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Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
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Job summary
We encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates
At DfE, we are proud of the commitment we make to diversity and inclusion and of the progress we have made. We have active & vibrant staff networks, special leave policies and workplace adjustments put in place for those who need them. We are continuing to build a diverse DfE, in an inclusive environment which nurtures and realises potential in all, at all levels.
Equality and Diversity – Department for Education
At the ESFA (Department for Education), we are offering you the chance to play a key role in our fight against fraud and protecting public funds.
We are recruiting a counter fraud professional with a desire to make a real and tangible difference to the Agencys counter fraud response.
We are seeking an individual who:
- Is creative, energetic and wishes to make a difference to the lives of children, young people and adults accessing public funding for education and skills.
- Have experience of delivering outcomes in counter fraud and/or investigation.
- Understand the principles of effective counter fraud measures, is instinctively inquisitive, and able to challenge supportively and effectively.
- Able to produce and deliver presentations and having effective communication skills and the ability to influence others.
About us:
Department for Education (DfE)
The Department is responsible for childrens services and education, including early years, schools, higher and further education policy, apprenticeships, and wider skills in England. The Departments vision is to provide world-class education and care that allows every child and young person to reach his or her potential regardless of background.
Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA)
The ESFA is an executive agency, sponsored by the DfE, which provides £67billion of funding. The Agency regulates academies, FE colleges, employers and training providers, intervening where there is risk of failure and/or where there is evidence of mismanagement of public funds.
Counter Fraud and Prevention (CFP)
CFP is a national team of specialist professionals which sits within the Finance & Provider Market Oversight Directorate. CFP is responsible to ensure public funds are used for the purposes intended and taking appropriate action where required.
The Counter Fraud Teams work is a key function to enable the ESFA to respond to the requirements of the Government Counter Fraud Functional Standards (GovS013). This includes focusing on the Agencys strategic priorities, identification of fraud risks and our continuous improvement.
Job description
This is an exciting and demanding role where you can really make a difference helping our fight against fraud and championing our Counter Fraud work.
As a member of the Counter Fraud Team, you will deliver on key areas of our Counter Fraud Delivery Plan, both across the agency and to the education sector. You will be expected to work effectively with key partners to establish effective joint-working arrangements, essential for delivering the prioritised actions.
The focus of this role initially is to deliver on our stakeholder engagement and counter fraud communication plan, to assist the ESFA strategy to prevent, detect, deter and protect the ESFA and the public purse. Some key areas will be:
- Lead on engagement with internal and external stakeholders.
- Maintain an anti-fraud culture within ESFA through awareness raising, training and other internal communication.
- Raise awareness of counter fraud in the sector through external communications and help with our offering to upskill the sector.
- Embedding knowledge, tools, and training to increase capability and knowledge of counter fraud risks.
- Our continuous improvement and lessons learnt.
As a member of the Counter Fraud Team there will be an expectation to deliver other counter fraud work, as part of the counter fraud delivery plan.
This will include but is not limited to:
- Fraud Risk Assessments
- Assisting and monitoring our Counter Fraud Governance
- Innovation and intelligence sharing and effective use of data
- Ensuring compliance against the government counter fraud functional standards and best practice
Person specification
Key responsibilities will include but are not limited to:
- Support the Counter Fraud Strategic Lead to deliver a Counter Fraud Framework and contributing to the wider support of the Counter Fraud and Prevention Division.
- Lead on the Stakeholder Engagement and Fraud Communication Plan for both internal and external stakeholders.
- Contribute to the ESFA counter fraud governance arrangements, which includes providing assurance on the Counter Fraud Strategy and our Counter Fraud response.
- Engaging with stakeholders across government and the counter fraud profession to keep on top of leading practice in prevention.
- Deliver the ESFA continuous improvement process.
Wider team contribution
- Identify lessons learned arising from fraud issues identified and share best practice.
- Contribute and support the wider delivery tasks of the Counter Fraud and Prevention Division and the Finance and Provider Market Oversight Directorate.
- Working with ESFA operational teams to identify and implement sharing of data and analytics for the detection and prevention of fraud.
Essential Skills
- Experience of working in a Counter Fraud or Investigation environment, or equivalent.
