Contract Mid/Senior QA Analyst

Job Title: Contract Mid/Senior QA Analyst

Location: Remote – UK-based applicants only

Contract Type: Contract (Inside IR35)

Duration: 12 months (with strong likelihood of extension)

Day Rate: £300 per day

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, and falls Inside IR35. 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 HMRC 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 and HMRC 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 HMRC’s 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 from HMRC.
  
• 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).
  
  

Engagement Terms

• IR35 Status: Inside IR35 – contractors must work via a compliant umbrella company or PAYE setup.
  
• Remote Working: Fully remote. Must be able to work during UK business hours.
  
• Onboarding Requirements:
  
• Proof of Right to Work in the UK
  
• Agreement to Inside IR35 contract terms
  
• Available to start immediately or within short notice
  

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 a 1-year contract and strong extension potential
  

This is a contract role for a critical national infrastructure system used by thousands of UK employers.