Head of Risk, Assurance and Counter Fraud

HM Treasury

Education
Benefits
Special Commitments

Contents

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

This post can be based in London (1 Horse Guards Road), Norwich (Rosebery Court) or Darlington (Feethams House).

About the job

Job summary

HM Treasury

If you’re interested in making a difference to people’s lives, the Treasury can offer you an exciting opportunity to influence decision making that affects the whole of the UK. Working at the heart of government, we collaborate across government to promote responsible public spending and drive strong and sustainable economic growth. 

Our work ranges from protecting customers through the regulation of the financial sector, helping to reduce carbon emissions and creating a greener economy, to promoting British trade around the world and supporting people across the country on jobs, growth and more. 

We are part of the Darlington Economic Campus, a pioneering new cross-government hub which brings people together to play an active role in the most important issues of the day whilst working closer to the communities we serve. The campus provides the opportunity for people from all over the UK to help shape the future of the country, and our flexible working practices ensure you can collaborate effectively with our partners. It’s central government, made more accessible to you! 

Job description

Corporate Centre

The Corporate Centre Group delivers a wide range of corporate services to enable people at the Treasury and many of the other organisations who form part of the Treasury Group (including the Government Internal Audit Agency and the Debt Management Office) to operate effectively and efficiently. We are a diverse group, both in terms of our professions and in our ways of working. Our colleagues are based across 3 sites in London, Darlington and Norwich. 

The Corporate Centre Group consists of a range of teams and is led by two directors (one of Finance and one of Operations): 

  • Correspondence and Information Rights 
  • Finance & Commercial 
  • People & Capability 
  • Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging 
  • Treasury Business Solutions
  • Exchequer Funds & Accounts team 

About the team

The Treasury's Finance Team in the Corporate Centre Group provides financial advice and accurate information for parliamentary control and public accountability. We also maintain risk and fraud processes and are part of the 10,000 strong Government Finance Function, supporting the finance community in the civil service.

Finance is made up of approximately 50 staff based across London, Norwich and Darlington sites.

About the job

This role is in the Finance Function and is central to the department steering and delivering against a broad span of key areas. You will lead enterprise risk management, assurance, and counter fraud, collaborating closely with senior partners such as the Treasury Audit and Risk Committee, Permanent Secretary, internal auditors, and the National Audit Office. Building relationships with other collaborators, you will identify and understand risks and provide advice at both operational and strategic levels ensuring it is visible and joined up.

Your ability to communicate clearly will allow you to explain intricate issues and your thought process in a way that is easily comprehensible. Additionally, you will emphasize the importance and benefits of counter fraud, risk management, and assurance to the organization. Your persistence in overcoming challenges and implementing your ideas is crucial.

You will embrace a program of continuous improvement, focusing on implementing good practice to drive efficiency and innovation in risk management, assurance, and counter fraud.

We are looking for a self-starter and a strong leader with the skill to articulate a vision, engage and motivate people to deliver results. You will support the ongoing learning and development of your team and demonstrate dedication to inclusive team values.

Key responsibilities include:

  1. Ensuring strong strategic control of operational risk management in the department to meet government requirements (the Orange Book) and departmental risk appetite.
  2. Promote standard methodologies and processes across the department and our arm's length bodies to foster a culture of learning and improvement for counter fraud management.
  3. Build the maturity of our Counter Fraud strategy and ensure compliance with government standards. Collaborate with partners on strategic priorities including the Public Sector Fraud Authority to combat fraud in the department. Improve the capability of counter fraud within the group by contributing to cross government policy development.
  4. Develop and lead a continual improvement strategy that drives standard methodology, efficiency, and innovation across risk, assurance, and counter fraud.
  5. Engage with collaborators at all levels to address operational risks, assurance, and counter fraud, and represent the department to the wider functional communities and Government Risk Profession.
  6. Responsible for managing the Public Bodies Review Programme to systematically assess the form, function of oversight of arm’s length bodies within the group. Engaging with ministers and other government entities, and providing regular reports at a senior level.
  7. Contribute to the department's assurance framework for the Treasury Group. Integrate risk and assurance procedures into frameworks. Provide effective oversight of internal and external audit work. Identify thematic recommendations and develop a program of continual improvement.

Management Responsibilities

8. Leading and mentoring the Risk, Assurance and Counter Fraud Team, building the capability of others and encouraging a collaborative inspiring environment.

9. Contribute to the wider management of the Finance team through working with the other team leads and the Deputy Directors of Finance.

