About the job

Job summary

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! 

The Criminal Investigation Team is responsible for conducting criminal investigations into insolvency and corporate-related criminal offences which support the Agency’s objective to tackle financial wrongdoing. The team works closely with our civil investigation teams and our Legal Services Directorate internally and other Law Enforcement partner organisations to ensure that we fulfil our role in delivering Governmental strategies.

Job description

You will be required to:

• Investigate a range of criminal offences including complex fraud, bankruptcy, insolvency and Covid related offences.
• Obtain detailed statements of witnesses in accordance with the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 1967, Magistrates Court Act 1980 and the Criminal Justice Act of 1988 and 2003.
• Interview persons suspected of offences under the provisions of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE).
• Prepare case files with detailed evidence-based reports on the findings of investigations in accordance with the management of disclosure material under the Criminal Procedures and Investigations Act 1996 (CPIA). These will be to a high standard suitable for testing in Criminal Courts, often to tight timescales.
• Work closely with line management to effectively manage your caseload, reviewing the progress of cases, maintaining quality and meeting legislative demands. Ensure quality in the preparation of cases, leading to criminal proceedings or disclosure to other regulators.
• Work closely with the Agency's prosecution and advisory lawyers and counsel, take the lead and drive follow up action arising from criminal cases. Contribute to discussion with lawyers and counsel, being a witness in appropriate cases and attending court as a witness/disclosure officer. Work closely with other investigation/prosecution/enforcement disciplinary agencies and stakeholders to ensure enforcement action is progressed appropriately and promptly, ensuring value for money.
• To contribute to the performance of the team and the achievement of the team targets as well as embedding continuous improvement activity, as well as maintaining investigation standards.

Person specification

The successful candidate will have:

• A proven and extensive Investigative background in complex crime/fraud cases, which ideally should have been gained with a Government Department/Agency, Police Service or similar organisation.
• Proven experience of being an Investing officer in serious and complex crime.
• A team player with excellent communication skills, used to working in partnership with fellow law enforcement professionals and colleagues.
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Membership of the Government Counter Fraud Profession, or willingness to join.
• Ability to prioritise cases against competing demands and deadlines.
• The post holder will need to possess a calm, authoritative and adaptable approach. Above all he/she will need to demonstrate keen problem-solving skills, flexibility and drive.
• Knowledge of legislation affecting bankruptcy and companies is desirable.

Essential criteria

The successful candidate must possess:

• A proven, extensive, and demonstrable criminal/fraud investigation background, which ideally should have been gained within a Government Department Agency, Police Service, or similar organisation.
• Membership of the Government Counter Fraud Programme, or willingness to join.
• A Full UK Driving Licence is essential and own vehicle is desirable.
• A demonstrable knowledge of the rules of criminal evidence, particularly in relation to CPIA, the Attorney General’s Guidelines, the Criminal Procedure Rules 2020 and associate legislation. A demonstrable knowledge of PACE, Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) is essential, together with a working knowledge of Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA).

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £34,399, Insolvency Service contributes £9,287 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.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV, technical skills and behaviours. 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 CV. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview. 

We will test your behaviours, technical skills 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, technical skills 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 29 July 2024

Interview – w/c 19 August 2024 

Location - In person at the Stratford office (16th Floor, 1 Westfield Avenue, Stratford, London, E20 1HZ)

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 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.

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. 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.