UX Designer at AJ Bell

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Designer Company: AJ Bell Location: London - Hybrid, United Kingdom Job Type: Full-time Category: User Experience (UX) / Product Design Operations Date Posted: 2025-07-25T09:28:34.652 Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years) Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

Drive the end-to-end user experience design process for AJ Bell's award-winning digital platforms, translating business objectives into intuitive and engaging user interfaces.
Champion user-centred design principles and best practices across multidisciplinary teams, fostering a deep understanding of user needs and behaviours.
Develop comprehensive design deliverables, including user flows, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups, to effectively communicate design solutions.
Collaborate closely with product managers, developers, UX researchers, and other stakeholders to ensure seamless design implementation and adherence to technical specifications and accessibility standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "UX Designer," the responsibilities such as "Leading Design Projects," "Coordinating with Developers," and "Contributing to Design Systems" indicate a role with significant ownership and impact, fitting within a broader "Product Design Operations" or "UX Operations" framework, focusing on the operationalization of UX within the product development lifecycle.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

Lead specific design projects within cross-functional squads, managing the entire design lifecycle from initial concept and research through to final implementation and iteration.
Translate complex business requirements and user needs into clear, effective wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity visual designs using industry-standard tools like Figma or Adobe XD.
Collaborate closely with development teams to ensure accurate implementation of design specifications, troubleshoot technical constraints, and provide necessary design support throughout the development sprints.
Manage and iterate on designs based on user feedback, usability testing results, A/B testing outcomes, and performance data to continuously enhance user experience and achieve business goals.
Contribute to the growth and maintenance of AJ Bell's design system, ensuring consistency, scalability, and efficiency across all digital products and platforms.
Liaise with the UX Research team to plan and execute user testing initiatives, synthesizing findings to inform design decisions and identify areas for improvement.
Participate actively in multi-disciplinary teams, including business analysts, marketers, content strategists, and other specialists, ensuring a unified and user-centric approach to product development.
Engage with key stakeholders across the business to present design concepts, gather feedback, and advocate for UX best practices, proactively identifying opportunities to showcase UX value through various channels.
Mentor and provide guidance to junior members of the UX team, fostering a collaborative and learning-oriented environment.
Actively participate in weekly UX critique sessions, providing constructive feedback and receiving input to refine design solutions and elevate the team's collective output.

📝 Enhancement Note: The inclusion of responsibilities like "Leading Design Projects," "Managing Design Iterations," and "Contributing to Design Systems" suggests a need for strong project management and operational thinking within the UX function, aligning with a mid-level to senior UX role with operational responsibilities.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

A Bachelor's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Design, Computer Science, Psychology, or a related field is typically expected for UX roles, though equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience:

A minimum of 3 years of demonstrable experience in a dedicated UX Designer role, with a proven track record of designing and delivering successful digital products and user experiences.
Experience in leading design projects and managing the full UX lifecycle, from discovery and research to detailed design and post-launch iteration.
Familiarity with Agile development methodologies and experience working within cross-functional product teams.

Required Skills:

Prototyping Software Expertise: Solid proficiency in industry-leading prototyping and design tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, or similar platforms for creating wireframes, user flows, and interactive prototypes.
User-Centred Design (UCD): Deep understanding and practical application of UCD principles, methodologies, and best practices throughout the design process.
Visual Design Principles: Strong grasp of visual design fundamentals, including typography, colour theory, layout, and their application in creating aesthetically pleasing and functional interfaces.
Collaboration & Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions clearly, present concepts effectively, and collaborate productively with diverse teams and stakeholders.
Problem-Solving & Adaptability: Natural aptitude for creative problem-solving, troubleshooting design challenges, and adapting to evolving project requirements and user feedback.

