About the job

Job summary

The Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA) is responsible for holding departments and arms-length bodies to account for their handling of fraud in the public sector. 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.

Performance and Assurance:

In this role you will be one of 3 grade 6's leading the Performance, Assurance and Evidence team. Working with departments and public bodies to increase the ambition in counter fraud we work on setting performance metrics, creating the evidence base and assuring the activities and outcomes of the counter fraud team across the public sector. As a growing area of focus there is huge demand to innovate and push forward this challenging agenda.

By joining the PSFA you will also be part of the Government Counter Fraud Function (GCFF). The PSFA is at the centre of this function but a role in this team will make you part of a Counter Fraud Function that spans government and has members in all departments, at all levels, in all sectors.

The PSFA is a fast paced operational delivery unit, of c.120 staff members with locations across the country – including Manchester, York, Glasgow 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 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.

Job description

Head of Performance and Assurance will be key to the PSFA delivery plan and the work in developing the counter fraud response. Working as part of a high profile, highly visible area of the PSFA you will work across government to ensure the counter fraud response meets the ambition of Ministers and senior leaders.

We are looking for a highly motivated individual with excellent organisational, communication, interpersonal and leadership skills. You will need to demonstrate the ability to deliver under pressure; manage multiple and competing priorities; be able to engage and inform senior decision-makers and liaise effectively with a range of cross-governmental stakeholders. The role holder will provide expert advice and information to Ministers, government departments and public bodies.

Person specification

Essential skills;

● Experience leading and managing teams including across locations to deliver against outcomes and objectives, maintaining resilience and motivation
● Experience of leading the development of performance, assurance or risk metrics and frameworks to counter fraud at organisational and project level
● Experience of developing, designing and establishing new products, processes and services

● Experience at setting a vision and developing strategic aims, and implemented across multiple organisations
● Experienced at working with stakeholders across government to agree collaborative activity including at a senior and/ ministerial level, be able to build relationships even in challenging environments.
● Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of counter fraud, economic crime, performance measurement, assurance or risk in counter fraud

Desirable skills:
● Experience managing budgets and delivering projects
● Experience of leading or managing a counter fraud response
● Excellent written and verbal communication.

Responsibilities:

● Drive forward the delivery of the Performance, Assurance and Evidence commitments in the PSFA mandate showing innovation and the ability to take others
with you.
● Act as a departmental lead for government departments and public bodies, working with their senior leaders and counter fraud leads to ensure performance metrics are in place and standards are being met.
● Lead in the assessment of the compliance activities for the counter-fraud functional standards in line with the continuous improvement assessment framework. Develop the framework and learn from current activities to drive forward process changes.
● Lead the team on the assurance of Initial Finance Impact Assessments for new spend.
● Lead on short-term projects to improve counter fraud performance including risk, assurance and the evidence base, learning from others (both in the UK and abroad) and driving forward change.
● Prepare high quality, informative updates to PSFA leadership, the Perm Sec and Ministers setting out progress and identifying areas for increased delivery. Be able to present to a variety of audiences including Ministers and senior officials, showing credibility and an understanding of issues.
● Be an active part of the PAE and PSFA senior leadership, working on issues such as budgeting, resourcing and L&D to develop the team and its capability.
● Manage staff ensuring they are able to deliver with a strong focus on development of self and staff with the ability to get the best in a high pressured changing environment
● Contribute to the wider PSFA and/or Cabinet Office as part of a corporate objective. We are committed to being an inclusive employer with a diverse workforce.

We encourage applications from people from the widest possible diversity of backgrounds, cultures and experiences. If you are potentially interested in a role but not sure if it is for you, please do get in touch with the recruiting management who would be very happy to discuss with you.

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 £64,700, Cabinet Office contributes £17,469 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, Experience and Technical skills.

Application process

Applications will be sifted on behaviour - *Leadership 

Your application will also be sifted on a (750 word) statement of suitability (align your statement of suitability to the person specification requirements)  and a CV stating your job history, skills and experience.

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

Interviews will be conducted in person where possible but may be undertaken remotely via Google Meet (formerly known as Hangouts) and selection will be conducted using the behaviours - Delivering at Pace, Leadership, Working Together, Communicating and influencing.

There will also be a presentation that will be provided in advance - this will focus on counter fraud knowledge

You will also be asked strength based questions. 

Expected timeline (subject to change)
Expected sift date – TBC
Expected interview date/s – TBC
Interview location - TBC

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 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.

Further information

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

Please note that this role requires travelling to other office locations on occasions, BPSS moving to SC clearance. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

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

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

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

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 /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

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

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.

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.

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.