UAT Lead

This is a hybrid role.

About the role

Leads end-to-end user acceptance testing for banking applications, ensuring software releases meet business requirements and regulatory standards. Partners with senior business and technology stakeholders to drive release governance and testing excellence, engaging stakeholders to ensure risk-aligned, audit-ready delivery outcomes. Acts as a trusted advisor to assigned business/group, influencing and negotiating to achieve business objectives.

Assists in the development of strategic plans, identifies emerging issues and trends to inform decision-making, and makes recommendations on UAT strategy, approach, and rigor based on Enterprise UAT Operating Guidelines, processes, and industry best practices. May review the work of other UAT analysts to ensure quality.

Supports the execution of strategic initiatives in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, helps determine business priorities, and conducts independent analysis to resolve strategic issues. Manages UAT intake processes, prioritizing work assignments based on project timelines and workload, and acts on behalf of the business and Accountable Executive.

Develops and leads UAT strategy across large and complex projects (Class A & B), coordinates database management, ensures data alignment with governance standards, and monitors performance. Designs reports and dashboards, coordinates UAT testers, and provides feedback on test plans.

Builds change management plans, leads or participates in change management activities, and defines communication plans to influence behavior. Manages business users for testing (e.g., 25+ users for complex projects) and directs operational program planning and implementation within service level agreements.

Performs UAT for projects of varying complexity, including developing test strategies, creating and reviewing test cases, executing tests, escalating issues, logging outcomes, facilitating defect meetings, and developing exit reports. Provides UAT solutions and advice based on business strategy and stakeholder needs, and maintains in-depth knowledge of business processes and project requirements.

Coordinates execution of test plans, collaborates with stakeholders to provide business context, and builds effective relationships. Leads or participates in change management, analyzes data to provide UAT insights, and monitors UAT performance. Focus is primarily on business/group within BMO but may have an enterprise-wide scope.

Provides specialized consulting, analytical, and technical support, exercises judgment to solve problems, and works independently on non-routine situations. Applies BMO’s Risk Management Framework to make risk-informed decisions aligned with business strategy and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end user acceptance testing for banking applications to ensure compliance with business and regulatory standards.
• Partner with senior stakeholders to drive release governance and testing excellence.
• Act as a trusted advisor, influencing and negotiating to achieve business objectives.
• Develop and recommend UAT strategies based on Enterprise UAT Operating Guidelines and industry best practices.
• Review the work of other UAT analysts to ensure quality.
• Support strategic initiatives and determine business priorities for execution.
• Conduct independent analysis to resolve strategic issues.
• Prioritize UAT work assignments based on project timelines and workload.
• Develop and lead UAT strategy for large and complex projects (Class A & B).
• Coordinate database management and ensure data alignment with governance standards.
• Monitor and track performance, addressing issues as they arise.
• Design and produce reports and dashboards.
• Coordinate UAT testers and provide feedback on test plans.
• Build and lead change management plans and activities.
• Define communication plans to influence behavior and tailor messaging.
• Manage business users for testing (e.g., 25+ users for complex projects).
• Plan and implement operational programs within service level agreements.
• Perform UAT for projects, including developing test strategies, creating test cases, executing tests, and logging outcomes.
• Escalate issues, facilitate defect meetings, and validate defect resolutions.
• Develop UAT solutions and provide advice based on business strategy and stakeholder needs.
• Maintain in-depth knowledge of business processes and project requirements.
• Coordinate execution of test plans, including identifying participants and monitoring progress.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to provide business context for UAT solutions.
• Analyze data to provide UAT insights and recommendations.
• Monitor UAT performance and address issues.
• Apply BMO’s Risk Management Framework to make risk-informed decisions.

Requirements

• Typically between 5 - 7 years of relevant experience and post-secondary degree in a related field of study or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Solid understanding of Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and experience working in Agile, Waterfall, and hybrid delivery models.
• Hands-on experience developing UAT test strategies, test plans, test cases, and traceability matrices aligned to business requirements.
• Experience managing defect life cycles.
• Proficiency with test management tools such as Jira, HP ALM/Quality Center.
• Working knowledge of core banking products and processes.
• Openness to adopting or evaluating emerging AI tools to improve test coverage and reduce manual efforts.

Skills

• Verbal & written communication skills - In-depth.
• Collaboration & team skills - In-depth.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills - In-depth.
• Influence skills - In-depth.
• Data-driven decision-making - In-depth.

Pay

Salary range: $74,000.00 - $138,000.00 (salaried). Salaries vary based on factors such as location, skills, experience, education, and qualifications. Part-time roles are pro-rated based on hours worked. For commission roles, the listed salary represents the expected target for the first year. Total compensation may include performance-based incentives, discretionary bonuses, and other perks.

Benefits

• Health insurance.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Accident and life insurance.
• Retirement savings plans.
• Performance-based incentives and discretionary bonuses.
• Other perks and rewards.

For more details, visit BMO Total Rewards.