NFI Senior Programme Specialist

Job summary

Fraud is a hidden crime that is increasingly diverse, complicated, and often perpetrated remotely. To address this, the government has invested in a Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA), which launched in August 2022. The PSFA brings together capability across government to bring a cohesive and collaborative approach.

The National Fraud Initiative (NFI) is a remote/virtual team that forms part of the wider PSFA Data, Analytics and AI Team. The NFI Team members are located across the UK so they can be accessible to those that take part in the NFI. There will, however, be a requirement to be flexible with regard to working hours and with travel, as you will be required to attend in-person meetings across the UK. The majority of these meetings will be in Stoke on Trent, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, York, London or Glasgow.

Job description

Structurally, the NFI team is made up of the Operational Delivery (OD) Team and Business Development (BD) Team. This Senior Executive Officer (SEO) post is on the Operational Delivery Team. The post holder will contribute to the leadership, well-being and development of the OD Team.

The post holder will be responsible for the following areas of work:

• Supporting the Operational Delivery Lead with the delivery of data matches to 1,000 participants, including local government, NHS, and central government, private sector (including financial, insurance, utilities, and hire car sectors), in a timely manner, through biennial national matching, biannual mortality screening and the annual council tax single person discount exercise.
• Contributing to maximising the outcomes (value of fraud and error detected and prevented) reported by all NFI participants from match releases across the full suite of NFI products to achieve the target of up to £150 million per year. This is underpinned by a broad spectrum of data analytics, involving the extraction and manipulation of key management information reports containing metrics that allow effective programme management and profiling progress against targets.
• Working with the Operational Delivery Lead to plan and manage the work of the team using project management software to ensure the key deliverables and targets are met.
• Leading one or more complex dataset areas, that involves maximising outcomes specific to those dataset areas, the management of associated data matching pilots, associated improvements to the web application, and promotion of NFI services to existing and new participants.
• Project management of elements of the National exercise, including monitoring progress against PSFA deliverables. Lead the change control tool used to record developments to the NFI web application in line with agreed contractor KPIs. Coordinate the timing and delivery of NFI developments across OD and BD, assessing risks and balancing priorities to maximise efficiency and meet delivery targets.
• On-boarding new voluntary participants, including oversight of high-quality communications, preparation and delivery of workshops, presentations, and written guidance, and maintaining working relationships with these new participants such as new government departments and other public and private sector bodies to ensure the benefits of participation are maximised.
• Analysis and assurance of fraud and error outcomes of up to £150 million per annum, including monitoring and profiling outcomes against targets to underpin outcomes maximisation strategies. Assurance and development of management information reports to improve the accuracy and efficiency of reporting. Research and develop evidence-based methodologies to determine estimated preventative and detected savings for NFI matching and design and implement assurance processes that are subject to internal and external scrutiny.

Please note

Recruitment campaigns for the Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA) are continuing as usual, but candidates should be aware that following the Government’s announcement on the changes to some civil service departments, roles will be subject to the machinery of government move of the PSFA to DWP. We will provide more information on any potential or future impact this will have on office locations and other elements if you are selected to interview. This work remains of high importance to the civil service, and we thank you for your continued interest.

Person specification

Essential

• Experience of, and a high level of technical understanding of, complex and sophisticated data processing operations.
• A background in data and/or counter-fraud.
• Strong technical knowledge and skills in fraud prevention and detection techniques.
• Advanced data handling and analytical capabilities, with a proven ability to manipulate complex datasets to identify patterns, anomalies, and outliers, directly informing fraud detection and prevention strategies and programme performance.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent project management skills.
• Strong team-working skills, with the ability to work cooperatively to achieve corporate objectives.
• Strong interpersonal, influencing, and people management skills.
• Experience managing varied and challenging priorities through a team.
• Experience of using and developing management information reports.
• Experience in maintaining and developing relationships with key stakeholders at a senior level.
• Experience using project tracking and workflow management tools.
• Use of Google, e.g., Google Docs, Sheets, and Microsoft Office, in particular Excel.

Desirable

• Experience working as part of a virtual team and building or contributing to inclusive, psychologically safe virtual team environments.
• Experience with visualisation tools (like Power BI or Tableau).
• Experience in engaging with local government, NHS, or central government bodies.

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

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

• Work based technical exercise

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £45,292, Cabinet Office contributes £13,121 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).

• 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

At the first stage you will be required to complete an online numerical test, if you are successful you will move to the next stage below. The online test should be completed by 21/10/26 by 23:55.

Please submit a CV, Statement of Suitability with answers to the technical questions set out below using no more than 1,250 words.

Across the Statement of Suitability and technical questions you must demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria and any desirable criteria.

Question 1: Motivation & Virtual Collaboration

The National Fraud Initiative (NFI) is a highly impactful, virtual team spread across the UK, tasked with preventing up to £150 million in public sector fraud and error annually. What motivates you to join the PSFA in this specific counter-fraud role, and how have you successfully built strong, inclusive working relationships and collaborated with colleagues in a remote or virtual team environment in your career to date?

Question 2: Technical Data & Project Management

Describe a specific project where you were responsible for extracting, manipulating, or analysing a complex dataset to identify patterns, outliers, or anomalies. Explain the methodology or tools you used, how you managed competing priorities within your team to deliver this work on time, and the tangible outcome of your analysis.

Question 3: Stakeholder Engagement & Maximising Participation

Scenario: As part of the NFI’s strategic expansion, you are tasked with onboarding a cluster of new voluntary public and private sector participants who are hesitant to join. They are concerned about compliance under the Data Protection Act, the cost-benefit model and the resources required to investigate data matches.

The Question: How would you prepare and deliver an engagement approach to overcome these objections, build trust, and demonstrate the tangible value of NFI participation to their senior leadership and what information would you use to support your approach?

Applications that do not fully meet these requirements will not be progressed.

Selection process

At the interview stage you will be assessed against the below behaviours. There will also be a work technical work based test and experience based questions.

• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

Interview location - TBC. Interviews will likely be conducted remotely via Google Meet (formerly known as Hangouts), however we reserve the right to request that the interviews be conducted in person and if so, these would take place in Stoke on Trent.

Expected timeline

Expected sift date – TBD

Expected interview date/s – TBD

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 an 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/Access NI 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

For further information on the Access NI confidential checking service telephone: the Access NI Helpline on 0300 200 7888 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email accessni@ani.x.gsi.gov.uk

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.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) 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.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 at: cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
If you are not satisfied with the response that 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 (docx, 762kB)Cabinet Office Terms and Conditions - External 2025-02-20 Opens in new window (docx, 83kB)