governance on how we do product design" suggests this role requires someone proactive in establishing design frameworks and best practices within the organization.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: A degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Graphic Design, or a related field is a bonus, but equivalent practical experience will be strongly considered.

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in Product Design, UX Design, or UI Design, with a proven track record of delivering successful digital products, preferably in B2B or SaaS environments.

Required Skills:

• A strong, diverse portfolio showcasing user-centered design solutions across multiple platforms (web and mobile), demonstrating a deep understanding of UX principles, interaction design, and visual design.
• Proficiency in industry-standard design and prototyping tools, with a primary emphasis on Figma. Experience with Sketch and the Adobe Creative Suite is also valuable.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively within agile product development teams, working closely with product managers and engineers.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions and rationale clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Comfort and proficiency in receiving and incorporating feedback, embracing iterative design processes, and driving continuous improvement.
• A data-driven mindset with a strong bias for action, utilizing metrics and user insights to inform design strategies and measure success.

Preferred Skills:

• 5+ years of dedicated experience in Product Design or UX/UI Design.
• Demonstrated experience working within B2B or SaaS Fintech environments, understanding the unique design challenges and opportunities in this sector.
• Proven experience in creating, managing, and evolving comprehensive design systems and component libraries.
• Strong user research capabilities, including the planning, execution, and analysis of user interviews, surveys, and contextual inquiries.
• Skilled in various user testing methodologies and adept at translating research findings into actionable design improvements.
• Familiarity with front-end development principles (HTML/CSS/JavaScript) to foster better collaboration with engineering teams.
• Experience utilizing modern agile management and collaboration tools such as Jira, Confluence, or Notion for project tracking and knowledge sharing.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "5+ years" experience is a baseline, but the mention of "considerable step-up to spearhead the design function" suggests that candidates closer to the 7-10 year mark or those with demonstrated leadership in design process evolution will be highly competitive.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated selection of case studies that clearly articulate the design process from problem definition to final solution.
• Demonstrations of user-centered design methodologies, including user research, persona development, user journey mapping, and usability testing.
• Examples of wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity visual designs, showcasing visual hierarchy, layout, and interaction patterns.
• Evidence of collaboration with product and engineering teams, highlighting how user needs were balanced with business goals and technical constraints.
• Specific examples of how data insights and user feedback were used to iterate on designs and improve product outcomes.
• If applicable, showcase experience with design systems, demonstrating component creation, documentation, and implementation.

Process Documentation:

• Ability to articulate and demonstrate experience in defining and documenting design processes, workflows, and governance structures.
• Examples of how design systems are created, maintained, and scaled to ensure consistency and efficiency across product development.
• Insights into how user research and testing methodologies are integrated into the product lifecycle to inform design decisions and validate solutions.
• Experience in collaborating with product teams to define and implement A/B testing strategies for design optimization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on discussing "examples of work you have delivered" and the requirement for a "strong portfolio showcasing user-centered design solutions" indicates that the portfolio is a critical component of the application. Candidates should prepare to walk through their projects in detail, emphasizing their thought process and impact.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: While a specific range is not provided, based on industry benchmarks for a Product Designer with 5-10 years of experience in London, the estimated competitive salary range is likely between £60,000 - £90,000 per annum. This estimate considers the cost of living in London, the company's fintech sector, and the role's responsibility in spearheading the design function.

Benefits:

