QA Analyst Risk IT - AVP - SMBC - #2159030

SMBC: A trusted partner for the long term

Here at SMBC Group, we want to help you find the next step in your career so read on to discover if this opportunity is the one for you. We like to recognise potential in our people, so we welcome your application even when your experience doesn't perfectly align with the job description. Whilst we'll always strive to be better, we're proud of our inclusive culture, and encourage our applicants and colleagues to be their authentic, unique selves.

Who we are

United by a sense of purpose towards our customers - to be a trusted partner for the long-term - and our universal banking platform in EMEA, SMBC Group has an international growth agenda and award-winning products, meaning we provide exciting opportunities to work on a diverse range of projects and initiatives. We deliver a full suite of corporate finance products and solutions to our customers as well as investment banking and advisory services, and a range of innovative solutions in global capital markets. Read on to find out how you could enhance your skills and gain valuable experience, by joining us to support our clients transition to a sustainable future.

Purpose of Job

SMBC is seeking an experienced QA Analyst (AVP level) to support testing activities for new solutions delivery across the Risk Technology function, covering Market Risk, Liquidity Risk, ESG Risk, and Model Validation platforms. The role will focus on developing new project test strategies, plans, and scripts, executing and managing the QA process for new projects while conforming and contributing to the central QA and testing strategy, ensuring alignment with the bank's established QA governance frameworks, risk control standards, and delivery processes, and supporting continuous improvement of testing practices.

The QA Analyst will work closely with stakeholders across Market and Liquidity Risk, ESG, Model Validation, Technology, and the Business to ensure consistent, robust, and high-quality testing delivery across new Risk delivery initiatives and projects. The role plays a key part in validating risk models, calculations, data integrity, and reporting solutions, ensuring they are fit for purpose and meet internal governance and regulatory expectations.

The ideal candidate will combine strong hands-on QA and testing expertise with solid domain knowledge across at least two of Market Risk, Liquidity Risk, ESG Risk, and Model Validation, experience delivering regulatory-driven change, and the ability to operate effectively across Risk and Technology teams within a highly governed environment.

"The anticipated salary range for this role is £56,000-£84,000, with the final offer determined based on the candidate's skills, experience, role scope, location, and relevant market factors. In addition to base salary, the role may be eligible for a discretionary incentive award and a competitive benefits package, including core benefits such as pension provision."

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare test strategies, plans, and scripts for new solutions delivery.
• Support the delivery of automated testing across new solutions delivery.
• Execute hands-on functional, SIT, UAT, and regression testing across Market Risk, Liquidity Risk, ESG Risk, and Model Validation systems
• Test the implementation of risk models, including methodologies, calculations, and reporting outputs, ensuring correctness across sensitivities, limits, stress testing, liquidity metrics
• Review solutions design, functional designs, user stories, etc and validate against business requirements to ensure new solutions delivery will meet business requirements early in the software delivery life cycle.
• Perform hands-on testing of prototypes, validating early-stage solutions, calculation logic, data flows, and reporting design
• Conduct data quality, reconciliation, and lineage testing across upstream and downstream risk systems
• Define and maintain test strategies, test plans, test cases, regression packs, and test evidence, ensuring traceability to business and regulatory requirements
• Analyse defects, perform root-cause analysis, and coordinate fix validation and retesting with development and vendor teams
• Support the Risk QA Manager in ensuring QA governance, controls, and quality standards are consistently applied across Risk IT projects.
• Ensure testing activities comply with internal governance frameworks, regulatory expectations, and audit requirements
• Contribute to audit and regulatory reviews by providing test evidence, documentation, and responses to queries as required
• Support release readiness and QA sign-off, including environment validation and dependency management
• Collaborate with Risk, Model Validation, Compliance, Regulatory Change, and IT stakeholders to ensure delivery quality and alignment
• Drive continuous improvement in QA processes, reporting, and tooling

• Proven experience in Quality Assurance or testing within banking or financial services, with a strong focus on Risk IT
• Hands-on experience testing two of Market Risk, Liquidity Risk, ESG, and ESG risk indicators platforms and supporting regulatory change initiatives
• Good understanding of risk calculations, methodologies, stress testing, limits, and liquidity metrics
• Good understanding of EBA and PRA prudential handbooks and their impact on Risk systems and regulatory outcomes
• Working knowledge of Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) principles and risk governance standards
• Experience delivering testing within highly governed environments, including audit and regulatory expectations
• Strong hands-on experience using SQL for data analysis, reconciliations, and validation across Risk systems
• Experience with Python, R, or similar for data validation, analysis, and supporting data-driven QA activities
• Solid understanding of SDLC / STLC and experience using Jira, Xray, or similar test management tools
• Ability to analyse business requirements and translate them into effective test scenarios
• Excellent communication skills and strong analytical thinking.
• Experience working in Agile/Scrum environments.