At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the redesign of a B2B SaaS platform, focusing on user experience and visual identity.
- Company: Fast-growing UK tax tech start-up revolutionising the accountancy profession.
- Benefits: Competitive salary of £85,000, 50% annual bonus, and EMI share options.
- Other info: Join a dynamic startup environment with significant career growth potential.
- Why this job: Be a founding designer with direct impact on product and user experience.
- Qualifications: Proven B2B SaaS design experience and a passion for user research.
The predicted salary is between 85000 - 85000 £ per year.
We have partnered with an incredibly exciting, fast-growing UK tax technology start-up that is rewriting the rules of the accountancy profession. They are building expert systems that transform incredibly complex tax legislation into clean, machine-readable code. Their platform is already live, integrated with Xero, and actively used by accounting practices supporting hundreds of SMEs.
Up until now, the focus has been on flawless technical accuracy and functionality. Now, they need a founding Head of Product Design to take complete ownership of the user experience and lead a ground-up redesign. This is a pure "founding designer" role. You will work directly with the founders (CEO/CTO) and sit face-to-face with users to turn a high-powered technical engine into a modern, intuitive, and genuinely beautiful B2B SaaS platform.
The Role & Responsibilities
- End-to-End Product Design: Own the UX/UI of the entire platform, including dashboard design, complex report builders, audit trail visualisations, and data ingestion flows.
- Build the Blueprint: Establish and maintain a scalable design system from scratch that the engineering team can build with efficiently.
- Deep User Research: Conduct direct research sessions with existing accounting firm clients. You will watch how they work, gather feedback, and translate those insights into definitive design choices.
- Shape the Brand: Define the visual identity of the product, moving it away from "boring compliance software" into a modern, distinct, and premium SaaS category.
- Domain Immersion: Work alongside in-house domain experts to understand UK tax logic, ensuring you can design with a true understanding of user intent.
What We Are Looking For
- B2B SaaS Expertise: You have a proven track record designing complex tools where users interact with dense data points (e.g., fintech, compliance platforms, ERPs, dashboards, or advanced reporting tools).
- Systems Thinker: You look beyond individual screens. You care deeply about how data flows, how steps connect, and how to build user confidence through UI.
- Hands-On: You thrive as a solo operator. You are excited to design day-to-day rather than managing or directing others.
- User-Obsessed: You love getting in front of clients, asking "why" repeatedly, and building based on real human behaviour rather than assumptions.
Nice to Haves:
- Experience working within a fast-paced seed-stage startup (navigating pivots and rapid iteration cycles).
- Prior experience building design systems from scratch.
- A background or exposure to tax, accounting, or compliance tech.
What Success Looks Like in 12 Months
- You will have launched a distinct visual identity that sets the company entirely apart from traditional, legacy tax software.
- Key user workflows will be completely redesigned based on your fresh user research.
- A scalable design system will be fully embedded into the engineering workflow. User research will be a core pillar of how the company builds product moving forward.
To Apply
If you are an ambitious designer who loves complex workflows and wants the financial upside of a generous equity and bonus structure, we want to hear from you. Please apply and include a link to your portfolio highlighting your experience with complex B2B SaaS data products.
Ripple Recruitment is acting as an employment agency for this vacancy. My client is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. Due to high volumes of interest, we can only respond to shortlisted applicants.
Head of Product Design employer: ripple
Join a dynamic and innovative UK tax technology start-up that is revolutionising the accountancy profession. As the Head of Product Design, you will enjoy a collaborative work culture with direct access to founders, a hands-on role without bureaucratic hurdles, and the opportunity to shape a modern B2B SaaS platform from the ground up. With competitive compensation, including a generous bonus and equity options, this is an exceptional opportunity for growth and impact in a fast-paced environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Product Design
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research their product, values, and culture. This will help you tailor your conversations and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their journey.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees on LinkedIn. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have for landing the role. Plus, it could give you an insider's edge!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those interviews by practising your pitch. Highlight your hands-on design experience and how you've tackled complex workflows before. Make sure to showcase your user-centric approach—it's what they’re after!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step to connect with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Product Design
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Portfolio:Make sure to include a link to your portfolio that highlights your experience with complex B2B SaaS data products. We want to see your design skills in action, so pick your best work and let it shine!
Tailor Your Application:When applying, tailor your application to reflect the specific requirements of the Head of Product Design role. We’re looking for someone who understands the nuances of user experience in tax technology, so make sure to highlight relevant experiences.
Be Authentic:Don’t be afraid to show your personality in your application. We value authenticity and want to get a sense of who you are as a designer and how you approach problem-solving. Let your passion for design come through!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining our exciting journey!
How to prepare for a job interview at ripple
✨Know Your Product Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the company's platform and understand its features. Familiarise yourself with how it integrates with Xero and the specific pain points it addresses for accounting practices. This knowledge will help you demonstrate your passion and readiness to take ownership of the user experience.
✨Showcase Your Design Process
Prepare to discuss your design process in detail. Be ready to share examples from your portfolio that highlight your ability to create intuitive user experiences, especially in B2B SaaS environments. Explain how you've approached complex workflows and how your designs have improved user interactions.
✨Emphasise User Research Skills
Since this role involves deep user research, come prepared with examples of how you've conducted user interviews or usability tests in the past. Discuss how you've translated user feedback into actionable design changes, showcasing your user-obsessed mindset.
✨Demonstrate Systems Thinking
Highlight your ability to think beyond individual screens. Prepare to discuss how you ensure data flows seamlessly and how you build user confidence through UI. Use specific examples to illustrate your systems thinking approach and how it has benefited previous projects.
