IRIS Intelligence Analyst

Job summary

Are you naturally curious, thrive on challenge, and passionate about using intelligence and data to make a real difference?

If so, this is your opportunity to join the Integrated Risk & Intelligence Service (IRIS) within Counter Fraud, Compliance and Debt (CFCD) – a fast-paced, collaborative team working to protect public funds by identifying and tackling fraud, error, and debt across the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

We are recruiting into two related areas: Strategic Intelligence Team and the Financial Crime Intelligence Team.

The Strategic Intelligence Team focuses on identifying emerging threats and long-term risks to DWP from individuals and organised crime groups. These threats often intersect with wider criminality, including modern slavery, human trafficking, and identity fraud.

As a Strategic Intelligence Analyst, you’ll play a key role in detecting emerging threats, analysing complex data, and producing high-quality intelligence reports that inform investigations and shape departmental strategy. Roles within this team include:

• Analysts, who assess and interpret complex data to produce actionable intelligence.

• Team Leaders, who guide and support analysts while driving strategic priorities.

The Financial Crime Intelligence Team (FCIT) highlights new risks and threats by acquiring and analysing intelligence and insights from the Financial Sector to reduce Serious and Organised Crime (SOC) and Fraud, Error and Debt (FED). FCIT also explores and delivers innovative solutions relating to cryptocurrency, payments, banking intelligence and automation across the Financial Sector.

The Analyst posts in FCIT will principally review financial intelligence received from internal and external partners to identify actionable fraud threats faced by DWP. Roles within this team include:

• Analysts, who assess and interpret complex data to produce actionable intelligence.

• Team Leaders, who guide and support analysts while driving strategic priorities.

Across both teams, you’ll be part of a supportive, inclusive environment where innovation is encouraged, and your contributions are valued. You’ll receive tailored training, real responsibility, and the opportunity to grow your career in a role that truly matters.

We’re looking for individuals who:

• Are emotionally aware and resilient, with strong stakeholderengagement skills.
• Are motivated to deliver the right outcomes in challenging and fast-paced environments.
• Embrace innovation and are comfortable challenging the norm to find bold, dynamic solutions.
• Are passionate about collaboration and inclusivity and thrive in a supportive team culture.

Job description

Your work as an Intelligence Analyst/ Team Leader will involve different aspects subject to changing business priorities, therefore we need people who are very adaptable and flexible. The job will include a range of duties including, but not restricted to, the following:

• Analyse large volumes of data using tools like Excel, i2 Analyst Notebook, and other Intelligence Tools to identify threats, trends, and suspicious activity.

• Produce high-quality Intelligence Reports and Threat Assessments to inform investigations and support departmental objectives

• Collaborate with internal teams and external partners (e.g. Across Government, Law Enforcement and Intelligence Community) to share intelligence and disrupt organised crime targeting DWP systems.

• Assess intelligence from frontline staff, 3rd party external partners and external sources to build actionable intelligence packages.

• To develop external intelligence, working with Financial Institutions to ensure the necessary actions are taken.

• Provide supporting analysis to identify new SOC/Fraud patterns, threats and risks.

• Support Line Manager with strategic analysis tasks and contribute to new workstreams, including those involving financial institutions and other government departments.

• Review current business processes to achieve greater efficiency and/or better outcomes.

• Use visualisation tools to simplify complex fraud patterns for Senior Leaders and Serious & Organised Crime (SOC) colleagues.

• Apply accredited standards and processes attained through accredited analytical training such as Law Enforcement Analytical Programme (LEAP).

• Must attain and maintain Security Clearance (SC).

• Build effective working relationships across all grades and undertake Line Management responsibilities where required.

Due to the geographically dispersed nature of this team, this role will require occasional travel to visit other DWP locations and overnight stays.

Person specification

Key criteria

The successful candidate will need to demonstrate:

• Excellent working knowledge of Fraud and Serious Organised Crime (SOC). You will bring a strong understanding of the fraud/SOC landscape, including current threats, trends, and the wider law enforcement and intelligence context. (Lead Criteria).

• Ability to analyse complex information and use sound judgment to inform decisions, influence outcomes, and drive action. You will demonstrate a high level of analytical capability, using evidence and insight to shape decisions, solve problems, and support strategic and operational objectives.(2nd Lead Criteria).

