Forensic Accountant - Bristol Regional Centre - 3 Glass Wharf

Forensic Accountant - Bristol Regional Centre - 3 Glass Wharf

About the job

Job summary

Discover what it's like to work in a compliance role that makes an impact. Could you help us shape a stronger, fairer future? Your next career move starts here.

Discover what it's like to work in a compliance role that makes an impact.

Could you help us shape a stronger, fairer future? Your next career move starts here.

Rule keepers - begin your compliance journey.

Do you want to showcase your accountancy expertise to UK Criminal courts?

Do you want to be part of a team where flexible working is the norm?

If the answer is Yes, then we can offer you a leadership role with your work principally providing independent accountancy opinion on HMRC Fraud Investigation Service (FIS) cases. FIS is responsible for both civil and criminal investigations in tackling the most serious tax evasion and fraud.

Our Forensic Accountants enjoy a wide range of work, primarily relating to criminal prosecutions and anti-fraud interventions.

You will play an active role in high-profile issues and ultimately your work will touch the lives of everyone in the UK.

Some experience of forensic accounting, money laundering issues and illicit finance issues would be beneficial to the role.

Job description

As a Forensic Accountant you will give objective, independent and professional advice relating to criminal investigations and anti-money laundering interventions. We want you to use your knowledge and experience to understand and explain financial and accounting transactions to investigators, lawyers and the courts.

You will provide clear and concise analysis of relevant accounting, financial and transactional information to communicate complex financial issues to non-accountants including investigation teams, lawyers and the courts.

You will demonstrate your ability to utilise your accounting knowledge and commercial experience to identify risks, critically assess financial evidence and provide expert opinion.

You will support litigation, acting as an expert witness or witness of fact and will proactively assist others involved in criminal prosecutions or civil investigations of tax fraud and Proceeds of Crime Act (PoCA) interventions including confiscation orders and cash seizures. You will prepare and review professional reports with both factual and opinion evidence, attend case conferences, meetings and court, acting with professionalism, integrity and independence.

Our team undertakes regular Continuing Professional Development.

We will provide you with opportunities to share knowledge, develop and provide quality accountancy training to both colleagues and tax professionals.

Person specification

The successful candidate will:

• Provide objective and independent accounting advice relating to criminal and civil investigations and anti-money laundering interventions, including acting as an independent expert witness.
• Support activities targeting alcohol, supply chain and duty evasion fraud utilising your commercial experience.
• Communicate with and advise internal and external stakeholders.
• Develop, support and provide quality bespoke accountancy training to key partners.
• Coach and mentor colleagues.
• Share knowledge and best practice, using innovative methods and digital tools.
• Demonstrate expertise, experience, and authority to credibly engage with courts, tribunals, accountants, colleagues, customers, and senior HMRC officers.

Essential Criteria

The candidate will have strong financial accounting experience gained in practice, industry, public sector or private sector and specifically including:

• Experience of analysing and interpreting a range of financial records, of preparing or reviewing financial statements and of considering the appropriate accounting treatment of a variety of specific transactions (applying UK GAAP).
• Commercial knowledge and an understanding of how businesses operate including accounting systems.
• Excellent digital skills including the ability to use Excel and other tools for complex analysis.
• Attention to detail and precise analytical skills; ability to review information, figures and calculations thoroughly to draw clear, concise conclusions and accurately identify accountancy risks.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to produce high quality written outputs.
• Mandatory Accountancy Qualifications and memberships are required for this role (see below for details).

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of Forensic accounting, Money Laundering issues and Illicit Finance issues would be beneficial to the role.

Further Location Information

Please ensure that you only apply for a location that you are willing and able to work from, as we will only make one offer of employment. Any additional notes included in a 'Further Location Preferences (optional)' field within the application form, will not be considered. Please be aware that you cannot change your location preference after submitting your application.

Office Closures

If your location preference is for the following site, it's important to note that this is not long-term site for HMRC and we will require you to move to a new building in the future, subject to our location strategy and the applicable employee policies at that time.

For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations (opens in a new window)

This site is:

• Lynx House, Portsmouth - moving to an alternative office in Portsmouth.

You will be given more information about what this means at the job offer stage.

Qualifications

You must already have full and complete qualification from and continuing membership of one of the following professional accounting bodies:

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS)

Chartered Accountants Ireland (CAI)

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)

The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA)

Please Note: Part qualified accountants are not eligible for these posts.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

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

• Technical statement will be required at application stage.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of 58,541, HM Revenue and Customs contributes 16,959 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

HMRC operates both Flexible and Hybrid Working policies, allowing you to balance your work and personal commitments. We welcome applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, considering our operational and customer service needs.

We offer a generous leave allowance, starting at 25 days and increasing by a day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days.

• Pension - We make contributions to our colleagues' Alpha pension equal to at least 28.97% of their salary.
• Family friendly policies.
• Personal support.
• Coaching and development.

To find out more about HMRC benefits and find out what it's really like to work for HMRC hear from our insiders or visit Thinking of joining the Civil Service

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

How to Apply

As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide the following:

• A name blind CV which should be tailored to the role advertised, detailing your job history, skills and experience. Your CV should be clear, concise and easily digestible to the reader. For each role please include:
  
  Dates in role (MM/YY - MM/YY).
  
  Employer.
  
  Job Title.
  
  A description of your responsibilities and relevant achievements detailing the 'what you did' and 'how you did it'.
  
