Compliance Officer Apprentice

About this role

Details

A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

GBP

Job grade

Executive Officer

Business area

DWP - Counter Fraud, Compliance and Debt

Type of role

Investigation

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

Number of jobs available

17

Contents

• Location
• About the job
• Benefits
• Things you need to know
• Apply and further information

About the job

Job summary

Do you have an inquisitive mind? Do you enjoy engaging with customers? If so, we need you!

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is responsible for welfare, pensions and child maintenance policy, and is responsible for helping people move into employment, supporting pensioners and protecting some of the most vulnerable people in our society. Counter Fraud Compliance and Debt (CFCD) aims to reduce fraud, error and debt within the benefit system, to protect the public purse.

As part of CFCD, you will be at the heart of DWP’s efforts to reduce fraud and error in the benefit system. This is a hugely important public service, and our challenge is greater than ever.

If you want to join an organisation that recognises the importance of work-life balance, where you can develop new skills and progress your career, then CFCD is the place for you.

Job description

Your work as an Apprentice Compliance Officer will involve different aspects subject to changing business priorities, therefore we need people who are adaptable and flexible.

The job may include a range of duties, with the following provided as examples:

• Conduct robust and challenging interviews by telephone or in person in accordance with all legal and policy requirements, pursuing all reasonable lines of enquiry. Ensuring declarations and changes have been reported at the right time and taking appropriate corrective action if errors are found.
• Ensure quality standards are maintained through adherence to all DWP policy and procedures, and CFCD operational instructions.
• Work collaboratively, effectively and flexibly within a team and contribute towards team expectations.
• Promote fraud awareness within DWP and to wider external business partners.
• Gather, verify, and assess all available information to submit to the appropriate Decision Maker to enable accurate benefit reassessment and overpayment calculation.
• Maintain accurate records and retain relevant evidence, redacting and annotating sensitive material when appropriate.
• Liaise with other departments/organisations within the framework of any existing partnership agreements.
• Prioritise workload in line with conflicting and changing priorities.

Due to the nature of this role, there will be occasional travel and overnight stays.

Person specification

Key criteria

• Demonstrate effective, flexible leadership and communication skills with an ability to reach a diverse audience and be prepared to engage effectively with our partners.
• Have excellent organisational and planning capabilities.
• Demonstrate strong judgement and decision-making skills.
• Present information to internal and external audiences in a professional and credible manner.
• Be able to work effectively as an individual and as part of a team.
• Deal appropriately with challenging and vulnerable individuals through effective use of interview techniques and strong communication skills.
• Inspire others through positivity, drive and energy to achieve outcomes and deliver change.
• Be willing to travel between sites if required depending on business needs.
• Have the ability to work in a demanding and complex environment with changing priorities.

Webinar event

We will be holding a webinar event to let you know more about these roles. This will take place on 05/10/2026 between 1-2pm. Please follow the link to register for the session. 482532 - Compliance Officer Apprentice

* If the webinar page does not open, please check that pop-ups are enabled on your browser.*

Those who attend may be contacted following the event for evaluation purposes to improve our service.

Learning requirements

The DWP is committed to investing in people and developing a professional workforce. It is a requirement for people working within DWP counter fraud to attain, and retain, membership of the Government Counter Fraud Profession (GCFP) at Practitioner level

During your apprenticeship you will be asked to produce a portfolio of work demonstrating your learning and use of different compliance tools and techniques which may include:

• Interview techniques and questions
• GDPR – what it is, why it’s important
• Legislation relevant to the role

The Public Sector Compliance Investigation and Officer Apprenticeship is expected to take up to 22 months to complete, however the full learning journey for this role will take up to 25 months. You will be given time out from your role to work on your apprenticeship. You must be committed to seeing through the apprenticeship and completing the qualification within the appropriate time period.

You will be supported by your line manager, skills coach, fellow apprentices, DWP Apprenticeship Team and the Government Counter Fraud Profession team within CFCD. You will have access to a variety of sources of encouragement to help you succeed. There is a lot to learn and do, so you need to be proactive, work hard and participate in the many opportunities you will be given to showcase your skills.

Please Note - Successful appointments to this role will be subject to completion of the apprenticeship programme. Failure to comply or failure to achieve the required apprenticeship may be dealt with under disciplinary or poor performance procedures and may lead to termination of the employment contract or exceptionally, redeployment into another DWP role

The apprenticeship for the Apprentice Compliance Officer role is designed to work towards achieving Category A Investigator practitioner level membership of the Government Counter Fraud Profession (GCFP). On achievement of the apprenticeship, you will be required to complete an annual self-assessment to evidence your knowledge, skills, and experience.

Further information on the Public Sector Compliance Investigation and Officer Apprenticeship can be found attached at the bottom of this advert.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for this appointment and the apprenticeship funding, there are a number of eligibility criteria set out by the DWP. Full details can be found at Apprenticeship funding rules: 2026 to 2027 . Candidates should ensure that they can meet these before applying. Some key points are listed below:

• Have the right to live and work in the UK valid for the full 22-month duration of the apprenticeship and associated learning journey.
• Must have lived in the UK and/or EEA for 3 years prior to apprenticeship start date or hold some form of exemption see DWP funding rules Annex A
• Not be in full-time education or be already undertaking another apprenticeship by the apprenticeship start date. If you are 16 or 17 you are required to stay in full time education or training until you are 18 – commencing this apprenticeship will allow you to meet this requirement.
• You must not hold an existing qualification at the same or higher level in a similar subject to the apprenticeship. A qualification in a non-related subject would be acceptable.
• You must not already have significant previous work experience covering the knowledge, skills and behaviours demonstrated in the apprenticeship standard Public sector compliance investigator and officer. If you have already worked in a similar field such as fraud, compliance or debt management, you should consider applying for other vacancies that do not require you to complete the apprenticeship, as too much relevant experience will make you ineligible and we would need to withdraw the offer in these circumstances.