TEST MANAGER BANKING

Position: Test Strategy Manager

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Test Strategy Manager who will serve as a trusted

advisor to C-suite and technology leaders, shaping the quality assurance roadmap for

large-scale core banking transformations. In this role, you will combine deep functional

banking expertise with advanced testing methodologies to mitigate risk, ensure

regulatory compliance, and accelerate value realization. You will develop comprehensive testing strategies using industry-leading quality processes and methodologies to enhance the application lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Planning

. Support the delivery of projects by assessing clients positioning within the banking industry and ensuring long-term success through practical roadmaps for strategy execution,change management, and value delivery.

. Define and implement end-to-end testing strategies, methodologies, and quality

processes tailored for core banking systems.

. Establish quality standards, best practices, and performance metrics (KPIs) to measure process effectiveness.

. Perform risk assessments and develop contingency plans to mitigate quality-related business risks.

. Develop the Master Test Strategy and Plan, including data management, test scope, objectives, testing layers (SIT, UAT, Performance), and tool selection.

. Implement risk-based testing approaches focusing on critical financial

workflows.

. Design testing governance models, processes, and toolsets aligned with modern Agile, DevOps, and cloud-native architectures.

. Define the strategy for data-migration testing and coexistence models (parallel running of legacy and new systems).

. Support migrations from legacy systems to cloud-native platforms or COBOL-to-Cloud initiatives.

Governance & Oversight

. Establish quality metrics (defect density, test coverage, release readiness) and ensure adherence to the testing framework.

. Identify risks early, ensure thorough coverage of business requirements, and

validate regulatory compliance.

. Act as the final gatekeeper for quality between development and production,

approving test artifacts delivered by vendors.

. Manage cross-application and cross-domain testing risks and dependencies.

Execution & Process Improvement

. Collaborate with Product, Development, and DevOps teams to integrate testing throughout the SDLC.

. Drive adoption of modern test-automation frameworks, tools, and methodologies.

. Oversee user testing, usability improvements, and digital-experience

optimization.

. Lead continuous-improvement initiatives to enhance testing efficiency, speed, and coverage.

Technical Leadership & Processes

. Drive automation strategies and CI/CD integration within the testing lifecycle.

. Ensure compliance with audit, security, and regulatory standards (AML, KYC, Basel III).

. Oversee test-environment management and test-data strategies.

Stakeholder Management

. Deliver executive-level reporting on test status, risk posture, and quality metrics.

. Work with business stakeholders to obtain UAT sign-off.

Required Skills & Qualifications

. Experience: Minimum 7 years in software testing and quality assurance,

including substantial experience in crafting testing strategies, QA fundamentals,

and leadership. Minimum 3 years in a leadership role.

. Strong analytical mindset with the ability to link QA outcomes to business

profitability and growth.

. Proven track record in core banking transformations, migrations, or modernization programs.

. Experience in defining testing strategies and best practices is essential.

. Technical Knowledge: Deep understanding of test-automation frameworks,

tools (Jira, ALM, etc.), CI/CD pipelines, and emerging technologies.

. Excellent structured problem-solving abilities, C-suite presentation skills, and business-case development capabilities.

. Strong ability to analyse complex problems and break them down into structured solutions.

. Experience with large-scale data-migration frameworks.

. Knowledge of microservices / API test strategies for fintech-built platforms.

. Experience in performance engineering for high-volume transactional banking systems.

. Advanced degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.

. Professional certification in software testing or QA.

. Deep understanding of banking architecture, BIAN standards, and the banking

value chain.

Preferred Skills

. ISTQB Advanced Test Manager certification.

. Experience with automation tools such as TOSCA, Selenium, or Cucumber BDD.