- Effective communication skills and proficient in the delivery of presentation and stakeholder engagement.
- Good interpersonal skills and a positive, enthusiastic approach to working with others.
- Ability to meet and manage deadlines and to prioritise workload accordingly.
- Ability to build effective relationships to work well in a team, and across organisational boundaries, to achieve key objectives.
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working in a Counter Fraud or Investigation environment, or equivalent.
- Effective communication skills and proficient in the delivery of presentation and stakeholder engagement.
Qualifications
- Qualified Counter Fraud professional OR able to demonstrate valued experience of working in a Counter Fraud or Investigation environment, or equivalent.
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Technical skills
We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Counter Fraud
Benefits
£10,150 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Departments transfer / promotion policies.
As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK.
You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years service. In addition, all staff receive the Kings Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days bank and public holidays.
We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
Most DfE employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending at least 60% of their time in an office or work setting. Changes to these working arrangements are available in exceptional circumstances but must be agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role.
Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DfE, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.
As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application
During the selection process we will assess you against the 4 behaviours listed in the Person specification.
Sift
At sift you will be assessed on your experience through your statement of suitability (750 words max), against the essential criteria listed in the Person specification setting out how you consider your personal skills, qualifications and experience match the requirements for the role. We will also consider your behaviour examples.
Should we receive a high number of applications, then we will perform an initial sift based on your skills and experience in your Statement of Suitability and Communicating and Influencing behaviours only. If your application is successful at the initial sift then all other behaviours will be sifted.
Sift will take place week commencing 28th August 2023 (this may be extended if large volume of applications received).
Interview
If your application is selected for interview, you will be invited to a video interview (via Microsoft Teams).
During the interview, you will be questioned on the four behaviours required for this role and technical questions about counter fraud.
You will also need to prepare a 5-minute presentation to answer the question: “What makes an effective Counter Fraud Awareness Programme?
This will be followed by short, follow-up questions.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.
Interviews will likely take place in the week commencing 11th September 2023.
Other Information
We reserve the right to raise the minimum pass mark in the event of a high volume or strong field of candidates.
Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK from the location options provided and not from overseas.
The government is committed to supporting apprenticeships, enabling people to learn and progress in a role whilst earning. We want to monitor the number of people who have completed apprenticeships who are now applying to progress further in their career and are asking this question to all candidates, on all vacancies. You will be asked a question as part of the application process about any previous apprenticeships you have completed. Your response to this question will not affect your application and it is not a requirement of the role to have completed a previous apprenticeship.
DfE cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. DfE holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Department of Education of your intention by emailing Pre-Employment.Checks.DFE@education.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Department for Education do not cover the cost of travel to your interview/assessment unless otherwise stated.
A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.
Candidates will be posted in merit order based upon location preference. Where more than one location is advertised you will be asked to state your preferred location.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
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 applicants details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
Terms and conditions of candidates transferring from ALBs and NDPBs
Bodies that are not accredited by the Civil Service Commission and are not able to advertise at Across Government on Civil Service jobs will be treated as external new starters and will come into DfE on modernised terms and conditions with a salary at the band minimum.
Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission but do not have civil service status will be offered modernised terms and will not have continuous service recognised for leave or sickness benefits. Salaries should be offered at band minimum, but there is some flexibility where this would cause a detriment to the individual.
Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission and do have Civil Service status will be treated as OGD transfers. Staff appointed on lateral transfer will move on to pre-modernised DfE terms (unless they were on modernised terms in their previous organisation). Staff appointed on promotion will move on to modernised DfE terms. Staff will transfer over on their existing salary (on lateral transfer) and any pay above the DfE pay band maximum will be paid as a mark time allowance. Staff moving on promotion will have their salaries calculated using the principles set out in the attached OGD transfer supplementary information.
Reasonable adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
Contact Department of Education via centralrecruitment.operations@education.gov.uk 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 youre deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Any move to Department for Education (DfE) will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
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Working for the Civil Service
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).
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Steven Graham
- Email : steven.graham@education.gov.uk
- Telephone : 07721393834
Recruitment team
- Email : AdvertsRecruitment.DFE@education.gov.uk
Further information
