These roles are for Criminal Counter Fraud Investigators - within our different FIS business areas, Organised Crime, Individuals and Businesses, Offshore, Corporate and Wealthy, Economic Crime, Small Business Evasion & Enforcement and Internal Investigations.

In this role, you will use HMRC's legislative powers to investigate and gather evidence against individuals, corporate entities, and organised crime groups that target our tax systems. Your work will be crucial in building, advancing, and strengthening criminal and financial investigations to prosecute and disrupt serious tax fraud.

You will undertake a variety of daily activities. You may be searching premises one day and conducting suspect interviews the next.

You will lead and contribute to the strategic and practical advancement of investigations, providing direction and challenge to investigation officers.

You will lead operational activities such as search of premises, undertaking of arrests, conducting interviews under caution, complete witness statements and give evidence in court.

At its core, this job is about outsmarting criminal groups threatening the UK. You'll need sharp judgement, resilience under confrontation, and integrity as you exercise far-reaching investigative powers.

Person specification

This person will demonstrate a blend of operational criminal justice expertise and leadership. The successful candidate will be a role model, your compliance with the law, professional standards and best practice will be always expected.

Essential Criteria:

You must demonstrate the following:

• Utilisation of Criminal Justice procedures.

• Execution of search warrants and production orders.

• Use of the powers within the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 for posts in England and Wales, Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 for posts in Northern Ireland and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016 & Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 for posts based in Scotland.

• Understanding Property Interference as defined within Police Act 1995 and the utilisation of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (RIPA) Act 2000 and/or Investigatory Powers Act (IPA) 2016.

• Applied knowledge of Criminal Procedure & Investigation Act 1996, (CPIA 96) ensuring strong standards of Disclosure Practise.

• Experience of the creation or assurance of investigative strategies, applying technical competence to identify pertinent lines of enquiry including the day-to-day management of criminal investigation cases.

• Command & Control, supporting operational activities to secure best evidence and an understanding of crime scene control, systematic search techniques and risk management.

• Strong stakeholder engagement, supporting evidential submissions to the Crown Prosecution Service through the appropriate Manual of Guidance forms and applied quality standards (or equivalents in devolved jurisdictions / agencies with retained prosecuting authority).

• Management of others, either operationally or HR people management.

• A full UK driving licence - please see below under licences.

Licences

A full valid UK Driving Licence (manual and automatic, but not a provisional licence) at the time of application and be willing to drive official vehicles.

Due to the nature of the work and to perform the core functions of this role, a full valid UK driving licence and willingness to drive official vehicles is an essential requirement. You will be asked to provide evidence of a valid licence at the pre-employment stage.

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 will be able to request that this requirement is removed by means of a reasonable adjustment. You will have the opportunity to tell us about any reasonable adjustments once the selection process is complete, as well as about any wider support you need.

Technical skills

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

• Provide a workplace example demonstrating how you've compiled an investigation strategy, managing risk, resource and consequence planning.
• Provide a workplace example demonstrating how you've considered alternative legislative methods to implement an investigative approach that achieves objectives.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £36,320, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £10,521 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

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

Things you need to know

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

How to Apply

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

• A 750-word Personal Statement. Your Personal Statement should evidence that you have worked in a Law Enforcement role and demonstrate how you meet the Essential Criteria.
• A 300-word statement against each of the two questions that demonstrate technical levels of experience. Anything over the word count will not be considered.

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

We acknowledge that AI can assist you in your application. Find our guidelines here.

Sift

An initial sift will be carried out on your personal statement. Should your personal statement not meet the criteria set out above your application will not be progressed any further.

Those who are successful will progress to a full sift where your responses to the technical questions will be reviewed.

If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an 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 asked the following:

1. Technical Questions to test you meet the essential criteria and experience required for the role including an experience-based scenario question.
2. Strength-based questions to also explore what you enjoy and your motivations relevant to the job role.

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. We understand mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days(Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we will not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake with your eligibility form, 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 .