• Ability to assimilate complex information and adapt communication methods to present to both internal and external audiences.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills. You will be able to communicate complex information clearly and persuasively to a range of audiences, both in writing and verbally, adapting your style to influence and build trust.

• Proven ability to collaborate and build effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders. You will work confidently across organisational boundaries, building partnerships that support shared goals and enhance intelligence and operational outcomes.

• Experience delivering high-quality outputs in a fast-paced, evolving environment. You will be organised, proactive, and delivery-focused, able to manage competing priorities and maintain high standards under pressure.

• Demonstrated leadership and/or ability to take initiative and drive improvement. Whether leading a team, a project, or an area of work, you will show initiative, resilience, and a commitment to continuous improvement and professional standards.

• Highly developed judgment when disclosing and protecting sensitive Intelligence sources.

Essential Security Criteria

Please note that the role that you are applying requires a Security Check (SC). You can find more information at United Kingdom Security Vetting: Applicant - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) . If you are successful in your application, you will need to attain SC clearance before you can take up post. This is mandatory and is in addition to completion of Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS).

The purpose of the NSV process is to provide a level of assurance about an individual’s trustworthiness, integrity and reliability, and other factors that increase their vulnerability to corruption or risk of committing a security breach. It involves the investigation of an individual’s background and circumstances to achieve this aim.

For meaningful checks to be carried out, you will need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time to enable appropriate checks to be carried out and produce a result which provides the required level of assurance. Applicants are required to meet the UK residency requirements so that National Security Vetting (NSV) checks can be conducted. Depending on the level of NSV required, you must have resided continuously in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years, 2 of which must have been the immediately preceding years from the point of applying for this job.

The application process will ask for personal details about you, your address history, previous relationships, your parents, your employment history, your financial circumstances, and details of any pending, spent or unspent convictions. This list is not exhaustive. Please view the Vetting explained - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) for more information.

If you require any further information, please contact the vacancy holder – the details are on the jobs portal through which you made your application.

If you are successful in your application, we recommend that you familiarise yourself with the NSV process and advise that you collate as much information as you can prior to starting your Vetting application.

Government Counter Fraud Profession (GCFP)

The DWP is committed to investing in people and ensuring their teams are a professional workforce. It is a requirement of counter fraud post holders within DWP to attain, and retain, membership of the Government Counter Fraud Profession (GCFP) at Practitioner level. This means if you are successful in applying for this role you will need to undertake an annual self-assessment to evidence your knowledge, skills, and experience within your role to attain and retain practitioner level membership. We provide post holders with a learning routeway to support them in achieving as well as any workplace adjustments they may require. Failure to attain membership of the GCFP at practitioner level may result in DWP seeking an alternative role for you.

In applying you will have indicated that you have read and fully understood the professional requirements for this Counter Fraud Officer role.

If based in Wales, the ability to speak Welsh is desirable .

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Working Together
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £38,772, Department for Work and Pensions contributes £11,232 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

DWP have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:

• Working patterns to support work/life balance such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
• Generous annual leave – at least 25 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (pro–rata for part time employees), plus 9 days public and privilege leave.
• Support for financial wellbeing, including interest-free season ticket loans for travel, a cycle to work scheme and an employee discount scheme.
• Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme for specialist advice and counselling and the opportunity to join HASSRA a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly).
• Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after 1 year’s continuous service.
• Funded learning and development to support progress in your role and career. This includes industry recognised qualifications and accreditations, coaching, mentoring and talent development programmes.
• An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join professional and interpersonal networks including Women’s Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more.

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, Strengths and Experience.

**Please note the closing date for your full application (written application) is 23:55 on 21st July 2026**

Stage 1 – Application Form

Please complete the application form with your basic information, which includes your personal details, eligibility to apply and any reasonable adjustments required.

Stage 2 - Curriculum Vitae (CV)

You will be asked to complete a CV with details of your job history, full qualification details, previous skills and experience. You are not required to upload your personal CV.

In the previous skills/experience section you should detail your employment and/or education history relevant to this vacancy (we recommend a maximum of 500 words).

The CV will also cover your work history (we recommend you include up to the last 3 roles of employment history, plus any others that you feel are relevant) and your qualifications.

Your CV will not be formally assessed so please put the main evidence of your skills into your personal statement. Your CV will be used to add context to your personal statement.

Stage 3– Personal Statement and Sift

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a personal statement in no more than 1250 words detailing the relevant skills and experience you can bring to the role, based on the key criteria listed.

