About the job

Job summary

This is an opportunity to take a lead role in driving strategic change in two of the UK’s key national capabilities for tackling serious economic crime and supporting financial investigations.  The role includes a broad management responsibility and provides the opportunity to make a significant personal contribution to delivering a change programme in partnership with multiple partners across the private sector, HMG and law enforcement.

Job description

UK Financial Intelligence Unit (UKFIU)
The UKFIU is responsible for the receipt, analysis and dissemination of 900,000 Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) each year. The SARs Reform Programme is delivering significant improvements to the regime, including: the expansion and restructuring of UKFIU; the replacement and transformation of the SARs IT systems; and related business change. This reform will improve both the quality of SARs and the exploitation of this intelligence to deliver a more effective response to money laundering and terrorist finance.

The G1 Strategy, Systems & Engagement will lead the ongoing work to expand and restructure the UKFIU, and will work closely with the SARs IT teams to deliver the SARs IT Project. They will lead a team of business experts working alongside the technical development teams to ensure that the new IT build meets business needs for NCA and wider SARs stakeholders, and delivers agreed benefits.

In addition the G1 will lead the UKFIU Communications & Engagement, Systems & Analysis, and Co-ordination and Risk Teams. These teams are responsible for oversight of the existing SARs IT systems (including information management), production of strategic and tactical intelligence products, delivery of a wide range of communications products to SARs Regime stakeholders across the public and private sector, engagement with HMG on SARs regime legislation, policy and guidance, and co-ordination of risk and assurance processes within UKFIU. This role will also have oversight of the UKFIU Financial Intelligence Unit (UKFIU) and Proceeds of Crime Centre (PoCC).

Further information about working with the UKFIU can be found here: https://nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/what-we-do/crime-threats/money-laundering-and-illicit-finance/ukfiu

Proceeds of Crime Centre (POCC)
The Proceeds of Crime Centre oversees the training, accreditation and professional development of over 4,000 financial investigators and financial intelligence officers. In addition to the regular operation of the POCC the G1 will lead the POCC Reform Programme in partnership with Home Office and law enforcement stakeholders, implementing a series of recommendations designed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of POCC training and accreditation.

***To be considered, you will need to successfully complete DV clearance before commencing the role. Please note that the successful candidate will have to obtain DV STRAP clearance within 12 months of being in post***

Person specification

Main Responsibilities:

• Senior Business User for SARs IT Transformation. Define goals for development of the SARs IT Transformation project. Liaise with key SARs Regime stakeholders to ensure goals are clear and aligned to stakeholder requirements.
• UKFIU Expansion Project transition into BAU. Ensure benefits delivery from uplift of 80 officers for UKFIU and implementation of new operating model. Represent UKFIU at internal governance meetings.
• Act as the primary liaison point between UKFIU operational teams and SARs Reform technical and project teams.
• Lead UKFIU Communications & Engagement, Systems and Analysis, and Co-ordination and Risk Teams.
• Lead the People Services aspects of UKFIU and PoCC work, in particular on Recruitment, People Engagement and associated matters.
• Lead Proceeds of Crime Centre delivery of training and accreditation to 4,500 financial investigators / intelligence officers nationwide.
• Manage risks and issues. Make effective decisions to mitigate project and operational risks.

Desirable Criteria:

• Previous or current DG designation to handle/make decisions on SARs. (Candidates without current designation will be required to complete training and assessment in order to obtain designation.)

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £75,092, National Crime Agency contributes £20,274 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.

 If you wish to apply for this vacancy, you must submit your application by 23:55 on Sunday 24th March 2024.

Sift Process 

You will be asked to complete a CV as part of the application process Your CV should set out your career history including training and qualifications, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure that each entry of your career history also has a few sentences outlining a description and the key elements of that role, and that you provide reasons for any gaps within the last two years. Please ensure the dates of any accreditations you are relying on are entered onto the CV. Experience criteria can also be assessed from CV.

• CV – Your CV will not be scored and will be used for information purposes only. 
• 4 x Technical/Experience criteria - 250 words per criteria.

For further application guidance please visit https://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/careers/applying-and-onboarding

Once submitted your application will be acknowledged by the Government Recruitment Service.

 Please note depending on the volume of applications a Longlist at sift may be conducted on following criteria:

•  Experience of managing intelligence processes and large complex / sensitive data sets to support and deliver operational outcomes – including risk management and assurance.

Candidates must pass this criteria for their application to be progressed.

A panel will then assess your application to select those demonstrating the best fit for the role by considering the evidence you have provided against the criteria set out in the application. 

Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application.

Sift results are expected to be released w/c Monday 15th April 2024.

Interview Details 

You will then be asked to attend an interview in order to have a more in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence. 

