About the job

Job summary

Our Investigation & Enforcement Services Directorate (IES) aims to deliver and promote a range of investigation and enforcement activities both civil and criminal in nature, to tackle financial wrongdoing. We do this by enforcing the statutory company and insolvency regimes, maintaining public confidence in those regimes, and reducing the harm caused to victims of fraudulent activity and to the business community. IES contributes to the agency’s objective of ‘delivering economic confidence’ in the main by ‘tackling financial wrongdoing’ and does so in close cooperation with colleagues from our Official Receiver Services and Legal Services Directorates.

This is a new strategic senior leadership role within Investigation & Enforcement Services (IES) that will oversee the specialist functions that support effective delivery. This portfolio includes Intelligence, Compliance & Targeting, Business Development and Digital Forensics whilst also leading on directorate/agency level change initiatives. The post holder will join an established team of three D3 Assistant Directors, who are responsible for the investigation capability; therefore, building collaborative relationships will be an essential part of the role. 

Due to the diverse nature of the portfolio the successful applicant must be able to demonstrate a track record in quickly assimilating new information, continual self-development to broaden their technical understanding, and have an ability to lead teams in specialist areas.   

Though you will be based at one location, due to the diverse spread of the directorate you will have to occasionally travel to other Agency locations. This would count towards the required 60% office attendance.

This role is full time, but will be considered on a part time basis, with a minimum of 30 hours per week. This role is not suitable for job sharing.

 

Job description

This is a demanding, broad, and high-profile role within the IES Senior Management Team. The post-holder will lead specialist enabling functions based at sites across the country and be committed to delivering excellent public service, so occasional travel to other sites will be required. You will be responsible for driving efficient performance and exploiting innovation to achieve desired outcomes.

You will show a high level of commitment and determination; will be able to demonstrate good IT/digital literacy and experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Investigation
• Intelligence
• Insolvency
• Digital Forensics

Responsibilities

As Assistant Director you will:

•  Provide clear, inspiring, positive leadership, being accountable for team objectives and performance, people capability improvements and governance and risk management in a positive environment that fosters open, transparent communication and which embraces challenge, change and innovation.
• Act as strategic lead for Intelligence, Compliance and Targeting, Digital Forensics and Business Development and lead key strategic workstreams and/or IES projects.
• Managing and developing Heads of Units (currently five Grade 7 direct reports), building their capability and professionalism alongside leading on performance for your area and briefing the Director and cross agency contacts as well as senior officials and external stakeholders.
• Working collaboratively and influentially with senior leaders across the agency to continuously improve operational policies and processes.
• Representing the directorate and participating proactively as a member of the Agency Performance Group, High Profile Case Board and Project Boards and deputising for the director as required.
• Promoting and effectively contributing to the successful delivery of the agency’s 5-year strategy.
• Promote the agency and our investigative functions through external engagement across government and the regulatory landscape.
• Providing the IES Director and Agency boards with briefing on a range of matters as required including high profile investigations and the performance of your teams.
• Play a key role in developing the future Investigation & Enforcement Services Directorate, best practice and embedding the Government Counter Fraud Profession and standards within IES.
• Drive forward ad-hoc projects to improve IES operations, working across the directorate and the agency to develop strategies and facilitate implementation and evaluation. 

 

Person specification

Essential Skills

• You will need to be someone who appreciates the bigger picture of the investigation and enforcement landscape across government and the Agency’s contribution to it through collaboration with key stakeholders.
• You are self-motivated and confident in using your initiative and innovative approach to take action that moves projects and other workstreams forward.
• You must have the ability to quickly grasp new information to widen your understanding and increase knowledge of the Agency's work.
• You will have the ability to build positive relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholder to support the delivery of the directorate's vision and work.
• Experience of leading large, geographically dispersed teams, managing complex operational activity within the investigation, intelligence or regulatory arena and the ability to problem solve. 
• Strong leadership and people management skills and an ability to motivate your team positively to provide consistently high-quality support to stakeholders and customers.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to build positive relationships with colleagues from across the agency to support the delivery of business outcomes. You will be able to constructively challenge at all levels to achieve the right results.
• Well-developed IT/digital literacy that enables effective presentation, communication and influencing skills.
• Strong analytical skills and an ability to interpret and use technical information and data in decision-making.
• Proven commitment to continuous improvement, including experience of having improved operational processes for greater efficiency or benefit to customers as well as having guided your team through change.
• A member of the cross-government Counter Fraud Profession or a keen interest in becoming a member.

Desirable Skills:

Knowledge and experience of one or more of the following areas:

• Investigation
• Intelligence
• Insolvency
• Digital Forensics

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £67,320, Insolvency Service contributes £18,176 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, Strengths and Experience.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, and a 1000 word Personal Statement 

Applications will be considered on the basis of a personal statement of up to 1000 words demonstrating what relevant experience you possess that would enable you to meet the requirements set out within the person specification and additionally to provide evidence of the following two behaviours within the Personal Statement:
• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture

Please note, Behaviour statements are not required, however we require successful candidates to be able to exhibit evidence of the above the behaviours  within the personal statement.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be  conducted on 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 experience and behaviours as part of the sift process, if successful you will be invited to a short interview where we will test your behaviours, 
experience, and strengths. 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 15/01/2024
Interview – w/c 05/02/2024
Location - Face to Face- Location to be confirmed

Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.

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.

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.

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.

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.