ERSOU / ROCU - STAFF / Financial Investigation Team Manager - Regional Economic Crime Unit - Ref: 10831

Police Staff
ERSOU / ROCU
Bedfordshire Police Force
Stevenage, Agile
Financial Investigation Team / Regional Economic Crime Unit
Permanent
PO3/PO4
From £45,585 - £51,987
Full Time
No
N/A

ABOUT ERSOU

ERSOU is the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit, that oversees and delivers a regional level response to Serious and Organised Crime, and Counter Terrorism Policing for the Forces in the Eastern Region. ERSOU is made up of both Officers and Police Staff from across the entire region and works closely with regional Forces and National Partners. The departments are unique, in that they are able to offer opportunities to work and develop individuals professionally in specialist areas, often delivering capabilities that are not provided by local forces.

THE ROLE

2 x vacancies based in the Eastern Region – linked to hubs in Stevenage, Hertfordshire (1 x vacancy) or Newmarket, Suffolk (1 x vacancy). A reserve list may also be created for any further vacancies that arise.  

The Financial Investigation Team (FIT) is a collaboration of Financial Investigation and Asset recovery capabilities of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk Police Forces. The team is responsible for conducting Financial Investigation and all Asset recovery Investigations across the five Force areas.

This is an exciting opportunity for experienced and highly motivated individuals to develop and manage a specialist team of accredited financial investigators and financial intelligence officers primarily involved in the identification and delivery of effective asset recovery solutions against those involved in acquisitive crime throughout the ERSOU five force region. recovery of criminal assets on behalf of the constituent forces within the Eastern Region.

This role places you at the very forefront of removing criminal wealth and ensuring crime does not pay. You will be responsible for the allocation, management, and oversight of financial investigations, ensuring they are carried out thoroughly and expeditiously in accordance with the investigation policy and legislation.

You will also be required to undertake regular quality assurance exercises to ensure the highest standard of service delivery is maintained.

You will manage the local delivery of financial investigation awareness training and will take every opportunity to raise the profile of ERSOU and embed financial investigation as a problem solving tool within day to day core investigative functions of our constituent forces.

This is a demanding role in a high performing team which carries significant workloads. The role would suit individuals who have an extensive, evidence based, asset recovery background combined with recent supervisory or management experience.

We have immediate full-time positions linked to both the Stevenage and Newmarket hubs.  We may also create a reserve list for other successful applicants that will be held for a period of 12 months. 

Within your application, please provide your preferred location, either Stevenage or Newmarket.  If you wish to be considered for both locations, then multiple applications do not need to be made. 

Experience & Qualifications: 

It is essential that applicants are currently fully accredited by the NCA as a Financial Investigator with Part 2, Part 5 and Part 8 powers. Section 47, AFO and Listed Asset accreditations are desirable.   

You will have a detailed and demonstrable working knowledge and practical experience of the relevant criminal law in relation to money laundering investigations and confiscation investigations under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 as amended.

Applications would be particularly welcome from candidates who have current experience of successfully managing a team or recent extensive experience of mentoring accredited FI’s and FIO’s.  

Please also see ‘Experience and Qualifications’ section on the Role Profile 

Key Responsibilities:  

  • Responsible for the direct line management, development and motivation of a team of investigators and support staff in the delivery of financial investigation and asset recovery work.
  • Allocate, manage and oversee investigations, ensuring the investigations are carried out thoroughly and expeditiously in accordance with the investigation policy and legislation by undertaking a process of regular quality assurance so as to ensure the high standard of performance is maintained.
  • Actively assess the Threat, Harm and Risk involved in decision making processes.
  • Ensure the use of financial evidence and intelligence in order to support prosecutions is obtained ethically and in accordance with the relevant legislation, policy and codes of practice.
  • Make decisions as to the most appropriate course of action to take in each investigation and make recommendations to senior managers and prosecutors.
  • Assist in the development of policy and standard operating procedures for ERSOU within the framework of a comprehensive strategic policy for the management of financial investigations and Asset recovery investigations. Continually review financial investigation methodology to ensure that changes in legislation and implications of case law are adopted.
  • Maintain NCA accreditation as a current and competent financial investigator and confiscator.
  • Develop and foster close working relationships within ERSOU, constituent Forces and partner agencies in order to disrupt and dismantle all levels of acquisitive crime.
  • Ensure every opportunity for asset recovery is maximized. When victims of crime are identified, take all possible steps to facilitate the return of losses incurred.
  • Share good practice and resources to ensure the best possible service for the organisation and the public.
  • To ensure Financial Investigators are supported throughout the court process, to include all hearings held in either Magistrates or Crown Courts. To engage and lead negotiations with all legal representatives to obtain the optimum asset recovery outcome for the Region and ensure consistency.
  • To assist Prosecution Counsel in the preparation of Skeleton arguments for Confiscation hearings ensuring that a thorough knowledge of Current case Law is used. To act as Subject Matter expert for POCA Case Law within ERSOU and the region.
  • To manage the local delivery of financial investigation awareness training and to take every opportunity to raise the profile of ERSOU and embed financial investigation as a problem solving tool of the day to day core investigative functions of the constituent forces.
  • Ensure staff are properly equipped to perform their roles. Have regular One 2 One conversations to review performance, development and welfare.  Respond appropriately to emerging issues thus creating a supportive working environment. 