Preferred Skills:

Accessibility Expertise: Knowledge of web accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and experience in designing inclusive interfaces that cater to users with diverse needs.
UX Research Collaboration: Experience working closely with UX researchers, understanding research methodologies, and translating research insights into actionable design improvements.
Design System Contribution: Experience in contributing to or maintaining design systems, including creating and documenting reusable UI components and patterns.
Current UX/UI Trends: Awareness of emerging UX/UI trends, technologies, and best practices to ensure designs remain innovative and relevant.
Self-Motivation & Ambition: A proactive, self-motivated approach with a strong ambition to learn, grow, and make a significant impact within the operations and product development teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "3 years' experience" and "solid prototyping software knowledge" positions this as a mid-level role. The emphasis on "collaboration," "problem-solving," and "adaptability" are key operational skills for UX professionals working in dynamic environments.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Demonstrate Project Ownership: Showcase end-to-end UX design projects where you took significant ownership, detailing your specific contributions and the problem you aimed to solve.
Process Visualization: Include examples of your design process, clearly illustrating how you move from initial research and ideation through wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and final design delivery.
Tool Proficiency Examples: Provide examples of your work created using prototyping software (e.g., Figma, XD) to highlight your technical skills and understanding of design tooling.
Impact and Outcomes: Clearly articulate the business goals and user needs your designs addressed, and quantify the impact of your work using relevant metrics (e.g., conversion rate improvements, task completion success, user satisfaction scores).

Process Documentation:

Workflow Design: Showcase examples of how you've mapped user flows and designed intuitive workflows to guide users through complex tasks.
Iterative Improvement: Detail instances where you've iterated on designs based on user feedback, testing data, or A/B test results, demonstrating a commitment to continuous optimization.
Design System Contributions: If applicable, include examples of UI components or patterns you've designed or contributed to within a design system.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a UX Designer role, a strong portfolio is paramount. The expectation is to see not just visually appealing designs, but a clear demonstration of the user-centered design process, problem-solving capabilities, and measurable impact, which are critical operational aspects of delivering successful user experiences.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Given the London location, the experience level (3+ years), and the company's standing as a FTSE 250 entity, a competitive salary range for a UX Designer in this market would typically fall between £45,000 and £65,000 per annum. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for UX professionals in the UK financial services sector and considers the hybrid working model.

Benefits:

Generous Holiday Allowance: Up to 31 days of holiday, increasing with service, plus bank holidays, offering excellent work-life balance.
Holiday Buy/Sell Scheme: Flexibility to manage annual leave entitlement.
Hybrid Working Policy: A structured hybrid model, allowing for a balance between in-office collaboration and remote flexibility.
Discretionary Bonus: Potential for additional compensation based on company and individual performance.
Contributory Pension Scheme: Support for long-term financial planning.
Healthcare Cash Plan: Assistance with medical expenses, promoting employee well-being.
Professional Development Support: Dedicated time for proof-of-concepts, exploring new technologies, and support for attending conferences, events, and meet-ups to foster continuous learning.
Share Schemes: Opportunities to participate in 'Buy as you earn' and free annual share schemes, aligning employee interests with company success.
Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Scheme: Comprehensive support for new parents from day one.
Additional Perks: Includes bike loans, season ticket loan portal, discounted PMI and Dental, free gym access, and paid volunteering opportunities.

Working Hours:

The standard working hours are likely to be around 40 hours per week, typical for a full-time role in the UK. The hybrid working policy suggests flexibility in how these hours are managed, with expectations for core collaboration days in the office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided benefits package is exceptionally comprehensive, reflecting AJ Bell's commitment to employee well-being and professional growth. The salary estimate is based on market data for London and the specified experience level for a UX Designer.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry:

AJ Bell operates within the FinTech and Investment Platform sector, a dynamic and rapidly evolving industry focused on making financial services accessible and user-friendly. This context implies a culture that values innovation, customer focus, and a data-driven approach to product development. For a UX Designer, this means working in an environment where user experience directly impacts customer acquisition, retention, and financial well-being.

