Investigations Case Officer, Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA)

The Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA) 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.

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 Enforcement Unit is a new team dedicated to enabling action against fraud in any government department or public body. We will assess and develop cases, undertake fraud investigations to the civil and criminal standards, and use Proceeds of Crime Act, Police & Criminal Evidence Act, and bespoke civil powers, to recover funds, impose civil penalties, and

Seek criminal justice outcomes for the worst offenders. The Unit is commencing operational activity, working with outsourced service providers to take civil action while we build the unit and gain powers through legislation.

The unit will grow quickly over the next two years and develop into an effective fraud investigation function. This is an exciting time to join and lead something entirely new in government, and make a real difference in the fight against fraud.

The Enforcement team will be holding a presentation on the role and how to complete an application using the Civil Service recruitment framework. This will be held on the 5th July from 12:00 to 13:00, if you would like to attend please put the following link in your browser at the given time: meet.google.com/tyh-jbzo-mue

We are seeking investigators to conduct a range of investigations into fraud against the Public Sector.

The successful candidates will develop and progress fraud and financial investigations to civil and criminal standards, for both subsequent POCA recovery or civil litigation and debt recovery, or other enforcement outcome, in accordance with legislative requirements. This will include acting as disclosure officer if required. They will liaise with outsourced contract partners and other government departments to provide investigative services. They will work with Financial Investigators to make effective use of POCA 2002 power and other avenues to recover public funds. They will be involved in cases deriving from intelligence, from referrals from other departments, and campaign approaches to tackling fraud on classes of cases deriving from large scale data.

The roles will suit an experienced investigator (or equivalent experience in a compliance/enforcement environment) who wants a new challenge in a new high-profile unit with the ambition to build for the future and make a difference in the fight against fraud.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct lawful investigations developing cases for criminal prosecution, civil litigation, ensuring all legal and operational requirements are met on the way to preparing cases for submission for civil action, or charge advice and/or judicial outcomes, or other compliance outcomes.
• Work with partner agencies in the co-ordination of multi-agency operations
• Working with outsourced partners and their team, sift and analyse large volumes of data, during and follow complex financial investigations, and seek and act upon opportunities to obtain evidential material.
• Work with Financial Investigators
• Act as a witness in both civil litigation and criminal prosecutions.
• Build effective external partnerships and collaborate with other government departments and public bodies, and wider UK law enforcement.
• The role will require some travel to PSFA locations, other offices and locations linked to investigations to conduct interviews and searches as required. This may include overnight stays.