Quality Assurance Analyst - Temporary until December 2026
Posted Today by Alternative Futures Group
£43,099 Per year
Undetermined
Undetermined
Liverpool, England, United Kingdom
Summary: The Quality Assurance Analyst is tasked with supporting the software development lifecycle by planning, designing, and executing system testing to ensure high-quality applications and reports. This role involves collaboration with various business areas to validate test cases and deliver management information as needed. The analyst will also be responsible for maintaining testing standards and driving improvements throughout the development process. Additionally, the position requires ownership of test environments and active participation in user acceptance testing (UAT) sessions.
Key Responsibilities:
- Define and execute the testing strategy.
- Establish quality standards and monitor them over time to drive improvements.
- Assure coding/config quality through robust testing procedures.
- Test software upgrades and solution proposals in test environments.
- Work closely with colleagues to understand requirements and processes.
- Develop and maintain a catalogue of appropriate test scripts.
- Perform blackbox and whitebox testing covering various testing types.
- Identify appropriate tools and automate testing where necessary.
- Record and monitor issues, reporting on progress.
- Sign off new functionality/reports from an IT perspective.
- Communicate test findings to relevant stakeholders.
- Take ownership of test environments for core systems.
- Lead UAT sessions and support end users throughout the process.
- Identify and implement solutions for data accuracy/integrity issues.
- Support the Business Systems Manager in championing effective applications.
- Prepare timely ad-hoc information and reports.
- Assist in developing reporting tools for performance monitoring.
- Escalate concerns regarding data quality and functionality.
- Implement solutions to enforce data integrity.
- Participate in project team meetings.
Key Skills:
- At least 3 years’ experience in a QA Analysis related role.
- Experience with the full software development lifecycle.
- Experience with test management tools and managing issues.
- Knowledge of testing processes and techniques, including automated testing.
- Advanced reporting and data analysis skills using SQL databases.
- Ability to perform various types of testing (unit, integration, etc.).
- Strong Database/TSQL skills and ability to write complex SQL queries.
- Proficiency in MS Office, especially Excel and Access.
- Requirements gathering and documentation skills.
- Excellent analytical, communication, and presentation skills.
- Strong organization and time management skills.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- ISTQB certification (desirable).
Salary (Rate): £43,099.00/year
City: Liverpool
Country: United Kingdom
Working Arrangements: undetermined
IR35 Status: undetermined
Seniority Level: undetermined
Industry: IT
Job Purpose: The Quality Assurance Analyst is responsible for supporting the full software development lifecycle through the planning, design and execution of system testing on projects of varying sizes and complexities to ensure the delivery of high quality business critical applications and reports. The QA Analyst will work within the IT department and collaboratively with other areas of the business to execute and validate test cases based upon system requirements. The QA Analyst will also deliver management information and perform ad-hoc analysis to the business as and when required.
Key Accountabilities:
- To define and execute the testing strategy
- To establish quality standards and monitor these over time in order to drive improvements
- To help assure coding / config quality throughout the systems development lifecycle through robust testing procedures
- To help assure coding quality of any complex Management Information / data imports / data cleanses etc. through robust testing procedures
- To test any software upgrades using appropriate test scripts and involving the relevant user groups
- To test solution proposals in the test environments prior to implementation to ensure that they will work in practice
- To work closely with colleagues across the business to understand their requirements and processes through requirements gathering and validation
- To work closely with end users, identifying test scenarios and any gaps in user requirements / acceptance criteria
- To develop and maintain a catalogue of appropriate test scripts for each system, keeping up to date as required
- To carry out both blackbox and whitebox testing to appropriate testing standards which will cover the following: unit, integration, functional, system, stress, performance, usability, acceptance and regression testing.
