About the job

Job summary

The Insolvency Service is a leading Government agency which plays a crucial role in providing essential services to the public and to business. The work we do is important to the proper functioning of markets, the economy in general and support for thousands of people each year who are in financial difficulty.

Inclusive and diverse teams are important to us. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups underrepresented in our workforce. The Insolvency Service strives to ensure that the agency is a safe, inclusive, and welcoming place for everybody to bring their true self to work and to help the agency to achieve its diversity objectives. We have 7 employee network groups available to join or become an ally, these include LGBT+, FACES, Break the Stigma, Disability & Health, Part Time Workers, Women’s, and Carers.

We offer part-time time (subject to a minimum of 30 hours for this role), job share and flexible ways of working. We value capability, technical skills and experience and we place great emphasis on lifetime development to support our people. We encourage our employees to become more involved in areas they feel strongly about, whether it be for the benefit of the agency, though our Engagement network or in their own local communities via volunteering opportunities.

The Insolvency Service is a great place to work, learn and grow your career.

Our Structure

The Criminal Investigation Team is responsible for conducting criminal investigations into insolvency and corporate-related criminal offences which support the Agency’s objective to tackle financial wrongdoing. The team works closely with our civil investigation teams and our Legal Services Directorate internally and other Law Enforcement partner organisations to ensure that we fulfil our role in delivering Governmental strategies.

Reporting to the Assistant Director Midlands & West, this post is responsible for the leadership, management and operational delivery for a team of approximately 24 investigators/investigator managers carrying out criminal investigations (mainly under the Insolvency Act 1986, Fraud Act 2006, Companies Act 2006, Theft Act 1968, and Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986) and responsible for ensuring the team meets their objectives.

Job description

The post holder will be responsible for providing clear, proactive, positive leadership as well as being accountable for team objectives and performance, outcomes (including criminal proceedings and disclosures to other regulators), people capability improvements and governance and risk management in a positive environment; that fosters open, transparent communication and which embraces challenge and change and innovation.

They will be leading and managing the Investigation Managers and their teams of mixed capability, including trainees, whilst undertaking a range of criminal investigations including high profile and/or complex cases, ensuring they are conducted to the appropriate Government Counter Fraud standards and in accordance with best practice and relevant legislation e.g. PACE , RIPA, CPIA, GDPR.

The post holder will oversee the work of the team, supporting the Investigation Managers to proactively manage the Investigators and cases, providing technical guidance and ensuring quality. When required, the post holder will act as Officer in Charge of investigations, and as the Authorising Officer under certain aspects of PACE and RIPA.

The successful candidate will take the lead and drive follow up action arising from criminal investigations. This will include contributing to discussions with solicitors and counsel, attending court as a witness as well as representing the Agency in dealings with stakeholders and the media.

They will be working collaboratively, both internally; with our Legal Services Directorate, Civil Investigators, and Financial Investigators, and externally, with other law enforcement partners, Investigators, prosecuting and enforcement authorities as well as Regulatory Bodies to ensure enforcement action is progressed appropriately and promptly - ensuring value for money for the taxpayer.

You will be playing a significant role in the leadership of the Midlands & West regional management team, the Directorate Senior Leadership Team, and the Agency and acting as part of a network with fellow criminal Chief Investigators providing mutual support, ensuring consistency and best practice and continuous improvement.

The post holder will be actively contributing to the planning of future IES and Agency strategies including the Agency’s Future Organisational Design and contributing to projects, meetings and other Agency-level activities. Further to this they will be involved in contributing to the wider Agencies development and capability initiatives e.g. developing and delivering internal training and taking on a strategic role for IES and becoming a Champion for a particular topic e.g. Criminal Disclosure.

Responsibilities

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to:

• Develop their leadership skills
• Manage and develop a team of investigators and investigation managers, building their capability and professionalism
• Play a key role in developing the future Investigations & Enforcement Services Directorate, best practice and embedding the Government Counter Fraud Profession and standards within IES
• Appreciate the bigger picture of the investigation and enforcement environment across government and the Agency’s contribution to it
• Oversee and lead investigations into serious and complex criminal matters.

Person specification

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:

• A proven track record of successful leadership of criminal investigations into serious and complex crime, leading to successful prosecution.
• An ability to inspire, motivate and lead crime investigation teams to deliver high quality operational outputs
• Very strong understanding and experience of prevailing criminal investigation standards, including demonstrable knowledge of CPIA, PACE, RIPA and POCA.
• Confidence in decision-making, exercising sound judgement, and the ability to challenge others in a constructive way
• Strong interpersonal skills, with a proven track record of successful internal and external relationship management
• Forward thinking and innovative; initiates, drives and embraces new ways of working
• Excellent inter-personal and communication skills

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £51,518, Insolvency Service contributes £13,909 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 and Experience.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV, 750-word personal statement and Behaviours. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Your personal statement should be no more than 750 words and should explain how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria in the person specification.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

We will assess your experience and behaviour as part of the sift process, if successful you will be invited to a short interview where we will assess your experience and behaviours. Full details of the selection process will be made available to shortlisted candidates once the sift has been completed.

Expected Timeline (subject to change)

• Sift – W/C:  05/012/24
• Interview – W/C:  19/02/24
• Location – TBC: Shortlisted candidates will be made aware of the interview location details

Further Information

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

Any move to Insolvency 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 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.

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

Transforming Workplaces

The Insolvency Service is currently delivering an exciting five-year transformation project that started in April 2022 which will define our future direction supporting a gradual migration to a Regional Centre model combined with smarter ways of working. As part of this, transforming our estate will align us with the government modernisation programmes making The Insolvency Service a great place to work.  

We are letting you know about our future plans because if you are joining the Insolvency Service and are recruited into an office over the next five years that is not one of the Regional Centres, you will be expected to move to one of the Regional Centres in the future. This move would not attract financial assistance.   

The 11 Regional Centres are : Birmingham, Cardiff, Croydon, Edinburgh, Exeter, Ipswich, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Stratford.

Hybrid Working

Insolvency Service operates a hybrid working policy subject to business need, giving people the flexibility to choose when and where they work and collaborate with others.

Individuals are expected to work from one of the office locations stated in the advert to connect with their colleagues, as required by their role and business team needs. There is flexibility to split the working week, spending a minimum of 60% in the workplace, which includes the office, site visits, court etc.

Location and Working Patterns

The team is currently located between offices in Nottingham and Cardiff, and the role is based in one of these offices. In the future it is likely that the geographical locations of teams will expand to other offices within the M&W region, which could include Birmingham. Although most of the team work flexibly, regular attendance to these offices will be required. Regular travel to other sites and to attend liaison meetings with stakeholders and other regulators, often at other offsite locations across the country will be required. Occasional overnight stays may be required.

The post is available for full-time, part-time (role subject to 30 hours min), flexible working and Job share working patterns. Due to the size of the region and the role, a minimum of 30 hours a week is required.

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 insolvencyrecruitment.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.