About the job

Job summary

About us

Fraud is a hidden crime, and is increasingly diverse and complicated. All organisations are at risk of financial loss and reputational damage through fraud. 

We are the Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA) who work coherently with departments and public body experts from across sectors to look hard at the Counter Fraud Profession and set its strategy for the next three years to reduce the impact of fraud. 

Since the PSFA launched in August 2022, we have worked hard to build the Authority, and to have an impact on fraud against the public sector. By the end of our first year, the majority of PSFA’s Functions and Services were designed. We have recruited 36 new colleagues, created our expert Advisory Panel, and recruited the majority of the senior leadership team.

We set 21 objectives in year 1 and met 95% of these, surpassing the target set to have a financial impact of £180m of audited outcomes from the data services that were integrated into the PSFA at launch. Every pound saved represents taxpayers' money that can be reinvested into the services that the public depends upon. 

We need a brilliant, passionate, expert leader to shape and deliver the future - if you're up for the hugely rewarding challenge then we want to hear from you. 

Please refer to the candidate information pack for Our Mission, Our Values, and details on how to apply for this role.

Job description

This is a national role, visible nationally and internationally, with accountability for modernising and demonstrably improving how the public sector counters fraud. 

As Director of Services and COO, you will be a key leader of the Counter Fraud Function across the UK Government & Internationally; overseeing the internal day-to-day running of the PSFA in a financial management and HR capacity which will include budgets, staffing locations & benefits realisation. This role will work with the CEO and you will act as the COO of the PSFA.

You will act as Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) for selected programmes of work undertaken across the Functions and Services. Three deputy directors will report to you and they, in turn, will directly lead teams totalling over 100  expert staff.

For more information about key responsibilities and the role please see the attached candidate information pack.

Person specification

• Deep expertise and experience in countering fraud, beyond investigation, and developing the capability of the public sector to find, prevent and respond to fraud and error;

• Have a widely recognised reputation with established links and engagement with, key networks across wider government Departments and Public Bodies; 

• Highly developed leadership and people management skills with a strong track record of delivering measurable outcomes through inclusive leadership, promoting diversity and positive behaviours, building diverse teams, and creating an environment of collaboration, challenge and innovation;  

• Excellent communication, interpersonal and influencing skills with the capability to work across organisational boundaries and with senior stakeholders to develop and sustain highly effective relationships and drive activity and performance; 

• Highly developed judgement and decision-making ability with proven experience of analysing complex problems, advising on sensitive issues, and mitigating risk; and

• Experience of financial management - holding significant budget and the ability to apply your expertise to both securing funding and effectively managing value for money spending through others.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £112,000, Cabinet Office contributes £26,190 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

Please see the candidate information pack provided for further details about the application process.

Timeline:

Applications close: 18th February 2024, 23.55

Longlisting: 19th - 22nd February 2024

Shortlisting: 25th - 26th February 2024

Assessments: W/c 4th March 2024

Interviews in London: 27th March 2024 - successful candidate will be provided with the venue details

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.