Accredited Financial Investigator

Birmingham, Cardiff, Exeter, Ipswich, Leeds, London (Croydon &​ Stratford) Manchester, Newcastle, and Nottingham

Job Summary The Insolvency Service is a leading government agency which plays a crucial role in providing essential services to the public and to business. The work we do is important to the proper functioning of markets, the economy in general and support for thousands of people each year who are in financial difficulty.

Investigation and Enforcement Services (IES) directorate aims to deliver and promote a range of investigation and enforcement activities, both civil and criminal in nature, to support fair and open markets. We do this by effectively enforcing the statutory company and insolvency regimes, maintaining public confidence in those regimes, and reducing the harm caused to victims of fraudulent activity and to the business community.

Introduced as part of the new Companies House Reforms Act and the Economic Crime Levy, this is an interesting and exciting role based in the Proceeds of Crime Team, part of the Investigation and Enforcement Services directorate within the Insolvency Service.

Inclusive and diverse teams are important to us. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups underrepresented in our workforce. The Insolvency Service strives to ensure that the agency is a safe, inclusive, and welcoming place for everybody to bring their true self to work and to help the agency to achieve its diversity objectives. We have 9 active employee network groups available to join or become an ally, these include, Carers Network, Disability network group, Employee Assistance, Representatives, FACES Network Group, LGBT+, Mind Matters, Part Time Workers, The Shed - Men’s Network Group and Women’s Network Group.

We offer full-time, part-time, job share and flexible ways of working. We value capability, technical skills and experience and we place great emphasis on lifetime development to support our people. We encourage our employees to become more involved in areas they feel strongly about, whether it be for the benefit of the agency, through our Engagement network or in their own local communities via volunteering opportunities.

The Insolvency Service is a great place to work, learn and grow your career!

Job Description In this role, you will directly contribute to the wider objectives including the Companies House Reform legislation, preventing the abuse of the Company Register and in the protection of the UK, its citizens and its economy from economic crime.

Your primary responsibility will be the planning and preparation of financial investigations under Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) in England and Wales, presenting case material, including financial statements and attending court where necessary.

This is a travelling officer role, and the successful candidate will be required to undertake travel with infrequent stays away from home. On occasions, you must also be prepared to work unsocial hours.

The Post Holder Will Be

• confident in their ability to produce excellence in investigations as directed, with an ability to innovate and to operate in a high governance environment, under pressure both alone and working as part of a team
• responsible for their own casework and will be expected to conduct and successfully manage a number of investigations at any one time. You will fully contribute to the operation of the team, undertaking project work tasks when required
• a trained Financial Investigator or Accredited Financial Investigator who is registered on Financial Investigation Support System (FISS) with the National Crime Agency or be able to immediately re-register once appointed
• using their powers under Part 5 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Account Freezing Orders) or restraint and confiscation under Parts 2 and 8 of the same Act
• responsible for making recommendations as to whether or not consent to Defence Against Money Laundering reports should be granted

Responsibilities As an Accredited Financial Investigator, you will:

• be authorised to conduct confiscation or account freezing order investigations in England and Wales using POCA Part 2, 8 and 5 powers
• work within an investigation framework and complying with Insolvency Service and legal standards
• maintain your financial investigation accreditation status on FISS by undertaking CPD as necessary
• research legislation
• produce investigation plans to deliver managerial objectives
• liaise with the stakeholders in respect of evidence gathering and timetables
• be effective and proactive in client relationship management
• gather the evidence identified to meet the requirements of the investigation plan
• make court applications in respect of POCA orders &​ warrants
• produce high quality POCA statements for the Crown or Magistrates Court and for management
• prepare case files for prosecutors
• manage Criminal Procedure and Investigation Act disclosure responsibilities;
• comply with data management requirements under Data Protection Act 2018 and General Data Protection Regulation
• complete tasks as efficiently as possible and play a full part in all aspects of the operation of the team

In this role, you will directly contribute to the wider objectives including the Companies House Reform legislation, preventing the abuse of the Company Register and in the protection of the UK, its citizens and its economy from economic crime.

Your primary responsibility will be the planning and preparation of financial investigations under Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) in England and Wales, presenting case material, including financial statements and attending court where necessary.

This is a travelling officer role, and the successful candidate will be required to undertake travel with infrequent stays away from home. On occasions, you must also be prepared to work unsocial hours.

As An Accredited Financial Investigator, You Will

• be authorised to conduct confiscation or account freezing order investigations in England and Wales using POCA Part 2, 8 and 5 powers
• work within an investigation framework and complying with Insolvency Service and legal standards
• maintain your financial investigation accreditation status on FISS by undertaking CPD as necessary
• research legislation
• produce investigation plans to deliver managerial objectives
• liaise with the stakeholders in respect of evidence gathering and timetables
• be effective and proactive in client relationship management
• gather the evidence identified to meet the requirements of the investigation plan
• make court applications in respect of POCA orders &​ warrants
• produce high quality POCA statements for the Crown or Magistrates Court and for management
• prepare case files for prosecutors
• manage Criminal Procedure and Investigation Act disclosure responsibilities;
• comply with data management requirements under Data Protection Act 2018 and General Data Protection Regulation
• complete tasks as efficiently as possible and play a full part in all aspects of the operation of the team

Person specification

To Be Successful In This Role, You Will

• be an experienced and trained Accredited Financial Investigator used to using the powers provided by the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and subsequent legislation
• have a keen interest in asset recovery work and highly developed financial investigation skills
• have excellent oral and written presentation skills and be used to giving evidence under oath in legal proceedings as a witness of truth
• have an enquiring mind and be enthusiastic about diving deeply into company structures, financial statements and banking records to unearth money laundering networks
• have a track record of working with internal and external partners, ideally across jurisdictions, to get things done and deliver excellent results

Essential Criteria You must be a trained Financial Investigator or Accredited Financial Investigator who is registered on Financial Investigation Support System (FISS) with the National Crime Agency or be able to immediately re-register.

Upon application, you must confirm that you are an Accredited Financial Investigator registered on the Financial Investigation Support System (FISS) with the National Crime Agency (NCA). You should be validated by the NCA for using powers under Part 5 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Account Freezing Orders) or for restraint and confiscation qualifications under Parts 2 and 8 of the same Act.

This accreditation is linked to the recruitment and retention supplement associated with this role. The Insolvency Service will conduct accreditation checks on applications prior to candidates being shortlisted and invited to interview. Please include the date of your accreditation within your CV.

There is a requirement to maintain Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

Further Information From 1st October 2026, applicants will be required to meet nationality and residency requirements so that National Security Vetting (NSV) checks can be conducted. If you want to learn more, visit NSV national requirements (opens in a new window). Qualifications Accreditation as an Accredited Financial Investigator (AFI) and current registration on the Financial Investigation Support System (FISS) with the NCA.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Changing and Improving

Technical skills

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

• Explain maintaining your accreditation with the NCA/Proceeds of Crime Centre.

Alongside your salary of £39,259, Insol