  Detail any key achievements and the impact your work has had, tailor this to showcase how your experience aligns with the advertised role and essential criteria.

Please detail your Qualification information in your CV: You must include your accountancy qualification, the year you achieved this and the full name of the accountancy body of which you are a member.

We will not consider applications which do not include this information.

• A 250-word statement addressing the following Technical Skill - please give an example (250 words) from an accountancy role of when you have analysed and interpreted accountancy and other financial information. How did you communicate with and how were you challenged by others on your findings? Include which role this relates to from your CV.

Please evidence any Desirable Criteria where applicable (up to 250 words max).

This is not essential for the role but may be considered by the vacancy holder where candidates have the same score at interview.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Sift

In the event of a large number of applications being received, an initial sift may be held on your CV.

At full sift your CV and your Technical statement will be assessed, with the successful candidates being invited to interview.

We may also raise the score required at any stage of the process if we receive a high number of applications.

Interview

During the panel interview, you will be asked Experience based questions in line with the Essential Criteria. You will also be asked a Behaviour-based question on Communicating and Influencing to explore in detail what you are capable of.

Your interview will also involve:

• A Forensic Accountancy Presentation and a written exercise. The written exercise will be provided at interview, you will be given time prepare and present your findings to the panel.

Interviews will take place face-to-face in one of our Regional Centres.

Interview dates and locations are planned as follows:

• 21st and 22nd September in Stratford Regional Centre.
• 23rd and 24th September in Bristol Regional Centre.
• 29th and 30th September in Manchester Regional Centre.

Eligibility

Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form.

Mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we may not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake with your eligibility form, or have withdrawn yourself in error and need your application reinstated whilst the campaign is still live, please contact us via: [email protected] - Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example - 'Please re-open my application - (insert vacancy ref) & vacancy closing date (insert date)'.

To check that you are eligible to apply for this role, please review the eligibility information before submitting your application.

Exceptionally, candidates who are not successful at this grade may be considered for appointment to similar roles at a lower grade where the eligibility criteria are met. If this applies, we will contact you directly.

The HMRC app can help you with your application

The HMRC app can provide you with your past 5 years' employment history, making the process of filling in your application quicker and easier.

If successful in your application, you will need your National Insurance number for the onboarding process.

Download the HMRC app now and save your National Insurance number to your digital phone wallet.

How to download the HMRC app and sign up for an account

Download the free HMRC app from the App Store or Google Play store.

If you have an HMRC online account already, sign straight in using your ID and password.

If not, you can prove your identity by answering some questions or providing your photo ID.

You'll then be able to access the app quickly and easily by signing in using a 6-digit PIN, your fingerprint, or facial recognition.

You can find guidance for technical issues on GOV.UK: Technical support with HMRC online services.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles - if this applies to you, we'll let you know via your Civil Service Jobs account.

Merit List

After interview, merit lists will be created for each location advertised within the vacancy. If you are successful at interview, you will be placed on the merit list for any locations you have expressed an interest for. Appointments from each merit list will be made in strict merit order.

Criminal Record Check

Applications received from candidates with a criminal record are considered fairly in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice and the Recruitment of ex-offenders Policy.

Hybrid working at HMRC

HMRC is an office-based organisation, and colleagues are expected to spend 60% of their working time in the office.

Our offices provide opportunity for interaction, collaboration which aids learning and development and a sense of community. Where the role allows it, and where the home environment is suitable, colleagues can work from home for up to 2 days a week, averaged over a calendar month (or a proportionate amount of time for colleagues who work less than full time).

Reasonable Adjustments

We want to make sure no one is put at a disadvantage during our recruitment process. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact the UBS Recruitment team via [email protected] as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the "Assistance required" section in the "Additional requirements" page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process.

For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Technical Support

If you are experiencing problems that cannot be resolved by our 'help' section, then technical support is available. You will receive a reply in 2 working days.

Additional Security Information

Please note in addition to the standard pre-employment checks for appointment into the Civil Service, all candidates must also obtain National Security Vetting at Security Check (SC) clearance level for this vacancy. You will normally need to meet the minimum UK residency period as determined by the level of vetting being undertaken, which for SC is 5 years UK residency prior to your vetting application.

If you have any questions about this residency requirement, please speak to the vacancy holder for this post.

From 1 April 2026, applicants will be required to meet updated nationality and residency requirements so that National Security Vetting (NSV) checks can be conducted. If this affects you, we will give you more information at the appropriate time.

Important information for existing HMRC contractual homeworkers

Please note that this role is unsuitable for contractual homeworkers due to the nature and/or requirements of the role.

Terms and Conditions

Customer facing roles in HMRC require the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English and/or Welsh where required. Where this is an essential requirement, this will be tested as part of the selection process.

HMRC has a presence in every region of the UK.

For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. The evidence you provide in your application must relate to your own experiences.

Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant application(s) will be withdrawn from the process.

Recording of interviews is prohibited unless explicit agreement is sought in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulations.

Questions relating to an individual application must be emailed as detailed later in this advert.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences.

This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

New entrants will join on the minimum of the pay band.

Please note that, if you are applying for roles on a part-time basis, the salary agreed will be pro-rata, reflective of the working hours agreed within your contract.

If you experience accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

For more Information for people applying for, or thinking of applying for, roles at HM Revenue and Customs, please see link: Working for HMRC: information for applicants - GOV.UK.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a standard (or equivalent) criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities.

As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

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.

Diversity and Inclusion

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 (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).