Please read and understand the key criteria thoroughly, as this is what your written evidence will be assessed against. Pay particular attention to the lead criteria and second lead criteria as if you do not demonstrate these on your application, you will not progress to the interview stage.

Your layout is entirely your preference; you may choose narrative, bullets, etc. You may choose to address each criterion separately, however, one narrative example may cover and evidence several key criteria. You may not be able to meet all the key criteria, but please ensure you evidence the key personal requirements, what have you done that’s relatable to the requirements. You don’t have to explain the whole process, just what you have done and the skills and experience you have used. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead criteria or lead and second lead criteria. If so, we will sift on:

• Excellent working knowledge of Fraud and Serious Organised Crime (SOC). You will bring a strong understanding of the fraud/SOC landscape, including current threats, trends, and the wider law enforcement and intelligence context. (Lead Criteria).

• Ability to analyse complex information and use sound judgment to inform decisions, influence outcomes, and drive action. You will demonstrate a high level of analytical capability, using evidence and insight to shape decisions, solve problems, and support strategic and operational objectives.(2nd Lead Criteria).

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to an interview.

Disability Confident Scheme

If high application volumes are received, the benchmark for candidates to proceed to the next stage may be raised. In line with our commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS), we aim to advance all candidates applying under the DCS who meet the minimum standard. However, we may only progress those candidates who best meet the required standards.

In the event we don’t receive a high number of applications we may not undertake a sift and progress all candidate to interview. For these reasons, the timeline is subject to change depending on the approach we take.

**Please note the closing date for your full application (written application) is 23:55 on 21/07/2026**

The sift is scheduled to be held from 22/07/2026 to 07/09/2026. These dates may be subject to change. No feedback will be provided at this stage.

Stage 4- Interview

If you pass the written application sift with the required score you will be invited to a blended interview and will receive an electronic notification to your Civil Service Jobs account.

The interviews will be conducted face to face. Where possible the interviews will take place at the locations listed in the Candidate Pack (slide 2), however candidates may be expected to travel to an alternative location as required.

If you require any reasonable adjustments to attend a face-to-face interview, please ensure you state those on your application form when asked to do so.

Interviews are scheduled to take place from 28/09/2026, please note that this date is only indicative at this stage and could be subject to change. Interviews will be scheduled Monday to Friday, between 09:00 to 17:00.

Communications will be electronic and/or by SMS/telephone therefore it is important that you check your Civil Service Jobs account regularly, as well as your spam/junk email folder. Telephone calls may show as a withheld number, it is important that you answer so that your interview can be confirmed. If you wish to opt out of SMS messages, please email this address, including the vacancy reference and your candidate ID CFCD.RECRUITMENTINBOX@DWP.GOV.UK. As part of our commitment to improving the candidate experience, you may be contacted during the recruitment process to provide feedback.

Preparing for the Interview

The interview will take approximately 40 to 45 minutes and will consist of behaviour and strength-based questions. A blended interview aims to be more of a conversation offering a more inclusive approach. The behaviour and strength-based questioning explores what you, the candidate, can and have done, but also your potential.

Behaviours

You will be assessed against the Civil Service Behaviours listed at Level 3.

An example of a behavioural question would be “How did you lead by example to inspire and motivate your teams?”.

It may help to use one or more examples of a piece of work you have completed or a situation you have been in and use the WHO or STAR model to explain:

• WHO - What it was? How you approached the work/situation? What the Outcomes were, what did you achieve? or

• STAR - What was the ituation? What were the Tasks? What Action did you take? What were the Results of your actions?

Strengths

It is difficult to prepare for strength type questions. However, you can think through your answers, focus on your achievements and aspects you enjoy and decide how these can be applied in the organisation and role. While strengths questions are shorter and we do not expect a full STAR response, the panel is interested in your first reaction to the question and information or reasoning to support this.

If you withdraw your application at any stage, it will not progress further.

Stage 5 – Offer

Once all interviews have been completed, you will be notified of the outcome by email. Offers will be made in strict merit order to the highest scoring candidate first based on your location preferences and the geographical requirements of the business. Dependent on your position on the merit list, if none of your location preferences remain at the point we make a job offer, we may offer you a role at an alternative advertised location. If we are unable to offer you a role in any of your preferred locations, and you are unable to accept a role at an alternative advertised location, we will add you to the reserve list if one is being held.

