Investigations Command is the core crime fighting capability of the NCA. We take an intelligence-led approach and concentrate on tackling the criminals and risks to the public which are beyond the capability or capacity of other law enforcement bodies. Our work is largely focused on investigating Organised Immigration Crime, Human Trafficking, Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Economic Crime, Firearms, Drugs, Kidnap and Extortion and Money Laundering.
For roles based in London, your contractual place of work will be Stratford. While the Stratford site is expected to become operational from November 2025 – March 2026, you will be required to carry out your contractual duties from Vauxhall or another reasonable location on a temporary basis during the interim period.
Please note that, as Stratford will be your contractual place of work, any subsequent move from a temporary location will not entitle you to payments for travel time or costs under the Relocation and Excess Travel Policy.
Information about the Command
Investigations Command is the core crime fighting capability of the NCA. We take an intelligence-led approach and concentrate on tackling the criminals and risks to the public which are beyond the capability or capacity of other law enforcement bodies. Our work is largely focused on investigating Organised Immigration Crime, Human Trafficking, Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Economic Crime, Firearms, Drugs, Kidnap and Extortion and Money Laundering. The Investigations Command provides a flexible, shared operational capability, designed to maximise the impact of the UK’s collective resources against serious and organised crime. Our teams respond to a broad range of threats, many of which also remain a responsibility for police forces and other agencies as well as private industry.
Information about the Business Area
This DD area comprises the Complex Financial Crime Team (CFCT), Asset Denial teams, the Combatting Kleptocracy Cell (CKC), International Corruption Unit (ICU), Hardened Secure Communications (HSC) and the devolved administrations of Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The Asset Denial teams work to substantially reduce the level of serious and organised crime affecting the UK by denying criminals access to their illicit assets, recovering the proceeds of crime, and deterring and disrupting further criminality. The Asset Denial teams utilise an array of powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) and the Criminal Finances Act 2017 (CFA) to target the highest risk and most serious and organised criminals.
The Combatting Kleptocracy Cell (CKC) is a multi-functional operational unit comprised of officers from various disciplines, who work together to investigate organised crime and sanctions evasion linked to states hostile to the UK. This can involve taking action against the elites linked to the various hostile state regimes, the enablers who assist them, and the criminal proxies who act for them. Financial investigation and asset denial is fundamental to the unit’s activities.
For anyone applying for Part time/flexible working there is a minimum requirement of 24 hours a week over 3 days
Asset Denial comprises the following teams:
Asset Confiscation Enforcement (ACE)
Ensures that criminal confiscation orders are enforced and paid and also revisits orders if further additional assets come to light. Civil Recovery and Tax (CRT) – London, Belfast, Warrington
Uses POCA civil recovery and tax powers to deprive criminals of property obtained through criminality.Criminal Asset Denial team (CADT) – Birmingham, Stevenage and Nottingham
Service the restraint and confiscation requirements of the Complex Financial Crime Teams within the NCA. They also extensively use CFA asset denial powers.
Our Financial Investigators develop and progress financial investigations from tasking through to recovery through effective use of financial investigation techniques and statutory powers under POCA and CFA to erode the profit motive, thereby undermining a key incentive associated with the highest risk and serious organised crime. You will play a key role in denying criminals the use and benefit of illicit assets, supporting investigations and pursuing civil recovery and in CADT, forfeiture opportunities.
Roles are available in the CRT (Belfast, London, Warrington) and CADT teams (Birmingham, Nottingham, Stevenage) teams.
We encourage applications from candidates with accredited Financial Investigator status or candidates with lapsed accreditation as Financial Investigators (3 years or less) who are prepared to do the necessary work to reinstate that accreditation.
We also have a vacancy in the Combatting Kleptocracy Cell (CKC) team. London. Please note that it will be necessary to attain DV clearance in the role.
Manage/Lead Investigations
To lead, develop and progress complex financial investigations in accordance with NCA policy and legislative requirements and maximise the effective use of POCA, CFA and other legislation to recover the proceeds of unlawful conduct.
