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.

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! 

Job description

This is an exciting role within IES. As an Investigator you will undertake your own confidential fact-finding enquiries, under the guidance of an Investigation Manager.

This role is based at London or Croydon and therefore attendance at these offices in accordance with the Agency’s hybrid working model (currently 60% office attendance) is required. Regular travel to other sites and locations and to attend liaison meetings with stakeholders and other regulators, often at other offsite locations across the country will be required. Occasional overnight stays may be required. 

Responsibilities

As a Live Investigator, you will:

• Manage and progress a portfolio of complex investigations conducted using compulsory powers under section 447 of the Companies Act 1985 in accordance with internal guidance and Government Counter Fraud Standards with a view to gathering evidence to establish whether the activities of a company are being carried on in the public interest.
• Review and research available source information.
• Make contact with company directors or third parties (e.g. solicitors, accountants, customers, suppliers, banks, etc) who may be reluctant to engage.
• Attend (unannounced) at company premises to serve and exercise the Section 447 authority, overcoming objections and using interpersonal skills to obtain cooperation from company directors.
• Undertake investigative interviews with company directors and other third parties.
• Identify relevant accounting and other documents and make a formal requirement for production in a timely manner, ensuring compliance.
• Log, review and analyse the documents and information produced during the investigation to identify wrongdoing, misconduct, or potential criminal offences.
• Make timely, clear, reasoned, and robust recommendations to managers to progress the case to the appropriate conclusion.
• Deal appropriately with confidential and sensitive information, understanding that a strictly enforced disclosure regime exists in relation to Section 447 investigations, and understanding the impact of other legislation on the investigation, e.g. FOIA & GDPR.
• Draft complex, evidence-based reports on the findings of an investigation to a standard suitable for testing in both civil and criminal courts or capable of forming the foundation for further action by other regulators.
• Liaise professionally and expeditiously with legal professionals and colleagues within the Service.
• Provide primary evidence in relation to investigations by way of affidavit or witness statement and appearing at Court to give oral evidence on behalf of the Secretary of State.
• Respond professionally and expeditiously to requests for witness evidence received from a range of prosecuting authorities and in relation to applications to disqualify directors.
• Effectively build and manage engagement and collaborative relationships with external stakeholders.
• Keep up to date with changes in legislation and internal processes and procedures in a rapidly changing environment.

Person specification

The successful candidate:

• have an inquisitive mind and are able to constructively challenge at all levels to achieve the right results.
• be able to keep your own efforts focused on the goals that really matter and successfully manage, support and stretch yourself to deliver agreed outcomes by being proactive and taking ownership and accountability for decisions and commitments.
• have a keen eye for detail and a tenacious approach to your work and be willing to make decisions when they are needed even if they prove difficult or unpopular, having the emotional intelligence to deal with conflict in a prompt, calm and constructive manner to achieve a positive outcome.
• have strong analytical and problem-solving skills and be able to recognise patterns and trends and draw key conclusions in a wide range of evidence and data.
• have the ability to build and establish positive relationships with a range of stakeholders to support the delivery of business outcomes and possess good interpersonal skills and communication skills, written and verbal..

 Desirable criteria

• Investigation experience in a comparable environment.
• Experience of courtroom procedures and acting as a witness.
• Knowledge of Companies Act investigations.
• Relevant professional training and qualifications

Essential criteria

You must have the following: 

• Ability to respond quickly, flexibly and effectively to tight deadlines, managing and prioritising competing caseloads and tasks.
• Skills to analyse complex data sets to produce meaningful and compelling information.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal) with sound judgement and decision making.
• Attention to detail
• You will be committed to completing the Insolvency Service Investigator Programme within 2 years which will require regular travel and overnight stays to attend training events. The programme is assessed through work-based assessment. 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £35,190, Insolvency Service contributes £9,501 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, 500 word personal statement, and behaviours. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form. 

Your personal statement should be no more than 500 words and should explain how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria and our values within the person specification.  

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

We will test your behaviours 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, 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 19/08/24

Interviews – w/c 09/09/24.

Location - Location and method of interview to be confirmed to those who successfully pass the sift. 

Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of this if you are selected for interview. 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.