Product Design & UX Writing 2023-2024
Onboarding: Error-Proofing the Paycheck
Redesigning direct deposit allocation to eliminate payroll errors
Overview
Transformed a high-friction payment onboarding process into an error-proof, guided experience that ensures 100% paycheck allocation through intelligent validation, real-time visualization, and user-centered microcopy.
The Problem
The legacy payment onboarding process placed an undue cognitive and mathematical burden on new employees. The system lacked real-time validation, allowing users to submit incomplete allocations where funds were left unassigned to any account. This resulted in 'missing' pay on the first payday, leading to a high volume of anxious support tickets, increased administrative rework for Payroll Operations, and a lack of user confidence during a critical first impression of the platform.
My Role
Principal UX Designer & UX Writer. Led end-to-end design strategy, collaborated with Engineering on technical logic implementation, and partnered with Payroll Operations to understand business requirements.
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Process
- Analyzed support tickets and identified 'unpaid funds' as the #1 source of first-paycheck complaints
- Mapped user journey to identify friction points in account setup and allocation logic
- Designed priority-based hierarchy for fixed dollars vs. percentage allocations
- Created dynamic validation system with real-time visual feedback via donut chart
- Wrote educational microcopy to explain complex financial concepts like 'remainder' and 'balance'
- Developed Visual Check Guide to help users locate routing and account numbers
Design Decisions
- The 'Balance Account' Safety Net
- Introduced automatic remainder logic that ensures 100% of pay is always allocated. Instead of forcing manual math, users designate one account to catch whatever's left over. This eliminated 'unpaid funds' errors entirely.
- Real-Time Visual Validation
- Implemented dynamic donut chart that updates as users adjust allocations. Visual feedback provides instant confirmation and prevents submission until allocations equal 100%. Users can 'see' their paycheck split rather than calculating numbers.
- Priority-Based Allocation Logic
- Solved the technical complexity of mixing fixed dollars and percentages by establishing clear order of operations: fixed amounts deduct first, percentages calculate from remaining gross pay. Communicated this hierarchy through clear microcopy.
Results
This project demonstrates my ability to take a high-risk financial process and simplify it into a user-centric flow that protects both the employee and the employer. By combining rigorous technical logic with intuitive visual design and clear content strategy, I eliminated a primary source of payroll friction and set a new standard for the Fingercheck onboarding experience. The 'Balance Account' concept became a product differentiator, showing that thoughtful UX can prevent errors before they happen.
Deliverables
- Complete payment allocation UI redesign
- Visual Check Guide for banking information
- Technical documentation for allocation logic hierarchy
- Real-time validation system with donut chart visualization
- Educational microcopy and error messaging framework