Head of Counter Fraud and Investigations
Posted 5 days 22 hours ago by UK Shared Business Services Ltd
£125,000 - £150,000 Annual
Permanent
Full Time
Public Sector Jobs
Wiltshire, Swindon, United Kingdom, SN256
Job Description
Head of Counter Fraud and Investigations Swindon, Wiltshire, United Kingdom (Hybrid)
Job Info
Salary: £70,752 per annum.
Band:UKRI Band G.
Contract Type: Open Ended.
Hours: Full-time.
Location:Swindon, Wiltshire - Hybrid Working Available, Minimum 2 days a week in the office.
Closing Date: Sunday 8th March 2026.
About the role The Head of Counter Fraud and Investigations ensures UKRI has a comprehensive approach to prevent, deter, detect, and respond to fraud, bribery, and corruption in line with Government Functional Standard GOVS013. The role will implement the UKRI Counter Fraud, Bribery and Corruption Strategy 2025 to 2028 and will be responsible for delivering the whistleblowing, and complaints functions for UKRI.
Security As a minimum, due to the nature of this role, candidates must be eligible for clearance in line with UK National vetting guidelines and willing to undertake the process. Please indicate eligibility in the written submission. Candidates not meeting this level of clearance will not be considered. To qualify, applicants must have spent at least three of the last five years in the UK, with the two most recent years being consecutive and directly before submitting their application.
Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact .
Please note, if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you and any dependants travelling with you, will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information, please visit or contact .
About Us UKRI - UK Research and Innovation
UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.
Supporting some of the world's most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.
More information can be found at .
Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI .
How we support EDI in the workforce
At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit 'How we support EDI in the workforce'.
Disability Confident Employer
As users of the disability confident scheme, any candidate who opts into the scheme and best meets the essential criteria, will be shortlisted for interview. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
How to apply
Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the 'experience' section of the application.
. click apply for full job details
Job Info
- Job Category Internal Audit
- Apply Before 03/08/2026, 11:55 PM
- Job Identification 1978
- Posting Date 02/19/2026, 02:01 PM
- Job Shift Day
- Hours Full Time
Salary: £70,752 per annum.
Band:UKRI Band G.
Contract Type: Open Ended.
Hours: Full-time.
Location:Swindon, Wiltshire - Hybrid Working Available, Minimum 2 days a week in the office.
Closing Date: Sunday 8th March 2026.
About the role The Head of Counter Fraud and Investigations ensures UKRI has a comprehensive approach to prevent, deter, detect, and respond to fraud, bribery, and corruption in line with Government Functional Standard GOVS013. The role will implement the UKRI Counter Fraud, Bribery and Corruption Strategy 2025 to 2028 and will be responsible for delivering the whistleblowing, and complaints functions for UKRI.
Security As a minimum, due to the nature of this role, candidates must be eligible for clearance in line with UK National vetting guidelines and willing to undertake the process. Please indicate eligibility in the written submission. Candidates not meeting this level of clearance will not be considered. To qualify, applicants must have spent at least three of the last five years in the UK, with the two most recent years being consecutive and directly before submitting their application.
- Supervision of the triage of counter fraud referrals and investigations to ensure they are managed and resolved in accordance with legislation and UKRI policies.
- Maintenance of a suite of Fraud Risk Assessments and creation of linked Fraud Loss Measurement analysis to support management decision making on controls in the context of risk and the value of fraud and error that UKRI is likely to be exposed to.
- Raising staff awareness and encouraging an environment of prevention and collaborative response to fraud across UKRI.
- Proactively supervising for indicators of fraud including participation in the biannual National Fraud Initiative.
- Supervision of the management of complaints and whistle blows, so they are efficiently and effectively resolved in line with policy requirements.
- Reporting on targets and important metrics, providing the Director Risk, Assurance, Fraud Prevention and Investigative Services with clear management information on performance.
- Lead relationships with external partners on counter fraud matters.
- Managing Public Money.
- HM Treasury and Cabinet Office standards and rules, particularly in relation to: Corporate Governance; Risk management; Spending Controls; Regularity and Propriety (conflicts of interest, gifts and hospitality, ethics).
- Gov 13 Functional Standard on Fraud and all standards that apply to UKRI functional work.
- Public Interest Disclosure Act and its implementation.
- Parliamentary and Health Services Ombudsman Complaints Handling Standards.
- Extensive investigation experience, including developing and implementing effective investigation strategies and frameworks in an organisation.
- Experience collaborating with executive teams and being a trusted advisor providing expert professional advice to senior management.
- Ability to innovate and challenge established thinking in self and others, and to offer insights and ideas with practical application coupled with the ability to drive change.
- Excellent leadership skills with an ability to inspire, motivate and develop capability within a team to deliver quality outcomes.
- Experience of working with Audit Committees.
- Proven history of managing change within a context of organisational transformation.
- Experience of leading high performing teams.
- Ability to manage multiple teams, balancing needs and requirements as well as encouraging closer alignment and team working overall.
- Experience of working with internal and external agencies including the Parliamentary and Health Services Ombudsman, Public Sector Fraud Authority, or others relevant to your work experience.
- CIPD or a counter fraud qualification from the Counter Fraud Professional Awards Board. (S)
- Excellent communication skills, able to influence and build and maintain strong working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders at all levels. (S/I)
- Strong leadership abilities combined with the capacity to lead through change, encourage, motivate, and develop capability within a team. (S/I)
- Enthusiastic, motivated, adaptable, and proactive with the ability to work flexibly in a changing environment. (I)
- Capacity to generate new ideas and question existing assumptions in oneself and others, providing insights and suggestions with practical relevance alongside the capability to implement change. (S/I)
- Insightful business awareness with the ability to understand and analyse changing business context and landscape to assess and manage risk, capitalise on emerging opportunities, make sound evidence-based judgements, promote the interests of UKRI and research and innovation. (I)
- Ability to instil confidence within stakeholders at the most senior levels, acting as a trusted advisor. (I)
- Experience of managing budgets and relationships with third party service providers. (S)
- Experience of performance management and measurement. (I)
- 30 days holiday (in addition to 10.5 bank holidays and privilege days).
- An excellent defined salary pension scheme.
- Easily accessible public transport links/ free parking
- Excellent learning and development opportunities.
- Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities.
Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact .
Please note, if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you and any dependants travelling with you, will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information, please visit or contact .
About Us UKRI - UK Research and Innovation
UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.
Supporting some of the world's most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.
More information can be found at .
Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI .
How we support EDI in the workforce
At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit 'How we support EDI in the workforce'.
Disability Confident Employer
As users of the disability confident scheme, any candidate who opts into the scheme and best meets the essential criteria, will be shortlisted for interview. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
How to apply
Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the 'experience' section of the application.
. click apply for full job details