Investigations Case Officer

Job summary

The Team

The PSFA was launched on the 3rd August 2022 following an increased focus in government on tackling fraud. It succeeded the Government Counter Fraud Function (GCFF) in the Cabinet Office. The PSFA is at the centre of this function and leads work across government and public bodies to improve the prevention, detection and recovery of fraud. The PSFA is outcome and performance driven, offers a depth and breadth of expertise and works jointly with HMT to tackle fraud in the public sector.

The PSFA Enforcement Unit is a new team dedicated to enabling action against fraud in any government department or public body. We will assess and develop cases, undertake fraud investigations to the civil and criminal standards, and use Proceeds of Crime Act, Police & Criminal Evidence Act, and bespoke civil powers, to recover funds, impose civil penalties, and seek criminal justice outcomes for the worst offenders. This is supported by new legislation the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recoveries) Act 2025 which provides significant powers to the Enforcement Unit.

The unit will grow quickly over the next two years and develop into an effective fraud investigation function. This is an exciting time to join and lead something entirely new in government, and make a real difference in the fight against fraud.

We are seeking experienced investigators to conduct a range of investigations into fraud against the public sector. The teams will progress criminal prosecutions and civil investigation for both subsequent POCA recovery or civil litigation and debt recovery.

They will develop and progress fraud and financial investigations in accordance with new legislative requirements. This will include acting as disclosure officer if required. These will be used to maximise the effective use of POCA (by AFIs) and other avenues to recover public funds. They will liaise with outsourced contract partners and other government departments to provide investigative services.

The successful applicant will be involved in the development of process and procedures following the passage of the Public Authorities ( Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill to support operationalising the powers.

The roles will suit an experienced investigator who wants a new challenge in a new high-profile unit with the ambition to build for the future and make a difference in the fight against fraud.

Job description

Responsibilities:

• Conduct lawful investigations developing cases for criminal prosecution, civil litigation, using new compulsory information powers, application of new civil penalties , supporting civil recovery in accordance with POCA powers (by AFIs), ensuring all legal and operational requirements are met on the way to preparing cases for submission for charge advice and/or judicial outcomes, or other compliance outcomes.
• Work with partner agencies in the co-ordination of multi-agency operations
• Working with outsourced partners and their team, sift and analyse large volumes of data, during and follow complex financial investigations, and seek and act upon opportunities to obtain evidential material.
• Act as a witness in both civil litigation and criminal prosecutions.
• Build effective external partnerships and collaborate with other government departments and public bodies, and wider UK law enforcement.
• The role will require regular travel to PSFA locations, other offices and locations linked to investigations to conduct interviews and searches as required. This may include overnight stays.
• Assist in the development of operational policies and procedures

Person specification

Person specification:

• The post holder must hold a recognised investigations qualification (or approved exemption through prior experience), either accredited in their current role or in a previous role within two years and willing to be reaccredited.

Qualifications to include

• Relevant Investigations Qualification and Experience- applicants must hold one of the following qualifications or be able to demonstrate equivalent qualifications or experience:
• Accredited Membership of the government counter fraud
  profession
• CIPFA Accredited Counter Fraud Specialist (ACFS)
• CIPFA Diploma in Counter Fraud management
• Professionalising Investigations Programme (PIP) level 2 or above or relevant previous qualification such as CID qualified,
• Level 4 Counter Fraud Investigator
• Relevant degree in Fraud Investigation
• Relevant Professional qualification – Accountancy or Law
• Professionalism in Security (PINS) qualification accredited by Portsmouth University
• ACFIP- Accredited Fraud Investigation Programme
• Skills in evaluation, insight and decision-making – maximising data and insights to best effect, and deciding the best course of action
• Ability to form and deliver through collaborative relationships with multiple stakeholders, managing different expectations and goals to ensure delivery of outcomes.

Essential Skills

• Recent experience in civil, criminal, regulatory or contract fraud investigations
• Relevant Investigations Qualification and Experience- applicants must hold one of the following qualifications or be able to demonstrate equivalent qualifications or experience:
• Accredited Membership of the government counter fraud
  profession
• CIPFA Accredited Counter Fraud Specialist (ACFS)
• CIPFA Diploma in Counter Fraud management
• Professionalising Investigations Programme (PIP) level 2 or above or relevant previous qualification such as CID qualified,
• Level 4 Counter Fraud Investigator
• Relevant degree in Fraud Investigation
• Relevant Professional qualification – Accountancy or Law
• Professionalism in Security (PINS) qualification accredited by Portsmouth University
• ACFIP – Accredited Fraud Investigation Programme

Additional information:

A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Presentation

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,922, Cabinet Office contributes £10,986 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 which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and employer contributions of 28.97%.
• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30.

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

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Application process

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, personal statement and behaviour statements. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Applications will be sifted on qualifications, experience (statement of suitability and CV) and the behaviours – Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace, Working Together.

If we get a large volume of applicants we may do an initial sift on the on the 500-word statement of suitability, your job history, qualifications, skills and experience.

Selection process

Interviews will be conducted remotely via Google Meet (formerly known as Hangouts) and selection will be conducted using the behaviours above.

A short presentation of an anonymised case you have worked on will form part of the interview.

Expected timeline (subject to change)
Expected sift date – TBC
Expected interview date/s – TBC
Interview location - Remote

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Cabinet Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service/Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

Please note that this role requires SC clearance, which would normally need 5 years’ UK residency in the past 5 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

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.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

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 : Ricky Reed-Killick
• Email : Ricky.Reed-Killick1@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and wish to make a complaint, then in the first instance you should contact Government Recruitment Service by email at : cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at info@csc.gov.uk. For further information on the Recruitment Principles and bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk.

Attachments

Cabinet Office Employee Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 302kB)Cabinet Office Terms and Conditions - External 2025-02-20 Opens in new window (docx, 94kB)