Anti-Corruption Investigation Officer

About the job

Job summary

Discover what it's like to work in a compliance role that makes an impact. Could you help us shape a stronger, fairer future? Your next career move starts here.

Are you ready to take the next step in your investigation or intelligence career-within an organisation that places integrity and public trust at its core?

This role offers an exciting opportunity to join HMRC's Internal Investigations team. You'll bring your existing experience in investigations, intelligence analysis, or anti-corruption work to a team that plays a vital role in protecting HMRC's reputation and values.

Our work involves investigating serious allegations involving staff, identifying risks such as internal fraud and corruption, and handling sensitive intelligence and whistle-blowing concerns. You'll collaborate with experts across Government and UK Law Enforcement, contributing to cases that uphold the highest standards of professionalism and accountability.

We're looking for individuals with a strong ethical compass, analytical thinking, and a commitment to continuous learning. In return, you'll gain exposure to complex and meaningful work, with opportunities to grow and develop within a trusted and modern tax authority.

If you're ready to make a difference and build a career rooted in integrity, we'd love to hear from you.

Job description
An Internal Investigations (Anti-Corruption) Investigation Officer (IO) works within a case team to gather intelligence and evidence on individuals, corporates, and Organised Crime Groups (OCGs), supporting criminal investigations involving HMRC employees and external threats to the tax and benefits systems. The role focuses on insider threats and attacks on HMRC, requiring Investigation Officers to undertake a wide range of duties.

The Internal Investigations Investigation Officer conducts comprehensive investigations into allegations of misconduct, corruption, and breaches of professional standards within HMRC. This critical role ensures organisational integrity whilst maintaining public confidence in our services.

Key Responsibilities
- Operate within legal frameworks such as RIPA, CPIA, PACE, and POCA
- Gather Evidence, obtain witness statements to support investigations
- Act as a Disclosure Officer/Deputy Disclosure Officer
- Conduct Surveillance (training will be provided)
- Carry out Interventions including Searches, Arrests, Interviews and Seizure of goods
- Maintain Case records using FCMS (Fraud Case Management System)
- Prepare and attend court for Production Orders and Search Warrants
- Compile Case reports and evidential bundles for the CPS
- Keep abreast of legal and professional developments
- Handle sensitive information
- Participate in the On Call roster, 1 week in 4 (which may involve evening and weekend work at short notice. A Flexibility Payment (FP) Level 2 is provided to support this requirement.)
- Maintain high professional standards and integrity.

You can find out more about what it's like to work in these roles on HMRC - Fraud Investigation Service, Civil Service Careers

Significant travel and overnight stays will be required for these roles.

This role requires a high level of integrity. We are looking for candidates who demonstrate honesty, ethical judgement and strong personal values, with a proven ability to act responsibly and make sound decisions in sensitive situations.

Person specification

The successful applicant will need to demonstrate relevant experience and effective delivery of the following essential criteria, and hold one of the qualifications listed in the Qualifications section below.

Essential Criteria

• Demonstrable experience within a criminal investigation role, including the practical application of relevant legislative frameworks. This should include experience of exercising powers under PACE 1984 (England and Wales), and a working knowledge of RIPA 2000 and/or IPA 2016, CPIA 1996, and Property Interference under the Police Act 1995.
• Experience of executing and supporting operational activity, including exercising investigative powers, contributing to or leading operational delivery, compiling risk assessments, and participating in interventions, including the execution of search warrants and/or production orders.
• Proven ability to develop or assure investigative strategies, identifying key lines of enquiry and applying technical expertise to progress complex cases.
• Strong understanding and application of the Manual of Guidance suite of forms in an operational or investigative context.
• Ability to analyse complex information and intelligence, identify patterns, and make sound, evidence-based decisions, with effective communication of findings to stakeholders.
• Full UK driving licence.

Working Arrangements

The nature of criminal investigation work and your role duties mean you must be willing and able to:
- Work your hours flexibly to meet business needs, including at night-time, weekends and public holidays, and change your work pattern at short notice

If required, you must also be able to:
- Be "on-call" throughout the day and night for 1 week out of every 4
- Work a specified number of additional hours

The nature of the attendance requirements and duties of this role mean it isn't suitable for HMRC's hybrid working arrangement. FIS will support colleagues receiving the Flexibility Payment to work from home for some of the time, but this won't be fixed to a number of days per week or month, or to specific days of the week. The role's attendance requirements also mean some Flexible Working arrangements may not be available - please discuss your situation with us before accepting this role.

Candidates are asked to provide 1 location preference only. Please ensure that you only apply for a location that you are willing and able to work from, as we will only make one offer of employment. Any additional notes included in a 'Further Location Preferences (optional)' field within the application form, will not be considered. Please be aware that you cannot change your location preference after submitting your application.

