CASTRO K. IYANDA

• Coordinating and delivering the successful implementation of the Workday ERP system for UK
• Timeline: March 01, 2025, Go-Live
• Successful end-to-end implementation of Workday though SIT/ E2E/ UAT test phases, ensuring alignment with WPP systems objectives
• Developed and executed comprehensive project test plans, including timelines, resource allocation, and risk management strategies
• Coordinated data migration and integration activities and ensure data accuracy, security, privacy and integrity
• Collaborated with stakeholders across WPP agencies to gather requirements, manage expectations, and ensure successful adoption of Workday solutions
• Managed system upgrades and updates for performance optimization and process improvement
• Delivered Programme test strategy and obtained C-Level approval, alongside monitoring and optimizing system performance, implementing best practices and staying updated on new Workday features and enhancements
• Coordinated plans to provide training to users and support teams and authored documentation for ongoing maintenance and troubleshooting
• Provided leadership and supervision regarding departmental performance by completing evaluations, maintaining staff competency and development, adequate staffing, and assures all work in specified areas is completed while maintaining a high level of quality employee engagement
• Successful implementation of E2E and Integration business processes (Finance, PSA and HCM), customized software products and existing integrations with 3rd parties like Zimit, Extend and Prism

Responsible for overall delivery and implemenation of QA standards and protocols for the SAP BRIM (Billing Revenue Innovation Management) and SOM (Subscription Order Management) project
Developed and maintained the Test Plan across the programme
Controlled the technical and day-to-day aspects of the project and stakeholder management
Deployed and managed resources for testing
Produced project status reports for review with workstream leads and sponsor
Coordinated technical and quality reviews of testing deliverables
Managed onsite, offsite and offshore teams
Tracked issues, risks and scope change requests, and escalated as appropriate

• Coordinating and delivering the User Acceptance test phase of the global (EMEA/US/APAC/ LATAM) SAP Carveout eCommerce programme, initiated by chemical company, Heubach’s $1bn purchase of Clariant's pigments business
• Timeline: June 5, 2023, Go-Live
• Successful direction of Agile test planning, execution, and reporting
• Hands-on management of 12 test leads and a large global test team of over 70 testers, across UAT and non-functional testing for more than 50 applications (in-house and 3rd parties)
• Successful engagement with SAP domain teams to assess and recommend a robust and achievable roadmap for their Quality Assurance capabilities and implement SAP Test strategies (Finance/ SCM (EWM)/ SD/ PP/ PM, QM and MDM), across the Product Lifecycle Management
• Successful development and implementation of a comprehensive test plan for critical SAP applications, resulting in a 30% reduction in defects and an improvement in overall system stability
• Successful management of change and transition related activities the SuccessFactors system
• Successful ownership of the testing workstream for SuccessFactors and extension into other platforms through the creation and maintenance of a set of tools that business users can use and take ownership of
• Successfully building automated frameworks and a CI/CD pipeline, beginning with source control management, and ending with a fully orchestrated pipeline
• Successful implementation of Oracle Fusion Financials for Finance and Procurement; SAP Hybris as the new digital web platform; Oracle Finance as the core back-office system; Oracle Hyperion for Planning and Merchandising
• Successfully implemented test strategy (full lifecycle: Systems to Operational Acceptance – Disaster Recovery/ Performance/ Transition) and served as a liaison with product owners, end-users and outside vendors, delivering verification, validation, and commercial release of the new Heubach standalone company

