About the job

Job summary

Summary

The Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA) is a fast paced operational delivery unit and is responsible for working with departments and arms-length bodies to better understand and reduce the impact of fraud against the public sector. Working in the PSFA is an opportunity to make a difference to the taxpayer by improving how the public sector deals with fraud. This can reduce the cost of public services and drive fairness in society. Working in the PSFA offers access to a wide range of stakeholders across government and the opportunity to work with various sectors in a high profile policy area with high media, parliamentary and ministerial interest. 

 The Authority

As well as being part of the PSFA, a new authority established in 2022, you will also be part of the Government Counter Fraud Function (GCFF), which has members in all departments, at all levels, in all sectors.  

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, whilst sitting within the Cabinet Office, reports jointly to the Cabinet Office and Treasury Ministers. Maintaining close working relationships with HMT colleagues is key to ensure the PSFA can deliver its mandate effectively. The PSFA will be c.150 in 2023/24 with locations across the country – including York, Glasgow, Newcastle and London. As a result, hybrid working is fully embraced and teams are encouraged to collaborate in the various Cabinet Office Hubs around the country.  

The team offers opportunities for fraud experts across the disciplines needed to effectively find and fight fraud, including risk assessment, measurement, prevention, intelligence and investigation. The range of opportunities allows for constant professional development and means that collaboration is always at the heart of what we do.

Job description

As part of the Practice and Standards team, you’ll join a small and dynamic team providing capability services to PSFA and the Government Counter Fraud Profession, bringing expertise together to define practices, develop standards and increase capability across the public sector through the Government Counter Fraud Profession (GCFP).  Development of professional standards is critical to the expansion of the GCFP and a move to a more proactive preventive approach to counter fraud across the Public Sector.  

The Government Counter Fraud Profession (GCFP) Board has already approved the  development of a number of Standards for Practitioners covering the main areas of the Counter Fraud Framework. The GCFP board is committed to growing this offering and is now seeking an experienced individual to develop further standards to support the implementation of a consistent approach to counter fraud in central government.

We are looking for a talented individual who has a deep understanding of counter fraud knowledge to develop and publish new professional standards and ensure that all published documentation is regularly reviewed and updated to incorporate the latest thinking, guidance and legislation.  They should be passionate about challenging the status quo, making difference, fighting fraud, developing capability and shaping how the public sector effectively understands and reduces the impact of fraud.

Key deliverables and responsibilities will include:

The role is interesting, demanding and time bound. If you enjoy taking ownership of your own work, communicating proactively and supporting the development of counter fraud across the public sector, this is the role for you.

• Publish new professional standards and ensure that all published documentation is regularly reviewed and updated to incorporate the latest thinking, guidance and legislation.  
• Working closely with other parts of the public and private sectors to understand future Practice and Standards requirements.
• Working closely with the GCFP Board to enhance counter fraud capability across the public sector, re implementation of new policies and GCFP standards.
• Developing capability and shaping how the public sector effectively understands and reduces the impact of fraud.
• As a newly formed team other duties identified by the Practice, Standards and Capability Team management as the role evolves.

Person specification

Essential criteria:

• Experience of working in, and demonstrable knowledge of counter fraud, economic crime or anti bribery & corruption.
• Experience of producing practice guides and standards.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with experience of engaging across a system or in a variety of sectors.
• Excellent organisational and planning skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Experience in analysing information and making evidenced decisions.
• Ability to manage conflicting priorities and pressures and work to deadlines.
• Ability to work with accuracy and close attention to detail.
• Ability to work on own initiative, research to find solutions and form networks to gain best practice. 
• Excellent computer skills, including use of the Google Suite.

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience of budget management.

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.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £53,400, Cabinet Office contributes £14,418 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

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, 750 word personal statement as well as three 250 word behavioural statements. 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 behaviour, Communicating and Influencing. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview. 

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

• Communicating and influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Changing and Improving 

Selection process

During the blended interview you will be assessed against your experience, behaviours that are contained in this advert and a technical presentation, the subject of the technical presentation will be sent to candidates who are successful in going through to the interview stage.

Expected timeline 

Expected sift date – TBD
Expected interview date/s – TBD
Interview location - Remote - Google meets 

Further information

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

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. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

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 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.

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

Reasonable adjustments

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

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. 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.