• Generous Profit Share Plan (PSP): Participants receive a share of company profits, with recent distributions exceeding $1,000,000 USD in 2024.
• Equity via Company Share Option Plan (CSOP): Opportunity to own a stake in the business.
• Competitive Salary: A benchmarked salary commensurate with experience and contributions.
• Hybrid Working: 3 days per week in the Aldgate, London office, offering a balance between in-office collaboration and remote flexibility.
• Annual Company Incentive Trip: All-expenses-paid international trip to foster team bonding and celebrate achievements.
• Flexible Learning & Development Budget: Resources to support continuous professional growth and skill enhancement.
• Weekly Social Events: Including "Monday Supper Club" and "Thursday Happy Hour," fostering a strong social and collaborative team culture.
• Office Amenities: Access to fresh fruit, breakfast staples, and a fully stocked drinks fridge.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are assumed to be approximately 40 hours per week, aligning with full-time employment. The hybrid model allows for flexibility in how these hours are structured, balancing office presence with personal work preferences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The PSP and CSOP are significant differentiators, suggesting a company culture that values employee ownership and rewards collective success. Candidates should inquire about the specifics of these plans during the interview process. The hybrid work arrangement specifies 3 days in the office, which is a key detail for candidates assessing their preferred work environment.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Technology (Fintech), specializing in global payments, treasury management, and cross-border transactions. VFX aims to simplify complex financial operations for businesses. Company Size: The provided LinkedIn data indicates a company size of 51-200 employees. This suggests a mid-sized company that is likely past the startup phase but still agile enough to foster innovation and provide significant impact opportunities for employees. Founded: While the founding date is not explicitly provided, the company's focus on modernizing financial services implies a relatively recent establishment or a significant pivot towards digital solutions.

Team Structure:

• The Product Designer will be part of a product team that includes Product Managers and Engineers.
• The role is described as "spearhead[ing] the design function," indicating potential for the designer to influence and possibly build out a design practice.
• Collaboration is expected to be cross-functional, involving Client-facing teams, Product, and Engineering.

Methodology:

• The company operates within a fast-paced environment, indicative of agile methodologies and iterative development.
• A strong emphasis is placed on user research, usability testing, and data-driven decision-making to guide product development.
• The company fosters a culture where employees "think like founders," encouraging initiative, learning, and a proactive approach to problem-solving.

Company Website: https://vfxfinancial.teamtailor.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's positioning in the fintech sector, combined with its "think like founders" ethos, suggests a driven, innovative, and results-oriented culture. The mid-size company structure means the Product Designer can have a visible impact and influence the direction of product design.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a Mid-to-Senior level. As a Product Designer, the individual will be expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy, contribute strategically, and potentially lead design initiatives. The expectation to "spearhead the design function" implies a growth trajectory towards a Design Lead or Head of Design role, depending on individual ambition and company growth.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will likely report to a Head of Product or a senior Product Manager. The role involves close collaboration with engineering teams and other business units, providing exposure to various facets of the company's operations.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer's impact will be directly tied to improving the user experience of VFX's digital platforms, which are central to its service delivery. By creating intuitive and efficient interfaces for payment and treasury management solutions, the designer will directly influence client satisfaction, adoption rates, conversion metrics, and ultimately, revenue generation and operational efficiency for clients.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: The opportunity to establish and lead the design function within VFX, potentially building a design team and defining its strategic direction.
• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in UX research, design systems, or specific areas of fintech product design through hands-on experience and the provided learning & development budget.
• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain a comprehensive understanding of product development, engineering processes, and client needs within the fintech industry, fostering broader business acumen.
• Career Advancement: Progress into senior design roles, management positions, or specialized product strategy roles as the company scales.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "spearhead the design function" aspect of the role is a significant growth opportunity, offering a chance to shape the design culture and processes from a foundational level, which is rare for even mid-level positions.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The company offers a hybrid working model, with employees expected to be in the office 3 days per week. This suggests a modern office environment designed to facilitate collaboration and team interaction. Office Location(s): The office is located in Aldgate, London (Dukes House, Aldgate, London, EC3A 7LP), a central business district known for its accessibility and vibrant atmosphere.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and emphasis on weekly events suggest a strong focus on team cohesion and collaborative problem-solving. The office space is likely designed to support this with meeting rooms and open-plan areas.
• Tools & Technology: Employees will have access to the necessary tools for design and collaboration, with Figma being the primary design tool. Access to agile management tools like Jira and Notion is also implied.
• Team Interaction: Regular social events and the hybrid structure promote frequent interaction with colleagues across different departments, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose.

