Senior User Researcher (Part-time Contractor)

About the role:

As a part-time (20 hrs/week) Senior User Researcher Contractor, you'll independently conduct research for our accounting products, collaborating cross-functionally to discover problems and deliver user-centered solutions that drive measurable impact. You'll work closely with product designers, product managers, engineers and key stakeholders to translate user insights into solutions that align both user needs and business objectives. This is a part-time (20 hours/week), 6-month contract.

About us:

At 8am, our vision is to power a world where professionals thrive. We start every day on a mission to empower professionals with the most trusted, innovative technology to deliver world-class outcomes for their clients and exceptional financial results for their business. They count on our purpose-built solutions to simplify operations, ensure compliance, and fuel profitable growth, so they can focus on their clients and do more of the work that matters.

Founded in 2005, 8am™ (formerly AffiniPay) is the professional business platform built to help legal, accounting, and other client-focused professionals run stronger, more profitable businesses. Today, more than 250,000 professionals across the U.S. trust 8am to help them work smarter, serve clients better, and unlock their full potential. We have been recognized as one of Inc 5000’s fastest growing companies in the U.S. for 13 years in a row, and as a result, our teams continue to grow as well!

What you'll do:

• Conduct generative and evaluative research across product experiences with methodological rigor.
• Collaborate closely with product managers, designers, data analysts, and leaders to identify possible research goals and timelines.
• Create compelling presentations and reports to communicate learnings and recommendations.
• Develop a deep understanding of user needs and pain points in accounting, acting as the voice of the user.
• Identify strategic opportunities that address user needs and create business value.

About you:

• 5-8 years industry experience where you conducted qualitative user research.
• Demonstrated track record of leading research projects with a focus on connecting your work to the broader business strategy and making progress against key outcomes.
• Strong storytelling and presentation skills to create artifacts and share research findings in ways that are tailored to and motivate cross-functional stakeholders.
• Proficiency in industry-standard tools (Figma, Zoom, UserTesting, Maze, Dovetail, Reduct, Qualtrics, etc.)
• Experience with B2B, accounting, fintech, or SaaS products.
• This position is preferably based in Austin, Texas.

Why 8am: 

At 8am, our culture is shaped by the people who bring it to life every day. Together, we build a company rooted in continuous learning, genuine community, holistic wellness, and meaningful engagement—values that empower us as individuals and unite us as a team. Our culture is grounded in our core values: Work Smart, Win Fast; Outshine Ordinary, and We Find a Way. These values drive how we serve our customers and work with each other in a collaborative, inspiring, and empowering environment, every day.

Security advisory:

Our hiring teams at 8am are dedicated to recruiting top talent that share our passion for serving the professional services industry through innovative financial technology.  As such, our Talent Acquisition Team only follows legitimate hiring practices.  We will always communicate with our candidates using emails with the 8am domain and will never ask for sensitive/personal data during the application process.  All interviews take place over phone call, Zoom/Google Meet or in person.  All offers are communicated verbally by our Talent Acquisition Specialists with a written offer letter as a follow up.