Company Size:

With over 1300 employees and being a FTSE 250 company, AJ Bell is a large, established organization. This size offers stability and resources but also means that processes and collaboration might be more structured. For a UX Designer, this can translate to opportunities to work on large-scale projects with significant user bases, while also requiring strong communication and stakeholder management skills to navigate internal structures.

Founded:

Founded in 1995, AJ Bell has a significant history in the financial services industry, evolving from a financial adviser support service to a leading investment platform. This history suggests a culture that values experience and stability, while also demonstrating a forward-thinking approach to technology and digital transformation, especially with their recent public listing and expansion.

Team Structure:

The role is within the "D2C UX Team," indicating a specialized team focused on the Direct-to-Consumer offerings. This team likely works in a "squad" model, collaborating closely with product managers, developers, and other specialists.
The reporting structure would typically place the UX Designer under a Head of UX, UX Lead, or Product Design Manager, with direct collaboration across product squads.
Cross-functional collaboration is a key aspect, involving close partnerships with product management, engineering, marketing, and potentially customer support to ensure a holistic approach to product design and delivery.

Methodology:

AJ Bell's focus on "making investing easier" suggests a user-centric methodology that prioritizes simplicity, clarity, and efficiency in all product interactions.
Expect a data-driven approach, utilizing analytics, user feedback, and A/B testing to inform design decisions and measure the success of implemented features.
The emphasis on "award-winning platforms" points to a commitment to quality and user satisfaction, likely supported by robust design processes and a culture of continuous improvement.

Company Website:

https://www.ajbell.co.uk/

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding AJ Bell's position as a large, established FinTech company is crucial. The UX team operates within a product-centric, likely Agile environment, emphasizing data-informed design and a strong user-centric ethos, which are key operational considerations for this role.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level:

This UX Designer role is positioned at a mid-level, indicated by the 3+ years of experience requirement and responsibilities such as leading specific design projects and contributing to design systems. It offers a solid foundation for specializing further in UX or moving into more senior design or product management roles.

Reporting Structure:

The UX Designer will likely report to a UX Lead or Head of UX and work within cross-functional product squads. This structure allows for direct collaboration with product managers and engineers, fostering a holistic approach to product development and providing exposure to various aspects of the product lifecycle.

Operations Impact:

As a UX Designer at AJ Bell, your work will have a direct impact on the user experience of a leading investment platform. This translates to influencing customer acquisition, engagement, retention, and overall satisfaction. By creating intuitive and efficient interfaces, you will contribute to the company's mission of making investing easier, directly impacting revenue and market share.

Growth Opportunities:

Specialization Paths: Opportunities exist to specialize further in areas like UX Research, Interaction Design, or Information Architecture, deepening expertise within the UX discipline.
Leadership Development: With proven success in leading projects, there's potential to grow into a Senior UX Designer role, mentor junior designers, or even move into a UX Lead or Product Design Management position.
Cross-Functional Exposure: Working within product squads provides exposure to product strategy, business analysis, and development processes, which can be a stepping stone towards Product Management or GTM roles.
Learning & Development: AJ Bell's commitment to supporting conference attendance, proof-of-concepts, and providing study support for qualifications offers excellent avenues for continuous learning and skill enhancement relevant to UX operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a clear path for career progression within UX and potentially into broader product or operations leadership roles, supported by AJ Bell's investment in employee development.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type:

AJ Bell operates a hybrid working model, suggesting a modern office environment that balances structured in-office collaboration with remote flexibility. The offices are likely equipped with collaborative workspaces, meeting rooms, and the necessary technology to support hybrid teams.

Office Location(s):

The specific office mentioned is on Southwark Street in London. This central London location offers excellent accessibility via public transport, making it convenient for employees commuting from various parts of the city and surrounding areas.

Workspace Context:

The workspace will foster collaboration, with opportunities to work closely with development teams, product managers, and fellow UX designers in critique sessions.
Access to essential UX tools and technology is expected, providing the necessary software and hardware to perform design tasks effectively.
The environment encourages interaction and knowledge sharing, particularly through UX critique sessions and participation in multidisciplinary teams.