• Supporting the Corporate division and the Fashion houses by providing key insights about business performance on Group strategy, Client engagement, eCommerce, Supply chain (EWM), Finance and Data governance
• Implementing and refining Quality Assurance processes, as an active contributor to the digital transformation of the group and leveraging Kering's global (EMEA/US/APAC/ LATAM) strategic vision
• Working in close collaboration with the cross-functional Business Managers and teams, to develop a QA centre of excellence in the group
• Successfully ensuring and end to end processes are rigorously verified, tested, and operational from Day 1, and fully integrated with in-house and 3rd party systems
• Successful engagement with SAP domain teams to assess and recommend a robust and achievable roadmap for their UAT Quality Assurance capabilities and implement SAP Test strategies (Finance, Supply Chain, SD, BI, QM and MDM), across the Product Lifecycle Management
• Successful implementation of automated testing strategy, resulting in a 40% reduction in testing time and improved efficiency in the testing process
• Successful review of SLAs and provision of senior level management for several modules
• Successful facilitation of User Acceptance Testing for the global deployment of SAP-Success factors platform
• Successful implementation of integration of RMS (Retail Management System) with SAP PI system
• Successful implementation of Agile principles to ensure strategy preceded documentation, to drive quicker responses and solutions to bugs and daily/ weekly reporting to ensure testing progress was on track
• Successful leveraging of SAP Solution Manager (SolMan) and Tricentis Tosca for efficient automated test integration
• Successful implementation of E2E business processes (OTC, RTR and PTP), customized software products and existing integrations with ERP 3rd parties like Infor M3, Sage and Oracle Finance ERP
• Successful validation of existing automation (Regression) packs and continuous improvement and refinement of test case repository
• Successful adoption of CI/CD as the backbone of DevOps methodology, bringing developers and IT operations teams together to deploy software
• Successful collaboration with product & business owners and 3rd party vendors like Open Text, XPO, EDI and Color, on several projects across end-to-end Test lifecycle activities ((full lifecycle: Systems to Operational Acceptance – Disaster Recovery/ Performance) before being transitioned into Day-to-Day Business Operations

• Interim role as the Programme Test Lead on the University of Leeds IBM Planning Analytics programme
• (Lifecycle: System Integration/ UAT/OAT)
• Updated and successfully implemented Agile Test Strategy (Functional and Non-Functional), obtaining approval and sign-off from design and programme boards
• Successful implementation of a testing centre of excellence, where agile practices, tools, and methods were utilised, and left as a legacy for subsequent projects
• Successful planning, coordination, and control of fit/gap sessions, various test activities, across the full testing lifecycle (Integration, System, Performance, UAT and Regression)
• Development and definition of suitable test methods and test tools
• Effective definition and maintenance of complex test strategies, frameworks, fit/gap analysis, and quality assurance processes, ensuring best practice and lasting quality BAU service levels and performance monitoring
• Successful upgrade of the CMS systems like Blackboard and Moodle etc
• Successfully explored the extensibility options and developed each customisable object with step-by-step instructions and screenshots
• Successfully liaised with upstream and downstream system owners/ global process owners, product owners and country leads
• Successful collaboration with the Portfolio Delivery teams to ensure that any new or changes to Product & Services undergo mandatory Acceptance Testing (UAT / OAT) activities before being transitioned into Operations
• Effective Management of Test Resources and ensuring optimal team performance and increased ROI
• Reported to Programme Board and ably directed the QA vision of the programme
• Delivered the shaping and led the quality assurance effort and supported the wider team through coaching and mentoring
• Delivered within budget to successfully manage the complete Test suite, including Requirements, Tests, their traceability, and the delivery of optimal product quality

