Role overview

Would you like to play a key role in protecting public money and supporting the delivery of essential justice services? The Counter Fraud Centre of Expertise is looking for a motivated and collaborative individual to lead its growing team within the Security and Information Directorate.

The Counter Fraud Centre of Expertise provides strategic leadership for counter fraud activity across the Ministry of Justice, helping to protect public funds and strengthen organisational resilience. The team works closely with business areas, programmes and senior stakeholders to identify and manage fraud, bribery and corruption risks, drive compliance with government standards, and embed effective controls and processes. Through fraud risk assessments, data analytics, awareness campaigns, proactive detection activity and expert advice on investigations, the Counter Fraud Centre of Expertise supports the department to prevent, detect and respond to fraud while promoting continuous improvement and a strong counter fraud culture.

As Head of Counter Fraud, you will lead a specialist team responsible for delivering fraud prevention, detection, measurement and assurance activity, whilst maintaining oversight of the department's compliance with Government Counter Fraud Functional Standards (GovS 013). The role also involves building strong partnerships across government, including with the Public Sector Fraud Authority and departmental counter fraud functions, to drive innovation, share best practice and enhance the Ministry of Justice's counter fraud maturity.

This is a great opportunity to shape the future of counter fraud within one of the largest government departments, delivering a step change in organisational capability, performance and culture while contributing to the protection of the public purse.

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will:

• Provide strategic leadership to the Counter Fraud Centre of Expertise team, supporting the proactive delivery of an integrated fraud capability across MoJ and its agencies.

• Provide governance and oversight of MoJ’s compliance with the Counter Fraud Functional Standard (GovS 013), with a strong focus on fraud risk management and prevention.

• Oversee the MoJ’s Counter Fraud action plan and ensure that decisive action is taken to tackle fraud.

• Improve data and analysis in the counter fraud space to ensure that an evidence-based approach is taken and success can be measured.

• Provide timely advice, and briefing to the Accountable Board Member for Counter Fraud, relevant Executive Boards and Department Audit and Risk Committee.

• Work with Counter Fraud leaders across the organisation to ensure that everyone understand their responsibilities for tackling fraud and has the resource and capability to take decisive action.

• Represent MoJ’s counter fraud position at senior and executive level boards.

• Lead on the MoJ’s business partnerships with the Public Sector Fraud Authority and other government counter fraud teams.

• Build a strong culture fraud in the organisation where people collaborate to prevent fraud

• Improve fraud detection and support effective fraud investigation in the department.

Person Specification

Essential criteria

• Knowledge and experience of counter fraud in a complex organisation,

• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills, with the ability to set clear direction.

• Ability to think strategically and translate complexity into clear, actionable priorities.

• Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills.

• Strong leadership skills, with experience of managing diverse, nationally dispersed teams and supporting development.

• Sound judgement and decision-making in complex, high-risk environments.

• Confidence to influence and challenge constructively to support effective fraud controls and responses.

• Experience of preparing and delivering briefings and submissions for senior leaders, boards and stakeholders.

Desirable criteria

• Counter Fraud Specialist, Member of Government Counter Fraud Profession or Recognised Equivalent Accreditation

• Knowledge of and experience of achieving compliance with the Government Counter Fraud Functional Standard.

Behaviours to be assessed (level 4):

Leadership

Communicating and Influencing

Seeing the Bigger Picture

Interview

Interview will be a mix of behaviour and strength-based questions, with a presentation. Information on the presentation topic will be sent to interview candidates upon scheduling of their interview.