Accredited Financial Investigator

Leeds, England, United Kingdom

7/15/2025

Division – EMO

Department - Unauthorised Business

Salary - National (Edinburgh and Leeds) ranging from £52,400 to £65,500 and London £57,700 to £72,000 per annum (Salary offered will be based on skills and experience)

About The FCA

The FCA regulates the conduct of 45,000 firms in the UK to ensure our financial markets are honest, fair and competitive. Follow this link to find out more About the FCA.

The Proceeds of Crime Team, made up of Financial Intelligence Officers, Accredited Financial Investigators and professional business support provides a dedicated specialist team with the expertise to help the FCA meet its proceeds of crime investigative responsibilities. This forms part of our credible deterrence agenda, around prosecution of criminal offences linked to our statutory objectives and remit within the Financial Services & Markets Act 2000 and Financial Services Act 2012.

We Provide Dedicated Financial Investigation Resource To

• Investigate, identify, restrain and confiscate the proceeds of criminal behaviours, seeking to remove these from convicted individuals
• Compensate victims wherever possible
• Use enforcement powers available to us to ensure confiscation orders are satisfied
• Use civil powers under Part 5 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and associated legislation to identify and forfeit recoverable property
• Undertake criminal investigations into money laundering offences under Part 7 POCA
  
  

What will you be doing?

• Responsible for undertaking confiscation investigations running parallel to criminal investigations conducted by our Enforcement colleagues, or civil recovery investigations, using POCA Part 2 / Part 5 and Part 8 powers as appropriate, including managing and planning search operations and /or other high value asset seizures, using investigative powers as necessary and appropriate, along with obtaining / making section 9 CJA 1967 witness statements, dealing with unused material, evidential reviews and planning, managing and undertaking interviews with witnesses and suspects under s357 POCA, obtaining evidence from overseas
• Drafting witness statements for Restraint Orders under section 41 POCA or applications for Property Freezing Orders under POCA Part 5, analysing, presenting and evidencing financial data to trace / show the extent and whereabouts of criminal benefit and realisable property, tracing assets in foreign jurisdictions
• Drafting Statements of Information under section 16 POCA for confiscation proceedings or to apply for recovery orders in civil cases, supporting FCA counsel in proceedings, giving evidence in the Crown Court, High Court or Magistrates’ Court where appropriate
• Supporting, coaching, mentoring and giving practical advice to junior and trainee AFIs / FIOs, addressing training and / or performance issues, as well as advising and training FCA colleagues on all aspects of the Proceeds of Crime and associated work, supporting Lead Associate colleagues or the Team Manager in attending and participating in a broad range of project work within the FCA or alongside wider LEA partner agencies, the private sector and practitioner level working groups
  
  

What will you get from the role?

Due to an expansion in the size of the team, our Proceeds of Crime Team are now recruiting for 3 Senior Associates on a permanent basis.

You will work as a member of a team supporting the effective delivery of the different investigations under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, as well as wider projects. You will work flexibly across different cases and projects, mentoring and coaching within a growing team of Accredited Financial Investigators / Financial Intelligence Officers as well as supporting the delivery of project strategy and outcomes.

Which skills are required?

We are a Disability Confident Employer; therefore, disabled people or individuals with long-term conditions who best meet the minimum criteria for a role will go through to the next stage of the recruitment process. (To learn more about the Disability Confident Scheme Click Here)

Minimum

• A current, live accreditation as a Financial Investigator and Confiscator by the Proceeds of Crime Centre (NCA) with Part 2 and Part 8 powers (minimum), currently working in an AFI and Confiscator role in a proceeds of crime environment
• A proven track record in managing and undertaking your own confiscation all in accordance with POCA, in respect of NIM level 3 investigations, setting investigative strategy and reporting to stakeholders on progress
• Current experience of using a range of tools to further financial investigations including MLAT, POCA, DPA, RIPA / IPA, PACE, CPIA legislation in addition to an understanding of different areas of jurisprudence: trust, contract, property, crime, company, insolvency and associated secondary legislation such as the Criminal and Civil Procedure Rules
  
  

Essential

• Excellent knowledge of ECHR and its impact on POCA casework
• Sound knowledge of the Serious Crime Act 2015, Criminal Finances Act 2017, Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2024 and their impact on POC work at the FCA
• Current experience of the legal obligations under Data Protection Act 2018, PACE, RIPA / IPA, Human Rights Act and CPIA
• The willingness to exercise your own judgement and initiative and be prepared to make and justify recommendations to Team management
• Strong analytical and investigative skills
• Strong drafting skills, communication and interpersonal skills
• A "can-do" attitude and the ability to work under pressure and meet challenging deadlines
• Experience of coaching and mentoring current and new AFIs / FIOs to achieve, maintain and improve the necessary skills and capabilities of the POC Team
  
  

Our Values & Diversity

We are proud to be an inclusive employer and our ambition is to cultivate a culture for all employees that respects their individual strengths, views, and experiences. We believe that our differences and similarities enable us to be a better organisation – one that makes better decisions, drives innovation, and delivers better regulation.

Within the workplace you will have access to various employee resource groups which aim to promote and achieve a healthy work / life balance and support our diversity ambitions.

Did you know? 50% of our Executive Committee were the first in their family to attend university.

Benefits Of Working At The FCA

• 25 days holiday per year plus bank holidays
• Hybrid working (work from home up to 60% of your time)
• Private healthcare with Bupa 
• A non-contributory Pension of at least 8% of basic salary each month (there are several contribution levels that increase depending on your age – up to 12% a month once you reach age 35) 
• Life assurance of eight times your basic salary 
• Income protection 
  
  

We also have a competitive flexible benefits scheme which gives you the opportunity to create a personalised benefits package, tailored to suit your lifestyle.

We welcome applications from candidates who are looking for flexible arrangements.  Many of our staff work flexibly including working part-time, staggered hours, and job shares.  We can’t promise to give you exactly what you want but we can explore what might work best for both sides.

Follow this link to see what life is like at the FCA - Life at the FCA

Application Support

We are dedicated to removing barriers and ensuring our application process is accessible to everyone. We offer a range of adjustments to make your application experience as comfortable and straightforward as possible.

If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition requiring changes to the recruitment process, please contact your recruiter using the details below and they will be happy to discuss this further with you.

Useful Information and Timeline

• This role is graded as Senior Associate (Regulatory)
• SC Clearance is required for this role - SC Guidance. The successful candidate will hold or will be required to obtain Security Clearance (SC) level vetting.
• Advert Closing Date: 27th July
• CV Review/Shortlist: 28th - 29th July
• First Round Case Study Assessment: w/c 4th August
• Competency Based Interview: w/c 11th August
  
  

Your Recruiter will discuss the process in detail with you during screening for the role, therefore, please make them aware if you are going to be unavailable for any date during this time.

Got a question?

If you are interested in learning more about the role, please contact Raimonda at [email protected]

Applications must be submitted through our online portal. Applications sent via email will not be accepted.