Training

Training Requirement

A comprehensive training programme is provided.

The course is 4 weeks in total with an additional one-week personal safety training. There is a guided learning module to complete prior to the event, 3 weeks training, 1 week safety and then a 1-week final exercise. The course is residential and cannot be done from home.

This training event will build on previous experience in the Law Enforcement arena and provide a refresh and upskilling in HMRC powers and procedures.

For those that have not previously had the power to carry out an arrest under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, you will be trained to use this power before attending the Final Exercise.

Successful completion of the training course is an essential condition for continuing in the appointed role. Candidates must demonstrate the necessary competencies and meet the assessment standards set out during the training period. If a candidate is unable to successfully complete the training, HMRC may explore suitable alternatives including completing HMRC's full Criminal Investigation Foundation Training programme, which is 9 weeks and a mixture of digital and face to face events. You would need to be available for the full programme.

Public and Personal Safety Training (PPST) is a crucial element of becoming a criminal investigator. This is a PASS/FAIL event.

The event includes digital and face-to-face training where you will learn practical techniques to ensure your safety and that of your colleagues, as well as how to apprehend and physically restrain suspects and apply handcuffs.

The event is mainly physical and includes scenario-based exercises where you will require an appropriate level of fitness and mobility such as being able to carry equipment up and down stairs and get up and down from the floor unaided.

All officers undertaking this training must obtain a valid occupational health certificate (acquired from HMRC's healthcare provider) stating they are fit to undertake regular physical training. Once this training is complete, you will have a one-day refresher training event at least every six months after this to ensure you are able to carry out operational duties.

An annual Job Related Ability Test is being introduced for all participants of PPST which is also a Pass/Fail event.
Failure to meet the required standards for the programme will result in appointment to this role being brought to an end and consideration of redeployment into an alternative role. This can result in the removal of the Flexibility Payment (FP) paid in respect of the Criminal Investigator role. Where it is not possible to redeploy the candidate into an alternative role, the candidate may be assigned to the HMRC Redeployment Register.

Candidates appointed on promotion who do not successfully complete the training will revert back to their previous substantive grade and the respective HMRC pay scale for this grade. Where FP is removed, jobholders will not be entitled to a Period of Adjustment (POA), but they will receive 2 months' notice in writing of the cessation of the allowance.

Additional Security Information

Security Check (SC) Clearance is mandatory for this role. Successful candidate will need to hold or need to obtain Security Check (SC) Clearance through UKSV.

A full UK Driving Licence

We recognise that some people cannot drive due to a disability or underlying health condition and may not be able to meet this requirement. Where this applies, you can apply but will need to declare that you require a reasonable adjustment at the point you receive a provisional offer. The vacancy holder will then discuss your specific requirements to consider if this can be reasonably accommodated in this role.

Further Location Information

Please ensure that you only apply for a location that you are willing and able to work from, as we will only make one offer of employment. Any additional notes included in a 'Further Location Preferences (optional)' field within the application form, will not be considered. Please be aware that you cannot change your location preference after submitting your application.

Licences
A Full UK Driving Licence

Qualifications
You must hold at least one of the following qualifications: • Professionalising Investigation Programme (PIP) Level 1, Level 2 or above. • Level 4 Diploma - Accredited Counter-Fraud Specialist/Officer, or Level 4 Diploma - Accredited Counter-Fraud Manager • BTEC Level 3 Advanced Diploma in Enforcement (Investigation), or BTEC level 3 Advanced Diploma in Enforcement (Intelligence), or BTEC level 4 in Counter Fraud Intelligence Specialist.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £31,096, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £9,008 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

HMRC operates both Flexible and Hybrid Working policies, allowing you to balance your work and personal commitments. We welcome applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, considering our operational and customer service needs.

We offer a generous leave allowance, starting at 25 days and increasing by a day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days.

• Pension - We make contributions to our colleagues' Alpha pension equal to at least 28.97% of their salary.
• Family friendly policies.
• Personal support.
• Coaching and development.

To find out more about HMRC benefits and find out what it's really like to work for HMRC hear from our insiders or visit Thinking of joining the Civil Service.

This is a Band O role eligible for a Flexibility Payment (FP) at Level 2, worth £12,400 p.a. (National) and £13,300 p.a. (London), paid in addition to basic salary. In return, you'll work your hours flexibly (including out-of-hours, at weekends and on public holidays) and change your work pattern at short notice. You'll also undertake periods of on-call and work additional hours. Payment of FP is dependent on successful completion of training - you can find more detail about this and other FP requirements in the document attached.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

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

How to Apply

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

• A name-blind CV including your job history and previous experiences.
• A 750-word personal statement.Your Personal Statement should show how you meet the essential criteria.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Sift

At full sift your CV and your Personal Statement will be assessed, with the successful candidates being invited to interview.

