Senior QA Analyst

Job Title: Contract Mid/Senior QA Analyst

Location: Remote – UK-based applicants only

Start Date: Immediate / ASAP

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and detail-oriented QA Analyst (Mid to Senior Level) with deep expertise in payroll systems.

This is a fully remote contract role, open to UK-based professionals only. You’ll be responsible for designing, executing, and maintaining both manual and automated test suites, with a special emphasis on complex payroll calculations, National Insurance (NI), tax compliance, and desktop software validation.

Requirements

Key Responsibilities

• Design and execute detailed manual test cases for payroll-related features using TestRail or similar tools.
  

• Develop and maintain automated test scripts using Selenium with Java or Python for regression and functional testing.
  

• Validate payroll calculation logic, including:
  

  • NI contributions (primary and secondary)
    

  • Tax codes and thresholds
    

  • Student loan deductions
    

  • Statutory payments (e.g., SMP, SPP, SSP)
    

• Simulate and create payroll datasets that cover varied worker scenarios (e.g. full-time, part-time, irregular pay).
  

• Use API endpoints (e.g., RTI submissions, NVR checks, FPS/EPS generation) to validate system integration.
  

• Conduct end-to-end testing of desktop-based applications, with a focus on cross-platform compatibility, performance, and UI consistency.
  

• Log, triage, and track defects using JIRA, GitHub, or similar issue management systems.
  

• Collaborate in Agile sprints and ceremonies with developers, analysts, and product owners.
  

• Maintain and configure Dockerised test environments, including CI/CD pipelines with GitHub Actions.
  

• Apply robust QA processes throughout the software development lifecycle (SDLC), ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.
  

Essential Skills & Experience

• Strong payroll testing background with deep understanding of UK payroll cycles, PAYE, and statutory obligations.
  

• Proven hands-on experience in:
  

  • NI category letters and contribution calculations
    

  • PAYE tax band logic, personal allowances, and thresholds
    

  • Apprenticeship levy and employment allowance interactions
    

• Working knowledge of desktop payroll applications.
  

• Solid experience writing test cases and automating test scripts using Selenium with Java or Python.
  

• Familiarity with technical documentation and API schemas.
  

• Proficient with version control (GIT) and CI/CD tooling (GitHub Actions, Jenkins).
  

• Experience using Docker and managing isolated testing environments.
  

• Strong understanding of manual and automated testing practices within Agile and Waterfall models.
  

Desirable Skills

• Familiarity with RTI submissions (FPS, EPS), NVR responses, and error message validations.
  

• Experience creating or maintaining an automated testing framework.
  

• Confidence in writing test data scenarios that include irregular earnings, leavers/joiners, pension contributions, and holiday pay.
  

• Cross-platform testing experience: Windows, Linux, macOS.
  

• Working with virtualisation environments (e.g., Hyper-V, VirtualBox).
  

• ISEB/ISTQB certification or other industry-recognised QA qualifications.
  

• Awareness of bilingual testing needs, such as English/Welsh UI compliance (desirable but not essential).
  

Benefits

Why This Role?

• Work on critical national infrastructure systems used by thousands of UK employers
  

• Deepen your domain expertise in compliance and payroll automation
  

• Collaborate in a supportive, technically sound QA team
  

• Long-term visibility with strong extension potential