Intelligence Gathering and Development
To contribute to the acquisition and development of tactical and strategic intelligence (through targeted research, open source searches, behavioural, analytical, comparative studies and/or prevention initiatives focused on serious and organised crime affecting the UK, particularly money laundering and economic crime investigations) to support operational and organisational objectives.
Data Analysis
To sift and analyse large volumes of data, follow complex financial trails, and seek and act upon opportunities to obtain evidential material.
Maintain FI accreditation
Complete mandatory training and successfully obtain and maintain relevant Financial Intelligence Officer (FIO) and Financial Investigator (FI) accreditation.
Relationship Management
Develop and maintain effective internal and external partnerships, collaborate with other NCA units, wider UK law enforcement, international counterparts and Government departments.
Provide Direction
Supervise and/or mentor staff as required. This may be as a line manager to G5 FIs, an appointed mentor for trainee FIs, or a supervisor of investigations – allocating tasks and overseeing delivery.
Provide Operational Support
Provide advice on legislation, policy, tactical options and evidential opportunities to assist in the planning and implementation of investigations and operations.
Manage Operational Performance
Supervise case management and the collection, recording, quality assurance, retention, analysis and dissemination of intelligence, evidence and reports in accordance with Agency policy. Ensure all work conducted in support of the Command’s investigations is carried out thoroughly, professionally and expeditiously and in accordance with Agency policy and legislative requirements.
Data Integrity
Manage the security and accuracy of intelligence, maintaining confidentiality, sensitivity and duty of care.
Operation Management
Devise, agree and maintain appropriate investigative strategies and operational Risk Assessments with the Senior Investigating Officer (SIO), maintaining comprehensive and auditable Case Decision Logs (CDLs). Update and maintain the Agency’s performance management and governance systems for each investigation.
Draft Witness Statements
Draft witness statements in conjunction with NCA legal in support of NCA applications for POCA orders.
ODP FI Pathway
Complete the NCA Officer Development Portfolio Financial Investigator Pathway.
FOR CADT and CKC Teams ONLY
Successful candidates will be required to obtain and maintain PIP2 accreditation and Accredited Financial Investigator Part 2 POCA (Restraint & Confiscation) and Part 5 POCA (Cash)
Analytical Skills
Ability to examine and interpret complex data from various sources to assess situations and draw robust conclusions.
Collaborative Working
Ability to work with internal and external stakeholders in order to achieve business objectives.
Partnership Working
Develop and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders and build strong rapport.
Communication Skills
Effective communication with a range of audiences, at all grades, in various formats.
Influencing
Ability to influence, change and impact decisions with both internal and external stakeholders.
Quality Management
Ability to plan, develop and maintain processes to ensure functions are working as intended.
Organisational Skills
Ability to manage a wide portfolio of tasks and reporting requirements in a fast-paced environment with often tight deadlines.
Risk Management and Decision Making
Ability to assess risks and make accountable, evidence-based operational decisions in complex and high-pressure environments.
Problem Solving
Examine issues to identify solutions to complex problems in collaboration with others.
People Management
Team leadership and people skills to meet goals and promote wellbeing and diversity, deal with conflict within teams and manage performance.
Asset Denial/Civil Recovery Landscape
Experience and in-depth knowledge of relevant legislation (UK and International law) affecting operational activity, with emphasis on POCA in relation to money laundering offences, civil recovery and/or cash seizures.
Operational Experience
Recent experience of leading criminal, civil or regulatory investigations on complex economic and financial cases. Creating and taking ownership of strategies to deliver operational successes.
Court Conduct
Ability to prepare for and present material for court purposes.
Interview Skills
Ability to prepare and conduct interviews in accordance with PACE on serious and complex investigations.
Disclosure Legislation
Knowledge of relevant disclosure legislation.
Leadership
Ability to engage, motivate and coach others in order to lead the team to meet business objectives, fostering innovation, driving high performance and promoting an inclusive and supportive culture.
Accredited Financial Investigator status or lapsed accreditation as Financial Investigators (3 years or less), but willing to do the necessary work to reinstate that accreditation within 12 months.
To find out more about the role and the application process we will be holding a virtual opening evening via MS Teams on 17th February, 1800-1900
This event is by invitation only.