Personal Qualities & Attributes:

As a Financial Investigation Manager within ERSOU you will be managing complex financial, civil recovery and confiscation investigations.  You will possess excellent report writing and IT skills, be inquisitive, decisive, can make decisions on behalf of your team, show initiative and independence, have problem-solving skills and be tactful.

You will be expected to have excellent inter-personnel skills and be able to develop and motivate a team that will often have significant workloads.

You will have the drive to ensure that the whole team delivers positive asset recovery outcomes while carefully managing and supporting staff welfare and well-being.

Hours of work:  37.5 per week

Travel commitment:  Travel between police premises and courts throughout the region will be required.

Benefits:

  • In addition to a competitive salary there are many other benefits to being a police staff member including:
  • Access to a gymnasium at some sites
  • Member of the Blue light card scheme where you can get discounts on travel, clothing, food and much more
  • Access to an Employee Assist Programme that provide access to a health & wellbeing provision 24 hours a day 7 days a week

VETTING

Applicants must hold or be prepared to undergo Management Vetting (5 years residency criteria) and Security Clearance (5 years residency criteria) or Development vetting, if applicable, before taking up the post. Please be aware the Police Corporate Vetting Unit will undertake security vetting on successful candidates, their family and others that live at their home address, which will include financial checks. Due to the sensitive nature of these checks, we are not able to supply feedback should clearance be declined.

WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR APPLICATION?

If you are successful, you will be joining one of the most accomplished policing collaborations in the UK where ERSOU’s values of Courageous, Inclusive and Professional are exhibited daily across the full breadth of capabilities and functions we deliver. In your application we will be looking for written evidence around the following competencies and the minimum entry requirements from the role profile: 

  • Entry requirements
  • We analyse critically
  • We take ownership
  • We deliver, support, and inspire
  • We are emotionally aware
  • We are collaborative
  • We are innovative and open-minded

(250 words limit applies to each competency) 

OPEN TO APPLICANTS FROM;

ERSOU celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone is valued and respected. We actively encourage applications from underrepresented or minority groups. ERSOU is a Disability Confident employer. Should you require any reasonable adjustments for your application process, please contact the HR Service Centre on 01438 757777. We also offer the guaranteed interview scheme; this means that all candidates with a disability covered by the Equality Act 2010, who meet the minimum entry requirements for the role, will be invited to attend an interview.

ERSOU supports both agile and flexible working requests where operational possible.

Your personal welfare is very important to us and therefore you may be required to attend regular welfare/ psychological meetings.  

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

For further information about this role Please email; paul.fitzsimmons@beds.police.uk

For mileage from your home address to the working location please contact: ersou.recruitment@herts.pnn.police.uk

If you are an internal applicant working within BCH (Bedfordshire Police, Cambridgeshire Constabulary or Hertfordshire Constabulary), please upload either your CV or a completed internal role summary form. This form can be found in the attached documents. Please note you will still be required to evidence against the competencies listed above and the entry requirements as stipulated in the role profile. 

If you are an external applicant, please ensure you upload your CV and evidence against the competencies listed above and the entry requirements as stipulated in the role profile. To ensure the recruitment process is fair and equal, please do not include any personal details on your CV, other than your name. An internal role summary form should not be completed. 

This vacancy is live to those at risk of redundancy and will remain open to redeployees until the conditional offer stage throughout the recruitment process. Any redeployee that wishes to apply should apply through the Redeployment Portal and provide a statement no more than 500 words against the entry requirements only. Please see attached role profile for guidance. Redeployees will take priority over other applicants at any point during the recruitment process up until conditional offer.

Everyone at Bedfordshire Police takes personal responsibility to help create an inclusive workplace, where police officers and staff respect one another, feel valued for their differences and can be themselves. We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments, wherever needed so everyone feels welcome and can flourish. 

It is recommended that you download and store a copy of the role profile as this will no longer be available once the advert has closed. ‘Following the application deadline, if you have not been contacted regarding your application within 2 weeks then unfortunately, it is likely that you have not been shortlisted for the role’.

All applications must be submitted through our online recruitment website by clicking the apply button below.

12 June 2022

This opportunity is closed to applications.