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 support teams to name but 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 nobody is beyond our reach.  

The Economic Crime (EC) deputy directorate forms an integral part of the HMRC Serious Fraud Strategy. Working closely across the department and the wider Law Enforcement community, using specialist expertise and modern technology we put illicit finance at the centre of operations. Our teams tackle the financial aspects of cases that will ultimately deter, disrupt and remove assets from tax fraudsters. 

Economic crime undermines the integrity and stability of the global economy, denies funding to critical public services and destroys lives. Criminals often seek to use legitimate channels to launder the proceeds of crime, directly enabling the trafficking of people and drugs, illegal sale of arms and the funding of terrorism.

While traditional money laundering methods are still favoured by criminals, technology is transforming the financial services landscape. With the growth of the digital economy, money launderers are looking to exploit these new technologies due to their increasing prominence, their relative ease of use, and most importantly the consistent lack of transparency.

Depending on individual circumstances and the requirements of the role, we may be able to make reasonable workplace adjustments such as flexible working, adjusting breaks and time to complete tasks, providing alternative office equipment, software etc. A successful applicant would be able to discuss this with their manager. 

Job description

• You will be responsible for leading and supporting complex Money Laundering investigations, as a user of opensource blockchain and specialist blockchain analytical tools, providing evidential reports on your findings, which you may be required to speak to in court.
• You will be expected to work as part of a core cadre of specialist investigators, collaborating on investigations, providing peer review and assurance, whilst also supporting wider operational teams in their work; strong decision making, and communication skills are therefore essential.
• You will also be responsible for the Tech Enabled Money Laundering (TEML) Team’s horizon scanning, identifying new potential threat areas relating to wider TEML work, identifying potential mitigative options, and clearly articulating these to Management. 
• You will be required to be adaptable and capable of working across multiple workstreams. 
• You will be expected to work across the Department and liaise with external law enforcement and regulatory bodies.
• Candidates will be expected to operate in a fast-moving dynamic environment. The successful candidates will be able to effectively prioritise conflicting demands, work at pace, flexibly and under pressure, make effective decisions and ensure deadlines are adhered to. 

This role will be within the FIS Threats Strategy Team, you will have responsibility for:

• Leading complex TEML investigations.
• Supporting wider FIS colleagues in money laundering cases that involve technology.
• Supporting the TEML Team’s horizon scanning activity, identifying, analysing and raising awareness of upcoming technological developments posing potential risk.
• Providing out of hours support, often at short notice, to live searches where evidence of cryptoassets are identified.
• Supporting the delivery of the Strategic Action Plan, including the delivery of a HMRC-wide professionalism pathway.
• Representing HMRC with a range of partners, both domestically and internationally.

This role will allow for specific training with external bodies and will require some travel to London and potentially overseas.

Essential Criteria

• A strong background in Civil or Criminal Investigation with wide experience of financial or tax related investigations.
• Experience of financial crime investigations, prosecution, or recovery of proceeds of crime An interest and understanding of emerging technologies such as AI/machine learning and the Metaverse.

Desirable Criteria

• A strong understanding of financial technologies, specifically blockchain and cryptoassets.
• Experience in delivering training and/or presenting to wide audiences.
• Experience of working on a criminal or civil investigation that involved financial technologies or non-traditional banking services.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £35,092, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £9,475 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%