Fraud Investigator (Inverness) (3097)

Job summary

Do you have experience in counter fraud or criminal investigations? Are you looking for an interesting and challenging role where you can work proactively and collaboratively and further develop your team working skills? If so, our Fraud Investigator role could be a great fit for you.

Everyone in Scotland should have the support they need to live their life, and we believe they should be able to get it when and where they need it. That's why Social Security Scotland is built around the people of Scotland.

However, fraud is a known risk to the benefits being devolved, so the agency has developed their response. While our strategy is to design out opportunities for fraud and error through preventative measures where possible, there remains the possibility that fraud will occur. To respond to this, Social Security Scotland's counter fraud service detects and investigates fraud, taking enforcement action where appropriate.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to join Social Security Scotland’s Inverness based External Fraud Investigation team, where you will contribute to the safeguarding of vital resources for the people of Scotland who need them, by gathering and assessing intelligence and carrying out formal investigative action. It also allows the opportunity to engage closely with internal and external stakeholders, be flexible and pro-active in your approach to fraud investigations, be comfortable in a changing environment, and enjoy working collaboratively to identify improvements, exploring new ideas and solutions.

This role is based out of Great Glen House, Inverness, however due to the nature of the role a high degree of flexibility is required and there is an expectation for travel across Scotland from the Inverness base office.

Job description

You will undertake investigations into allegations of fraud which are compliant with legal and policy requirements, to include:

• Investigation planning to identify relevant enquiries and gather appropriate evidence.
• Conducting interviews with witnesses.
• Conducting formal recorded interviews of suspects.
• Undertaking risk assessments, managing evidence and administering documentation.
• Working closely with other government departments and Police Scotland as appropriate.
• Preparing adjudication reports and case summaries.
• Writing crime reports for submission to the Crown Office Procurator Fiscal Service, and collating production packs, disclosure schedules etc.
• Providing evidence as a witness in prosecution case proceedings and supporting Appeals Officer as appropriate where a Tribunal hearing is requested in relation to a fraud determination.

Person specification

Success Profiles
We use an assessment framework called ‘Success Profiles’ which lists the elements we test and provides detailed descriptions of each. Find out more about how we assess the Success Profile elements.

Experience
1. Operational experience in counter fraud or some other form of criminal investigation, ideally to include investigative planning, formal interviewing, statement noting, evidence management and crime report collation.

2. Experience of working collaboratively with internal and external partners, seeking opportunities to share resources, information, experience and best practice.

3. A sound approach to decision making, with an ability to consider proportionality and necessity when undertaking investigative enquiries.

4. An ability to work effectively in a changing environment, demonstrating flexibility and overcoming challenges while also enabling others to do so.

Behaviours
• Communicating and Influencing – (Level 3)

• Delivering at Pace – (Level 3)

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours here.

How to Apply
Apply online, you must provide a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 1000 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the skills, experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profiles above.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application, but all statements and examples 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, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

Please see our candidate guidance for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment.

If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and presentation.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the CV and Supporting Statement on Experience 1.

We aim to provide feedback on request. However, if we receive a large number of applications it may not be possible for us to provide specific feedback on your application. We will provide feedback on request to candidates who attend an interview/assessment.

Information Session
We are holding candidate information sessions for this role to provide you with information about the application and interview process as well as further information on the role and team.

The session will be held on 27th January 2026 at 12:00 -13:00

Please join us using the link below to find out more about the role and working for Social Security Scotland.

Join the meeting now

Benefits

Annual Leave - You will receive 25 days annual leave on joining us. This will increase to 30 days after four full years of service. You will also have 11.5 public and privilege days of leave every year. We also offer Flexi-time. Any extra hours you've worked can be taken as leave when suitable.

A Civil Service Pension - This job comes with a Civil Service pension. New joiners to the Civil Service will join a career average pension scheme as standard. Read more here - www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk.

Healthy work life balance - We can offer the possibility of full-time, part-time, term-time, and job shares. We also encourage flexible working.

Discounts - You can enjoy a vast range of retail, travel and lifestyle discounts through our benefit scheme.

Personal support for you - Our Employee Assistance Programme gives you confidential, independent information and guidance 24/7.

Volunteering special leave - Up to six days paid special leave a year for volunteering. We support our staff to help causes important to them.

Great locations - Our bright and modern offices in the heart of Dundee and Glasgow have been designed with staff in mind. Both locations are ideal for public transport.

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

Expected Timeline (subject to change)
Sift – w/c 6th February 2026
Interview – w/c 16th March 2026

To apply please submit an application form by clicking on the ‘Apply at Advertisers Site’ button.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).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.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).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 : Alan Ross
• Email : Alan.Ross@socialsecurity.gov.scot
• Telephone : 08001577194

Recruitment team

• Email : Alan.Ross@socialsecurity.gov.scot

Further information

https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/working-with-us/help-with-your-application