At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead functional testing for complex financial implementations and ensure high-quality delivery.
- Company: Join a dynamic team at a leading financial services firm.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth opportunities, and a collaborative work environment.
- Other info: Work in a global environment with diverse teams and cutting-edge technology.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in transforming financial services through innovative testing strategies.
- Qualifications: 10-15 years in functional testing with strong leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 € per year.
We are seeking a strong delivery-focused testing professional to serve as an Implementation Functional Test Lead within the Alpha Global Testing Practice. This role partners closely with the Implementation Test Manager and is accountable for managing end-to-end test execution for a specific function (e.g., Front Office, Middle Office, Back Office, or Data) within an Alpha implementation.
The role requires hands-on ownership of planning, execution, coordination, reporting and defect management to ensure high-quality, predictable delivery outcomes.
Alpha implementations are complex, multi-functional programs spanning business processes, data, and technology across the investment lifecycle. Functional test execution must be tightly coordinated, well-governed, and aligned with overall program milestones. The Functional Test Lead plays a critical role in ensuring function-level testing is executed effectively, risks are surfaced early, and dependencies across teams are actively managed.
What You Will Be Responsible For
- Partner with the Implementation Test Manager to manage all aspects of test execution for an assigned function within a specific Alpha implementation.
- Own function-level test execution delivery, including:
- Test strategy and approach for the function
- Detailed test planning and scheduling
- Day-to-day execution management across test phases
- Defect management, triage, and resolution tracking
- Status reporting, risk identification, and issue escalation
- Provide strong project management discipline for the functional testing workstream, including dependency tracking and milestone alignment.
- Coordinate closely with business, technology, and integration teams to ensure functional scope, data readiness, and environments are aligned.
- Partner with the System Performance team to support planning and execution of performance testing activities relevant to the function.
- Partner with the Automation team to drive adoption and execution of automation, ensuring functional test coverage, reusability, and alignment with overall test strategy.
- Own end-to-end defect management for the assigned function, including defect identification, logging, triage, prioritization, tracking, and closure across test phases.
- Lead defect triage forums at the functional level, partnering with business, technology, and integration teams to drive timely resolution.
- Ensure defects are risk-assessed, severity-aligned, and impact-aware, with clear traceability to business processes and test scenarios.
- Proactively identify defect trends, systemic issues, and quality risks, escalating to the Implementation Test Manager with clear mitigation recommendations.
- Maintain strong governance over defect SLAs, aging, leakage, and reopen rates, ensuring transparency and predictability in execution.
- Ensure accurate and disciplined use of defect management tools (e.g., JIRA), including reporting, dashboards, and audit-ready documentation.
- Ensure adherence to testing standards, governance, and best practices across functional test cycles.
- Manage and guide functional test analysts and testers (FTEs and vendors), providing clear direction and execution oversight.
- Produce clear, concise test status reporting for the Test Manager and broader implementation leadership.
- Contribute to continuous improvement of functional testing approaches, assets, and execution models.
- Play an advisory role in projects facing challenges, providing direction, solution and stabilization support.
- Proactively drive initiatives, identify gaps and implement improvements across projects.
What We Value
- Strong execution mindset with the ability to operate independently while aligning closely with broader program leadership.
- Experience leading functional testing within complex, client-facing transformation or platform implementation programs.
- Ability to balance hands-on test leadership with structured reporting and stakeholder communication.
- Strong collaboration skills across Testing, Performance, Automation, Technology, and Business teams.
- Commitment to quality, risk management, and delivery predictability.
These Skills Will Help You Succeed In This Role
- End-to-end test execution and delivery management
- Functional test planning and execution leadership
- Defect management and risk-based decision making
- Experience leading defect triage and resolution governance
- Project and delivery coordination skills
- Experience with agile or hybrid delivery models (e.g., JIRA, Confluence)
- Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills
- Ability to work effectively in a global, multi-vendor environment
- Knowledge of front, middle, and back-office workflows and data flows (preferred)
Education & Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in Technology, Finance, Management, or related disciplines
- 10–15 years overall experience, with strong experience in functional testing for financial services or technology transformation programs
- 4–8 years of experience leading testing workstreams or functional teams across internal and external stakeholders
Alpha Front Office Test Lead, Assistant Vice President in Edinburgh employer: State Street
As an employer, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic and inclusive work culture that prioritises employee growth and development. Our Alpha Global Testing Practice offers unique opportunities for hands-on leadership in complex implementations, with a strong focus on collaboration across diverse teams. Located in a vibrant area, we provide competitive benefits and a commitment to quality, ensuring our employees thrive both professionally and personally.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Alpha Front Office Test Lead, Assistant Vice President in Edinburgh
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and don’t be shy about asking for introductions. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can land you that dream job.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and role thoroughly. Understand their values, recent projects, and challenges they face. We want you to walk in with confidence, ready to show how your skills align perfectly with their needs.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or use online platforms to refine your answers. We suggest focusing on behavioural questions, as they often come up and can really showcase your experience and problem-solving skills.
✨Tip Number 4
Follow up after interviews! A simple thank-you email can go a long way in keeping you top of mind. We recommend reiterating your interest in the role and mentioning something specific from the interview to make it personal.
We think you need these skills to ace Alpha Front Office Test Lead, Assistant Vice President in Edinburgh
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in functional testing and project management. We want to see how your skills align with the role of Alpha Front Office Test Lead, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant achievements!
Showcase Your Collaboration Skills:Since this role involves working closely with various teams, it’s important to demonstrate your collaboration skills. Share examples of how you’ve successfully partnered with different stakeholders in past projects to achieve common goals.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, clarity is key! Use straightforward language and avoid jargon where possible. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see your qualifications and experience at a glance.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the position there!
How to prepare for a job interview at State Street
✨Know Your Testing Strategies
Before the interview, brush up on various testing strategies and approaches relevant to functional testing. Be ready to discuss how you would manage test execution delivery and what methodologies you find most effective in ensuring high-quality outcomes.
✨Showcase Your Project Management Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your project management discipline, especially in coordinating with multiple teams. Discuss how you've tracked dependencies and aligned milestones in past roles, as this will demonstrate your ability to handle complex implementations.
✨Defect Management Expertise
Be prepared to talk about your experience with defect management tools like JIRA. Share specific instances where you identified trends or systemic issues and how you escalated them effectively. This shows your proactive approach to quality and risk management.
✨Collaboration is Key
Highlight your collaboration skills by discussing how you've worked with cross-functional teams in previous roles. Emphasise your ability to communicate effectively with business, technology, and integration teams to ensure alignment and readiness for testing phases.
