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. The Authority will write the standards for counter fraud work across government and hold public bodies to account against these. 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.

The Team

The PSFA was launched on the 3rd August 2022 following an increased focus in government on tackling fraud. It succeeded the Government Counter Fraud Function (GCFF) in the Cabinet Office. The PSFA is a fast paced environment at the centre of this function and leads work across government and public bodies to improve the prevention, detection and recovery of fraud. The PSFA is outcome and performance driven, offers a depth and breadth of expertise and works jointly with HMT to tackle fraud in the public sector.

The PSFA Enforcement Unit is a new team dedicated to enabling action against fraud in any government department or public body. We will assess and develop cases, undertake fraud investigations to the civil and criminal standards, and use Proceeds of Crime Act, Police & Criminal Evidence Act, and bespoke civil powers, to recover funds, impose civil penalties, and seek criminal justice outcomes for the worst offenders. The Unit is commencing operational activity, working with outsourced service providers to take civil action while we build the unit and gain powers through legislation.

The unit will grow quickly over the next two years and develop into an effective fraud investigation function. This is an exciting time to join and lead something entirely new in government, and make a real difference in the fight against fraud.

Job description

We are seeking investigators to conduct a range of investigations into fraud against the public sector. 

The successful candidates will develop and progress fraud and financial investigations to civil and criminal standards, for both subsequent POCA recovery or civil litigation and debt recovery, or other enforcement outcome, in accordance with legislative requirements. This will include acting as disclosure officer if required. They will liaise with outsourced contract partners and other government departments to provide investigative services. They will work with Financial Investigators to make effective use of POCA 2002 power and other avenues to recover public funds. They will be involved in cases deriving from intelligence, from referrals from other departments, and campaign approaches to tackling fraud on classes of cases deriving from large scale data.

The roles will suit an experienced investigator (or equivalent experience in a compliance/enforcement environment) who wants a new challenge in a new high-profile unit with the ambition to build for the future and make a difference in the fight against fraud.

Person specification

Responsibilities:

• Conduct lawful investigations developing cases for criminal prosecution, civil litigation, ensuring all legal and operational requirements are met on the way to preparing cases for submission for civil action, or charge advice and/or judicial outcomes, or other compliance outcomes.
• Work with partner agencies in the co-ordination of multi-agency operations.
• Working with outsourced partners and their team, sift and analyse large volumes of data, during and follow complex financial investigations, and seek and act upon opportunities to obtain evidential material.
• Work with Financial Investigators.
• Act as a witness in both civil litigation and criminal prosecutions.
• Build effective external partnerships and collaborate with other government departments and public bodies, and wider UK law enforcement.
• The role will require some travel to PSFA locations, other offices and locations linked to investigations to conduct interviews and searches as required. This may include staying overnight.
• Skills in evaluation, insight and decision-making – maximising data and insights to best effect, and deciding the best course of action.
• Ability to form and deliver through collaborative relationships with multiple stakeholders, managing different expectations and goals to ensure delivery of outcomes.

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 £35,400, Cabinet Office contributes £9,558 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, Experience and Technical skills.

Application process

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, 500 word personal statement as well as three 250 word behaviour statements. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form. 

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

Interviews will be conducted remotely via Google Meet (formerly known as Hangouts) 

Selection process

During the blended interview you will be assessed against your experience and qualifications as well as the behaviours that are contained within this advert. 

A short presentation of an anonymised case you have worked on will form part of the interview.

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date – TBD
Expected interview date/s – TBD
Interview location - Online

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Further information

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

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

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

Please note that this role requires SC clearance, which would normally need 5 years UK residency in the past 5 years. 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.

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

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 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

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.

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

Reasonable adjustments

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.

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.