At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape user experience for Ares' digital products and lead design initiatives.
- Company: Join a collaborative and inclusive team at Ares, a leader in financial services.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology and diverse teams.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on user experience in a fast-paced, innovative setting.
- Qualifications: 7-10 years in UI/UX design with a strong portfolio and collaboration skills.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
Ares' success has been driven by our people and our culture for the past 20 years. Our team is guided by core values – Collaborative, Responsible, Entrepreneurial, Self-Aware, Trustworthy – and a purpose to be a catalyst for shared prosperity and a better future. We are committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive work environment where high‑performance talent from diverse backgrounds can build careers in our growing industry.
Ares is seeking a Vice‑President to serve as User Experience Designer for Client Platforms Technology, the engineering team responsible for all client‑facing systems within Ares, including Sales, Marketing, Client Reporting, and Digital/Web platforms.
Summary
Reporting to a Principal Service as Client Platforms Digital Experience Lead, the successful candidate will shape the user experience and visual design of Ares’ digital products—corporate websites, client portals, digital reporting interfaces, and internal applications. The role requires deep expertise in UI/UX principles, enterprise digital ecosystems, and a proven ability to deliver thoughtful, strategic solutions in a fast‑moving environment.
Primary Functions & Responsibilities
- UX Strategy & Design Leadership
- Shape the user experience strategy for digital products, ensuring seamless, coherent experiences across websites, portals, and application interfaces.
- Lead the design of information architecture, user flows, wireframes, prototypes, and high‑fidelity UI designs.
- Establish and maintain the firm’s digital design system, ensuring consistency, reuse of design effort, accessibility, and brand alignment.
- Advocate for user‑centred design practices and influence decision‑making across Digital Platforms and business teams.
- Translate complex financial services workflows into streamlined, intuitive digital interactions.
- Collaboration & Delivery
- Collaborate with the Digital Experience Lead to set UX vision, design standards, and long‑term digital experience strategy.
- Work closely with Web Architects, developers, product managers, marketing, and data teams to bring designs to life.
- Conduct usability testing, stakeholder reviews, and design workshops to validate and refine concepts.
- Support the delivery of responsive, accessible, high‑performance interfaces aligned with technical and platform constraints.
- Contribute to multi‑disciplinary project teams delivering websites, dashboards, data visualizations, and client‑facing digital tools.
- Research, Insights & Continuous Improvement
- Lead user research efforts including interviews, journey mapping, analytics review, and competitive analysis.
- Identify usability gaps and propose digital experience enhancements backed by data and user insights.
- Stay current with emerging trends in UX, visual design, accessibility, digital personalization, and financial services technology.
- Partner with the Digital Experience Lead to define KPIs for user engagement and digital experience quality.
- Governance & Standards
- Champion digital accessibility (WCAG) and design inclusivity across all touchpoints.
- Maintain design documentation, guidelines, and governance frameworks to ensure quality at scale.
- Guide junior designers, contractors, or external agencies in applying the firm’s digital experience standards.
Required Experience & Background
- 7–10+ years of experience in UI/UX design or digital product design, including a senior or lead designer role.
- Strong portfolio demonstrating enterprise‑level UX design, responsive web design, and visually sophisticated UI work.
- Expertise with Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, or comparable design tools.
- Deep understanding of UX methodologies, design thinking, and user‑centered design frameworks.
- Experience conducting user research, user testing, and translating insights into actionable design improvements.
- Ability to create wireframes, prototypes, design systems, reusable component libraries and polished UI assets.
- Strong collaboration skills and comfort working with technical stakeholders, including developers and architects.
- Excellent communication skills, including the ability to present complex concepts to non‑design audiences.
- Familiarity with front‑end development concepts and constraints (HTML, CSS, JS, animation frameworks such as Motion) and CMS platforms such as AEM.
Preferred Experience
- Experience in asset management, wealth management, financial services, or another regulated environment.