Work Schedule:

Standard full-time hours will apply, likely around 40 hours per week. The hybrid policy provides flexibility in managing work location between home and the London office, allowing for a balance that supports focused work and collaborative activities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model in a central London location is attractive, offering both flexibility and a collaborative office environment conducive to effective UX operations and team interaction.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will likely review your application and CV, focusing on relevant UX experience and skills.
Portfolio Review & Discussion: Expect an initial call or meeting to discuss your portfolio. Be prepared to walk through 2-3 key projects, explaining your process, design decisions, and the impact of your work. Focus on how you translated user needs into effective solutions.
Technical/Skills Interview: This stage may involve a practical exercise or a deeper dive into your technical skills with prototyping tools, UCD methodologies, and accessibility.
Team Fit/Cultural Interview: You'll likely meet with potential team members and stakeholders to assess your collaboration style, communication skills, and cultural alignment with AJ Bell's values.
Final Interview: A final interview with a senior leader may occur, focusing on strategic thinking, leadership potential, and overall fit for the role and company.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Curate Selectively: Choose 3-4 projects that best demonstrate your end-to-end UX process, problem-solving abilities, and impact. Prioritize projects similar in scope or industry if possible.
Tell a Story: For each project, clearly outline the problem statement, your role and responsibilities, the process you followed (research, ideation, prototyping, testing), your design decisions, and the measurable outcomes.
Highlight Operations: Showcase how you managed design iterations, collaborated with developers, and contributed to design systems or workflows. Emphasize efficiency and problem-solving.
Quantify Impact: Use data and metrics wherever possible to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased conversion rates, improved task completion times, higher user satisfaction).
Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, how you handle feedback, and your approach to collaboration.

Challenge Preparation:

Design Exercise: You might be given a short design challenge to complete within a timeframe, often involving a specific user problem. Focus on demonstrating your process, not just the final output. Think aloud, explain your assumptions, and consider edge cases.
Stakeholder Scenarios: Be ready to discuss how you would handle common stakeholder disagreements or conflicting feedback, emphasizing communication and a user-centric approach.
Process Improvement: Prepare to discuss how you would improve an existing user flow or identify UX issues within a given scenario.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily rely on your portfolio to demonstrate practical UX skills and operational thinking. Be prepared to articulate your design process and its impact clearly and concisely.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

Prototyping & Design Software: Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch (proficiency in at least one is essential).
Collaboration & Project Management: Jira, Confluence, Trello, Asana (for managing design tasks and workflows within product teams).
Communication Tools: Slack, Microsoft Teams (for day-to-day team communication).

Analytics & Reporting:

Web Analytics Platforms: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics (to understand user behaviour and track performance metrics).
User Feedback Tools: Hotjar, UserTesting.com, SurveyMonkey (for gathering qualitative and quantitative user insights).
Data Visualization Tools: Tableau, Power BI (potentially used by analysts to present data that informs design decisions).

CRM & Automation:

While not directly a UX tool, familiarity with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms can provide context on how user data is managed and utilized across the business.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in modern design and prototyping tools like Figma is a key technical requirement. Familiarity with analytics and user feedback tools is also crucial for a data-informed UX approach.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

User-Centricity: A core value is placing the user at the heart of every design decision, ensuring intuitiveness and ease of use.
Data-Driven Decisions: Valuing insights derived from user research, analytics, and testing to guide design improvements and strategy.
Collaboration: Fostering a collaborative environment where cross-functional teams work together effectively to achieve common goals.
Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Encouraging exploration of new ideas and a commitment to ongoing refinement of products and processes.
Efficiency & Effectiveness: Striving for designs that are not only user-friendly but also contribute to business objectives and operational efficiency.

Collaboration Style:

Cross-Functional Integration: The UX team is embedded within product squads, promoting close working relationships with product managers, developers, and QA.
Feedback Culture: Actively participating in UX critique sessions signifies a culture that values constructive feedback and collective learning to elevate design quality.
Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, learnings from user research, and insights from design iterations amongst the UX team and wider product development groups.

