User Acceptance Testing Specialist

Primary Purpose:_Responsible for executing test plans, test scripts, test cases and exploratory testing and for clearly documenting the results of their testing.**Essential Duties and Responsibilities**:- Following is a summary of the essential functions for this job. Other duties may be performed, both major and minor, which are not mentioned_- below. Specific activities may change from time to time._- Work in assigned projects in designated area of responsibility by prioritizing tasks and adhering to deadlines to meet department objectives and individual performance metrics- Analyze business requirements for the purpose of developing test scenarios and testing scripts- Assist with writing test plans and create test scripts for assigned area of responsibility and execute test cases- Support defect management with creation of defects, providing information to app dev on expected outcome and retesting when assigned- Participate in defect triage meetings- Able to learn, understand and follow established QA procedures- Update and maintain traceability matrices to ensure test coverage- Provide accurate report of test progress to the QA Leadership team and follow up with development team on defects- Participate in root cause analysis discussions for all defects- Execute test scripts accurately and efficiently- Capture and communicate the results of testing accurately and clearly- Follow up with QA management pro-actively on issues and escalations and provide suggestions for possible resolutions- Work with members of Business Analysis, Application Development, and Project Management to assure timely completion of testing plans- Give input into the creation of necessary test data prior to test execution- Meet completion deadlines while ensuring accurate test execution- Contribute to a positive work environment fostering the values of initiative and accountability- Assist in all phases of code deployments; including, but not limited to, off-hours support and an occasional weekendJOB REQUIREMENTS**Minimum Skills and Competencies**:- The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made_- to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions._- High school diploma or general education degree (GED)- 1+ years of relevant experience with formal testing methodology or relevant business operations experience- Ability to adhere to established Software Development Lifecycle methods- Ability to ensure all documentation is in order to facilitate audit requirement- Demonstrate analytical planning and problem solving skills- Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)- Must possess effective verbal and written communication skills- Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to establish working relationships with individuals at varying levels within the organization- Ability to escalate issues appropriately- Effective organization and time management skills with the ability to work under pressure and adhere to project deadlines- Must be able to work in a dynamic environment and manage competing priorities**Desired Skills**:- Build and enhance individual development and skill-set by seeking educational opportunities, participating in available training and researching innovative technology and methodologies to provide strong departmental support- Experience in Software Development Lifecycle principles- Advanced knowledge of Software Development Lifecycle principles- Experience in a manual software testing role May have worked in an operational area performing UAT or be a strong performerinquiring about system functionality- Previous experience in Insurance or Financial related industries- Knowledge of the Mortgage Industry, compliance and regulatory related requirements- Working towards a degree in MIS or other related field- Knowledge of programming languages (SIEBEL, SQL, XML)- Experience with Quality Management Testing tools