- Knowledge of data visualization, dashboard design, or complex transactional UI patterns.
- Experience with enterprise design systems and scalable component‑based design methodologies.
- Understanding of personalization platforms, marketing automation tools, and customer journey design.
- Exposure to accessibility compliance frameworks (WCAG 2.x) and inclusive design principles.
Education
Bachelor's degree in Design, Human‑Computer Interaction, Digital Media, or a related field.
Reporting Relationships
Partner, Chief Information Officer
Application Process
Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the search is no longer active.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Associate Vice President, Client Platforms User Experience Designer in London
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
In the world of UX/UI design, your portfolio speaks volumes! Make sure it's packed with your best work and showcases your process, not just the final product. We want to see how you tackle design challenges, so consider adding case studies that reflect your thought process and user-centric approach.
✨Get Involved in Design Communities
Jump into local or online design meetups and workshops! Places like UXPA or local design events can be goldmines for networking and learning. Plus, mingling with fellow designers can introduce you to potential job openings that might not be listed elsewhere.
✨Tailor Your Applications
When you find a role that excites you, like the one at Ares Management for a Associate Vice President, Client Platforms User Experience Designer, make your application count! Highlight specific projects and skills that directly relate to the job description. Hiring managers are looking for candidates who fit into their specific team, so show them you’re the one!
✨Leverage Social Media
Don't underestimate the power of social media in finding a UX/UI design job! Follow design leaders on platforms like Twitter or Instagram, share your work, and engage in conversations. It’s a great way to get noticed by recruiters and even catch wind of openings at companies like Ares Management before they go live!
We think you need these skills to ace Associate Vice President, Client Platforms User Experience Designer in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Design Process:When you're applying for a UX/UI Design role like Associate Vice President, Client Platforms User Experience Designer at Ares Management, make sure to include examples that clearly highlight your design process. We want to see not just the final product but also the journey that led you there—wireframes, user personas, and iterations demonstrate your thought process and user-centric approach!
Tailor Your Portfolio:A tailor-made portfolio is crucial for a full-time design role! Curate your best projects that align with the kind of work Ares Management does. We suggest including 3-5 case studies that showcase a variety of skills such as wireframing, prototyping, and user testing to really make your application pop.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should not just be a summary of your CV. Use it to express why you’re excited about UX/UI Design and what draws you specifically to Ares Management. Mention any relevant experience, tools you’re proficient in (like Sketch or Figma), and how you can contribute to their projects.
Highlight Collaboration Skills:In the world of UX/UI Design, teamwork is crucial. Make sure to highlight any past experiences where you worked in cross-functional teams. Illustrate how you communicated design decisions and listened to feedback, as this will resonate well with the culture at Ares Management.
How to prepare for a job interview at Ares Management
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
When you're gunning for a full-time UX/UI design role, your portfolio is your best friend! Make sure you've got a solid selection of your work, showcasing not just the final designs, but the process behind them—think wireframes, user flows, and any user research you've conducted. During the interview with Ares Management, be prepared to discuss your design decisions and how they solve specific user problems.
✨Prepare for Design Challenges
Expect to face some practical design tasks during your interview. Ares Management might ask you to tackle a quick design challenge or critique an existing interface. Brush up on your problem-solving skills and try to articulate your thought process as you work through these scenarios. Showing how you approach a design problem is just as important as the final output!
✨Know the Tools of the Trade
Familiarise yourself with the tools commonly used in the industry—figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch should be second nature to you. Be ready to discuss your preferred tools during the interview and how they've shaped your design process at previous positions. This knowledge could give you an edge at Ares Management!
✨Show Passion for User Experience
In a full-time UX/UI design role, having a genuine passion for improving user interactions can set you apart. Be prepared to share instances when you went above and beyond to ensure a great user experience in your previous projects. This will demonstrate that you’re not just a designer, but a user advocate, which is exactly what Ares Management is looking for.
