OverviewThe Quality Assurance (QA) Analyst II is responsible for performing independent quality assurance testing and validation activities to ensure the effectiveness, accuracy, and reliability of business and technology solutions. This role develops and executes test strategies, test plans, and test cases while identifying issues, trends, and gaps within applications, processes, and programs. The QA Analyst II provides objective assessments of systems, policies, and procedures and communicates findings, recommendations, and risks to project teams and management.
The QA Analyst II collaborates closely with business, project, and development teams to coordinate testing activities, ensure testing environments meet requirements, and support successful project delivery. This position also contributes to testing process improvements, defect management, quality metrics reporting, and mentoring less experienced team members.
Responsibilities & QualificationsDuties & Responsibilities:
Independent Testing & Validation
- Develop, maintain, and execute test plans, test cases, test scripts, and testing strategies based on business requirements, functional specifications, and user stories.
- Perform functional, integration, regression, user acceptance, and manual testing activities to validate system functionality and business processes.
- Document, track, and retest defects to ensure issues are resolved according to established quality standards.
- Participate in defect triage meetings and project status reviews, providing analysis and recommendations related to testing results and defect trends.
- Evaluate test environments and test data requirements to ensure readiness for testing activities.
- Validate compliance with established testing standards, methodologies, and best practices.
Test Planning & Coordination
- Partner with project managers, business analysts, developers, and stakeholders to develop testing timelines, schedules, and resource plans.
- Coordinate testing activities across multiple teams and projects to support successful implementation efforts.
- Assist in developing project-level QA strategies and contribute to enterprise testing standards and procedures.
- Support testing leads by facilitating test meetings and defect reviews when necessary.
Data Analysis & Reporting
- Source, compile, analyze, and interpret testing data to identify trends, quality gaps, and opportunities for improvement.
- Monitor testing metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs), providing regular status updates to management and project stakeholders.
- Prepare and communicate test execution summaries, defect reports, risk assessments, and quality findings.
Risk Management & Quality Improvement
- Identify and assess risks associated with system changes, business processes, and technology implementations.
- Contribute to risk mitigation efforts through comprehensive testing and quality validation practices.
- Recommend process improvements that enhance testing effectiveness, efficiency, and overall product quality.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives through root cause analysis and lessons learned activities.
Leadership & Mentoring
- Provide guidance and mentoring to junior QA analysts and testing team members.
- Share testing knowledge, best practices, and quality standards across the team.
- Lead testing-related meetings, walkthroughs, and knowledge-sharing sessions as assigned.
- Serve as a subject matter resource for testing methodologies, defect management, and quality assurance processes.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Experience creating and executing comprehensive test plans, test cases, and test scripts.
- Knowledge of Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) methodologies.
- Experience with defect tracking and test management tools.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and troubleshooting skills.
- Experience analyzing business requirements and translating them into test scenarios.
- Ability to identify risks, trends, and quality concerns and communicate findings effectively.
- Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet project deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Experience facilitating defect review meetings and collaborating with cross-functional teams.
Qualifications:
Minimum Required Education and Experience: Bachelor's Degree and 4 years' experience OR High School Diploma or GED/Equivalent and 8 years' experience in Quality Assurance experience in a Financial Services organization
Preferred Qualifications
- 5+ years of Quality Assurance experience within Banking, Financial Services, Payments, Lending, or Treasury Management environments.
- Experience testing APIs, web services, and system integrations.
- Experience with test automation tools such as Selenium, UFT, Playwright, or similar technologies.
- Knowledge of Agile, Scrum, and DevOps methodologies.
- Experience with SQL and database validation testing.
- Experience using Azure DevOps, Jira, HP ALM, qTest, TestRail, or similar test management platforms.
- Understanding of ACH, wire transfer, online banking, digital banking, or other financial services applications.
- Experience in data validation, large-scale system implementations, and end-to-end integration testing.
- Professional certifications such as Certified Software Quality Analyst (CSQA), Certified Tester Foundation Level (ISTQB), or other quality assurance certifications.
- Proven ability to lead testing efforts across multiple concurrent projects and mentor junior QA professionals.
- American Society for Quality (ASQ) certification(s) preferred or equivalent quality-related certification.
Success Factors
The successful QA Analyst II demonstrates strong attention to detail, sound testing judgment, effective collaboration skills, and the ability to independently drive testing activities while ensuring high-quality technology solutions that support business objectives and regulatory requirements.
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Additional InformationBenefits are an integral part of total rewards and First Citizens Bank is committed to providing a competitive, thoughtfully designed and quality benefits program to meet the needs of our associates. More information can be found at https://jobs.firstcitizens.com/benefits.
