About the job

Job summary

The Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA) is a fast paced delivery and operational team that 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. 

We are a fast paced delivery and operational team.

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 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, 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.  The PSFA is a team of c.120 staff members with locations across the country – including Newcastle, York, Glasgow and London. As a result, hybrid working is embraced and teams are encouraged to collaborate in the various Cabinet Office Hubs around the country.

The team offers opportunities for fraud experts, risk and assurance experts, measurement experts, data analysts and policy professionals. The range of opportunities allows for constant professional development and means that collaboration is always at the heart of what we do. 

Job description

Performance, Assurance and Evidence team

The purpose of the Performance, Assurance and Evidence (PAE) Team is to oversee the performance of ministerial departments and public bodies in understanding and reducing the impact on fraud. The team does this by working with other government departments and public bodies to monitor performance, maintain the evidence base for counter fraud and undertake assurance and review activities. These include Functional Standards Assurance, quality reviews of counter fraud activity and targeted reviews on areas of fraud management.

Job description:

The G7 role is key to the delivery of the Performance, Assurance and Evidence team’s key aims and activities.  Leading on a number of counter fraud products, supplemented by short term projects, this is a high paced, externally facing role, working with other government departments and public bodies to increase the activity tackling fraud, enabling the PSFA to provide high quality reporting and updates on performance and providing assurance to Ministers and the Permanent Secretary that counter fraud is being prioritised.   You will work within an enthusiastic, friendly and diverse team with a variety of backgrounds including data management, assurance, performance and counter fraud expertise.

Responsibilities:

• 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 to enhance the response to tackling fraud.
• Assess compliance with the counter-fraud functional standards in line with the continuous improvement assessment framework.
• Deliver against the Performance, Assurance and Evidence commitments in the PSFA mandate, encouraging others to comply, providing high quality accurate reporting on outcomes.
• Lead on short-term projects to improve counter fraud performance measurement, 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.
• Line manage staff ensuring they are able to deliver with a strong focus on development of self and staff.
• Contribute to the wider PSFA and/or Cabinet Office as part of a corporate object.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Communicate with a variety of stakeholders on counter fraud in a clear, honest and enthusiastic way in order to build trust. Be able to explain complex issues relating to fraud and performance in a way that is easy to understand, persuading others to meet deadlines and targets.
• The ability to identify and propose changes which add value and clearly articulate how changes will benefit the business in counter fraud, performance, risk management and/or assurance. 
• Have an understanding or experience in increasing the role of technology in data collection and analysis, identifying business needs and improving processes for partners. 
• Be able to show leadership and focus on delivery, motivating staff and others to comply with standards and processes, maintaining your own levels of performance, dealing with ambiguity by maintaining resilience. 
• Be able to actively build and maintain credibility across a network of colleagues and contacts across the counter fraud network, building strong interpersonal relationships and listening to colleagues.
• Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to explain complex issues relating to counter fraud and data to different audiences to demonstrate performance in the counter fraud space.

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience in counter fraud or economic crime.
• Strong organisational/project management skills.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £53,400, Cabinet Office contributes £14,418 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

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and influencing

You will be required to complete a 1000-word Statement of Suitability describing how you are a perfect fit for the role based on the Person Specification section and a CV.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the lead Behaviour, Communicating and Influencing. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Selection process

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and influencing
• Changing and improving
• Working together
• Leadership

You will also be required to complete a presentation at the interview and answer some strength questions.

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date – TBD
Expected interview date/s – TBD
Interview location - Video - google meets

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 cabinetofficerecritment.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

You may be required to travel to our other office locations on occasions. 

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 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.

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.

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.