Financial Investigator

About this role

The role will be based at our offices at 2-4 Cockspur Street, London, SW1Y 5BS, in central London, however, please note that we are due to move to Canary Wharf in early 2027. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas. Informal hybrid working arrangements apply and there is an expectation that staff will attend the office regularly. Work pattern and office attendance will be agreed with successful candidates.

Job Summary

The SFO is a unique law enforcement organisation which both investigates and prosecutes the top tier of fraud, bribery and corruption and related money laundering. We bring the skills of our lawyers, investigators, accountants, analysts and administrators together on every case from the outset and work closely with law enforcement and prosecution partners in the UK and overseas.

You will work in the Proceeds of Crime and International Assistance Division (POCIAD), playing a key role in delivering the SFO’s strategic objective to deliver justice for victims and recover the proceeds of financial crime.

As a Financial Investigator, you will manage a varied caseload of proceeds of crime investigations. You will use investigative and financial analysis skills to identify lines of enquiry, criminal benefit, realisable assets and recoverable property, and pursue appropriate asset recovery outcomes.

Your work may include restraint and confiscation investigations, civil recovery, cash seizure and forfeiture, account freezing and forfeiture, listed asset investigations, money laundering investigations and the enforcement of confiscation orders. You will work closely with POCIAD lawyers, SFO case teams and UK and overseas law enforcement partners.

POCIAD also includes specialist functions covering International Assistance, Enforcement, and Crypto & Digital Asset work. Depending on business need, Financial Investigators may be expected to assist with International Assistance work. Candidates may also be assigned to particular proceeds of crime, Enforcement or Crypto & Digital Asset teams having regard to business need, existing skills and experience, and development requirements. Candidate preferences will be taken into consideration where possible during the allocation process.

Successful candidates will undertake a structured six-month secondment with one of the SFO’s criminal investigation teams before commencing Financial Investigator training. This provides experience of the SFO’s wider investigative work and forms part of the development pathway towards Financial Investigator accreditation. As part of ongoing professional development, successful candidates will undertake relevant asset recovery training and achieve and maintain required external accreditation.

Job Description

As a Financial Investigator you will be responsible for

• Planning and conducting restraint and confiscation investigations, using analytical skills to identify lines of enquiry, criminal benefit and realisable assets, with the aim of obtaining and enforcing confiscation orders that may be used to compensate victims of crime.
• Conducting investigations into suspected money laundering offences, gathering evidence capable of supporting criminal proceedings, including obtaining statements from third-party witnesses and interviewing suspects under caution.
• Conducting financial intelligence enquiries, analysing information from a range of sources and developing financial profiles to identify assets, financial relationships and reasonable lines of enquiry.
• Undertaking investigations into cash seizure and forfeiture, account freezing and forfeiture, listed assets and civil recovery where appropriate.
• Taking appropriate investigative action to support the effective enforcement of confiscation orders and maximise asset recovery.
• Producing robust witness statements in a high standard of written English in support of court applications or to introduce evidence in criminal proceedings.
• Identifying and using appropriate investigative powers to acquire material, including obtaining court orders and warrants under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
• Liaising with criminal case teams, attending case conferences and providing progress reports, and working with other government departments and law enforcement agencies in the UK and overseas where required.

For more information about the role and for a full list of key responsibilities, please see attached Job Pack.

As a Financial Investigator You Will Be Responsible For

• Planning and conducting restraint and confiscation investigations, using analytical skills to identify lines of enquiry, criminal benefit and realisable assets, with the aim of obtaining and enforcing confiscation orders that may be used to compensate victims of crime.
• Conducting investigations into suspected money laundering offences, gathering evidence capable of supporting criminal proceedings, including obtaining statements from third-party witnesses and interviewing suspects under caution.
• Conducting financial intelligence enquiries, analysing information from a range of sources and developing financial profiles to identify assets, financial relationships and reasonable lines of enquiry.
• Undertaking investigations into cash seizure and forfeiture, account freezing and forfeiture, listed assets and civil recovery where appropriate.
• Taking appropriate investigative action to support the effective enforcement of confiscation orders and maximise asset recovery.
• Producing robust witness statements in a high standard of written English in support of court applications or to introduce evidence in criminal proceedings.
• Identifying and using appropriate investigative powers to acquire material, including obtaining court orders and warrants under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
• Liaising with criminal case teams, attending case conferences and providing progress reports, and working with other government departments and law enforcement agencies in the UK and overseas where required.

For more information about the role and for a full list of key responsibilities, please see attached Job Pack.

Person specification

See above and attached Job Pack.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together

Alongside your salary of £38,151, Serious Fraud Office contributes £11,052 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

Option to join the Civil Service pension scheme. For further details, click here http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/pensions

Generous annual leave provision of 25 days which increases to 30 days after five years’ service plus an additional day in recognition of the King’s Birthday and the option to buy or sell up to five days’ leave per year. Different terms may apply if you are already a Civil Servant.

Discretionary performance-related bonus scheme.

Interest-free season travel ticket, bicycle loan and cycle to work scheme.

Access to the Rental Deposit Salary Advance Scheme which assists employees in meeting the costs of deposits for privately rented homes.

Opportunities for learning and development.

Flexible working arrangements and family-friendly policies.

Voucher for eye care and discounted spectacles.

Access to a range of discounts through membership of the Civil Service Sports and Social Club, CSSC Sports and Leisure. http://www.cssc.co.uk/

Maternity and paternity leave provision over and above the statutory entitlements.

Access to My CPS Rewards Gateway.