Work Schedule: A standard hybrid work schedule is expected, likely aligning with typical business hours of 9 AM to 5 PM. The company's culture, which includes "thinking like founders," may also encourage a degree of flexibility and commitment beyond strict hours, especially during critical project phases.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specific mention of 3 days in the office provides clarity for candidates assessing their preferred work-life balance and commute. The office location in Aldgate is a prime London business hub, suggesting a professional and well-connected workspace.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Initial Screening Call: A brief call with the People Operations Partner to assess initial fit, motivation, and understanding of the role.
2. 1st Stage Interview: A Teams interview with the hiring manager to delve deeper into experience, design philosophy, and technical skills.
3. Take-Home Task: A design challenge to assess practical skills, problem-solving approach, and ability to work independently. This task will be prepared for the final interview.
4. Final Stage Interview: An in-person interview at the London office. This will likely involve presenting the take-home task, discussing portfolio pieces, and interacting with key stakeholders to evaluate cultural fit and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure Your Case Studies: For each project, clearly outline the problem statement, your role and responsibilities, the design process followed (research, ideation, prototyping, testing), key design decisions and their rationale, and the measurable outcomes or impact.
• Highlight User-Centricity: Emphasize how user needs, research findings, and feedback were integrated throughout your design process.
• Showcase Figma Proficiency: If possible, include examples of your work within Figma, demonstrating component usage, prototyping capabilities, and design system contributions.
• Prepare for Presentation: Be ready to walk through your portfolio and take-home task with clarity and confidence, articulating your thought process and design rationale effectively.
• Focus on Impact: Quantify the impact of your designs whenever possible using metrics related to user engagement, conversion rates, task completion success, or efficiency improvements.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Fintech Context: Research VFX's services, target audience, and the competitive landscape of fintech payments and treasury management. Try to understand the core user problems they are solving.
• Practice Presenting Your Process: Be prepared to articulate your design thinking, decision-making rationale, and how you would approach a given problem within a time constraint.
• Focus on Trade-offs: In design challenges, demonstrating an understanding of balancing user needs, business goals, and technical constraints is crucial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The in-person final interview and take-home task indicate a thorough evaluation process. Candidates should dedicate significant time to preparing their portfolio presentation and the take-home assignment, focusing on demonstrating strategic thinking and practical design execution relevant to fintech.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Explicitly stated as the primary design tool, requiring advanced proficiency in its features for UI design, prototyping, and collaboration.
• Sketch: Experience with Sketch is preferred, indicating the potential for legacy projects or a broader toolset within the team.
• Adobe Creative Suite: Proficiency in tools like Photoshop and Illustrator is beneficial for asset creation and visual design enhancements.

Analytics & Reporting:

• A/B Testing Tools: Experience working with product teams to define and implement A/B tests (specific tools not mentioned, but common examples include Optimizely, Google Optimize, VWO).
• User Analytics Platforms: Familiarity with platforms that track user behavior and product performance (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude) to inform design decisions is a plus.

CRM & Automation:

