Test Analyst in Liverpool

Business Area: Pensions Solutions and Control

Place of Work: Liverpool

Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract

When you join USS, the size and scale of our pension scheme means you will have numerous opportunities to learn and develop your career. Given our size you'll have real autonomy and influence as you collaborate closely with a wide-ranging team of experts.

Our office is a vibrant place to work, and we offer flexibility of office/homeworking due to our hybrid model.

About the role

In your role as Test Analyst, you will make a meaningful and valued contribution from the outset. This role will provide a great opportunity to join the Business Analysis & Test team. You will take a critical role in the planning, preparation and execution of testing needed to support USS’ large and complex change portfolio and small change initiatives. In your capacity as Test Analyst you will develop key relationships with business, technical colleagues, and senior stakeholders across the organisation, as well as third party suppliers.

This role requires you to develop and maintain your knowledge of USS’ business, products and services and industry best practice in testing. You will also take ownership of the key responsibilities listed below, whilst recognising that the role requires flexibility and adaptability to support the business in the delivery of change.

What you will be doing

As a trusted part of the Pensions Solutions and Control team you will be responsible for:

• Ensuring the rigorous application of USS’ testing methodology and standards in the preparation of testing deliverables, including:
• Reviewing and contributing to the development of test plans in collaboration with project stakeholders, including risk-based testing approaches, as agreed with the Test Manager, covering all phases of testing e.g. Integration Testing, User Acceptance Testing [UAT], Regression Testing.
• Analysing, reviewing and assessing business requirements, data models, solution designs and prototypes for testability, ensuring they are fully understood.
• Producing high-quality test deliverables and test designs appropriate to the phase of testing e.g. business test scenarios, test scripts, test cases and expected results.
• Working in collaboration with technical colleagues (internal and external) to ensure that the test environment is set-up to support the agreed phase of testing.
• Preparing test cases including identifying and acquiring (or creating) the requisite test data in support of test cases.
• Designing & building automated tests where appropriate, using the agreed testing tools, ensuring the necessary technical support is in place.
• Ensuring that all test deliverables are reviewed and approved with project stakeholders, as agreed with the Test Manager.

Performing test execution at the required level, documenting and reporting test outcomes, ensuring:

• Testing tools are used to execute tests (where possible), record and monitor testing progress and support management reporting, as agreed with the Test Manager.
• Test results are recorded and evaluated against test criteria, and any deviations from expected results logged as defects.
• Testing is executed as per the planned testing cycles and coverage, with any deviation recorded and reported appropriately.
• Testing environments remain controlled throughout test execution cycles such that the integrity of test data is assured.
• Establishing collaborative working relationships across the organisation and with third party suppliers to in support of test preparation and execution activities.
• Providing support and share best practice, technical skills and product knowledge to other members of the team as required.
• Supporting the team’s workload planning by providing estimates for deliverables in support of capacity and project planning activities.

About you

We know that sometimes people can be put off applying for a job if they don't tick every box, if you're excited about working for us and have most of the skills or experience we're looking for, then please apply, regardless of whether you meet all the requirements outlined in this profile.

To be successful in the role you will have:

Essential

• Excellent test analysis, test preparation and test execution skills
• Able to demonstrate experience of the full testing lifecycle from business requirements to test execution through various test phases (Integration Testing, User Acceptance Testing [UAT], Regression Testing), including risk-based testing approaches
• Use of testing tools for test execution and defect management including test automation
• Experience of working with third party suppliers and testing software delivered into USS’ environments including COTS packages
• Excellent communication skills: able to present complex scenarios with clarity to key project stakeholders
• Stakeholder management including external providers

Preferable

• Industry recognised qualification in testing e.g., ISEB Foundation Level in Software Testing
• Pensions administration system and/or investment platform knowledge
• Web-based/Digital applications e2e testing through a full stack
• Familiarity with solution delivery via Microsoft’s Power App platform.
• Experience navigating Azure DevOps.

Why join us?

At USS, every individual contributes to building a secure financial future for our members and their families. We strive to create a work environment where everyone can thrive professionally while making a meaningful impact on the lives of others. We're also committed to helping you build your career by providing opportunities for development. We put a focus on recognising and supporting each individual's unique career path, driving this forward with the support of an engaged and proactive management team. Here at USS, we want you to thrive in and out of work with a friendly team, flexible culture and excellent range of benefits!

How we will reward you

• Great starting salary
• Generous annual leave package
• Access to a high quality pension scheme provided through Universities Superannuation Scheme
• Supportive people policies (including enhanced occupational sickness pay and family friendly pay)
• Financial contributions towards your personal development to help you maintain your physical and mental wellbeing
• Access to a range of health and wellbeing services i.e., private healthcare, discounted gym membership
• Learning and development opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and talent
• Employee Volunteer Day’s to support the communities where you work and live
• Cycle to Work Scheme

Our culture and values

Our people are what makes us different. We work together to create a diverse and inclusive culture that embraces individuality, where people are welcomed and feel comfortable in the knowledge that they can be themselves. Our purpose firmly states the importance of members, putting them ‘front and centre’ of what we do. This is embedded through our values:

• Integrity
• Collaboration
• Excellence

About us

Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) was established in 1974 as the principal pension scheme for universities and other higher education institutions in the UK. We work with around 330 employers to help build a secure financial future for almost 577,000 members and their families. We are one of the largest private defined benefit pension schemes in the UK, with total assets of around £76.8bn (at 31 March 2025). To find out more, please visit https://www.uss.co.uk

USSL is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We strive to ensure our recruitment process is as flexible and inclusive as possible so we can attract diverse candidates and recruit the best talent. We want all candidates to perform at their best during the recruitment process, so if you need any reasonable adjustments or if there is anything we can do to help support you through your recruitment journey please let us know by contacting resourcing@uss.co.uk.