• Interim role as the Programme Test Lead on the Oxford University Press (OUP)SAP S/4 HANA global (EMEA/US/APAC/ LATAM) implementation rollout programme encapsulating SAP (Retail/ SD/ MDM/ Supply Chain (EWM)/ Finance), FSCM and Oracle RMS implementation and support projects - onsite and offshore model
• (Full Lifecycle: System to Operational Acceptance Testing - Disaster Recovery/ Performance/ Transition)
• Created and successfully implemented Agile UAT Strategy (Functional and Non-functional), obtaining approval from programme board
• Planning, coordination, and control of test activities (full lifecycle)
• Development and definition of suitable test governance, methods, and test tools
• Driving the Testing lifecycle/Bug triage/ Bug Reporting/Tracking process utilising Jira (X-ray), ADO, etc.), by automating the CI/ CD process to minimise human error and maintain consistent software release processes
• Successful validation and verification of business & client requirements and standard SuccessFactors Employee Central Solution
• Successfully collaborated with developers and stakeholders to identify and resolve performance issues in SAP applications, leading to a 25% increase in application response time and enhanced user experience
• Successfully coordinated and delivered requirement workshops (Implementation phase), to analyse WRICEFS, and business processes to achieve requirements, which were not enabled by standard configuration methods
• Successful End User global agreement on the UAT approach for delivering OTC and PTP business processes
• Successful equipment of test teams with appropriate Agile test management tools, to improve the results of the automated testing processes and increasing collaboration among testers, developers, business analysts, and product owners, to ensure prompt adaptation to changing situations
• Successful implementation of a specialist platform developed on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure to help enhance processing capability with extensive new developments
• Successful application of in-depth knowledge and proven adherence of Project Management methodology and full project lifecycle including documentation standards, risk, change controls, quality frameworks and compliance
• Utilised SAP Solution Manager (Solman) Focus Build as a delivery platform to integrate SAP Application Lifecycle Management automation solution (integrating with Tricentis Tosca), to build and manage SAP protocols and accelerate project progress via Solution Readiness Dashboard
• Successfully incorporated advanced web accessibility protocols to reflect web services updates, to ensure OUP website was in WCAG compliance
• Successfully implemented the integration with Oxford University's primary finance system, Oracle R12 and ensured the seamless provision of purchasing, billing, budgeting, project and research accounting software and reporting to the university
• Successful exploration of Automation Framework, infrastructure landscape and transition from manual to automated testing
• Successful coordination and liaison with SME and Business Leads to effectively reshape business protocols and processes, for impactful organisational change

• Interim role as a Programme Test Lead on their global ServiceNow implementation across their global landscape
• (Lifecycle: System Integration/ UAT/OAT)
• In-depth Review: Scrutinise requirement specifications and technical designs, offering feedback to ensure foundational quality
• Plan Creation: Develop structured test plans that encompass a full spectrum of testing scenarios
• Scripting & Automation: Collaborate with test analysts on script development, emphasising ATF test creation
• Project Coordination: Estimate, prioritise, and coordinate testing activities efficiently
• Drive Excellence: Supervise all testing phases, directing defect resolution, and maintaining quality, especially during platform upgrades
• Stay Updated: Stay abreast of ServiceNow platform updates and commit to ongoing professional development
• Strategy Development: Formulate testing strategies, placing emphasis on Test Driven Development (TDD)
• Team Coordination: Lead cross-team testing efforts and liaise with developers to enhance user stories
• Ensure 'Three Amigo' sessions are conducted for complex stories, facilitating collaboration between testers, Business Analysts, and developers
• Client Interaction & Demos: Engage proactively with stakeholders to discern requirements, brainstorm testing scenarios, and elevate product quality
• Oversee and sometimes participate in the demonstration of new functionalities to clients before user testing commences
• Data Analysis: Gather, analyse, and report on testing metrics to provide actionable insights
• Risk Management: Recognize, assess, and communicate risks, ensuring stakeholders remain informed, and escalate when necessary
• Customer Centricity: Pursue avenues to enhance customer satisfaction and foster stronger client relationships

