Head of QA & Testing, Hybrid, Permanent, London
The Head of QA & Testing with be responsible for the strategic growth of the QA & Testing function ensuring new people, processes, best practices are established and thrive in Pay.UK and the UK Payments Industry. Build and mature QA & Testing within Pay.UK to keep pace with strategic change to ensure services remain relevant to customers, technology changes and regulatory developments. A leader in the industry with a deep appreciation of the retail payments ecosystem and known for effectively facilitating strategic industry change to command trust and confidence with Pay.UK Executive and Board.
The scale of the ecosystem impact by the decisions made under the Head of QA & Testing will impact the entire Pay.UK customer base, right to the end user individuals, businesses and government that depend on what Pay.UK provides. QA & Testing is a key enabler to facilitate value creation across the end-to-end payments experience for the benefit of our customers, their customers, and the UK economy.
Responsible for the creation, implementation and maintenance of QA & Testing policies and strategies. These will enable secure, robust and effective functioning of the underlying technology Pay.UK operate. Looking to bring together the various functions across Pay.UK to become more cognizant of the role they play in running an effective QA & Testing function within the company.
Key Accountabilities
* Accountable for QA & Testing organisational design, workforce planning, staffing, budgeting, strategy and philosophy across Pay.UK
* Build and run a central service function consisting of QA & Test professionals that support QA &Test planning, preparation, execution and reporting across large scale programmes and BAU
* Develop and encourage a QA philosophy and best practices that level up how Pay.UK develop/build in the innovation stage as well as how Pay.UK set foundations for quality practice within vendor development teams
* Build the central QA & Testing function that supports architecture, business analysis, vendor development, service management, other central technology efforts and directly manage & guide the work of individual contributors on those teams
* Strategically determine the best ways to service the production BAU needs whether that is embedded resources or centralised service teams across vertices of requirements, quality, and cost
* Own, implement and govern the Master Test Strategy for Next Gen Programme across Pay.UK and the customers, vendors, market overlay service providers, BoE and regulators
* Act as a subject matter specialist and leader within the business providing extensive knowledge, proficiency and advice on the thematic issues that are changing the UK Payments Industry
* Oversee vendors in performing testing on all features required by Pay.UK, its customers, and regulators ensuring quality standards are met
* Create the vision for QA approach & philosophy in early stage development across Vendor specific testing including integration with other directorates, best practices and standards across QA, and customisation to the needs of individual programme/project teams in Pay.UK
* Develop strategic frameworks that empower teams to be held accountable for upholding quality, security, performance, resilience, customer and regulatory impact as an essential factor in decision-making
* Manage vendors, suppliers, contracts, tool licenses and outsourced testing teams
* Manage testing budget and forecasts to ensure financial targets are met
* Responsible for a comprehensive Test Data, Defect Management, Environment and Test Automation strategies across Pay.UK.
Skills, Experience & Qualifications
* ISTQB or ISEB Foundation (Essential)
* ISTQB Advance, ISEB Practitioner or equivalent in Testing (Essential)
* ITIL V3 Qualifications (Essential)
* Established demonstratable career in QA & Testing within Financial Services including Payments
* Articulate, detail orientated, and skilled to display a clear level of intelligence when liaising with various stakeholders within the business and have an ability to perform consistently in a role that is vital to the success of Pay.UK
* Have a wealth of direct experience within financial services, with experience in the building QA & Testing teams within Payments/Banking
* Experience of stakeholder negotiation to align interests to overcome challenges with strategic intent and technical proficiency
* Knowledge of the regulatory and supervisory regime as it applies to Pay.UK
* Experience in complex organisations with diverse stakeholders and significant regulatory oversight
* Management experience building and running efficient teams and exposure to ExCo level decision making preferred
* Evident experience in Head of QA/Programme Test Management on large and complex programmes within Financial Services across multiple teams
* Demonstrable experience of leading testing on a multi-vendor/multi-customer programme
* Clear experience of implementing effective QA & Testing best practices across entire SDLC
* QA & Testing skills across entire SDLC for all types/phases of testing (not just Functional based, but Non-Functional too)
* Well-connected and highly regarded by our customer banks
* A commercially aware and strategically smart with the ability to solve complex multi-stakeholder challenges while ensuring customer buy-in.
* Skilled leadership qualities, experience of building, developing and supporting capable and professional QA & Testing Teams
* Skilled communicator and influencer with effective communication and interpersonal skills.
* Ability to handle high levels of stress and critical decision making.
* An ethical, insightful and motivational leader with unquestionable personal integrity and who is a role model for Pay.UK values and behaviours.
* Results oriented and solutions focussed, demonstrating the resilience to deliver in ever-evolving, challenging and changing environments.
* Experience in managing and executing complex change programmes in Testing.
At Pay.UK, we value diversity and inclusivity. Research has shown that candidates from underrepresented groups may hesitate to apply unless they meet all the requirements listed. We encourage all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of how closely their skills and experience match the requirements. We are committed to supporting accessibility needs and creating a welcoming environment for all employees. Become part of our team and contribute to the creation of an inclusive work environment that values everyone's unique input.
Who we are
Pay.UK maintains and develops the UK retail payment systems and standards that are core to the economy being able to function on a day-to-day basis.
From Bacs to Faster Payments and cheques – we act as the single operator for all UK retail payments. We put the needs of consumers and businesses at the heart of everything we do, working in the public interest to ensure that the systems the country relies on for its banking transactions are safe, open, innovative and resilient.
Our payment systems underpin the services that enable funds to be transferred between people and institutions. In 2024, the UK's retail payment systems processed 11 billion transactions worth over £10 trillion through Bacs Direct Credit, Direct Debit, Faster Payments, and cheques, and our Current Account Switch Service has facilitated over 9 million switches since it’s launch in 2013.
Every day, individuals and businesses use the services we provide to get their salaries, pay their bills and make online and mobile banking payments. Our vision for the future is to enable a vibrant economy, with Pay.UK delivering the best-in-class payment infrastructure and standards for the benefit of consumers and businesses nationwide.
Benefits & Additional Information
* 12% Non-contributory pension
* Discretionary annual bonus
* 30 days annual leave (excluding bank holidays)
* Employee assistance programme
* Cycle to Work Scheme
* Season ticket loan
* Annual fitness subsidy of up to £500 per annum
* Working from home policy - minimum 40% in the office (eg. 2 days in the office over a 5 day working week)
Please note:
Some of our benefits are only available to colleagues upon successful completion of the probationary period.
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