L3/HEO Investigator - Criminal Investigation North (Manchester & Leeds)

The Insolvency Service; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 36,000; Full time

Job description

Manchester or Leeds

Job Summary

The Insolvency Service is a leading Government agency which plays a crucial role in providing essential services to the public and to business. The work we do is important to the proper functioning of markets, the economy in general and support for thousands of people each year who are in financial difficulty.

Inclusive and diverse teams are important to us. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups underrepresented in our workforce. The Insolvency Service strives to ensure that the agency is a safe, inclusive and welcoming place for everybody to bring their true self to work and to help the agency to achieve its diversity objectives. We have 10 active employee network groups available to join or become an ally, these include, Carers Network, Disability & Health, FACES Network Group, Grass Roots, LGBT+, Mind Matters, No Limits, Part Time Workers, The Shed, and Women’s Network Group.

We offer full-time, part-time, job share and flexible ways of working. We value capability, technical skills and experience and we place great emphasis on lifetime development to support our people. We encourage our employees to become more involved in areas they feel strongly about, whether it be for the benefit of the agency, though our Engagement network or in their own local communities via volunteering opportunities.

The Insolvency Service is a great place to work, learn and grow your career!

Job Description

The Investigation and Enforcement Services Directorate (IES) aims to deliver and promote a range of investigation and enforcement activities both civil and criminal in nature, to support fair and open markets and to promote high standards of corporate behaviour. IES plays a key role in enforcing the statutory company and insolvency regimes to maintain public confidence in those regimes and to tackle the harm caused to victims of fraudulent activity. IES does this primarily through:

• Investigations into companies and individuals abusing the corporate and insolvency regime.
• Disqualification of unfit directors.
• Winding-up companies trading contrary to the public interest.
• Investigation and prosecution of criminal offences.
• Building awareness of enforcement action taken.
• Working in partnership with other enforcement agencies across Government.

The Criminal Investigation Team is responsible for conducting criminal investigations into insolvency and corporate related criminal offences which support the Agency’s objective to tackle financial wrongdoing. The team works closely with civil investigation teams, our Legal Services Directorate internally, and other Law Enforcement partner organisations to ensure that we fulfil our role in delivering Governmental strategies. We strive to target offences under the Companies House Reform Legislation along with others including misuse of government backed Covid recovery funds.

We are recruiting criminal investigators for the Criminal Investigation Team North who will play a key role in the team, carrying out criminal investigations mainly under the Insolvency Act 1986, Companies Act 2006, Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986, Fraud Act 2006, Theft Act 1968 and Economic Crime and Transparency Act 2023. Reporting to the Investigation Manager and the Chief Investigator.

The role will be based in Manchester or Leeds. Regular attendance will be required in the selected office in accordance with the hybrid working model of 60% office attendance. Regular travel to obtain witness statements and to interview suspects will be required in addition to meetings with stakeholders and other regulators. Occasional overnight stays may be required. The jobholder will be required to be flexible regarding the length and timing of the working day to meet the demands of the business. Occasional evening/weekend work may be necessary – to be worked in compliance with the European Working Time Directive.

Responsibilities:

• Investigate a range of criminal offences including complex fraud, bankruptcy, insolvency and Covid related offences. Obtain detailed statements of witnesses in accordance with the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 1967, Magistrates Court Act 1980 and the Criminal Justice Act of 1988 and 2003.
• Interview persons suspected of offences under the provisions of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE).
• Prepare case files with detailed evidence-based reports on the findings of investigations in accordance with the management of disclosure material under the Criminal Procedures and Investigations Act 1996 (CPIA). These will be to a high standard suitable for testing in Criminal Courts, often to tight timescales.
• Work closely with line management to effectively manage your caseload, reviewing the progress of cases, maintaining quality and meeting legislative demands. Ensure quality in the preparation of cases, leading to criminal proceedings or disclosure to other regulators.
• Work closely with the Agency’s prosecution and advisory lawyers and counsel, take the lead and drive follow up action arising from criminal cases. Contribute to discussion with lawyers and counsel, being a witness in appropriate cases and attending court as a witness/disclosure officer. Work closely with other investigation/prosecution/enforcement disciplinary agencies and stakeholders to ensure enforcement action is progressed appropriately and promptly, ensuring value for money.
• To contribute to the performance of the team and the achievement of the team targets as well as embedding continuous improvement activity, as well as maintaining investigation standards.

Person specification

Essential Skills

• A proven, extensive, and demonstrable criminal/fraud investigation background, which ideally should have been gained within a Government Department Agency, Police Service, or similar organisation - within the last 2 years.
• A team player with excellent communication skills, used to working in partnership with fellow law enforcement professionals and colleagues.
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Membership of the Government Counter Fraud Programme, or willingness to join.
• A demonstrable knowledge of the rules of criminal evidence including CPIA, PACE, Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RPIA) is essential, together with a working knowledge of Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA).
• Ability to plan operations and initiatives, ability to prioritise cases against competing procedures and deadlines.
• A calm, authoritative and adaptable approach. Keen problem-solving skills, flexibility and drive.
• Knowledge of legislation affecting bankruptcy and companies.
• A full UK driving licence is essential and own vehicle is desirable.

Desirable Skills

• Professionalising Investigations Programme (PIP) level 2 accredited investigator.

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions.
• Communicating and Influencing.
• Delivering at Pace.

Technical skills

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

• Technical Assessment: Professional Competency and knowledge of CPIA legislation.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £35,500, Insolvency Service contributes £10,284 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. We Want You To Have a Good Work-life Balance And Want To Support You In All That You Do, So We Offer a Great Benefits Package Including:

• flexible working arrangements and flexi-time.
• full time new entrants to the Civil Service and those Civil Servants on modernised terms and conditions will be entitled to 25 days leave increasing on a sliding scale to 30 days after 5 years’ service.
• in addition to this you are entitled to 8 public/bank holidays plus an additional day of privilege leave.
• competitive maternity, paternity and parental leave.
• 5 days paid leave for learning and development.
• 5 days paid for volunteering.
• a Cycle to work scheme.
• staff have access to an employee assistance programme, Workplace Wellness, for confidential, independent support and advice during difficult times in either their professional or personal life.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills. As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV, technical skills and behaviours. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour, Making Effective Decisions. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to interview.

We will test your behaviours, technical skills and experience as part of the application process, and if successful, you will be invited to a short interview where we will continue to test your behaviours and technical skills. Full details of the selection process will be made available to shortlisted candidates once the sift has been completed.

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Sift – w/c 12 May 2025

Interview – w/c 26 May 2025

Location - The Insolvency Service, 3 Piccadilly Place, London Road, Manchester, M1 3BN

Your interview will be conducted face to face. You will be notified of this if you are selected for interview. Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.

Use of AI

Candidates must ensure that their applications, including personal statements and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.