Accredited Financial Investigator, Proceeds of Crime Team

Accredited Financial Investigator, Proceeds of Crime Team

Division: Enforcement and Market Oversight (EMO)
Department: Proceeds of Crime Team

• Salary: National (Leeds) £43,100 to £53,700 and London £47,300 to £59,000 (salary offered based on skills and experience)

• This role is graded as: Associate – Level 8 – Regulatory

• Your recruitment contact is Steve Christopher via  Applications must be submitted through our online portal. Applications sent via social media or email will not be accepted.

We regulate financial services firms in the UK, to keep financial markets fair, thriving and effective. By joining us, you’ll play a key part in protecting consumers, driving economic growth and shaping the future of UK finance services.

Enforcement & Market Oversight (EMO) is responsible for the FCA’s responsibilities for market monitoring, delivery of the functions of the UK Listing Authority (UKLA) and the investigation and prosecution of misconduct using the whole spectrum of criminal, civil and administrative sanctions and remedies against firms and individuals.

Sitting within the Wholesale and Unauthorised Business Investigations Directorate, the Proceeds of Crime Team utilise the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) and related legislation to support the FCA’s efforts to disrupt financial crime and protect market integrity. The Team is comprised of Financial Intelligence Officers, Accredited Financial Investigators / Confiscators and professional business support and provides dedicated specialist financial investigation resource to:

• Investigate, identify, restrain and confiscate criminal proceeds from convicted individuals

• Compensate victims when possible

• Enforce confiscation orders using available powers

• Apply civil powers under POCA to identify and forfeit recoverable property

• Lead complex confiscation investigations running parallel to criminal investigations conducted by EMO colleagues, targeting issues including insider dealing and unauthorised activities to protect market integrity

• Deploy advanced investigative powers to trace criminal benefit and realisable assets, including those hidden in foreign jurisdictions

• Analyse, present and evidence financial data to trace the extent and whereabouts of criminal benefit and realisable property, supporting high-stakes enforcement actions

• Draft witness statements for Restraint Orders under section 41 POCA and police those orders once obtained; draft Statements of Information under section 16 POCA for confiscation proceedings; apply for recovery orders in civil cases and ensure robust case preparation and compliance with legislation

• Support FCA counsel in court proceedings, where appropriate giving evidence and ensuring effective resolutions in Crown, High and Magistrates’ Courts

• Exercise of civil powers under Part 5 POCA; training can be provided to reach the required standard when appropriate and necessary

• Lead asset recovery that restores fairness and trust, returning illicit funds to the system and protecting millions of UK consumers through impactful work across the UK

• Build specialist expertise in financial crime enforcement, developing POCA and cross-border investigation skills, with some UK travel required and occasional overnight stays

Minimum:

• Currently accredited by the Proceeds of Crime Centre (NCA) as either:

• A Financial Investigator and Confiscator exercising Part 2 and Part 8 POCA powers, or

• A Financial Investigator exercising Part 8 POCA powers

You must also be actively working in these roles (i.e. your accreditation is not suspended) and have demonstrable experience leading investigations under POCA. Successful candidates who are not currently trained as a confiscator (under Part 2 POCA) will be expected to achieve this accreditation once in post

• Demonstrable experience of working on complex, serious financial crime or criminal investigations (e.g. NIM Level
  3) involving confiscation, asset tracing, or proceeds of crime, including setting investigation strategies and reporting to stakeholders

• Proven experience and practical application of relevant legal frameworks and investigative tools, including:

• CPIA,…