At the Interview the candidates will be assessed on behaviours and technical & experience skills.  

A presentation will be required at Interview on the following criteria: In-depth knowledge of the economic crime landscape with experience of financial investigations /intelligence including understanding of the SARs regime.

The details of which will be provided to those successful at shortlisting.

Interviews will take place throughout April 2024 and May 2024 - locations to be confirmed. Please be advised that the type of interview (eg. virtual/face-to-face) may be subject to change and successful candidates will be notified of this prior to attending. However the interview is conducted, the interview criteria will remain as detailed within this advert.

The above sift and interview dates are an indicative timeline.

Should you be successful at sift but cannot attend on the interview date(s) listed the recruitment team cannot guarantee an alternative date. Please contact the recruitment team.

Full details of the assessment process will be made available to shortlisted candidates.

Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. Any instances of plagiarism including copying of examples/answers from internet sources will result in a withdrawal of your application. Further action, including disciplinary action, may be considered in such cases involving internal candidates. Providing false or misleading information would be contrary to the core values of honesty and integrity expected of all Civil Servants.

Interview Outcome 

Candidates will be alerted of the outcome of their interview via their CS Jobs Portal.  We will be retaining a candidate pool of successful applicants to draw from as vacancies arise for up to 12 months.

If your application is successful and we are unable to offer you a post immediately, you will be invited to join our reserve list. If over the next 12 months we are able to offer you a position, we will contact you as soon as possible. 

Once we make you an offer you will then go through our vetting and pre-employment checks processes.

 All Appointments will be made in location merit order. 

Multi-Location

Where more than one location is advertised, candidates will be appointed in merit order for each location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.

Please be aware that you can be posted to any location that you put in your preferences. If you would only like to be posted to one location, please confirm one location only. If you are posted to a location that you have requested and you do not accept that location, you may not be offered another role.

Please note, only advertised location can be offered. Notes populated in a free text box will not be taken into consideration.

Hybrid Working

Here at the NCA we have a hybrid working arrangement in place enabling officers to work a proportion of their role remotely. Eligibility and the degree of home working will vary depending on the requirements of the role. Further details can be discussed at offer stage.

Reasonable Adjustment

We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to all. As part of our application process you will be prompted to provide details of any reasonable adjustment to our recruitment process that you may need. If you have a disability or long-term condition (a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long term effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities, 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 ncarecruitment.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.

Inclusion and Accessibility

We are proud to be an inclusive, equal opportunities employer. As a Disability Confident Leader we are committed to ensuring that all candidates are treated fairly throughout the recruitment process. For details of the available group please visit https://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/careers/benefits-and-support

In order to monitor the effectiveness of the National Crime Agency’s Diversity & Inclusion strategy, the NCA require certain personal details about you on submission of your application. Please note that this will be treated in confidence and will not impact your application. You will be asked to complete an E-consent survey asking for permission to share this data with the NCA to be used for statistical/monitoring purposes only, refusal of consent to share the information will not impact your application.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact ncarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Additional Information 

• The NCA is a 24/7 organisation, and working patterns must support business requirements. Some roles may require you to respond at short notice or outside of core hours.
• Individuals will be required to undertake and pass a substance misuse test as part of pre-employment checks.
• Successful candidates may be required to undertake a medical. If required, the medical will take place in either London or Warrington. Unfortunately, travel costs will not be reimbursed.
• If you are an internal candidate who has passed interview but is undergoing an internal investigation or have a written warning in place preventing a post move you may not be able to be posted until this investigation is concluded or restriction lifted. You will remain on the reserve list for a max of 12 months.

VETTING REQUIREMENTS SC

All security clearances require you to provide evidence of your UK footprint where you have been physically present in the UK.

The requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years.

Failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected.

If you require SC clearance you will need to provide evidence of the below requirements.

Checks will be made against:

• Departmental or company records (personnel files, staff reports, sick leave reports and security records)
• UK criminal records covering both spent and unspent criminal records.
• Your credit and financial history with a credit reference agency
• Security Services records

VETTING REQUIREMENTS - DV 

All security clearances require you to provide evidence of your UK footprint where you have been physically present in the UK.

The requirement for DV is to have been present in the UK for at least 7 of the last 10 years.

Failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected.

If you require DV clearance you will need to provide evidence of the below requirements.

Checks will be made against:

• successful completion of the BPSS
• UK criminal record and identity checks
• credit reference checks
• relevant personnel and medical checks (if required)

Further information about working with NCA can be found here: https://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/careers?view=article&id=3067&catid=10

We encourage all candidates to visit the NCA careers page for further information please visit https://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/careers

If you have any specific queries about the role that are not covered by the candidate pack, please contact:

ncarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (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

Open to UK nationals only.

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.