QA Test Manager

Sept 2017 Branding; Greater London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A financial services consultancy is seeking a Testing Lead to oversee project testing activities and ensure quality assurance across multiple projects. Candidates should possess solid experience in financial services, particularly with FX and Payment systems, along with strong leadership and communication skills. The role demands a proactive individual capable of managing teams, producing quality test documentation, and driving test processes in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in Financial Services, specifically in FX and Payments.
• Sound knowledge of XML and SQL for database interrogation.
• Familiarity with Linux and Unix systems.

Responsibilities

• Review requirements, design, and technical documentation.
• Produce and manage Project Test Plans and Test Strategies.
• Coordinate testing activities and manage team performance.

Skills

Experience interfacing closely with development teams

Software Testing in Financial Services domain

Experience in producing Test artefacts

Defect Management

Database query experience

Good communication skills

Leadership capability

Team player

Education

Graduate level education

Software Test Certification (CSTE, ISTQB)

Job description

Main duties, responsibilities and deliverables

1. Project Testing Activities

• Review requirements, solution, design and other project specific technical documentation
• Provide resource and test effort estimation
• Produce the Project Test Plan (with re-planning where necessary)
• Analysing requirements and technical solutions in order to write Test Strategies for planned levels / phases of testing
• Produce Test Strategy and other project specific Test documentation
• Allocate tasks to team members and monitor team's progress
• Produce (or assist in producing) Requirements Traceability Matrix, Test Scenarios and Test Scripts
• Perform (or assist in) Test Execution and support Defect Management
• Identify and raise Risks / Issues / Dependencies
• Provide regular progress reports to Project and QA Management
• Liaise with project stakeholders (internal to CLS and third party) to address knowledge gaps, queries and other dependencies
• Primary point of communication for testers allocated to the specific project
• Coordinate team of testers and activities across all modules
• Provide training and assistance to testers to ensure they are following testing and defect reporting processes
• Assign and conduct day‑to‑day management of sub QA team’s assigned projects, tasks, and activities
• Perform tester duties as coordination allows: test application to ensure it is working as specified, including use of test cases or on an ad‑hoc basis, report defects and other issues found during testing in the defect tracking system
• Ensure testing commitments are met within the sub QA team and monitor assigned sub QA team projects for potential impacts to target dates, communicating such impacts to the QA Manager
• Manage the Jira (defect tracking) database for all testing phases (update, follow‑up and Escalate overdue issues)
• Review and estimate requirement change requests
• Review and validate test results and defect reports by the Test Executers
• Initiate weekly testing status meetings with QA, Vendor and Project team

2. Supporting testing/training activities

• Assist development team(s) in understanding Test Processes so as to enable them to do structured Component Integration Testing
• Assist business staff in UAT activities
• Mentor internal testing resources
• Share industry knowledge through ad‑hoc workshops

3. Following and maintaining processes and procedures

• Test analysis and preparation processes
• Identify and advise on improvements to processes

Professional Experience

• Experience interfacing closely with the development team
• Software Testing experience in the 'Financial Services' business domain (preferably in FX, Payment – RTGS, SWIFT)
• Extensive Software Testing experience, including roles within at least 5 medium to large projects
• Experience as a customer managing the delivery of at least one medium to large new system project (or a major new enhancement of an existing operational system) from a Third Party IT Vendor
• Experience of managing or working with teams within an off‑shored service model
• Experience in producing various Test artefacts including Test Strategy / Plans, Test Scenarios, Test Scripts
• Experience in Defect Management
• Experience in XMLs and database interrogation using SQL
• Basic knowledge of Linux and Unix
• Quick learner
• Analytical
• Proactive
• Motivated
• Flexible
• Leadership capability
• Team player

• Required to have database query experience
• Good to have financial/banking domain experience
• Experience in working onsite – offshore model
• Software Test Certification (CSTE, ISTQB)

Essential Qualifications

Experience, education and any certifications as necessary for successful job performance

Educated to Graduate level

Success Factors

• Good level of test experience in leading test activities for medium to large projects
• Very good understanding of Test Processes and relevant Project Processes
• Capable of producing quality test artefacts
• Extensive experience working in the 'Financial Services' business domain
• Good team player with excellent team / people management skills
• Successfully working in a high pressure environment to tight timescales and deadlines