** Regional (North East and Midlands) and Financial Investigation Lead

The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.

Immigration Enforcement is responsible for enforcing the government’s immigration laws, tackling illegal migration, removing foreign national offenders and immigration offenders from the UK. We also aim to disrupt the organised criminal groups that exploit the vulnerable for their personal gain. Learn more on our careers pages.

The post holder will provide strategic leadership across serious and complex investigations, directing senior managers and investigative teams to deliver high-quality outcomes. They will set priorities, shape operational strategy, ensure investigative standards are consistently met, and maintain robust governance and oversight arrangements. Operating in a fast-paced and demanding environment, the post holder will exercise sound judgement, make informed decisions under pressure, and effectively identify, manage and mitigate risk.

Working closely with a wide range of internal and external partners, including the National Crime Agency, territorial police forces, the Crown Prosecution Service and international law enforcement agencies, the post holder will drive a coordinated approach to tackling complex criminality. The role requires the ability to build credibility and influence at senior levels, manage sensitive and high-profile issues, and contribute to national operational and strategic decision-making.

The post holder will also be responsible for developing organisational capability, leading and inspiring high-performing teams, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. They will champion inclusion, wellbeing and professional standards, ensuring colleagues are supported to deliver their best and develop their careers within a positive and inclusive working environment.

The post holder will lead senior managers and investigation teams within Northern Command East of Criminal and Financial Investigation (CFI), shaping operational strategy and setting priorities for the delivery of serious and complex investigations. They will provide visible leadership, ensuring the highest investigative standards are maintained, effective governance frameworks are in place, and risks are proactively identified and managed. Operating in a demanding and dynamic environment, the post holder will make sound, evidence-based decisions under pressure, balancing operational priorities with strategic objectives to deliver high-quality outcomes.

You may be required to undertake the same or a similar role within a different team or teams (where possible, at your base location or within reasonable travel distance), depending on business priorities. With appropriate training and support, this will provide opportunities to broaden both your experience and skill set.

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be responsible for (but not limited to):

• Provide strategic leadership to the National Financial Investigation Unit and Cash Forfeiture & Condemnation Legal Team, ensuring the effective delivery of organisational priorities, operational objectives, and business outcomes.
• Direct and oversee serious, complex, and high-profile criminal and financial investigations, ensuring compliance with legislative requirements, professional standards, and governance frameworks.
• Lead, manage, and develop senior managers and multidisciplinary teams, fostering a high-performing, inclusive culture that promotes excellence, wellbeing, accountability, and continuous professional development.
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with key stakeholders, including law enforcement agencies, prosecuting authorities, government departments, and international partners, to support the delivery of coordinated operational outcomes.
• Provide expert advice, assurance, and strategic insight to senior leaders on complex criminal and financial investigations, asset recovery activity, legal matters, and operational risk.
• Manage organisational risk, resources, and performance, ensuring effective governance, sound decision-making, and the successful delivery of operational objectives within a demanding and evolving environment.
• Represent the organisation at senior-level forums, influencing national policy, strategy, and continuous improvement initiatives across criminal and financial investigations, asset recovery, and wider law enforcement functions.

Working Pattern

Due to the business requirements of this role, it is only available on a full-time basis.

Travel

The post holder will be required to travel regularly and attend other CFI offices across the UK as required, occasionally at short notice, to support operational and business priorities.

Open to UK nationals only.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

We will endeavour to conduct the selection process in line with the dates indicated below, but cannot guarantee that these will not, where necessary, be revised.

1. Application – by 10 September 2026

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:

• CV
• Personal Statement (maximum 1000 words).
• Evidence of the Behaviour - Leadership (maximum of 250 words per Behaviour).

Your CV should consist of your career history and skills/experience, including any key achievements in each role. Your CV will be scored against the experience required for the role as noted within the essential criteria.

The Personal Statement should be aligned to and demonstrate how you meet the skills and experience set out in the essential criteria, detailed in the job description.

For guidance and information on how to construct your application (CV, Personal Statement and Behaviours), you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers website.

2. Sift – commencing 14 September 2026

The sift will be held on the CV, Personal Statement and Behaviour - Leadership.

3. Interview – commencing 05 October 2026

If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview that will be Behaviours (as listed in the job advert) and Strength based questions. All Behaviours listed in the selection process will be scored at the interview.

The interview will take place at Cardiff, London (Lower Thames Street), Manchester and Sheffield.

Travel expenses will not be reimbursed.

For guidance and information on what to expect and how to prepare for an interview, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers.

Problems during the application process

If you experience problems accessing this advert, or you think you’ve made a mistake on an initial application, please contact hocandidates.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk, including the vacancy reference, at least two working days before the vacancy closes. Further information can be found on our website.

Do not create or attempt to submit another application, online test or use a different Civil Service Jobs account to proceed as this would be in violation of the candidate declaration.

Location Preferences

You can select up to three locations in order of preference. Please ensure that these are locations you are prepared to travel to. If you are offered a role at one of your preferred location(s) and you decline, your application will be withdrawn.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made. There is no guarantee that being held on a reserve list will lead to a job offer. Further information can be found on our website.

Reserve lists will be held for each location and profession. Candidates will be appointed in merit order by location and profession.

Breaking Tied Scores

The behaviours and strengths have been ranked in order of importance to enable us to differentiate between candidates with tied interview scores.

Standards

All Civil Servants are expected to comply with the Civil Service Code, and its core values of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality.

Integrity Check

As well as successfully obtaining UK Security Vetting clearance, you will also be subject to an additional Integrity Check, as part of the pre-employment process, to determine your suitability to work for Border Force or Immigration Enforcement. For further information on what this involves, please visit our website.

Further Information

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct.

If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Reasonable Adjustments

If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
• Complete the “Assistance Required” section in the “Additional Requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a language service professional

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.