The successful candidates will be notified of a start date following successful pre-employment and security checks, which is likely to be during February 2027.

Reserve List

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

If you are placed on a reserve list but we cannot immediately offer you a post, please note:

• If you are later offered the role you applied for, in a location you have expressed a preference for, and you decline the offer or are unable to take up post within a reasonable timeframe you will be withdrawn from the campaign and removed from the reserve list, other than in exceptional circumstances (e.g. a contractual part time working pattern cannot be accommodated in the initial role offered or in the case of serious ill health).

• If we make an offer of an alternative role or location to that which you originally applied for, and you decline that offer, you will be able to remain on the reserve list.

Visa Sponsorship

For these vacancies, we strongly recommend that applicants consult with an immigration specialist or qualified advisor to assess their eligibility for Visa Sponsorship before deciding to apply. Please note that while we consider sponsorship requests in accordance with current DWP guidance and Home Office policy, sponsorship cannot be guaranteed.

Candidate pack

It is important that you take time to read the candidate pack which can be found at the bottom of this job advert. This provides further information about the role and working in DWP.

Location

Please see slide 2 in the candidate pack for list of possible locations.The applicant who is successful after interview will be asked their three preferred locations via an offline email process.

You should only apply for suitable posts where you can travel to and from your home office location daily within a reasonable time. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas. Relocation costs will not be reimbursed. Make sure the location works for you before applying!

Hybrid working​

This role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in their DWP office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and your office will be your contractual place of work. If a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for the role and for you, you will normally be required to spend a minimum of 60% of your contracted working hours from your DWP office. If you have a disability, caring responsibilities, or other circumstances that may affect your ability to meet the minimum office attendance requirement, please discuss this with us using the contact details in this advert.

Hybrid working will not commence until any training and consolidation period has been successfully completed.

Working pattern​

Part-time, part-year, term-time compressed hours and job-sharing working patterns within working hours will be considered but must meet business needs. We will do our best to let people with existing part time contracts retain their contracted hours provided they are in line with current business needs. Please note that successful candidates with agreed alternative working patterns may be required to work full time for specific periods to complete all training and consolidation. Currently initial training can last for up to 12 months.

Hours of work ​

The full-time working week in DWP is 37 hours. You may be required to work at any time between the hours of: ​

• 7:45am and 8:00pm on any day between Monday to Friday, and​

• 8:45am to 5:00pm on Saturday.​

Managers will agree working patterns with successful applicants within these business hours and review these as appropriate. You will be given advance notice of your personal schedule.

Learning and Development

DWP takes development seriously. Our aim is for our colleagues in these roles to be appropriately skilled and qualified – as determined by the business. To support this aim you may be required to undertake a work-based qualification, which may be in the form of an apprenticeship, which will support you in further developing your professional knowledge and skills for this role and your future career development. The qualification can be undertaken in work time, you agree to take this job on the basis that you may be required to undertake a work-based qualification; a candidate’s failure to participate fully in the professional programme, once appointed, may be a breach of their employment contract. Important: If you hold a level 3 qualification (2 A levels or equivalent) then please bring your certificates with you to the interview if you have them.

Reasonable Adjustments

We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should contact the Government Recruitment Service via DWPRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

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

Integrity, Plagiarism and Civil Service Principles

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words.

Examples of plagiarism can include:

• Presenting the work, ideas and experience of others as your own.

• Copying content or answers from an online or published source that is not your own.

Disclosure and Barring Service and Internal Fraud Database Checks

To process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service or 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

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

Salary

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

Before applying for this vacancy, current employees of DWP should check whether a successful application would result in changes to their terms & conditions of employment, e.g. mobility, pay, allowances. If you are a current employee and are successful you must be able to be released from your current post within four weeks.

Those on protected TUPE/ COSoP terms and conditions applying on promotion or voluntary permanent level move will adopt DWP’s Terms and Conditions and this may have a different impact on pay and allowances. Please review this prior to acceptance of a role.

Civil Servants that would transfer into DWP from other government organisations, following successful application, will assume DWP's terms & conditions of employment current on the day they are posted, unless DWP has stated otherwise in writing. Accepting a post will be taken to mean acceptance of revised terms & conditions.

Civil Servants applying on promotion will usually be appointed to the salary minimum or within 10% of existing salary.

Any move to DWP from another employer will