Redesigning Payroll for Scale

Redesigning Payroll for Scale

End-to-end product design process of an online payroll experience tailored for Accountants and SMBs.
End-to-end product design process of an online payroll experience tailored for Accountants and SMBs.
Overview

Payroll processes in Brazil are notoriously complex, with layers of compliance, taxation, and operational friction. Conta Azul sought to offer a modern, simplified solution for small businesses, but needed to design an intuitive flow that met both legal requirements and user expectations.

Role

Senior Product Designer

Skills

Product Design

Design Systems

Design Systems

Product Strategy

Design Engineering

Design Engineering

UX Research

Accessibility

Accessibility

Cross-functional Collaboration

Component Driven Design

Component Driven Design

Prototyping

Figma

Figma

The Problem

Small business owners and accountants in Brazil face significant challenges navigating payroll due to the country’s complex tax and labor laws. The previous system at Conta Azul lacked clarity, increasing the likelihood of errors and creating a heavy cognitive burden.

Through user-centered design, compliance collaboration, and iterative testing, we created a guided payroll experience that automated critical tasks and simplified decision-making, while reducing legal risk and boosting user confidence.

My Role
  • Conducted interviews with SMBs and accountants to surface workflows, pain points, and gaps in the existing system.


  • Worked with legal experts to design protective UX flows that met regulatory demands without overwhelming users.


  • Designed role-based user flows with progressive disclosure and contextual support to adapt to user expertise.


  • Built interactive Figma prototypes and conducted usability testing rounds with internal stakeholders and users to iterate with speed and precision.

Time x Effort Matrix from the users' perspective

Payroll Dashboard

Payslip details

Impact

Launched an intuitive, compliant payroll solution that simplified workflows, boosted confidence, and improved user satisfaction across the platform.

I’m Rodrigo Mafra, a Creative Leader with 15 years of experience helping businesses stand out through unique leadership and craftsmanship.

© Rodrigo Mafra 2025

I’m Rodrigo Mafra, a Creative Leader with 15 years of experience helping businesses stand out through unique leadership and craftsmanship.

© Rodrigo Mafra 2025