UAT Test Lead
Bank of EnglandBanking and Payments Operations (BPO) Directorate
The Banking and Payments Operations (BPO) Directorate plays a central role in delivering the Bank’s mission. We provide essential banking and payments services, operational support and strategic change that enable the Bank to function safely, efficiently and reliably. Our work underpins the smooth running of the UK’s financial system, ensuring that critical services operate to high standards, adapt to a changing external environment, and maintain the trust and confidence of the institutions we serve.
Customer Banking Division
The Customer Banking Division delivers secure, confidential and reliable banking and custody services to the Bank’s customers — effectively operating as the ‘bank’ within the Bank of England. We provide accounts, payments, settlements and safe‑custody functions that directly support the Bank’s responsibilities in financial stability and banking operations. Our work ensures customers can rely on us for accuracy, resilience and a consistently high standard of service.
Banking Operations Strategy & Change Team (BOSCH)
The BOSCH team provides business analysis, testing and operational readiness support for changes affecting the Bank’s core banking and custody systems. We act as the bridge between change delivery and the operational banking teams, ensuring that system and process change is understood, tested and safely implemented. Our purpose is to protect business‑as‑usual operations, reduce delivery risk and ensure that critical services continue uninterrupted as the Bank evolves its technology and processes.
Job Description
The Test Lead is responsible for the effective delivery of User Acceptance Testing (UAT) across change initiatives within Banking Operations Strategy and Change (BOSCH). The role leads a team of up to four testers and provides clear ownership of the UAT process from planning through to successful test exit. The Test Lead ensures that testing is delivered to a high and consistent standard, that risks are identified and managed early, and that stakeholders receive accurate, timely and transparent information.
Role Requirements
- Lead, coach and support a team of UAT Test Analysts, providing clarity of expectations, structured feedback and regular performance conversations.
- Allocate work effectively, plan resource needs (including for people and environments) across programmes, and ensure the team remains motivated, focused and accountable.
- Build capability within the team through targeted development, knowledge‑sharing and upskilling.
- Own and manage the end‑to‑end UAT lifecycle, including planning, scope definition, execution oversight, issue management, reporting and test‑phase closure.
- Ensure UAT activities meet governance, risk and compliance requirements, with clear audit trails and complete documentation.
- Maintain accurate test progress, issue status and reporting through Jira/Xray and other agreed tools.
- Embed strong testing discipline and consistent ways of working across programmes, raising standards and improving predictability.
- Identify opportunities to enhance UAT processes, tooling and documentation, introducing improvements that strengthen quality and efficiency.
- Ensure test evidence, reports and artefacts are well‑structured, complete and stored appropriately.
- Act as the primary UAT contact for business leads, project managers, CBD teams and technical stakeholders.
- Communicate test progress, risks and decisions clearly and confidently, escalating issues at the appropriate time.
- Coordinate UAT activity across teams and systems, supporting delivery of regulatory, cross‑platform or time‑critical change.
- Understand the business drivers for changes requiring UAT, providing clear business-context explanations when raising defects or risks.
Minimum Criteria
- Experience leading UAT within financial services or financial‑messaging environments.
- Demonstrable people‑management experience, including setting objectives and managing performance.
- Strong experience of planning, execution, defect management and test reporting for complex change.
- Proficiency in Jira/Xray.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly.
- Ability to take ownership, manage competing priorities and remain calm under pressure.
Essential Criteria
- Ability to set direction, prioritise effectively and provide clarity in fast‑moving or ambiguous situations.
- Skilled in stakeholder engagement, with confidence to challenge constructively and escalate appropriately.
- Evidence of driving improvements to test processes or ways of working.
- Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with sound judgement and attention to detail.
Desirable Criteria
- Experience of ISO 20022‑based change.
- Exposure to cross‑system testing across multiple teams or divisions.
- Understanding of broader banking operations and change delivery practices.
- ISTQB Advanced Test Analyst or ISTQB Certified Testing Advanced Level Test Manager modules, or progress towards them, demonstrating commitment to deepening professional testing expertise.
Our Approach to Inclusion
The Bank values diversity, equity and inclusion. We play a key role in maintaining monetary and financial stability, and to do that effectively, we believe we need a workforce that reflects the society we serve.
At the Bank of England, we want all colleagues to feel valued and respected, so we're working hard to build an inclusive culture which supports people from all backgrounds and communities to be at their best at work. We celebrate all forms of diversity, including (but not limited to) age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation and socioeconomic status. We believe that it’s by drawing on different perspectives and experiences that we’ll continue to make the best decisions for the public.
We welcome applications from individuals who work flexibly, including job shares and part time working patterns. We've also partnered with external organisations to support us in making adjustments for candidates and employees in the recruitment process where they're needed.
For most roles where work can be carried out at home, we aim for colleagues to spend half of their time in the office, with a minimum of 40% per month. Subject to that minimum requirement, individuals and managers should work together to find what works best for them, their team and stakeholders.
Finally, we're proud to be a member of the Disability Confident Scheme. If you wish to apply under this scheme, you should check the box in the ‘Candidate Personal Information’ under the ‘Disability Confident Scheme’ section of the application.
Salary and Benefits Information
We encourage flexible working, part time working and job share arrangements. Part time salary and benefits will be on a pro-rated basis as appropriate.
This role offers a salary of £41,680 - £46,890.
In addition, we also offer a comprehensive benefits package as detailed below:
- Currently a non-contributory, career average pension giving you a guaranteed retirement benefit of 1/80th of your annual salary for every year worked. There is the option to increase your pension (to 1/65th) or decrease (to 1/105th) in exchange for salary through our flexible benefits programme each year. The Bank has the discretion to vary standard accrual rates and dial up and dial down rates at any time and to withdraw dial up and dial down options at any time.
- A discretionary performance award based on a current award pool.
- An 8% benefits allowance with the option to take as salary or purchase a wide range of flexible benefits.
- 26 days’ annual leave with option to buy up to 12 additional days through flexible benefits.
- Private medical insurance and income protection.
National Security Vetting Process
Employment in this role will be subject to the National Security Vetting clearance process (and typically can take between 6 to 12 weeks post offer) and the passing of additional Bank security checks in accordance with the Bank policy. Further information regarding the vetting and security clearance requirements for the role will be provided to the successful applicant, and information about how the Bank processes personal data for these purposes, is set out in the Bank's Privacy Notice.
The Bank of England welcomes applications from all candidates, but as a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) approved sponsor, we have a responsibility to comply with the Immigration Rules and guidance. As such, our ability to employ individuals who require sponsorship for immigration purposes is limited. The Bank cannot guarantee that you and / or the role you are applying for will be eligible for sponsorship and that any application made to UKVI will be successful. Eligibility will therefore be considered on a case by case basis.
The Application Process
Important: Please ensure that you complete the ‘work history’ section and answer ALL the application questions fully. All candidate applications are anonymised to ensure that our hiring managers will not be able to see your personal information, including your CV, when reviewing your application details at the screening stage. It’s therefore really important that you fill out the work history and application form questions, as your answers will form a critical part of the initial selection process.
The assessment process will comprise of two interview stages.
This role closes on 31 March 2026.
Please apply online, ensuring that you complete your work history and answer ALL the application questions fully and in detail as your application will not be considered if all mandatory questions are not fully completed.