Flag job

Report

Contract Mid/Senior QA Analyst

Salary

£2.4k

Min Experience

3 years

Location

City Of London, England, United Kingdom

JobType

part-time

About the job

Info This job is sourced from a job board

About the role

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

About the company

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

Skills

selenium
java
python
jira
github
docker
ci/cd
payroll
paye
national insurance
tax
statutory payments
cross-platform testing
test automation