📝 Enhancement Note: AJ Bell's culture appears to align with modern tech company values, emphasizing user focus, data, and collaboration, which are essential for effective UX operations.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: A common challenge for UX Designers is finding the optimal balance between delivering exceptional user experiences and meeting stringent business objectives or technical constraints.
Navigating a Large Organization: In a company of AJ Bell's size, effectively communicating UX value, advocating for user needs, and managing stakeholder expectations across different departments can be challenging.
Keeping Pace with Evolving Technology: The FinTech landscape is constantly changing, requiring continuous learning to stay abreast of new design trends, tools, and user expectations.
Data Interpretation: Effectively synthesizing and acting upon diverse data sources (analytics, user feedback, A/B tests) to drive meaningful design improvements requires strong analytical skills.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Operations Skill Advancement: Opportunities to deepen expertise in UX research methodologies, usability testing, accessibility design, and design system management.
Industry Exposure: Support for attending industry conferences, webinars, and meet-ups to gain insights into the latest UX trends and best practices in FinTech.
Mentorship: Potential to receive mentorship from senior UX professionals within the team, fostering career growth and skill development.
Cross-Functional Training: Exposure to other areas of product development, such as product management or business analysis, can broaden understanding and career options.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a mid-level role in a growing company, offering significant opportunities for personal and professional development in UX operations.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

Operations Strategy: "How would you approach designing a new feature for our investment platform to ensure it's intuitive for first-time investors, considering both user needs and regulatory compliance?" (Focus on process, research, and user-centricity.)
Collaboration & Stakeholder Management: "Describe a time you had to present a design concept to stakeholders with differing opinions. How did you manage the feedback and reach a consensus?" (Highlight communication, negotiation, and empathy.)
Problem-Solving: "Imagine a key conversion funnel on our platform is underperforming. How would you use UX principles and data to diagnose the issue and propose solutions?" (Showcase analytical thinking, data interpretation, and solution design.)

Company & Culture Questions:

Company Operations: "What do you know about AJ Bell's mission and how do you see UX contributing to it?" (Demonstrate research into the company's business and user focus.)
Team Dynamics: "How do you prefer to collaborate with developers and product managers? What's your approach to UX critiques?" (Align your working style with the described team structure.)
Impact Measurement: "How do you measure the success of your UX designs? Can you provide examples of metrics you've used?" (Prepare to discuss ROI and quantifiable results.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Structure Your Narrative: For each project, follow a clear story: Problem -> Your Role -> Process -> Solution -> Outcome.
Focus on Process, Not Just Polish: While aesthetics matter, emphasize the why behind your design decisions, your research methods, and how you iterated.
Quantify Impact: Clearly state the metrics you influenced or achieved. If metrics aren't available, explain the intended business impact.
Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design choices, trade-offs made, and how you handled challenges.
Showcase Collaboration: Mention how you worked with other team members (developers, researchers, PMs) to bring your designs to life.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on articulating your UX process, demonstrating problem-solving skills, and showcasing the tangible impact of your work, aligning with the operational demands of the role.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Designer position:

Submit your application through the provided link on Smartrecruiters.
Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects that showcase end-to-end UX design, user-centric problem-solving, and collaboration with development teams. Emphasize any experience with financial platforms or complex digital products.
Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly details your 3+ years of UX experience, lists proficiency in key tools (Figma, XD), and highlights achievements related to user satisfaction, conversion improvements, or process optimization. Use keywords from the job description.
Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process and project outcomes. Be ready to discuss your approach to collaboration, handling feedback, and measuring UX success. Prepare specific examples for common interview questions.
Company Research: Familiarize yourself with AJ Bell's products, services, and company values. Understand their mission to make investing easier and consider how your UX skills can contribute to this goal.

⚠️ 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.

UX Designer