Senior program test manager

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.