- To identify appropriate tools and automate testing wherever necessary
- To accurately record and monitor issues and report on progress
- To sign off new functionality / reports from an IT perspective
- To communicate test findings clearly and accurately to relevant stakeholders (both internal and external)
- To take ownership of the test environments for each of the core systems
- To ensure the right stakeholders are involved in UAT and lead the UAT sessions accordingly, supporting the end users throughout the process
- To identify data accuracy / integrity issues and then identify and implement solutions
- To support the Business Systems Manager in championing the use of ‘fit for purpose’ applications across the organisation, ensuring that IT is being used effectively as a tool to support the business at all times
- To undertake tasks to promote new systems / functionality, obtain user buy in, engagement and maximise the use of systems across the business
- To support the full project lifecycle which will normally include System and Process design, build, testing, training, system documentation, post go-live support and ongoing system administration
- To support the Business Systems Manager to deliver on project deadlines and ensure that any improvements to Applications and Information System processes are kept up to date and properly documented
- To prepare timely adhoc information & reports (for whatever purpose) where the organisation is not yet able to ‘Self-Serve’ (ensuring that suitable quality controls are in place)
- To assist with the development & preparation of reporting tools which provide better Performance Monitoring and Management Information
- To escalate any concerns with underlying data quality / integrity with the IT Management Team and System Owners as appropriate, along with recommendations for improvement and implement data cleanses wherever necessary
- To escalate any concerns with the quality of functionality with the IT Management Team and System Owners as appropriate, along with recommendations for improvement
- To escalate any concerns to the project sponsor around attendance or quality of UAT sessions
- To implement solutions in order to enforce data integrity
- Work closely with other members of the IT team to deliver the overarching IT digital strategy
- To participate and actively contribute to project team meetings
Experience
- At least 3 years’ experience in a QA Analysis related role.
- Demonstrable experience of working on the full software development lifecycle.
- Demonstrable experience of working with test management tools and managing issues through to completion.
- Demonstrable experience of testing processes and techniques, including automated testing.
- Demonstrable experience of advanced reporting and data analysis utilising SQL databases.
- Demonstrable experience of working on large, complex system implementations.
- Leading and contributing to large meetings with varying levels of stakeholders.
Skills
- Ability to perform blackbox and whitebox testing to appropriate testing standards which will cover the following: unit, integration, functional, system, stress, performance, usability, acceptance and regression testing.
- Ability to script and perform automated testing
- Strong Database / TSQL Skills – understanding database structures with the ability to write complex SQL queries, working with large datasets and tables, views, functions, stored procedures etc. and implementing necessary data cleanses
- Use of Reporting Tools – to query the SQL database and present information in an intuitive meaningful way.
- MS Office - Excellent working knowledge of all MS Office packages, with advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Access.
- Requirements gathering - Ability to identify areas for improvement.
- Ability to understand end user requirements, translate into technically feasible solutions and document accordingly in detailed specifications / test scripts.
- Testing Skills - Performing in depth testing, both destructive and UAT.
- Analytical Skills - Excellent analytical skills. Ability to identify data issues and implement measures to enforce data integrity.
- System Configuration Skills – Ability to understand system forms / lookups and how they adhere to specification in order to meet end user requirements.
- Excellent documentation skills.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills.
- Excellent organisation and time management skills.
- Ability to multi-task.
- Ability to prioritise own workload and deliver to tight deadlines.
- Excellent influencing and persuasion skills.
- Ability to work as part of a team and independently.
Knowledge
- Excellent understanding of the full software development lifecycle.
- Good understanding of SDLC methodologies.
- Good understanding of Project Management.
Additional
- Must be a driver with own method of transport and a clean, valid driving licence, willing to travel to other sites, when required.
- Willing to undertake any necessary tasks in order to support IT systems / projects.
Qualifications
- ISTQB certification (Desirable)
About Us
We’re Alternative Futures Group, a health and social care charity providing specialist support for people with a learning disability or mental health condition. We’re proud to have been positively changing lives and enabling people to achieve amazing outcomes for over 30 years. We have a vision to create a world where amazing people do amazing things every day. Our skilled and experienced teams work with every person we support to create a personalised, outcome-focused plans to achieve their aspirations. As a ‘values based’ employer, the people that work for us genuinely care about the people they support, and we are seeking likeminded people to join our team. If you are passionate about working in Health and Social Care and have a real desire to make a positive difference to the lives of the people we support then we would love to hear from you. At AFG we also recognise the contribution and value that our staff make. We would not be able to provide the life changing support that we do without people like you! In return for your contribution we will support you throughout your career and we provide a wide range of employee benefits, career development and lifestyle support services to ensure that you too feel supported, fulfilled and valued from day one of your employment with us.