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, merit lists will be created for each location advertised within the vacancy. If you are successful at interview, you will be placed on the merit list for any locations you have expressed an interest for. Appointments from each merit list will be made in strict merit order.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Additional Information

We are looking into ways to enhance the applicant experience.

As part of our legitimate interests, we are testing the use of new technologies such as automation and/or Artificial Intelligence in the assessment for CV, personal statement and behaviour statement.

Please note that for this specific vacancy, this testing may run in parallel with our standard assessment process and will not influence or determine the outcome of your application in any way. You can read the Civil Service Jobs and HMRC Privacy Notices for more information about our lawful basis for processing your personal data and HMRC's use of AI.

If you don't want your data to be used as part of the trial, please send your Application ID and the Vacancy Reference to talentacquisitionaiteam@hmrc.gov.uk

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 .

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.

Flexibility Payment

This post attracts a Level 2 Flexibility Payment (FP) that is paid monthly with salary. This FP allows HMRC flexibility to change your work pattern, at short notice, to meet business needs.

You will be expected to work longer hours from time to time, at weekends and outside your normal working hours/days (including bank holidays).

You will be required to undertake periods of On Call at a frequency of 1 week in 4, and there is a requirement to work additional hours.

In applying for a position and accepting the FP you agree that you can and will meet those attendance requirements.

Note: On appointment you will receive FP Level 1a. Payment of FP Level 2 is dependent on successful completion of role specific training, please refer to 'Training Requirement' in the section titled 'Things you need to know'. You are not eligible to receive FP Level 2 until training is successfully completed.

Applicants from within HMRC who meet all essential criteria, are accredited Criminal Justice or Counter Fraud professionals and currently in receipt of FP Level 2 will not be required to complete further role specific training and will receive FP Level 2 on appointment.
FP levels are reviewed annually - on a business need and personal basis - and may be subject to change.

Details of the Flexibility Payment can be found in the attached document.

Business Areas

Successful applicants could be placed within any of the FIS business areas i.e. Organised Crime, Offshore Corporate and Wealthy, Individuals and Business, Economic Crime, Enforcement and Evasion and Internal Investigations. If placed within Internal Investigations, you will join either an investigation or intelligence team based across 3 locations in Manchester, Nottingham, or Croydon. Internal Investigations (Anti-Corruption) Investigators and Intelligence Officers work in criminal case teams gathering intelligence and evidence on individuals, corporates, and Organised Crime Groups (OCG's) in order to develop, progress and enhance criminal investigations focused on Insider Threats within HMRC and both internal and external attacks on HMRC systems.

Training Requirement

A comprehensive training programme is provided. There will be a requirement for you to attend a three-week face to face training programme which may take you away from home. Through this training period you will be required to be available full-time.

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

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 required to attend a further one-week training event to acquire the skills and knowledge to carry out arrest and search of person. Both of these events are PASS/FAIL.

Failure to reach the required standard on either of these events may result in you having to complete HMRC's full Criminal Investigation Foundation Training programme, which is 9 weeks and a mixture of digital and face to face events which 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.

External Candidates

Failure to meet the required standards for the training programme will result in employment with HMRC being brought to an end.

Managers will discuss specifics of learning programmes with successful candidates during the induction process.

Internal/OGD Candidates

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 may result in the removal of Criminal Investigator Flexibility Payment (FPs) 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 any FPs are removed, jobholders will not be entitled to a Period of Adjustment (POA), but they will receive 56 days' notice in writing of the cessation of the allowance.

This is applicable to HMRC Candidates and those transferring to HMRC from Other Government Departments (OGDs).

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 : Joanne Smith
• Email : mailbox.fisresourcing@hmrc.gov.uk
• Telephone : 03000541988

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. 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
UPDATED - Combined TC and OGD Pay English - July 2024 Opens in new window (docx, 132kB) Combined TC and OGD Pay - Welsh Opens in new window (docx, 116kB) VARIATION ExpHO June 25 -Flexibility Payment Attachment Opens in new window (docx, 54kB)