Senior Programme Test Manager
Location: Horsham, West Sussex (3 days onsite / 2 days remote)
Contract Type: Long-Term Contract
Engagement: Inside IR35
Overview
We are seeking an experienced Senior Programme Test Manager to lead testing delivery across a large-scale Finance and Regulatory Transformation Programme within the insurance sector. This role will oversee end-to-end test strategy, governance, and execution across complex business and technology workstreams, with a strong focus on Finance, Actuarial, IFRS17, and enterprise data transformation.
The successful candidate will bring deep programme-level testing leadership experience gained within regulated financial services or insurance environments and will be comfortable operating across senior business and technology stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities
* Define and lead the overall Programme Test Strategy across multiple releases and integrated workstreams.
* Manage end-to-end testing activities including:
* System Integration Testing (SIT)
* Data Validation Testing
* User Acceptance Testing (UAT)
* Regression Testing
* Operational Acceptance Testing (OAT)
* Drive quality assurance across Policy Administration, Claims, Finance, Actuarial, and Regulatory Reporting platforms.
* Coordinate testing across complex enterprise integrations, data platforms, ETL pipelines, and reporting solutions.
* Partner closely with Finance, Actuarial, Data Governance, Change, Architecture, and Engineering teams to ensure robust test coverage and delivery alignment.
* Establish programme-level test governance, reporting, defect management, and release readiness processes.
* Ensure compliance with regulatory, financial control, audit, and operational assurance standards.
* Lead cutover testing, go-live readiness assessments, and post-implementation validation activities.
* Provide clear stakeholder communication and executive-level reporting across programme governance forums.
* Manage third-party vendors, offshore testing teams, and cross-functional delivery partners where required.
Required Experience & Skills
Essential
* 20+ years’ experience within QA / Quality Engineering and Test Management.
* Proven track record operating as a Senior Programme Test Manager on large-scale transformation programmes.
* 10+ years’ experience managing testing delivery across complex enterprise programmes.
* Strong background delivering Finance and Actuarial transformation initiatives within Insurance or Financial Services.
* Hands-on experience delivering IFRS17 programmes or comparable regulatory finance transformation projects.
* Strong understanding of:
* Insurance data models
* Claims processing
* Actuarial reserving
* Financial and regulatory reporting
* Experience working with enterprise data platforms, ETL processes, and reporting environments.
* Strong stakeholder management skills across senior business and technical audiences.
* Experience working within regulated environments with robust governance and release management controls.
* Excellent communication, leadership, and programme coordination capabilities.
* UK-based candidate with ability to work onsite in Horsham 3 days per week.
* Availability to start within 1 month.
Preferred
* Technical testing or Quality Engineering background.
* Experience across cloud-based enterprise transformation programmes.
* Familiarity with automation and modern testing practices within large programmes.
* Exposure to enterprise planning and delivery tooling such as JIRA, Azure DevOps, ALM, or similar.
* Master’s degree in a STEM discipline.
Contract Details
* Long-term programme engagement
* Inside IR35
* Hybrid working model (3 days onsite in Horsham)
* Competitive day rate
* Immediate interview availability preferred
If you want, I can also help with:
* a shorter recruiter-friendly version,
* a LinkedIn advert version,
* a version tailored for a consultancy/MSP,
* or a more delivery-focused versus governance-focused JD.