Mid/Senior QA Analyst

Data Controller, VE Ltd; Maidenhead; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

VE3 in Maidenhead, United Kingdom, is seeking a Mid/Senior QA Analyst with deep payroll testing expertise. The role focuses on designing, executing and maintaining manual and automated test suites for complex payroll calculations, NI, tax compliance, and desktop software validation.

You will work in an Agile/Waterfall environment, use TestRail, Selenium with Java/Python, and collaborate with developers and product owners.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of QA experience in payroll systems.
• Experience designing, executing and maintaining manual and automated test suites for payroll features.
• Familiarity with NI, PAYE, tax codes, and HMRC PCI/RTI concepts.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute detailed manual test cases for payroll-related features using TestRail or similar tools.
• Develop and maintain automated test scripts using Selenium with Java or Python for regression and functional testing.
• Validate payroll calculation logic including NI contributions, tax codes, student loan deductions, and statutory payments.
• Simulate payroll datasets for varied worker scenarios (full-time, part-time, irregular pay).
• Use HMRC API endpoints (RTI, FPS/EPS) to validate system integration.
• Conduct end-to-end testing of desktop-based applications across Windows/Linux/macOS.

Skills

Payroll testing

Manual testing

Automated testing

Selenium

Test planning

Education

ISEB/ISTQB certification

Tools

Selenium

TestRail

GitHub Actions

Docker

JIRA

Job description

Maidenhead, United Kingdom | Posted on 28/09/2026

VE3 is a technology and business consultancyfocused on delivering end-to-end technology solutions and products. We havesuccessfully serviced enterprises across multiple markets, including the publicand private sectors. Our services span all aspects of business, providing a holistic approach to managing an organization. We are committed to providingtechnical innovations and tools that empower organizations with criticalinformation to facilitate decision-making that results in businesstransformation through cost savings and increased operational efficiency. Ourcommitment to quality is adopted throughout the organization and sets thefoundation for delivering our full suite of capabilities.

Job Description

Title: Mid/Senior QA Analyst

Position Type: Full-time

Experience Level: 5+ years

About the Role:

We are seeking an experienced and detail-oriented QA Analyst (Mid to Senior Level) with deep expertise in payroll systems.

You’ll be responsible for designing, executing, and maintaining both manual and automated test suites, with a special emphasis on complex payroll calculations, National Insurance (NI), tax compliance, and desktop software validation.

Requirements

Key Responsibilities

Design and execute detailed manual test cases for payroll-related features using TestRail or similar tools.

Develop and maintain automated test scripts using Selenium with Java or Python for regression and functional testing.

Validate payroll calculation logic, including:

• NI contributions (primary and secondary)
• Tax codes and thresholds
• Student loan deductions
• Statutory payments (e.g., SMP, SPP, SSP)

Simulate and create payroll datasets that cover varied worker scenarios (e.g. full-time, part-time, irregular pay).

Use HMRC API endpoints (e.g., RTI submissions, NVR checks, FPS/EPS generation) to validate system integration.

Conduct end-to-end testing of desktop-based applications, with a focus on cross-platform compatibility, performance, and UI consistency.

Log, triage, and track defects using JIRA, GitHub, or similar issue management systems.

Collaborate in Agile sprints and ceremonies with developers, analysts, and product owners.

Maintain and configure Dockerised test environments, including CI/CD pipelines with GitHub Actions.

Apply robust QA processes throughout the software development lifecycle (SDLC), ensuring compliance with regulatory and HMRC standards.

Strong payroll testing background with deep understanding of UK payroll cycles, PAYE, and statutory obligations.

NI category letters and contribution calculations

PAYE tax band logic, personal allowances, and thresholds

• Apprenticeship levy and employment allowance interactions

Working knowledge of desktop payroll applications.

Solid experience writing test cases and automating test scripts using Selenium with Java or Python.

Familiarity with HMRC’s technical documentation and API schemas.

Proficient with version control (GIT) and CI/CD tooling (GitHub Actions, Jenkins).

Experience using Docker and managing isolated testing environments.

Strong understanding of manual and automated testing practices within Agile and Waterfall models.

Familiarity with RTI submissions (FPS, EPS), NVR responses, and error message validations from HMRC.

Experience creating or maintaining an automated testing framework.

Confidence in writing test data scenarios that include irregular earnings, leavers/joiners, pension contributions, and holiday pay.

Cross-platform testing experience: Windows, Linux, macOS.

Working with virtualisation environments (e.g., Hyper-V, VirtualBox).

ISEB/ISTQB certification or other industry-recognised QA qualifications.

• Awareness of bilingual testing needs, such as English/Welsh UI compliance (desirable but not essential).