To register, please click on the following link
G4 Senior Financial Investigator Virtual EventYou will be asked for your name and email address.
Registration will close on Monday 16th February at 1200
You will not be able to register after this date and time.
Salary
All NCA employees are members of the UK Civil Service and eligible for the Civil Service pension scheme, alongside your salary the NCA contributes £14,308. Further information on the benefits of the scheme is available on the Civil Service Pension Website.
New entrants to the NCA receive 26 days annual leave, rising to 31 on completion of 5 years continuous service, plus 8 bank holidays.
If qualifying criteria is met new joiners from UK Police Forces or the UK Intelligence Community (UKIC) will have service with those employers taken into account for continuous service purposes for annual leave entitlement only, this will be up to a maximum of 31 days leave (including 1 privilege day).
Other benefits include:
Further information is available on the NCA Website.
Longlist
In the event of a high number of applications, we may operate a longlist. Applicants will need to meet the minimum pass mark for the lead criteria.
– Recent experience of conducting criminal/civil investigations on complex financial cases with emphasis on Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) in relation to money laundering offences, civil recovery, and/or cash seizures. [lead technical] .
Candidates who do not meet the minimum pass mark for the lead criteria will not progress to having their other criteria assessed. Applications must meet the minimum criteria to be progressed to the assessment stage.
You will receive an acknowledgement once your application is submitted.
We aim to have sift completed and scores released within 10 working days of the closing date of the advert. For high volume campaigns this timeframe may be extended.
Scores will be provided but further feedback will not be available at this stage.
The format of this assessment will be Interview which will be tested on the criteria listed in the Success Profiles at Assessment section.
In the event of a tie at the assessment stage, available roles will be offered in merit order using the following order:
The National Crime Agency is a law enforcement agency and as such we are part of the Criminal Justice System. Therefore if you are going into an operational role we need to be aware if any of our officers have, either before they join us or afterwards, any of the following:
Any criminal conviction (including Court Martial), or caution or fixed penalty notice for disorder or theft;
Any adverse judicial findings;
Any charges or summonses where the proceedings are not complete;
Any misconduct or gross misconduct findings or where proceedings are not complete.
You will be asked to complete a declaration covering the above if offered a role with the NCA.
Each case will be considered on its merits and a positive declaration does not automatically mean that your application will not be progressed. However, should you fail to disclose a relevant matter then your application or employment will be adversely affected. If in doubt, please declare it at this stage.
Where multiple locations are advertised, appointments will be made in merit order per location.
Indicate your preferences clearly; you may be posted to any preferred location. If you decline a post at a location you selected, another offer may not be made.
Only advertised locations are available, any notes added to the application will not be considered.
If you meet the criteria for a lower grade, you may be offered that role if not appointable at the advertised grade.
Conversely, if found appointable at a higher grade but no posts are available, you may be offered a lower-grade role.
All offers are made based on merit.
We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Leader and an inclusive, equal opportunities employer.
We’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone can be their authentic self. If you’re neurodiverse, have a disability, or live with a long-term health condition, we encourage you to let us know about any reasonable adjustments you may need during the recruitment process.
If you experience accessibility issues with the advert or require reasonable adjustments, please contact our Recruitment Team at Central.Recruitment@nca.gov.uk before the advert closing date.
Please ensure you complete the ‘Equal opportunities’ and ‘Reasonable Adjustments’ sections in the application form to inform us on what support you may need in the recruitment process.
For more on our Disability Confident commitment, visit Disability Confident Scheme | Civil Service Careers.
Visit NCA Benefits and Support for more details.
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy
In order to monitor the effectiveness of the National Crime Agency’s Diversity & Inclusion strategy, we require certain personal details about you on submission of your application for statistical and monitoring purposes only. Please note that this will be treated in confidence and will not impact your application.
The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit on merit through fair and open competition, in line with the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
If you believe your application has not been treated fairly, email: Central.Recruitment@nca.gov.uk (quoting the vacancy reference).
If unresolved, you may escalate your complaint to the Civil Service Commission.
If you have any specific queries about the role that are not covered by the advert, please contact:
Name : Central Recruitment Team
Email : Central.Recruitment@nca.gov.uk