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- Tasks: Lead and optimise testing strategies in a dynamic financial services environment.
- Company: Global financial services organisation with a focus on innovation and quality.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid work model, and executive exposure.
- Why this job: Shape the future of testing with executive backing and make a real impact.
- Qualifications: Experience in leading testing teams and engaging senior stakeholders.
- Other info: Opportunity to build a Test Centre of Excellence and drive automation.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 120000 £ per year.
We are partnering with a global, regulated financial services organisation undertaking significant investment in its enterprise testing capability. This is a newly created leadership role designed to formalise & elevate testing across complex transformation & BAU portfolios. The mandate extends well beyond operational test management; this appointment will define strategy, strengthen governance, optimise third-party delivery, & establish a scalable Test Centre of Excellence.
This is a high-visibility role reporting into senior IT leadership, with direct exposure to executive stakeholders & programme boards.
You will:
- Define & own the enterprise-wide test strategy aligned to regulatory, audit & resilience requirements
- Establish & mature a Test Centre of Excellence to standardise tooling, governance, & quality frameworks
- Lead & optimise a strategic third-party testing partner (onshore & offshore model)
- Drive the transition from manual-heavy delivery to a scalable, automation-led approach
- Introduce measurable KPIs, cost transparency & vendor performance management
- Embed quality assurance across Agile & traditional delivery environments
The organisation operates within a regulated financial services environment where governance, compliance & resilience are critical. Testing must provide demonstrable assurance at programme & enterprise level. It is a strategic leadership mandate requiring commercial acumen, governance maturity & the ability to influence at Director level.
We are seeking a senior Test Manager or Head of Testing with experience in:
- Leading third-party testing vendors at scale
- Operating within regulated financial services environments
- Establishing or transforming a Test Centre of Excellence
- Defining & delivering automation strategy across enterprise systems
- Engaging senior stakeholders with risk-based reporting & assurance frameworks
- Working across complex portfolios including SaaS & bespoke platforms
You will combine strategic thinking with delivery credibility & be able to evidence where you have built capability, reduced risk exposure, improved automation maturity & enhanced vendor performance. Strong stakeholder presence & commercial awareness are essential.
This is a rare opportunity to build a testing capability properly with executive backing & clear investment intent. The successful candidate will shape the organisation's long-term quality framework, materially influence cost efficiency, & elevate testing from operational function to strategic assurance capability.
Test Manager in City of London employer: Pioneer Search
Contact Detail:
Pioneer Search Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Test Manager in City of London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the financial services sector and let them know you're on the hunt for a Test Manager role. Personal recommendations can make all the difference, so don’t be shy about asking for introductions.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of testing strategies and governance frameworks. Be ready to discuss how you've led third-party vendors and transformed testing capabilities in previous roles. Show us you mean business!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t forget to showcase your achievements! When chatting with potential employers, highlight specific examples where you’ve improved automation maturity or reduced risk exposure. Numbers speak volumes, so bring those KPIs to the table!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website for the best chance at landing that Test Manager gig. We’re all about connecting talent with opportunity, and we want to see your application come through our doors!
We think you need these skills to ace Test Manager in City of London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the Test Manager role. Highlight your experience in leading third-party testing vendors and any work you've done in regulated financial services. We want to see how you’ve defined strategies and optimised testing processes!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this leadership role. Share specific examples of how you've established or transformed a Test Centre of Excellence and engaged with senior stakeholders.
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Include measurable outcomes, like how you improved automation maturity or reduced risk exposure. We love numbers that tell a story about your impact!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity!
How to prepare for a job interview at Pioneer Search
✨Know Your Testing Strategies
Make sure you’re well-versed in various testing strategies, especially those relevant to regulated financial services. Be ready to discuss how you would define and own an enterprise-wide test strategy, and have examples of how you've successfully implemented similar strategies in the past.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
This role is all about leadership, so prepare to demonstrate your experience in leading teams and third-party vendors. Think of specific instances where you’ve established or transformed a Test Centre of Excellence and be ready to share how you optimised delivery through effective governance.
✨Prepare for Stakeholder Engagement
You’ll need to engage with senior stakeholders, so practice articulating your ideas clearly and confidently. Prepare to discuss how you’ve influenced decision-making at the director level and how you’ve used risk-based reporting to assure quality across complex portfolios.
✨Emphasise Automation and KPIs
Given the focus on transitioning to automation-led approaches, be prepared to talk about your experience with automation strategies. Highlight any measurable KPIs you’ve introduced in previous roles and how they improved vendor performance and cost transparency.