Counter Fraud Officer

The National Lottery Community Fund; Cardiff; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A public sector agency in Cardiff is seeking a Counter Fraud Officer to manage fraud investigations and protect funding integrity. This role involves collaborating with internal and external teams to advise on fraud-related issues, deliver workshops, and ensure effective processes. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in customer service and investigative skills. The position offers a hybrid work model, opportunities for professional development, and a chance to make a significant impact in the community.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Supportive team environment

Contribution to impactful projects

Qualifications

• Experience in conducting investigations in a fraud or compliance context.
• Skilled in producing clear reports for non-technical audiences.
• Understanding of fraud risks and the needs of a funder.

Responsibilities

• Conduct fraud investigations to protect the Fund's integrity.
• Advise teams on fraud, bribery, and corruption risks.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders.

Skills

Investigative research

Customer service

Problem-solving

Team collaboration

Decision-making

Education

Accredited counter-fraud or investigation qualification

Job description

We are recruiting three Counter Fraud Officers, one permanent and two fixed term for 12 months. This is an exciting opportunity to join the National Lottery Community Fund's Finance and Resources Directorate at a key moment in the refresh of our counter fraud function. As a Counter Fraud Officer, you'll be at the heart of protecting the Fund's integrity and ensuring that funding reaches the communities that need it most. You'll conduct fraud investigations, respond efficiently to queries from internal and external customers, and help shape the future of our approach to fraud prevention and detection.

Your Responsibilities

• Delivering internal and external investigation services for the Fund.
• Advising teams across the organisation on fraud, bribery, and corruption risks.
• Working closely with internal teams such as funding, people team and legal.
• Collaborating with external organisations such as the police, charity commission, and other funders and agencies.
• Delivering fraud awareness workshops and creating engaging, easy to understand case studies that help bring our investigations to life.

What does a typical day look like?

• Morning: You're assessing a potential fraud referral, reviewing the case details, and using your expertise to decide the best course of action to safeguard public money.
• Midday: You're responding to some new queries from funding officers and members of the public, providing clear, accurate advice to help resolve issues quickly.
• Afternoon: You're attending a meeting with colleagues from funding and compliance teams, sharing insights from a recent investigation you led on and contributing to a conversation about how we can strengthen fraud prevention and detection efforts.
• End of day: You're making sure all your cases are up to date and accurate, while planning your next steps for ongoing investigations.

Every day is different. One moment you're deep into an investigation, the next you're advising on fraud risks for a new initiative or helping shape improvements to our processes. We have a hybrid approach to working. Work pattern and location will be agreed with the successful candidate. The role can be based at any of our UK offices: Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Exeter, Glasgow, Leeds, London, Manchester, Newcastle, and Newtown. The role will include intermittent travel across the UK for team meetings and events (usually this means travelling 4 times a year and staying overnight to attend face to face team meetings).

Experience and Skills

• Experience: You have conducted investigations before and have a strong background in delivering great customer service.
• Curiosity: You want to learn more about fraud risks. You ask questions and have an aptitude for investigative research, you love solving problems!
• Initiative: You are comfortable working alone and enjoy being trusted to complete your work independently, at pace with accuracy and to deadlines.
• Confidence: You have confidence in your decision‑making and are comfortable challenging existing processes, giving and receiving critical friend feedback to aid improvement.
• Flexibility: You are a supportive and a strong team player. Our work is challenging and changes day to day so we need someone that can adapt easily to change and embrace it.
• Enthusiasm: You bring energy and positivity to the team.
• Experience of conducting fraud, compliance, or financial investigations (e.g. in public sector, charity, grant‑making, or law enforcement environment).
• Skilled in producing clear, structured reports and presenting findings to non‑technical audiences.
• Experience of collating and analysing data from multiple sources.
• Understanding of and curiosity about our work as a funder.
• Understanding and experience of delivering great customer service.

Why join us?

• You'll be part of a motivated, supportive team that values wellbeing, recognition, quality of work, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• You'll help protect millions of pounds of funding for good causes across the UK.
• You'll have opportunities for professional development and the chance to make a real impact.

Desirable

• Strong knowledge of fraud typologies, investigative techniques, and relevant legislation (e.g. Fraud Act 2006, Proceeds of Crime Act, Data Protection).
• Accredited counter‑fraud or investigation qualification (e.g. ACFS, CIPFA, CIFAS or equivalent).
• Familiarity with investigation standards such as CPIA, PACE.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Communities in the UK come in all shapes and sizes. National Lottery funding is for everyone - therefore, we are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and we work hard to ensure our funding reaches where it is needed. We also believe our people should represent the communities, organisations and individuals we work with. That's why The National Lottery Community Fund is committed to being an inclusive employer and a great place to work. We recognise and celebrate the fact that our people come from diverse backgrounds. We positively welcome applications from people from ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities or longstanding health conditions, people who are LGBTQ+, and people from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds, as well as people of all ages. As a Disability Confident Employer, we take a proactive approach in making reasonable adjustments, if needed, throughout the recruitment process and during employment. (This can be related to a physical and mental health condition.)