Criminal Investigator

£40,012

£40,012 to £43,985 (National) - Candidates are advised to address any questions on rates of pay prior to applying for the post.

A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Alongside your salary of £40,012, Insolvency Service contributes £11,591 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).

We want you to have a good work-life balance and want to support you in all that you do, so we offer a great benefits package including:

• flexible working arrangements and flexi-time
• full time new entrants to the Civil Service and those Civil Servants on modernised terms and conditions will be entitled to 25 days leave increasing on a sliding scale to 30 days after 5 years' service
• in addition to this you are entitled to 8 public/bank holidays plus an additional day of privilege leave
• competitive maternity, paternity and parental leave
• 5 days paid leave for learning and development
• 5 days paid for volunteering
• a Cycle to work scheme
• staff have access to an employee assistance programme, Workplace Wellness, for confidential, independent support and advice during difficult times in either their professional or personal life

Your pension is a valuable part of your total reward package where the employer makes a significant contribution to the cost of your pension. Your contributions come out of your salary before any tax is taken. This means, if you pay tax, your take-home pay will not be reduced by the full amount of your contribution; and your pension will continue to provide valuable benefits for you and your family if you are too ill to continue to work or die before you retire. For more information, visit www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk

To sponsor a candidate under the Skilled Worker visa, a sponsorship licence is required. The Insolvency Service does not currently hold this licence and therefore, cannot legally sponsor Skilled Worker visa applicants.

About Us

We help the UK move forward, faster.

For nearly 150 years, we've protected the UK economy with deep expertise and rigour, building the confidence that helps businesses access lending, investment and opportunity.

We help people deal with personal insolvency. We make statutory redundancy payments when insolvent employers can't. We investigate director conduct and take action where it's needed.

And right now, we're changing how we do all of this, becoming faster, more digitally driven, and more focused on stopping problems before they escalate.

More than 2,000 of us work in offices across England, Scotland and Wales. It might be time for you to join us.

The Role

Criminal Investigators work as part of Investigation Services, within the Insolvency Service's Enforcement Group, delivering civil and criminal enforcement activities that supports fair and open markets, maintains confidence in the company and insolvency regimes, and helps reduce the harm caused by fraudulent activity. This role links in with the Insolvency Service's strategic objective of combating misconduct and emerging harms.

This is a role for someone who wants to think bigger, challenge the way things have always been done, and take ownership of the outcomes that matter.

Reporting to the Investigation Manager and the Chief Investigator. We are recruiting criminal investigators for the Criminal Investigation Team North who will play a key role in the team, carrying out criminal investigations mainly under the Insolvency Act 1986, Companies Act 2006, Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986, Fraud Act 2006, Theft Act 1968 and Economic Crime and Transparency Act 2023.

The main duties of the role are:

• investigate serious and complex criminal offences, including fraud, bankruptcy, insolvency and COVID-19 funding offences, to establish the facts and support appropriate enforcement action
• obtain detailed witness statements in accordance with the Criminal Justice Act 1967, Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 and Criminal Justice Acts 1988 and 2003, and interview suspects under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984
• prepare accurate, evidence-based reports and case files suitable for criminal court proceedings, managing disclosure material in accordance with the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996
• manage and review your caseload with your line manager to meet deadlines, maintain investigation standards and comply with legislative requirements
• work with prosecution and advisory lawyers and counsel to progress cases, lead follow-up actions and attend court as a witness or disclosure officer when required
• collaborate with investigation, prosecution, enforcement and disciplinary bodies to progress timely, proportionate enforcement action and appropriate disclosures to other regulators, ensuring value for money
• improve investigation practices and contribute to team targets while maintaining the quality and consistency of casework

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

Manchester, Leeds

We offer full-time, part-time, job share, and flexible working. We invest in your development and give our people the space to grow, take ownership and make decisions.

The Criminal Investigation Team is responsible for conducting criminal investigations into insolvency and corporate related criminal offences which support the Agency's objective to tackle financial wrongdoing. The team works closely with civil investigation teams, our Legal Services Directorate internally, and other Law Enforcement partner organisations to ensure that we fulfil our role in delivering Governmental strategies. We strive to target offences under the Companies House Reform Legislation along with others including misuse of government backed Covid recovery funds.

The role will be based in Manchester and Leeds. Regular attendance will be required in the selected office in accordance with the hybrid working model of 60% office attendance. Regular travel to obtain witness statements and to interview suspects will be required in addition to meetings with stakeholders and other regulators. Occasional overnight stays may be required. The jobholder will be required to be flexible regarding the length and timing of the working day to meet the demands of the business. Occasional evening/weekend work may be necessary - to be worked in compliance with the European Working Time Directive.

The Insolvency Service's hybrid working policy offers flexibility over when and where you work and collaborate, subject to business needs.

You are expected to work from an office listed in this advert to connect with colleagues, as your role and team require. You can split your working week, but must spend at least 60% in the workplace, including offices, site visits, court and other work locations

Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 23rd November 2026

489645

Higher Executive Officer

Permanent

Investigation

2

"I am proud to be part of a hugely experienced, hard-working team, that investigate financial wrongdoing and works to protect the public. I enjoy the variety of the role and the challenge of taking complex information and turning it into a clear evidential picture. It is rewarding to know that the work we do can make a genuine difference. This role also gives me the opportunity to support an inclusive and positive working environment, sharing knowledge and supporting others to achieve the best possible outcomes. " Emily, Investigator

We're looking for someone who can:

• build effective working relationships with colleagues and law enforcement partners to progress investigations and achieve shared outcomes
• communicate clearly and handle challenging conversations calmly, confidently and professionally
• analyse complex information, make evidence-based decisions, explain your reasoning and recognise when to refer decisions
• take ownership of investigations, plan operations and prioritise competing demands while remaining accountable for delivery
• adapt to changing circumstances, solve problems and apply new technical knowledge to maintain progress
• Show a proven, extensive, and demonstrable criminal investigation background, which ideally should have been gained within a Government Department Agency, Police Service, or similar organisation.
• Show membership of the Government Counter Fraud Programme, or willingness to join.
• Provide a demonstrable knowledge of the rules of criminal evidence including CPIA, PACE, Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RPIA) is essential, together with a working knowledge of Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA

Please note: Candidates applying for a part-time position must be able to work a minimum of 30 hours per week to meet operational requirements.

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing

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

• Data Management
• Comprehensive experience

We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form:

• Data Management
• Data Management - give an example of an investigation where you faced some challenges around rules of disclosure. Demonstrate how you managed the material in line with Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 and the Attorney General Guidelines 2024.

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.

Sift - w/c 26 November 2026

Interview - w/c 11 January 2027

Location - Manchester: 2nd Floor, 3 Piccadilly Place, London Road, Manchester, M1 3BN

Your interview will be conducted face to face. Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment process.

• Name : IES Workforce planning
• Email : IES_WorkForcePlanning@inslovency.gov.uk

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