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. 

Our Structure

The Investigation and Enforcement Services Directorate (IES) aims to deliver and promote a range of investigation and enforcement activities both civil and criminal in nature, to support fair and open markets and to promote high standards of corporate behaviour. IES plays a key role in enforcing the statutory company and insolvency regimes to maintain public confidence in those regimes and to tackle the harm caused to victims of fraudulent activity.

Job description

The Opportunity

We are looking for dynamic and motivated people to join our Insolvent Investigation team in the North as trainee Level 3/HEO investigators to be based in either Edinburgh, Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle upon Tyne.

In Insolvent Investigation North, we carry out civil investigations into the conduct of directors of companies in voluntary & compulsory liquidation or administration, or dissolved companies, to establish whether disqualification proceedings are in the public interest.

In appropriate cases, we:

• Prepare expedited minutes, draft affirmations/affidavits or reports for director disqualification proceedings,
• Act as deponent, representing the Secretary of State at trial in consultation with Legal Services Directorate, solicitor agents and counsel,
• Publicise outcomes by issuing press releases, giving interviews and other media related work,
• Seek Compensation Orders against directors.
• We refer possible criminal offences to the Insolvency Service’s Criminal Investigation Teams or the appropriate prosecuting authority, providing witness statements and appearing as witnesses in criminal proceedings.

Our work also includes engagement with insolvency practitioners and other stakeholder groups through outreach activity as well as contributing to Insolvency Service policy.

Responsibilities

The successful candidate for an investigator role can expect to be involved in a range of the following:

• Communicating effectively with a wide range of stakeholders; including accountants, directors & creditors, to establish key information
• Using a range of intelligence tools to locate & contact directors
• Conducting probing interviews with directors, who may not wish to engage, challenging assertions where necessary, and obtaining written statements
• Analysing, interpreting and reviewing a range of information, including accounting records, bank statements and tax documents to draw conclusions
• Dealing with conflict and diffusing difficult situations
• Identifying potential misconduct or criminal offences
• Making timely, clear, reasoned and robust recommendations to managers both in person and in writing either to conclude a case, continue an investigation or refer for civil or criminal proceedings
• Drafting reports and affidavits setting out evidence of suspected wrongdoing, preparing court bundles for issue and use at hearings, attending and contributing to conferences with Solicitors and Barristers
• Preparing applications to court, and associated papers for hearings
• Attending court when required, in a supporting role and/or to act as a witness in both civil and criminal proceedings if required
• Maintain accurate and timely records via a case management system
• Keeping up to date with changes in legislation and internal processes and procedures in a rapidly changing environment

Person specification

The ideal candidate will have the following attributes:

• Have an inquisitive mind
• Be a confident communicator
• Be willing to challenge and be accepting of challenge
• Be focused
• Be accountable for one’s own actions

Applicants should demonstrate the following skills:

• An eye for detail
• Decisiveness, even if the decision is difficult or unpopular
• Calmness when faced with a pressure situation
• The ability to analyse information and solve problems
• Good drafting ability when it comes to letter writing and preparing reports
• Strong communication skills and the ability to build relationships with a range of people
• Confidence when presenting yourself and representing your employer
• A high level of self motivation so that you can work independently and progress a case load

Essential

You will need to be committed to completing the Insolvency Service Investigator Programme within 2 years. This will require regular travel and overnight stays to attend training events.

There is a minimum of 21.5 hours/week requirement and, once in post, successful candidates will be required to complete the training programme successfully as part of their terms and conditions of employment. 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £31,620, Insolvency Service contributes £8,537 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, Ability, Experience and Technical skills.

Application Process 

There are four stages to the initial application process for this role. 

1) First Stage of Application (personal details) 

2) Complete Civil Service Verbal and Numerical tests 

3) 500 word Personal Statement/Full Application Form 

4) After submission of the full application form, and after the vacancy closes on Civil Service Jobs, applicants will be sent an offline skills test that will be the lead sifting criteria. Failure to return by the specified date will result in the application being sifted out.

Online Test Guidance 

After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Numerical Test and a Civil Service Verbal Test.  If you successfully pass the tests, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application. 

Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the test is 23.55 30 April 2024. If you fail to complete the online test and full written application before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.

As part of the application process, if successful at the online test stage, you will be asked to complete a 500-word personal statement and full 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 in the person specification

The campaign closes at 23.55 on 30 April 2024.

Sift

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

We will test your ability, experience and technical skills as part of the sift process, and if successful, you will be invited to a short interview where we will test your behaviours and strengths. Full details of the selection process will be made available to shortlisted candidates once the sift has been completed. 

Offline Skills Test Guidance

The technical skills test will be issued to all candidates who successfully submit their application. The test scenario will be sent to you via email. Applicants will then have 3 working days to complete their submission and return the answer paper to the recruiting department. Any applicant who does not submit their test paper will be removed from the selection process. It is important to note that the test must not contain any identifying information and should be labelled with your candidate ID, any application that contains identifying information will be removed from the sifting process. Full details and instructions will be sent to applicants alongside the test paper.

Expected Timeline (subject to change) 

• Sift – W/C 06/05/24
• Interview – W/C 13/05/24
• Location -  To be Confirmed

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. 

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.

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.