Proceeds of Crime Team Manager

Financial Conduct Authority; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 72,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A financial regulatory agency in the UK is seeking a Proceeds of Crime Team Manager to lead investigations under the Proceeds of Crime Act. The individual will manage a team of Financial Investigators, oversee case progression, and engage with various stakeholders. Candidates should have significant experience with the POCA and proven leadership skills. The role offers a competitive salary and opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

Non-contributory pension of at least 8%

Life assurance of eight times your basic salary

28 days holiday plus bank holidays

Hybrid working options

Private healthcare with Bupa

Qualifications

• Significant experience in POCA investigations and litigation.
• Leadership experience in managing a financial investigation team.
• Ability to work collaboratively and inclusively in a team.

Responsibilities

• Oversee operational management of POCA cases.
• Lead a team of Financial Investigators and Intelligence Officers.
• Engage with internal and external stakeholders.
• Support departmental leadership and contribute to strategy.

Skills

Significant experience applying the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA)

Proven leadership and people management

Experienced project manager

Strong communication skills

Excellent relationship management skills

Education

Accredited Financial Investigator Confiscator

Job description

Proceeds of Crime Team Manager

Division: Enforcement and Market Oversight

Department: Wholesale and Unauthorised Business Investigations

Team: Proceeds of Crime

Salary: -

Regulatory: National (Edinburgh and Leeds) ranging from £72,100 to £90,000 and London £79,300 to £105,000 per annum (Salary offered will be based on skills and experience)

Practicing Legal: National (Edinburgh and Leeds) ranging from £79,400 to £99,100 and London £87,300 to £109,000 per annum (Salary offered will be based on skills and experience)

About the FCA

The FCA regulates the conduct of 45,000 firms in the UK to ensure our financial markets are honest, fair and competitive. The FCA’s Proceeds of Crime teams (POC) are responsible for specialist investigation and litigation work under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA). The POC function is the FCA’s centre of excellence for this work and is involved in all related activities across the organisation. POC team also advises on and ensures that best and consistent practice is maintained in all investigations involving a POC element across EMO. As one of two POC Team Managers in EMO, you will lead a specialist team focused on confiscation investigations, asset recovery and enforcement work under POCA.

What will you be doing?

As Team Manager, you will oversee the operational management of a portfolio of POCA cases and lead a team of approximately 12 Accredited Financial Investigators (AFIs) and Financial Intelligence Officers (FIOs). You will be responsible for:

• Managing a portfolio of cases under POCA, including confiscation investigations, asset recovery and related enforcement actions, ensuring timely and effective progression
• Leading and developing a team of around 12 Accredited Financial Investigators and Financial Intelligence Officers, with responsibility for performance, training, accreditation and professional growth
• Overseeing legal processes, including the drafting and approval of court applications (e.g. restraint orders, search warrants), attending court and taking urgent action where required
• Providing expert advice on proceeds of crime matters across EMO and the wider FCA, ensuring consistency in operational practice and compliance with national standards
• Engaging with internal and external stakeholders, including law enforcement agencies, legal representatives, government departments and senior FCA colleagues
• Supporting departmental leadership, contributing to strategy, recruitment and continuous improvement as part of the senior management team
• Representing the FCA in national and international policy discussions related to proceeds of crime and financial investigation

What you will get from the role?

• A leadership role in a strategically important function delivering high-impact, statutory work
• The opportunity to shape and influence FCA policy and investigative strategy relating to proceeds of crime
• Experience working on complex, high-profile investigations alongside stakeholders from across the FCA and beyond
• A supportive, high-energy working environment where innovation and development are encouraged
• A key role in supporting and developing talented investigators and specialists across the team

Which skills are required?

We are a Disability Confident Employer; therefore, disabled people or individuals with long-term conditions who best meet the minimum criteria for a role will go through to the next stage of the recruitment process. (To learn more about the Disability Confident Scheme)

Minimum

• Significant experience applying the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) in England & Wales, including providing operational direction in investigations and litigation
• Proven leadership and people management experience, including coaching, performance oversight and team development
• Accredited Financial Investigator Confiscator, or willingness and ability to achieve accreditation and act as a Senior Appropriate Officer under the national scheme

Essential

• Experienced project manager with strong portfolio management skills, including planning, quality control, budgeting and forecasting costs and/or time associated with a project
• Ability to perform under pressure, managing competing priorities whilst delivering multiple outcomes to deadlines
• Strong communication skills and the ability to present well-reasoned arguments in a clear and concise manner
• Ability to exercise own judgements and defend those judgements where necessary and appropriate
• Excellent relationship management skills and the ability to command respect and credibility internally and externally
• Ability to contribute to the strategy of the departmental management team and wider Division and continuously seek out new and more effective ways to conduct your work and feeding this back to management
• Ability to work collaboratively and inclusively as part of a team, valuing different perspectives and backgrounds
• Continuously seeking out new and more effective ways to conduct your work and feeding this back to management

Our Values & Diversity

We are proud to be an inclusive employer, and our ambition is to cultivate a culture for all employees that respects their individual strengths, views and experiences. We believe that our differences and similarities enable us to be a better organisation – one that makes better decisions, drives innovation and delivers better regulation.

Within the workplace you will have access to various employee resource groups which aim to promote and achieve a healthy work / life balance and support our diversity ambitions.

Did you know: 50% of our Executive Committee were the first in their family to attend university.

Benefits of working at the FCA

• A non-contributory Pension of at least 8% of basic salary each month (there are several contribution levels that increase depending on your age – up to 12% a month once you reach age 35)
• Life assurance of eight times your basic salary
• Income protection
• 28 days holiday per year plus bank holidays
• Hybrid working (work from home up to 60% of your time)
• Private healthcare with Bupa

We also have a competitive flexible benefits scheme which gives you the opportunity to create a personalised benefits package, tailored to suit your lifestyle.

We welcome applications from candidates who are looking for flexible arrangements. Many of our staff work flexibly including working part-time, staggered hours and job shares. We can’t promise to give you exactly what you want but we can explore what might work best for both sides.

Follow this link to see what life is like at the FCA - Life at the FCA

Application Support

We are dedicated to removing barriers and ensuring our application process is accessible to everyone. We offer a range of adjustments to make your application experience as comfortable and straightforward as possible.

If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition requiring changes to the recruitment process, please contact your recruiter using the details below and they will be happy to discuss this further with you.

Useful Information and Timeline

• This role is graded as Manager – Regulatory/Practicing Legal
• SC Clearance is required for this role. You will hold or be required to obtain Security Check (SC) level vetting
• Advert Closing Date: 11th November
• CV Review/Shortlist: Week commencing 17th November
• Written Case Study Assignment: Week commencing 24th November
• First Stage Interviews / (virtual): Week commencing 1st December
• Hays Manager Assessment: Week commencing 8th December
• Second Stage Interviews (in-person): Week commencing 15th December

Please note: This role requires detailed knowledge and operational experience of POCA as applied in England & Wales. While experience in other UK jurisdictions is valuable, it must be complemented by direct knowledge of the England & Wales legal framework.

Your Recruiter will discuss the process in detail with you during screening for the role, therefore, please make them aware if you are going to be unavailable for any date during this time.

Got a question?

If you are interested in learning more about the role, please contact Raimonda at [e-mail]

Applications must be submitted through our online portal. Applications sent via email will not be accepted.