Digital Forensic Compliance Lead - Stratford

Digital Forensic Compliance Lead - Stratford About the job

Job summary

Discover a career in your hands at HMRC. Whether you're seeking purpose, growth, or a workplace that gives you a true sense of belonging, hear from some of our employees as they share their story about what it's really like to work at HMRC.

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About Fraud Investigation Service

HMRC's Fraud Investigation Service (FIS) is responsible for the department's civil and criminal investigations. FIS ensures that HMRC has an effective approach to tackling the most serious tax evasion and fraud.

FIS is home to a wide range of people with a variety of skills and professional backgrounds - including accountants, cybercrime specialists, criminal justice professionals, tax professionals and operational delivery teams to name a few. We use a range of powers and approaches to protect funding for UK public services, investigating the most harmful tax cheats and ensuring none are beyond our reach. We target a variety of threats, including complex offshore evasion, international smuggling of illicit excise goods, exports of controlled weapons and technology, labour market abuses, money laundering, VAT and Self-Assessment repayment frauds and a host of other fraudulent attacks.

Within FIS, we have the Covert Operations, Digital Exploitation (CODE) team. They work across Law Enforcement and government providing investigative tools and covert techniques to front-line investigations. CODE works with key partners to develop and provide access to new technology and systems, enabling investigators to respond to serious and complex tax evasion and crime.

The Forensic Services Senior Leadership Team (SLT) currently consists of 5 roles:
- Head of Forensics
- Digital Forensic Operational Lead
- Research and Technical Management Lead
- Business and Quality Assurance Lead
- People Management Lead

The successful candidate will largely be working with, and alongside, SLT to collaborate and lead the team across all sites.

Job description

This post sits within the CODE Deputy Directorate of Fraud Investigation Service (FIS) reporting to the Head of Forensic Services. There is an expectation that the post-holder will play an important role in developing and upskilling talent within FIS and help educate case teams. They will also be expected to handle complaints and provide reporting to Senior Civil Service colleagues across FIS and RIS.

The successful candidates will be expected to help contribute towards building and inspiring further capability in C&FS, supporting the delivery of new approaches aligned with the Forensic Science Regulator (FSR) Code of Practice (CoP) and ISO17025.

With a track record of deep forensic analysis and experience of using the full array of digital forensic tools on the HMRC estate, the successful candidates will also work closely with operational colleagues across HMRC to hone existing services and develop new services.

Candidates will be responsible for the line management of some senior members of the team and the quality assurance of their forensics activity, primarily in the Stratford Regional Centre.

Training:

Depending on existing experience, you will be expected to undertake forensic based training, ranging from in-house training to external courses.

Please note: Security Check (SC) clearance level, either already held or willing to obtain, is a requirement of this role. Please see Additional Security Information and Security sections below.

Person specification

Key Responsibilities

• Act as a Lead Forensic case advisor to all staff within C&FS, making decisions on how to proceed with the case handling, and handling new types of high impact cases, including support to FIS Civil teams where appropriate and undertaking the large and complex criminal investigation cases.
• Play an active role in shaping the future direction of C&FS, working closely with Law Enforcement partners and introducing new approaches and techniques alongside other members of the C&FS SLT.
• Ensure compliance of digital forensic casework and case handling in line with our documented policies and procedures and helping safeguard against error.
• Have a technical overview of how digital forensics is done and you will work with the Operational Lead and the Research & Technical Management Lead of C&FS by contributing to improving overall working practices across all sites.
• Mentor & coach colleagues, looking at practitioners' skillsets and casework to identify where there is a requirement for further development and where trends in knowledge gaps exist.
• Have responsibility for identifying training needs and assist in the enabling of forensic competency across the team in line with the FSR CoP.
• Maintain an advanced forensics skillset in both mobile and computer-based technologies, whilst working alongside other members of Senior Leadership Team to continue to create, inspire and nurture a culture of innovation and 'fail safe' environments.
• Act as an ambassador for HMRC digital forensics in the forensic community, along with other members of Senior Leadership Team engaging with Digital Forensics at conferences and forums on a regular basis and looking at how others are performing the same work.
• On occasion, and as deemed necessary, acting as part of operational command when the team are supporting large case teams on large scale search operations across the country.
• Work closely with the teams People Lead and The People Team you will be required to police staff locations, ensuring there is a fair balance of home and office working. Ensuring the office attendance remains within the HMRC limitations along with further assistance with HRS matters.
• Support the head of forensics in provision of digital forensics input to senior HMRC stakeholders.
• Liaise with an eDiscovery digital evidence review Lead to ensure the flow of data from the digital forensics to the eDiscovery platforms happens properly and seamlessly.

Essential Criteria:

• Proven experience in handling and leading in large and complex digital forensic cases.
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Direct and recent experience of digital forensics as a practitioner, with working knowledge of prominent tooling (e.g. FTK, NUIX or X-Ways Forensics) in a law enforcement environment - supported by certifications.
• Understanding of UK legal system - the successful candidate will not only have experience of testifying and/or providing witness statements in support of digital forensic cases but they will have actively overseen the quality assurance of digital forensics activity in support of investigations.
• Proven track record of managing forensic services in the context of Legal Professional Privilege (LPP).
• Demonstrate experience and knowledge of working to the FSR CoP and ISO 17025.

Desirable Criteria:

• Knowledge and understanding of criminal justice procedures including the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (IPA) and the Police Act 1997.
• Previous experience working in a Law Enforcement / legal environment.
• Experience working in or with public sector organisations or regulated environments.
• Line Management experience.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £63,397, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £18,366 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 Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

How to Apply

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

• A name-blind CV, consisting of 3 sections: Employment History, Qualifications and Previous Skills/Experience. Please demonstrate your technical skills and experience, as outlined under Essential Criteria, in the Previous Skills section, this is what you will be scored against. (Please do not exceed 500-words in each of the Employment History & Previous Skills boxes).
• A 1000-word Personal Statement, describing how your skills and experience would make you suitable for the role, and how you meet the Essential Criteria and Person Specification outlined in the advert.

Please also provide a statement (max 250-words) for the Desirable Criteria, if applicable to you, on the application form. This is not essential for the role but may be considered by the vacancy-holder where candidates have the same scores at sift or interview.

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

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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Sift

In the event of a large number of applications being received, an initial sift may be held on theCV.

At full sift your CV and Personal Statement will be assessed, with the successful candidates being invited to 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 Behaviour-based questions on all those listed above, and Strength-based questions to explore what you enjoy and your motivations relevant to the role.

You will also be asked to prepare and deliver a Presentation, of up to 10-minutes, to assess your Experience. Further details will be provided in advance of interview.

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 face to face in Stratford or Nottingham.

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: [email protected] - 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.


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.


Merit List

After interview, a single merit list will be created, and you will only be considered for posts in locations you have expressed a preference for. Appointments will be made in strict merit order in line with the set number of roles in each location.

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 [email protected] 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.

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.

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).