Job Description

The Service & Team:

This is an exciting senior role within the Fraud and Insurance Team of the Audit Service.

The Role:

The post holder will be an experienced counter fraud professional, reporting to the Fraud and Insurance Manager who will lead and deliver investigations, some of which may be complex and/or high risk, provide expert advice, and support the development of team capability. The role is varied and requires a detailed analytical approach; conflicting priorities will need to be managed to deliver outcomes for the team and wider Council.

Engagement with internal and external partners is essential to the success of the team; the post holder will build effective working relationships, oversee responses to requests for information, and use data analysis to identify risk, target activity, and progress investigations. This role leads investigations into Council Tax Support, Council Tax Discounts and Exemptions, and tenancy fraud, for example, and may support other counter-fraud activity such as National Fraud Initiative (NFI) work as required.

This is a public/customer-facing role, where the statutory English language requirement for public sector workers applies.

This position will be subject to an enhanced criminal record disclosure check.

Working Pattern:

This is a 12-month fixed term contract of 2 days per week, the days are negotiable.

What you’ll need to succeed:

Essential skills and qualifications for the post:

Fully qualified Accredited Counter-Fraud Specialist (ACFS) or Accredited Counter-Fraud Manager (ACFM) or equivalent.

Educated to degree standard or demonstrable higher education achievement and a member of a professional body with clear evidence of continuing professional development.

Extensive experience of investigations, both conducting and supervising as well as holding detailed knowledge to ensure that all fraud cases comply with the Criminal Procedures and Investigation Act 1996 (CPIA), Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE), the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA), the Human Rights Act and the Social Housing Fraud Act.

Demonstrable successful track record of operating in a similar role with a high level, thorough knowledge of current legislation or issues affecting Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Council Tax Support, other Department for Work and Pensions Benefits and Housing Tenancy legislation with particular knowledge of Benefit Fraud related law, legislation and practice.

High level experience of customer/public contact demonstrating excellent communication and interpersonal skills both written and verbal as well as proven ability to represent the Council at Court and at Tribunals.

Experience of working in a professional manner when dealing with internal and external parties, exercising a high political awareness to ensure that Council objectives are met.

Proven ability of facilitating closer working with Department for Work and Pensions and SFIS counterparts and producing/maintaining Partnership Agreements between the organisations.

Please read the role profile for the full details of this role attached below in this advert

What you’ll get in return:

Cornwall Council’s ambition is to be an employer of choice, a high performing Council and a learning organisation. We commit to providing a reward and benefits package to attract, motivate and reward our employees. We offer a range of flexible working options to our staff. This helps provide our employees with a greater work/life balance. Whilst still ensuring that service needs are met.

Our core employee rewards and benefits include:

· a competitive salary.

· a defined benefit pension scheme, based on your career average earnings. This includes the option for extra voluntary contributions

· a generous annual leave entitlement with the potential to purchase additional leave.

· A national award-winning employee health and wellbeing programme

· Employee benefits scheme giving employees access to a wide range of discounts to local and national goods and services.

Additional Information:

Cornwall Council is unable to offer visa sponsorship or transfer existing sponsorship for this role.

The full role profile is attached here

We recommend saving a copy of this to refer to if you are invited to an interview.

For more information or an informal chat about the role please contact Jason Pengilly, Fraud and Insurance Manager at Jason.pengilly@cornwall.gov.uk

Application Process

Please attach a supporting statement to your application, you can add your Education & Qualifications details manually using the application form timeline or you can upload your CV. Remember to demonstrate why you are suitable against each of the points marked as ‘Application’ on the Role Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience, which clearly illustrates what you did and the effect it had. Guidance on how to complete your application can be found here – The application process

Please note that applications cannot be edited after they have been submitted, please contact careers@cornwall.gov.uk if you have any queries or require assistance with your application.

Existing employees must apply using their Cornwall Council email address through the Opportunity Marketplace on Oracle.