Test Lead (Payments)
Test Lead / Test Manager – Payments (Contract)
- Global financial services client
- Contract role inside ir35
- Hybrid work from Sheffield
We’re supporting a Financial Services client on a series of UK payments transformation initiatives, and are looking for an experienced Test Lead / Test Manager to own and drive end-to-end testing across complex change programmes.
About the Role:
This is a hands-on Test Lead role where you’ll take ownership of the test strategy, planning, and execution across multiple payments initiatives. You’ll be working across end-to-end testing cycles, covering functional, integration, UAT, and non-functional testing, while coordinating across delivery teams, vendors, and business stakeholders.
The role sits at the centre of a complex ecosystem, involving APIs, middleware, third-party integrations, and payment processing systems, ensuring solutions are delivered safely, compliantly, and to a high standard. You’ll play a key role in embedding quality, governance, and best practices across the delivery lifecycle.
What You Need:
- Proven experience as a Test Lead / Test Manager within banking or financial services
- Strong knowledge of UK payments (Faster Payments, CHAPS, Bacs, SWIFT)
- Experience leading end-to-end testing across integration-heavy systems (APIs, middleware, distributed platforms)
- Strong skills in test strategy, planning, estimation, and delivery governance
- Experience managing defects, test data, environments, and UAT processes
- Ability to work across multiple stakeholders (business, tech, vendors) and drive delivery
- Familiarity with tools such as Jira, Confluence, Zephyr/ALM
- Understanding of automation and CI/CD testing practices
Nice to Have:
- Experience with ISO 20022 migration or SWIFT messaging standards
- Exposure to performance, resilience, or security testing
- Knowledge of SQL, data validation, and message formats (XML/JSON)
- Relevant certifications (e.g. ISTQB, Agile)
Interested?
Please reach out or apply if this role is of interest happy to share more detail on the programme and team. Must be 3 days per week In the Sheffield office, inside ir35 only.