Accredited Financial Investigator - spot salary of £55,000 (National) or £58,750 (London) p.a. + benefits

Job summary

Please note that this spot rate salary specially applies to the Accredited Financial Investigator (AFI) role and is based on requiring anNCA Accredited Financial Investigator qualification.

We are currently looking for Accredited Financial Investigators to join our Criminal Enforcement Unit Function within the Safety and Surveillance group.

This is a full-time opportunity, on a permanent basis. The role is a homebased role but will require occasional travel to 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf London, E14 4PU or South Mimms, Hertfordshire. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.

Who are we?

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency enhance and improve the health of millions of people every day through the effective regulation of medicines and medical devices, underpinned by science and research.

The Criminal Enforcement Unit (CEU) is the dedicated law enforcement function of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Its strategic aim is to reduce and eliminate offences involving medicines and medical devices, protecting public health and maintaining confidence in the UK's regulatory framework.

The Unit investigates serious and organised crime linked to the illegal manufacture, importation and supply of medicines and medical devices, using intelligence-led approaches to identify threats and target those who seek to profit from criminality. We work closely with law enforcement, government, regulatory and international partners to protect the public and safeguard the integrity of the UK's medicines and medical devices supply chains.

The Unit comprises a highly skilled multidisciplinary workforce with experience drawn from policing, Regional Organised Crime Units, the National Crime Agency, intelligence, regulatory enforcement and other specialist disciplines. The CEU consists of seven teams, each reporting to a Grade 7 Senior Manager. These teams are aligned to one of two Commands: Intelligence and Innovation, and Investigation and Disruption. Each is led by a Head of Command, who reports directly to the Deputy Director of Criminal Enforcement.

Working in the CEU offers the opportunity to contribute directly to protecting public health, tackling crime, and making a tangible impact on the safety of patients and the wider public.

Job description

What’s the role?

The main purpose of the role is to deliver financial investigative and disruption capabilities to enable CE to meet its strategic aim of reducing the criminal threat to public safety. The use of POCA (Proceeds of Crime Act,2002) tools will be the key enabler in securing desirable outcomes.

Key responsibilities:

• Leading and supporting impactful asset-denial interventions using powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and related legislation, gathering evidence/information, preparing and submitting case files, warrants, orders and other documentation to remove or disrupt identified threats.

• Ensuring financial investigations are carried out thoroughly, professionally and expeditiously in accordance with Agency policy, good practice and legislative requirements.

• Prepare relevant material on money laundering and financial dealings for disclosure, in liaison with Crown prosecutors when necessary to support investigations.

• Working closely with the FININT resources within the assessment, analysis and collection function, assisting in thematrix management and professional development of the capability, sharing information and collaborating on case building and promoting use of financial investigation practices across CE as a threat reduction tool.

• Managing and delivering allocated capabilities to the highest professional standards, encouraging, supporting and participating in a culture of continuous improvement, and modelling civil service and corporate values and behaviours.

• Embracing a flexible, matrix approach to the brigading of resources to meet dynamic demand across the function and across CE. (Intelligence command roles).

• Providing advice on legislation and technical options to disrupt criminality

• Working collaboratively with stakeholders to reduce criminal threats.

• Case file preparation and the prosecution of offenders.

• Contributing to the 4P strategic response framework to criminal threats.

Who are we looking for?

Our successful candidate will have the following:

• Proven working knowledge and experience of investigations under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and significant experience of money laundering cases. The candidate must be a current Accredited Financial Investigator (NCA).

• Significant experience of all aspects of cash seizures, restraint and confiscation work and relevant court representation. Experience in the deployment of investigative tools derived from the Criminal Finances Act (2017) such as AFO’s. The candidate must be qualified under 303Z (1) (POCA) in relation to account forfeiture and listed assets and 378 (POCA) in relation to production orders. They must be in a position to secure accreditation in the arena of crypto asset seizure.

• Previous experience and exposure to PACE, RIPA and CPIA.

• The ability to be able to work under pressure, often alone, and to tight deadlines. The flexibility to be able to undertake work that often requires working away from the base office, overnight allowances apply.

• Proven ability to act professionally as the organisation’s representative when dealing with all internal and external stakeholders.

• Hold a full UK driving licence.

• Be able to undertake manual lifting and handling activities, where required as part of the role.

Person specification

Method of assessment: A=Application, I=Interview

Behaviour Criteria:

• Working Together – A committed team player who leads by example and models civil service, agency and Group values and behaviours at all times - encouraging others to do the same. (I)

• Changing and Improving - Encourages, supports and participates in a culture of continuous improvement, where opportunities to enhance delivery of MHRA Criminal Enforcement’s threat reduction mission are identified and implemented. (I)

• Managing a Quality Service - A flexible, adaptable and creative problem solver, who can look beyond established practices to overcome barriers to progression whilst maintaining compliance with statutory and regulatory frameworks and a strong focus on high standards of delivery. (I)

Experience Criteria:

• Significant recent experience of conducting complex financial investigations. The candidate must be a current Accredited Financial Investigator. (A, I)

• Experience in the deployment of investigative tools derived from the Criminal Finances Act (2017) such as AFO’s and listed assets. (A, I)

• Proactive and reactive financial investigations into serious and organised criminality, providing evidence of money laundering, and identifying and recovering criminal assets. (A, I)

• The ability to review and analyse financial intelligence and identify opportunities for Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) disruption opportunities