About the job

Job summary

The post sits within the Financial Investigation Unit, which is part of the Investigation and Enforcement Services Directorate. Working with our in-house Legal Services Division, the team provides a well-respected independent and high-quality criminal investigation service.

The Financial Investigation Unit (FIU) helps to police the Insolvency regime and wider UK Corporate regime in line with the strategic objectives and policies of the Insolvency Service and its parent agency The Department for Business and Trade.

FIU also works in collaboration with our criminal investigation teams who investigate a range of offences related to economic crime including offences related to individual bankruptcy, corporate insolvency, and fraud. Working closely with our colleagues at Companies House we will also be a principal agency investigating and prosecuting offences under the recently enacted Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act. 

Although we have traditionally relied solely upon Confiscation under POCA 2002 as our sole route of asset recovery, through the Economic Crime Levy funding we are now expanding our horizons to include a team which will use Civil Recovery in Summary Proceedings powers, principally Account Freezing and Forfeiture, to target recoverable property held in corporate or personal accounts.

Job description

The successful candidate will:

• Lead from the front, managing and developing a criminal and civil asset recovery service for the whole Insolvency Service.
• Manage three teams of Accredited Financial Investigators who provide a full range of restraint and confiscation services to the Criminal Investigation Teams, and civil recovery services to both the crime teams and the wider agency. 

Responsibilities

Reporting to an Assistant Director, the successful candidate will:

• Lead the development and operations of the agency’s Asset Recovery teams.
• Support the teams in providing technical, operational, and strategic advice on asset recovery using the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and relevant associated legislation.
• Line-manage three Deputies, each leading an asset recovery team of Accredited Financial Investigators.
• Contribute to the strategic direction of the Agency through working closely with the Heads of Criminal Investigation, Intelligence, Legal Services, and other directorates.

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 10 active employee network groups available to join or become an ally, these include, Carers Network, Disability & Health, FACES Network Group, Grass Roots, LGBT+, Mind Matters, No Limits, Part Time Workers, The Shed, and Women’s Network Group. 

We offer full-time, part-time, 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!

Person specification

We are seeking someone with a proven track record in asset recovery using POCA powers. You are likely to have substantial experience of service in Government agencies or a Police Service.

A well-developed ability to assimilate technical matters and excellent written and oral communication skills is key, with the ability to work with colleagues at all levels of seniority both within and outside the Agency.

You will have an inquisitive mind who isn't afraid to challenge. You will be required to work collaboratively and positively with both internal and external stakeholders and should therefore have excellent communication skills. You will have a keen eye for detail and have a tenacious approach to your work.

• Leadership – We are looking for an experienced leader who understands how to get the best out of their team, supporting operational delivery.
• Innovation – We want you to drive change as well as success.
• Communication- you should have excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Collaboration – Working with others is central to success  in this role.

Essential skills

• Technical Knowledge- Developed understanding of POCA and asset recovery related law and how CPIA aligns to this work.

Please note: This vacancy is advertised as full-time, part-time, job share and flexible ways of working. Part time hours will be required for a minimum of 30 hours per week.

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 and our values within 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 test your behaviours and experience as part of the sift process, and if successful, you will be invited to a short interview where we will test your 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 22nd July 2024

Interview – w/c 12th August 2024 

Location - Manchester Office

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 Service 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.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

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.

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. 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.