We may also raise the score required at any stage of the process if we receive a high number of applications.

Interview

During the panel interview you will be assessed on Experience and Strengths.

This is an example of a strengths-based question.

"It is often said that the customer's needs should come first. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?"

There is no expectation or requirement for you to prepare for the strengths-based questions in advance of the interview, though you may find it helpful to spend some time reflecting on what you enjoy doing and what you do well.

Interviews will take place via video link.

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Eligibility

Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. Mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we may not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake with your eligibility form, or have withdrawn yourself in error and need your application reinstated whilst the campaign is still live, please contact us via: unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk - Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example - 'Please re-open my application - [insert vacancy ref] & vacancy closing date [insert date]'.

To check that you are eligible to apply for this role, please review the eligibility information before submitting your application .

Exceptionally, candidates who are not successful at this grade may be considered for appointment to similar roles at a lower grade where the eligibility criteria are met. If this applies, we will contact you directly.

The HMRC app can help you with your application

The HMRC app can provide you with your past 5 years' employment history, making the process of filling in your application quicker and easier.

If successful in your application, you will need your National Insurance number for the onboarding process.

Download the HMRC app now and save your National Insurance number to your digital phone wallet.

How to download the HMRC app and sign up for an account

Download the free HMRC app from the App Store or Google Play store.

If you have an HMRC online account already, sign straight in using your ID and password. If not, you can prove your identity by answering some questions or providing your photo ID.

You'll then be able to access the app quickly and easily by signing in using a 6-digit PIN, your fingerprint, or facial recognition.

You can find guidance for technical issues on GOV.UK: Technical support with HMRC online services .

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles - if this applies to you, we'll let you know via your Civil Service Jobs account.

Merit List

After interview, a single merit list will be created, and you will only be considered for posts in locations you have expressed a preference for. Appointments will be made in strict merit order in line with the set number of roles in each location.

Criminal Record Check

Applications received from candidates with a criminal record are considered fairly in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice and the Recruitment of ex-offenders Policy.

Hybrid working at HMRC

HMRC is an office-based organisation, and colleagues are expected to spend 60% of their working time in the office. Our offices provide opportunity for interaction, collaboration which aids learning and development and a sense of community. Where the role allows it, and where the home environment is suitable, colleagues can work from home for up to 2 days a week, averaged over a calendar month (or a proportionate amount of time for colleagues who work less than full time).

Reasonable Adjustments

We want to make sure no one is put at a disadvantage during our recruitment process. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate.

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

Contact the UBS Recruitment team via unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.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.

Technical Support

If you are experiencing problems that cannot be resolved by our ' help ' section, then technical support is available. You will receive a reply in 2 working days.

Additional Security Information

Please note in addition to the standard pre-employment checks for appointment into the Civil Service, all candidates must also obtain National Security Vetting at Security Check (SC) clearance level for this vacancy. You will normally need to meet the minimum UK residency period as determined by the level of vetting being undertaken, which for SC is 5 years UK residency prior to your vetting application. If you have any questions about this residency requirement, please speak to the vacancy holder for this post.

From 1 April 2026, applicants will be required to meet updated nationality and residency requirements so that National Security Vetting (NSV) checks can be conducted. If this affects you, we will give you more information at the appropriate time.

Important information for existing HMRC contractual homeworkers:

Please note that this role is unsuitable for contractual homeworkers due to the nature and/or requirements of the role.

Terms and Conditions

Customer facing roles in HMRC require the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English and/or Welsh where required. Where this is an essential requirement, this will be tested as part of the selection process.

HMRC has a presence in every region of the UK. For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations (opens in a new window) .

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. The evidence you provide in your application must relate to your own experiences.

Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant application(s) will be withdrawn from the process.

Recording of interviews is prohibited unless explicit agreement is sought in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulations.

Questions relating to an individual application must be emailed as detailed later in this advert.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

New entrants will join on the minimum of the pay band.

Please note that, if you are applying for roles on a part-time basis, the salary agreed will be pro-rata, reflective of the working hours agreed within your contract.

If you experience accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

For more Information for people applying for, or thinking of applying for, roles at HM Revenue and Customs, please see link: Working for HMRC: information for applicants - GOV.UK .

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

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window) .

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window) .

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

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)

Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window) .

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window) .

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Ben Rollins
• Email : ben.rollins@hmrc.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk

Further information
Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel there has been a breach of the Recruitment Principles. In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly via ubsrecruitmentcomplaints@hmrc.gov.uk . Please note that we do not accept complaints or appeals regarding scoring of outcomes of campaigns unless candidates can provide clear evidence that the campaign did not follow the Recruitment Principles. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their website.

Attachments
Flexibility Payment Attachment - 2026 Opens in new window (docx, 59kB)