• Agile Management Tools: Experience with Jira, Confluence, or Notion for project management, task tracking, and documentation is preferred, highlighting a need for organized workflow management.
• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, experience with other prototyping tools might be beneficial, though Figma is the core requirement.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma proficiency is paramount. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their workflow within Figma and any experience they have with building or contributing to design systems within the tool. Understanding how design tools integrate with agile workflows is also key.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A core value, emphasizing the need to deeply understand and advocate for user needs in all design decisions.
• Innovation & Founder Mentality: Encourages employees to act like owners, take initiative, and continuously seek better solutions.
• Collaboration: Fosters strong partnerships across departments, valuing open communication and shared problem-solving.
• Data-Driven Approach: Decisions are informed by data and user insights, with a strong bias for action and measurable results.
• Continuous Learning: An environment that supports and encourages professional development and staying current with industry trends.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The role requires seamless collaboration with Product Management and Engineering to ensure designs are aligned with product strategy and technically feasible.
• Feedback-Driven Iteration: A culture that embraces constructive feedback as a means to refine designs and improve product quality.
• Knowledge Sharing: Encouragement of sharing insights, best practices, and learnings across teams to foster collective growth and efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's culture is built around ownership, innovation, and a strong user focus. Candidates who can demonstrate these values through their work and collaboration style will be a strong fit. The "think like founders" mentality suggests a proactive and entrepreneurial spirit is highly valued.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Broad Spectrum of UIs: Operating across various user interfaces during a period of transition and consolidation requires adaptability and a strategic approach to maintaining design consistency.
• Balancing Needs: Effectively balancing diverse user needs with complex business objectives and technical constraints is a continuous challenge in product design.
• Scalability Design: Designing for scalability across multiple platforms and user types necessitates forward-thinking and robust design systems.
• Navigating Ambiguity: Early-stage product development often involves ambiguity; the designer must be comfortable with uncertainty and capable of driving clarity through design.
• Design System Evolution: Ensuring consistency while fostering innovation within the design system requires careful governance and communication.
• Project & Priority Management: Successfully managing multiple projects and competing priorities in a fast-paced environment is essential.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Design System Leadership: Opportunity to build and lead the evolution of a core design system, a high-impact area for any growing tech company.
• Fintech Domain Expertise: Deepen understanding of financial services, global payments, and treasury management from a user experience perspective.
• Strategic Design Influence: Shape product strategy and design direction, gaining experience in influencing business decisions with design insights.
• Professional Development: Utilize the flexible learning and development budget for courses, conferences, or workshops to enhance skills in UX research, design strategy, or leadership.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for a growing fintech company, offering significant opportunities for a designer to make a tangible impact and develop a broad skillset in a dynamic industry.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to define or refine a design process within a team. What was your approach, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on process definition, collaboration, and impact.)
• "How do you balance user needs with business requirements and technical limitations when designing a new feature or product?" (Demonstrate trade-off analysis and problem-solving skills.)
• "Walk us through your approach to creating and maintaining a design system. What are the key components, and how do you ensure its adoption and evolution?" (Showcase systematic thinking and collaboration.)
• "How do you use data and user research to inform your design decisions? Can you provide an example?" (Highlight data-driven decision-making.)
• "How do you handle constructive criticism or disagreement on design decisions from stakeholders or team members?" (Assess collaboration and communication skills.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about VFX Financial and the fintech industry specifically?" (Research the company's mission, values, and market position.)
• "How do you see yourself contributing to our 'think like founders' culture?" (Connect your experience and work ethic to this ethos.)
• "How do you approach collaboration with product managers and engineers? What makes for a successful partnership?" (Showcase teamwork and communication.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Flow: Structure your portfolio presentations with a clear beginning (problem), middle (process and solutions), and end (impact and learnings).
• Visual Storytelling: Use your designs and prototypes to tell the story of your problem-solving journey.
• Metrics Focus: Be prepared to discuss the quantitative impact of your work. If direct metrics aren't available, discuss the intended impact and how you would measure success.
• Figma Demo: If applicable, be ready to briefly showcase your Figma file structure or a specific interactive prototype to demonstrate your tool proficiency and design thinking.
• Conciseness: Respect the time of the interviewers; practice your presentations to be clear, impactful, and within the allotted time.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process requires candidates to demonstrate not only design skills but also strategic thinking, leadership potential, and cultural alignment. Preparing specific examples for each core responsibility and value is crucial for success.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Teamtailor link.
• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects that demonstrate user-centered design, problem-solving in complex environments (ideally fintech or B2B SaaS), and experience with design systems or process improvement.
• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly outlines your years of experience, key responsibilities, and quantifiable achievements using operations and product design keywords. Highlight any experience in fintech or B2B SaaS.
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, decision-making rationale, and impact metrics. Prepare thoughtful questions about VFX's product strategy, design culture, and growth plans.
• Company Research: Thoroughly research VFX Financial, its services, target market, and recent news. Understand the challenges and opportunities in the fintech payment sector to demonstrate genuine interest and informed perspective.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.