Assistant Forensic Accountant

Job summary

The Proceeds of Crime Unit (POCU) is seeking a qualified Forensic Accountant to join its specialist, multi‑disciplinary team within the National Casework Group. POCU plays a critical role in ensuring that individuals convicted of crime do not retain the financial benefit of their offending, supporting the court in making confiscation orders under Proceeds of Crime legislation.

As a Forensic Accountant within POCU, you will provide expert financial and accounting analysis in complex criminal cases, supporting high‑value and high‑profile investigations with national impact. You will manage your own caseload while working flexibly to meet the operational needs of the unit, collaborating closely with prosecutors, law enforcement agencies, and external professionals.

You will be central to the analysis and interpretation of complex financial information, advising on further lines of enquiry, preparing expert witness reports, and presenting evidence in court. Your work will directly contribute to disrupting criminal enterprises, recovering criminal assets, and delivering justice for the people of Scotland.

Job description

The Proceeds of Crime Unit (POCU) is a multi-disciplinary operational unit of the National Casework Group function. The aim of the criminal confiscation provisions of the Proceeds of Crime legislation is to allow the court, following a conviction, to make a confiscation order requiring an accused to pay a fixed sum of money reflecting the benefit obtained from either particular criminal conduct or, in appropriate cases, from a criminal lifestyle.

As a qualified Forensic Accountant, you will be a key member of our team and will be line managed by one of POCU’s existing Forensic Accountants. You will be responsible for progression of your own case load whilst being flexible to the business needs of POCU.

SCOPE OF THE ROLE

• Providing accounting expertise to internal and external stakeholders to assist in complex financial criminal cases.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure the effective presentation and communication of complex financial evidence.
• Advising own team and internal/external stakeholders on potential lines for further financial enquiries.
• Providing advice and support to fellow professionals within the team/Crown Counsel in relation to internally and externally generated data and reports.

ROLE SPECIFIC DUTIES

• Analysis and review of financial information, together with supporting evidence, submitted by Law Enforcement Agencies in relation to both criminal investigations and confiscation proceedings arising under Proceeds of Crime legislation.
• Examination of reports and other evidence submitted by solicitors and accountants instructed by respondents/ defenders.
• Examination of financial information, accounting and business records, including financial statements of business entities and their supporting books and records.
• Preparation of expert witness reports and attending court, as a witness in an expert capacity.
• Line management responsibility for Financial Analyst(s)
• Support the development of best practices in forensic accounting within the unit, including mentoring, training, and quality assurance activities.
• Provide peer review of POCU Forensic Accountant and POCU Financial Analyst reports.
• Provide training on accounting and proceeds of crime matters, both internally and to law enforcement stakeholders including Police Scotland and HMRC.

Please note these are not exhaustive lists and other duties may be required as appropriate to the role

Person specification

You must be a fully qualified accountant, holding membership with a recognised professional accountancy body (e.g. ACCA, ICAS, ICAEW, CIMA, or another CCAB-recognised body).

Applicants must use the additional information section of the application to describe their accounting qualification in detail. Applicants who do not include this information will not be eligible to progress to the next stage of recruitment. Please note that part qualified applicants will not be eligible.

You should be able to demonstrate previous experience within the field of forensic accounting. We’re looking for those with strong analytical skills, attention to detail and the ability to conduct thorough investigations. Critical thinking skills will be crucial for dissecting complex financial data.

Please note that you may be required to carry out an additional assessment or presentation at interview. Further detail on this will be included in your invite to interview letter.

Behaviours

For the purposes of this exercise, you will be asked to provide examples and evidence against the following key Behaviours:

Making Effective Decisions(Grade 7)

Communicating and Influencing(Grade 7)

• Experience in forensic accounting within a private practice firm or government agency
• Experience preparing expert witness reports and presenting financial evidence in legal proceedings
• A strong track record of analysing complex financial data and presenting findings clearly
• Ability to work collaboratively with legal professionals, investigators, or law enforcement agencies
• Working within a multi-disciplinary team or on assignments with individuals from different disciplines
  
  

Technical

• Strong understanding of forensic accounting principles and investigative techniques
• Proficiency in analysing financial statements, accounting records, and business documentation
• Ability to produce clear, concise, and well-structured expert reports suitable for court
• Qualified Accountant: Professional qualified membership of a recognised accountancy body (e.g. ACCA, ICAS or other CCAB member)

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £60,010, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service contributes £17,384 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Benefits:

We offer an excellent range of benefits which include:

• 25 days paid holiday + 11.5 public and privilege holidays (rising to 30 days paid holiday after 4 years).
• Generous Civil Service Pension employer contribution, on average over 28.97% of your pay
• Flexible working hours and family friendly approach to work.
• Cycle to Work Scheme and Season Ticket Loans.
• Employee Wellbeing Support with Mental Health First Aiders and access to an Employee Assistance Programme.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Recruitment
• Email : Recruitment@copfs.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : Recruitment@copfs.gov.uk

Further information

Please see application pack.

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