Rahul Solanki

Dynamic and results-oriented Project and Test Management professional with over 15 years of experience in spearheading comprehensive project strategies, ensuring software quality, and leading high-performance teams. Proficient in managing both manual and automated testing projects, with expertise in industry-standard tools such as HP Quality Center, JIRA, Selenium, and Postman. Skilled in developing and executing project plans, test strategies, and defect management processes across various software development methodologies, including Agile, Scrum, and DevOps. Strong leadership and project management skills, focusing on resource allocation, risk assessment, and meeting strict deadlines and quality standards. Known for exceptional communication and collaboration abilities, successfully liaising with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to deliver high-quality software solutions. Comprehensive understanding of SDLC, test management, and regulatory compliance in the financial services sector, including KYC/AML, ensuring full alignment with business objectives and technical requirements.

HSBC: Test Project Manager                                                                                                                                      April 2022 - September 2024

Project: Finance on the Cloud (Stress Testing and Financial Forecasting Model Execution Platform on Google Cloud)

Led the end-to-end project management of the Model Execution Platform (MEP), a critical component of HSBC's Finance Change Programme. This platform, designed for integrating business forecasting models, improved accuracy and compliance with regulatory standards through its deployment on Google Cloud and On-Premise.

Key Achievements:

• Directed the deployment and integration of forecasting models for 12 key products, enhancing the MEP platform’s operational efficiency and regulatory compliance.
• Managed user acceptance testing (UAT) and functional integration, ensuring seamless onboarding for various MEP versions to meet regulatory deadlines.
• Orchestrated the implementation of automated testing within the CI/CD pipeline, significantly improving testing efficiency.

Responsibilities:

• Oversaw the project lifecycle, from defining test strategies and developing test plans to post-production validation, ensuring top-notch quality and performance.
• Coordinated with product owners, business users, project managers, developers, and business analysts to align project goals and ensure traceability of test cases.
• Led a high-performing team, managing test activities, resource allocation, and fostering an environment of continuous improvement.
• Delivered detailed project reports, communicating key metrics, risks, and progress to stakeholders.
• Implemented and monitored defect tracking and resolution processes, ensuring minimal impact on project timelines.
• Conducted risk assessments and mitigation planning to address potential challenges in the testing phase.
• Facilitated regular project status meetings and workshops to ensure alignment among all stakeholders.
• Championed the adoption of best practices in software testing and quality assurance within the team.

Deutsche Bank: UAT Lead                                                                                                                                                  April 2019 – March 2022

Project: Name List Screening (Sanctions & Embargoes Transformation)

In this critical role, I led the User Acceptance Testing (UAT) for Deutsche Bank’s transformation of its Name List Screening (NLS) system, ensuring the bank's compliance with international sanctions and embargo regulations. The project involved the implementation of a new screening platform across multiple regions and regulatory environments.

Key Achievements:

• Successfully delivered UAT for global implementations across EMEA, APAC, UK, and Americas, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and minimizing false positives through data quality improvements.
• Managed UAT for various regions including Luxembourg and Switzerland, coordinating with local teams to ensure smooth transitions to the new screening platform.
• Delivered Cognos and Tableau Management Information (MI) reports, providing critical insights into the system’s performance and compliance metrics.

Responsibilities:

• Led end-to-end UAT, including test planning, execution, defect management, and post-production validation, ensuring complete requirements traceability.
• Conducted data reconciliation, profiling, and validation to ensure the quality and accuracy of source data before and after screening, minimizing the risk of over/under-screening.
• Collaborated with regional and global stakeholders to ensure UAT results met regulatory and business requirements, delivering regular status updates and managing any emerging risks or issues.
• Directed defect triage sessions and worked closely with development teams to resolve critical issues and ensure a smooth deployment process.
• Coordinated with multiple internal and external teams, including third-party vendors, to oversee the seamless integration of new features and changes.

eMagine Consulting (Client: HSBC): Test Product Manager                                                                                  October 2018 – March 2019

Project: Iceberg – Digital Commercial Customer Onboarding (Account Opening)

In this role, I was responsible for managing testing activities for HSBC’s Iceberg project, a digital banking initiative designed to enhance SME customer onboarding through Google Cloud and mobile app platforms. This role involved working in a DevOps and microservices environment to deliver a seamless customer experience.

Key Achievements:

• Set up and managed a test team from scratch, implementing comprehensive testing processes including test planning, defect management, and reporting.
• Successfully defined and delivered the testing approach for the mobile app and backend microservices, ensuring a smooth customer onboarding experience for commercial banking clients.

Responsibilities:

• Defined the scope of testing for each release, including unit, integration, and UAT phases, ensuring that all deliverables met quality standards and project timelines.
• Managed test resources and activities across multiple streams, including functional, system integration, and regression testing.
• Acted as the primary contact for defect triage and defect management, working closely with development teams to resolve issues on time.
• Collaborated with business analysts and developers to ensure user stories were properly tested, and that all functional and non-functional requirements were validated.
• Coordinated with vendors to ensure their systems met HSBC’s quality standards, creating test packs and managing sandbox testing for third-party applications.

Previous Roles

• HSBC: Test Lead | Project: Financial Crime Global Standards | April 2015 – May 2018
• SQS Limited (Client: BP): Senior Test Consultant | July 2014 – March 2015
• Bank of New York Mellon: UAT Test Analyst | May 2013 – May 2014
• HiFX: Test Analyst | July 2011- December 2012
• My Deposits: Test Analyst | November 2010- June 2011
• Prudential: Test Analyst | August 2009 – October 2010
• Polaris Financial Technologies (India): Pre-Sales Consultant | June 2008- June 2009
• 3i Infotech Limited (India): Pre-Sales Consultant | August 2006- May 2008 

• Project Management Foundation (2024)
• Agile Project Leadership (2024)
• ISEB Foundation Certificate in Software Testing (2011) 
• Microsoft Certified System Administrator (MCSA) (2005) 
• Bachelor of Commerce, Pune University (2004)