Desirable Qualifications:

  • Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies (CCAB) qualified
  • Membership of the Government Counter Fraud Profession (GCFP) and/or relevant qualifications in counter fraud assessment/investigation is also preferred.

Candidate Drop-In Session 

The hiring manager will be running a candidate drop-in session for this role to give you greater insight about the role as well as the chance to learn more about HM Treasury and ask any questions you may have. If you would like to join us, then use the appropriate link below to join the call at the right time. 

18 February 2025 – 16:30 to 17:00

If you would like to speak to the hiring manager informally prior to the closing date for applications to find out more about the job, please contact Vikki Lewis – Vikki.lewis@hmtreasury.gov.uk.

Person specification

We are looking for the below skills, experience and behaviours and we will ask you to demonstrate these in your application form. Please review the Candidate FAQ document that is attached to the advert for guidance on how to complete your application form. 

  1. Experience of risk management and assurance in a management role.
  2. Excellent stakeholder management skills with an ability to identify and build trust-based relationships with a wide range of demanding and diverse stakeholders both internal and external. Ability to constructively and effectively challenge partners and stakeholders, working collaboratively to agree and deliver solutions (Communicating and influencing).
  3. Ability to drive forward a programme of continual improvement to risk, assurance and/or counter fraud processes and reporting to deliver efficiencies and best practice (Changing and improving).
  4. Ability to understand and analyse a wide range of complex information and data and draw out key insights and risks to support decision making (Making effective decisions).

The lead criterion is Experience.

If we receive large volumes of applications, we will conduct an initial sift on the lead criterion only.

Required Qualifications:  

  1. IRM qualification (or working towards) in enterprise risk management (or equivalent) is required. 

Candidate Guidance Support Session 

We will be running an overview of Success Profiles and the STAR approach; top tips for the application and interview process and an opportunity to ask general questions around our recruitment practices. If you would like to join us, then use the link below to join the call at the right time. 

13 February 2025 - 12:30 to 13:15

At interview stage, you will be assessed on the below criteria:

  • Experience
  • Strengths
  • Behaviours:
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Changing and Improving
  • Making effective decisions
  • Developing Self and Others

Qualifications

1. IRM qualification (or working towards) in enterprise risk management (or equivalent) is required.

Behaviours

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

  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Changing and Improving
  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Developing Self and Others

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Changing and Improving
  • Making Effective Decisions

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £67,520, HM Treasury contributes £19,560 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

  • 25 days’ annual leave (rising to 30 after 5 years), plus 8 public holidays and the King's birthday (unless you have a legacy arrangement as an existing Civil Servant) 
  • Flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours) 
  • Generous parental and adoption leave package. 
  • A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and average employer contributions of 28% 
  • Onsite restaurant and coffee bar. The London office also offers a gym, showers and prayer room 
  • Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme, season ticket advances and payroll giving 
  • Access to a retail discounts and cashback site 
  • A Rental Deposit Advance Scheme to help meet the total costs of deposits for privately rented homes 
  • A range of active staff networks, based around interests and diversity

Flexible Working Arrangements

HM Treasury views flexible working as essential in enabling us to recruit and retain talented people, ensuring that they can enjoy a long-lasting career with us. All employees have the right to apply for flexible working and there are a range of options available including; part-time, compressed hours and job sharing. Additionally, we operate flexitime systems, allowing employees the flexibility to adjust their working patterns throughout the week which is subject to operational needs and line management approval. 

At HM Treasury we have an incredibly broad remit; our work touches every citizen of the country. So, it’s important our employees come from the widest possible range of backgrounds, bringing us the widest possible range of perspectives and ways of thinking. We are committed to ensuring that all staff can realise their potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance. 

HM Treasury operates an office based working approach across all Treasury sites - Darlington, London, and Norwich, and along with the rest of the Civil Service, has an expectation of a minimum of 60% attendance in the office, along with working remotely. This blended working approach allows you to work collaboratively, meet stakeholders face to face, support others and promotes a healthy work life balance (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review. All our offices have been recently modernised and designed to collaborate and connect with colleagues as well as desk and quiet space to allow a range of ways to work.

The office working expectation is linked to the location of the role. If you apply to a post in a single location, then you will not be able to meet this expectation at any of our other sites or move your role to another location. 

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

  • Name : Vikki Lewis
  • Email : vikki.lewis@hmtreasury.gov.uk

Recruitment team

  • Email : hrrecruitment@hmtreasury.gov.uk

Further information

Complaints Process: Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of appointment based on fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact HMT by email at: hrrecruitment@hmtreasury.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment.

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