• Company Overview: Upfield is the company formed in 2018 in a $7bn buyout, to manage the margarine brands previously owned by Unilever and now the world's biggest margarine producer/ manufacturer by far, with around 27% global share
• Interim role as a Programme UAT Lead on the $250M global (EMEA/US/APAC) SAP Data Migration rollout eCommerce programme, to transfer Unilever FMCG Spreads Business (ECC) and D2C initiative to the new company, Upfield (carve-out) and on-premises SAP S/4HANA global rollout implementation: a packaged data warehouse solution to capitalise on the full value of their data from SAP applications, Salesforce platforms and third-party solutions
• The core of the project also focused on Finance and Operations and co-ordinating with Business teams and units to successfully improve corporate presence (website upgrades) and performance, by utilising robust Quality Assurance processes and procedures
• Created the UAT Test strategy (Functional and Non-Functional), implemented test governance, resolved gaps, and gained agreement across Supply Chain (EWM/ MDM/ Retail), BW and Finance (procurement and sales) teams for manual and automated test direction for UAT phase
• Successfully conducted end-user workshops to align with Business and ensure a seamless correlation between business requirements and UAT scope
• Successful End User global agreement on the UAT approach for delivering OTC, RTR and PTP business processes
• Successfully implementing Cloud services across their global network of Unilever logistics which has been implemented with several other business-critical applications, including warehouse management system, enterprise resource planning, and transportation rate systems
• Managed conflict across the management space and created the Quality Assurance bridge between the System integrators (Accenture, WIPRO etc.), senior stakeholders, project resources and the end users
• Oversaw the maintenance of data and financial integrity of the Oracle General Ledger reconciliations to appropriate sub-ledgers and supporting documents, including automatic payment program as a tool to handle mass transactions in accounts payables, month end reconciliation to the General Ledger
• Refined and implemented robust JIRA Defect Management (for test), Microsoft Azure (AD) and ServiceNow (for BAU) process, to ensure early detection of test anti-patterns and seamless Business agility and operations
• Successfully ensured all QA activities and duties were carried out in full compliance with regulatory requirements, Enterprise-Wide Risk Management Framework and internal organisation Policies and Policy Standards
• Successfully utilising the QM Module for quality planning, quality control (inspection), quality assurance, and quality control as well as a support tool for the implementation and execution of these and other processes
• Successfully provision of end-user support, reliability, and availability of the Adesso sales forecasting and global SAP/BIBW and Hyperion/Essbase sales reporting systems
• Successfully coordinating the creation of repeatable OAT and UAT test scenarios, test cases that form the continuous regression pack, and integration with 3rd parties like DSV, EDI and Open Text
• Successfully curated and implemented website improvements, by installing website accessibility checkers as a useful tool for preventing violations of UK accessibility legislation
• Successfully coordinated defect triage and prioritisation with global teams across multiple time zones (over 500+ resources - North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Middle East) in an integrated and multi-cloud environment, with design authority, solution architects and cross-functional teams to drive continuous delivery and implementation of test phases
• Implemented, maintained, and provided the team with Azure DevOps-(AD) related tools like deployment tools and processes (CI/CD) and staged virtual environments
• Successfully maintained absolute integrity of the release process, defect database and maintained the signed-off standards within the guidelines of the defect management process
• Coordinated with the service delivery teams to standardise where appropriate, share learning and best practices, and ensure SLA alignment with the end-to-end process objectives and initiatives Process Analysis & CI Opportunity Identification
• Upfield is the company formed in 2018 in a $7bn buyout, to manage the margarine brands previously owned by Unilever and now the world's biggest margarine producer/ manufacturer by far, with around 27% global share

• Interim role as a Programme Test Manager on the MOSI ERP Programme (Student Records System replacement), £20M digital transformation/ SaaS/ ETL data migration/ technology replacement/ Website Enhancement (UX) programme to establish new QA function and quality assured Student Record System (SITS), a Tribal Higher Education product, in place of the University's legacy systems and integrating with existing instances of Microsoft Dynamics 365, CRM and HR applications
• (Full Lifecycle: Unit/ System/ System Integration/ UAT/ OAT)
• Successful creation of the programme Test Strategy (Functional and Non-Functional) and achieved senior stakeholder sign-off for implementation of a Quality Assurance vision for the programme
• Successful provision of support and leadership to drive and deliver implementation of COTS products
• Successful delivery of all user acceptance and business validation testing activities for both minor and major releases deployed on the SIT platform
• Successful collaboration with Business Analyst and Service Design teams, identifying areas of the service level agreements, hyper-care that will require Operational Acceptance testing
• Successful website upgrade and bringing their website in line with recognized accessibility standards, like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
• Successful upgrade of the LMS and CMS systems like Blackboard and Moodle etc
• Successful identification and implementation of Continuous Improvement and shared learnings across the wider University business

• Implemented cost reduction measures, reduced overhead expenses.
• Secured new business opportunities with successful networking events.
• Developed accurate sales forecasts for improved strategic planning.
• Maintained inventory control, reduced stock shortages.

• Company Overview: (Insurance and Reassurance)
• (Insurance and Reassurance)

• Company Overview: (SAP BW Project - Bi7 Implementation/ ETL Data migration)
• (SAP BW Project - Bi7 Implementation/ ETL Data migration)