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GOV.UKSenior Financial Investigator
Food Standards Agency
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 2nd April 2023
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About the job
Job summary
The FSA is a non-ministerial department of over 1400 people. Having left the EU, we play a critical role in protecting public health and consumers’ wider interests in food across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Our vision is an important one - to drive change, delivering “food you can trust” and working towards a healthier and more sustainable food system.
The National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) plays a distinct and important role within the Food Standards Agency (FSA), acting as a dedicated law enforcement unit that investigates food crimes in the UK. The forms these crimes can take varies greatly - culprits may be placed anywhere within the food system, putting the nation’s food at risk.
One vital area of the NFCU’s work is in the field of financial investigations. The unit has powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 which allows the FSA to confiscate assets made through illegal means. This action can play a powerful role in the Agency’s work, hampering the abilities of criminals and allowing the FSA to more effectively combat food crime.
Job description
This exciting position as a Senior Financial Investigator for the NFCU will put you at the heart of these investigations. Working with colleagues in the Agency to create a hostile environment for food criminals in the UK, you will seek to disrupt their activities and afford the NFCU every opportunity to permanently end their operations.
Conducting financial investigations thoroughly, professionally, and expeditiously in accordance with legislative requirements, you will play a vital role within the team, acting as a trusted source of advice and information on financial investigation matters to the NFCU, FSA and wider stakeholder and partner agencies.
The role is varied, and you will undertake a variety of duties, from contributing to effective risk management, liaising with the Case Team and Crown Prosecution Service, and supporting the Head of Investigations and Financial Investigation in maintaining working relationships with other law enforcement agencies across the UK.
You should have a positive and forward-thinking attitude. A willingness to learn will be key, as will an innovative mindset that will allow them to make effective new approaches to problems. If you are a fast and diligent worker who is passionate about protecting the nation’s food and can make effective decisions that will create a positive impact to this effect, apply today for this exciting opportunity.
As this is an investigatory / intelligence role we need to be aware if any of our employees have any of the following: any misconduct or gross misconduct findings or where proceedings are not complete. You will be asked to complete a declaration form covering the above if offered a role with the FSA.
You must declare to the best of your knowledge:
- Any disciplinary finding of guilt / failure to meet the appropriate standard of conduct relating to your employment you have ever had
- Any charge of a disciplinary offence / notification of a failure to meet the appropriate standards you have ever had where the case has not yet been concluded
The disclosure of this information will not automatically disbar you from this role but we need to be aware of any event or issue which could impinge on your credibility if questioned in court.
Person specification
Please read the attached Candidate Pack to discover further details about the role, our organisation, who we are looking for and the criteria we will assess against during the selection process.
We look forward to receiving your application and wish you every success.
Licences
Qualifications
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Changing and Improving
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
Benefits
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Full details of the selection process are detailed in the attached candidate pack. This will consist of an application shortlisting against the essential person specification criteria stated.
Lead Criteria
An initial sift may take place on just the identified Lead Criteria indicated below:
- Recent experience (within the last 3 years) of acting as an Accredited Financial Investigator pursuant to the s378 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2022 in criminal or civil proceedings including experience or knowledge of cash seizure, asset recovery, confiscation or revenue function within law enforcement, civil service or Local Authority environment
In the event that we receive a large number of applications, the minimum pass mark for the Lead Criteria may be raised at shortlisting stage. Candidates who apply under the DCS, GPTW or RIS schemes and meet the minimum requirements will be unaffected by the pass mark raise.
If successful at shortlisting stage, you will be invited to a final interview in which we will assess you against the following Experience requirements of the role and Civil Service Behaviours (Level 3).
Behaviours
- Changing and Improving
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
Technical:
- Accredited Financial Investigator pursuant to s378 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 with Part 2 and Part 8 powers; or have held accreditation of those powers within the last 3 years and are able to renew them with the Proceeds of Crime Centre.
- Full Driving Licence (Manual or Automatic) for category B vehicles
Experience:
- Recent experience (within the last 3 years) of drafting and presenting accurate and compliant applications to His Majesty’s Courts in furtherance of financial investigations;
- Recent experience (within the last 3 years) of operating in a law enforcement context and making frequent practical use of key legislation namely, the Proceeds of Crime Act 2022, Criminal finances Act 2017, Fraud Act 2006, Police and Criminal Procedures Investigations Act 1996 together with associated Codes of Practice;
- Experience of risk management and decision making in criminal investigations and intelligence development investigations.
- Ability to analyse and interpret complex information with clarity and sensitivity, for both internal and external stakeholders.
Timeline
Advert closes: 02/04/23
Sift: Expected to take place 03/04/23
Final panel interview: Expected to take place 17/04/23
Interviews will be held remotely via MS Teams.
Please note that indicated dates may be subject to change.
Security Clearance
Appointment will be subject to the candidate having, or being able to achieve, National Security Vetting at Security Check level. For full details on the requirement and processes for National Security Vetting, copy and paste this URL into your browser or click on the link in the candidate pack: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/security-vetting-and-clearance
Please note that candidates need to be resident in the UK for a minimum of 5 years to be eligible to apply for SC Clearance.
The FSA is dedicated to a policy of equal opportunity for all.
Being truly reflective of our society and building a culture where everyone can perform at their best is critical to the work of the FSA. We are looking to recruit from the widest possible talent pool and encourage candidates to apply from a diverse range of backgrounds. We are proud to be an inclusive, equal opportunities employer and are committed to ensuring that all candidates are treated fairly throughout the recruitment and selection process and beyond. All appointments are made on merit.
Please be assured that diversity or socio–economic information requested during the course of your application plays absolutely no part in our selection processes and is not seen by anyone assessing applications. Any information provided is anonymised and used for statistical purposes only.
We actively review the deployment of talent on a periodic basis in the interests of optimising personal development and the achievement of business plans.
Childcare Vouchers
Any move to the Food Standards Agency 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
Reserve List
A reserve list will be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointment may be made.
Candidates that do not pass the interview, but have demonstrated an acceptable standard may be considered for similar roles at a lower grade.
Visa Sponsorship
Please note that the FSA does not hold a licence to sponsor any visa applications.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
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).
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Martin Smalley
- Email : martin.smalley@food.gov.uk
Recruitment team :
- Email : hr.recruitment.campaigns@food.gov.uk
Further information
