Senior Financial Investigator - Asset Denial

The Asset Denial teams work to substantially reduce the level of serious and organised crime affecting the UK by denying criminals access to their illicit assets, recovering the proceeds of crime, and deterring and disrupting further criminality. The Asset Denial teams utilise an array of powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) and the Criminal Finances Act 2017 (CFA) to target the highest risk and most serious and organised criminals.

For anyone applying for Part time/flexible working there is a minimum requirement of 24 hours a week over 3 days.

Virtual Open Evening Event

To find out more about the role and the application process we will be holding a virtual opening evening via MS Teams on Wednesday 18th November at 1800-1900

This event is by invitation only.

To register, please click on the following link

Virtual Event - FI and Senior FI - Asset Denial

You will be asked to enter your name and email address. Please do not include any other information, as this may delay or prevent your invitation from being generated. Registration will close on Tuesday 17th November at 1200

You will not be able to register after this date and time.

Asset Denial comprises the following teams:

Asset Confiscation Enforcement (ACE) Ensures that criminal confiscation orders are enforced and paid and also revisits orders if further additional assets come to light.

Civil Recovery and Tax (CRT) – Uses POCA civil recovery and tax powers to deprive criminals of property obtained through criminality.

Criminal Asset Denial team (CADT) - The CADT utilises a variety of asset denial powers to deprive criminals of property obtained through criminality. This includes conducting high value Frozen Funds and Listed Assets investigations, as well as restraining and confiscating criminal property

Our Financial Investigators develop and progress financial investigations from tasking through to recovery through effective use of financial investigation techniques and statutory powers under POCA and CFA to erode the profit motive, thereby undermining a key incentive associated with the highest risk and serious organised crime. You will play a key role in denying criminals the use and benefit of illicit assets, supporting investigations and pursuing civil recovery and in CADT, forfeiture opportunities.

Roles are available in the CRT and CADT teams.

We encourage applications from candidates with accredited Financial Investigator status or candidates with lapsed accreditation as Financial Investigators (3 years or less) who are prepared to do the necessary work to reinstate that accreditation.

Duties and Responsibilities

Manage/Lead Investigations

To lead, develop and progress complex financial investigations in accordance with NCA policy and legislative requirements and maximise the effective use of POCA, CFA and other legislation to recover the proceeds of unlawful conduct.

Intelligence Gathering and Development

To contribute to the acquisition and development of tactical and strategic intelligence (through targeted research, open source searches, behavioural, analytical, comparative studies and/or prevention initiatives focused on serious and organised crime affecting the UK, particularly money laundering and economic crime investigations) to support operational and organisational objectives.

Data Analysis

To sift and analyse large volumes of data, follow complex financial trails, and seek and act upon opportunities to obtain evidential material.

Maintain FI accreditation

Complete mandatory training and successfully obtain and maintain relevant Financial Intelligence Officer (FIO) and Financial Investigator (FI) accreditation.

Relationship Management

Develop and maintain effective internal and external partnerships, collaborate with other NCA units, wider UK law enforcement, international counterparts and Government departments.

Provide Direction

Supervise and/or mentor staff as required. This may be as a line manager to G5 FIs, an appointed mentor for trainee FIs, or a supervisor of investigations – allocating tasks and overseeing delivery.

Provide Operational Support

Provide advice on legislation, policy, tactical options and evidential opportunities to assist in the planning and implementation of investigations and operations.

Manage Operational Performance

Supervise case management and the collection, recording, quality assurance, retention, analysis and dissemination of intelligence, evidence and reports in accordance with Agency policy. Ensure all work conducted in support of the Command's investigations is carried out thoroughly, professionally and expeditiously and in accordance with Agency policy and legislative requirements.

Data Integrity

Manage the security and accuracy of intelligence, maintaining confidentiality, sensitivity and duty of care.

Operation Management

Devise, agree and maintain appropriate investigative strategies and operational Risk Assessments with the Senior Investigating Officer (SIO), maintaining comprehensive and auditable Case Decision Logs (CDLs). Update and maintain the Agency's performance management and governance systems for each investigation.

Draft Witness Statements

Draft witness statements in conjunction with NCA legal in support of NCA applications for POCA orders.

ODP FI Pathway

Complete the NCA Officer Development Portfolio Financial Investigator Pathway.

FOR CADT Teams ONLY

Successful candidates will be required to obtain and maintain PIP2 accreditation.

Qualifications, Membership and Licences

CRT and CADT: Accredited Financial Investigator status or lapsed accreditation as Financial Investigators (3 years or less), but willing to do the necessary work to reinstate that accreditation within 12 months.

CADT only additionally: Accredited Financial Investigator Part 2 POCA (Restraint & Confiscation) and Part 5 POCA (Cash) or lapsed accreditation within last 3 years or less, but willing to do the necessary work to reinstate that accreditation within 12 months.

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

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

our application will be assessed against the following:

Technical - this will be assessed by 250 word examples on:

• Recent experience of conducting criminal/civil investigations on complex financial cases with emphasis on Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) in relation to money laundering offences, civil recovery, and/or cash seizures. (lead technical)
• Experience in effective operational decision making with accountability for decisions made.
• Proven experience of working to tight deadlines within a dynamic environment.

Experience - This will be assessed:

Experience Criteria - will be assessed by 250 word examples on:

• Team Preference (This is not assessed and for informative purposes only for candidates to specify what team(s) they are interested in working with)

A panel will assess how well your application demonstrates the requirements outlined above.

Longlist

In the event of a high number of applications, we may operate a longlist. Applicants will need to meet the minimum pass mark for the lead criteria.

• Recent experience of conducting criminal/civil investigations on complex financial cases with emphasis on Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) in relation to money laundering offences, civil recovery, and/or cash seizures. (lead technical) .

Candidates who do not meet the minimum pass mark for the lead criteria will not progress to having their other criteria assessed. Applications must meet the minimum criteria to be progressed to the assessment stage.

You will receive an acknowledgement once your application is submitted.

We aim to have sift completed and scores released within 10 working days of the closing date of the advert. For high volume campaigns this timeframe may be extended.

Scores will be provided but further feedback will not be available at this stage.

For guidance on the application process, visit: NCA Applying and Onboarding

Assessment 1

The format of this assessment will be Interview which will be tested on the criteria listed in the Success Profiles at Assessment section.

Success Profiles at Assessment

Behaviours

• Leadership
• Managing a Quality Service

Technical

• Recent experience of conducting criminal/civil investigations on complex financial cases with emphasis on Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) in relation to money laundering offences, civil recovery, and/or cash seizures. (lead technical)
• Experience in effective operational decision making with accountability for decisions made.
• Proven experience of working to tight deadlines within a dynamic environment.
• Proven experience of taking steps to improve culture on an individual or team basis.

Assessment Outcome

Outcomes will be communicated via the NCA recruitment portal.

If successful but no role is immediately available, you may be placed on a reserve list for 12 months.

Reserve lists can be used to fill similar role types across the Agency where the assessment criteria is considered a match by the recruitment team and the business area.

In the event of a tie at the assessment stage, available roles will be offered in merit order using the following order:

• Lead criteria (behaviours/technical/experience)
• If still tied, desirable criteria will be assessed (if advertised)
• If still tied, application sift scores will be used

Feedback is provided only to those who attend an assessment.

You will be subject to vetting and pre-employment checks before appointment.

Once the vacancy closes, the advert will no longer be accessible. Please save a copy for your records.

We encourage all candidates to visit the NCA Careers Page for more information.

Full advert details for this vacancy can found on the advert on the NCA Recruitment Portal. Please follow the link to apply at advertisers' site.

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