Specialist Trading Standards Officer – Proceeds of Crime (Accredited Financial Investigator)

Essex Trading Standards is looking for a highly motivated person to join its team as a Specialist Trading Standards Officer leading on the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) and financial investigations

Essex is one of the largest Shire Counties in the UK with a population of just under 1.5 million and in excess of 25,000 diverse business premises. While we look to support legitimate business activity wherever we can, we don’t shy away from taking on difficult and complex Trading Standards criminal investigations. Many of these investigations will have a financial element to them and require the skills of an Accredited Financial Investigator (AFI).

Accountabilities

In this role you will be taking a lead on our POCA investigations and while you will have no direct line management responsibility you will be providing guidance and support to other investigating officers across the service in relation POCA and financial investigations.

You’ll be dealing with the more complex issues and providing strategic updates and recommendations to service managers to ensure we are always performing to the highest standards.

You’ll be an active member of our tasking management team using your expertise to help shape the direction of all criminal investigations and will be responsible for managing all aspects of financial investigations including restraint and confiscation, acting as a single point of contact with other enforcement and government agencies, making applications to court for all part 2 & 8 investigatory orders, attending court and giving evidence as well as representing the authority both regionally and nationally on all aspects of proceeds of crime.

The Experience You Will Bring

• You will need to be a fully qualified and Accredited Financial Investigator (AFI) with an up to date CPD record as well as a qualified and experienced Trading Standards Officer holding either the DCATS, DTS or equivalent.
• You’ll be working in one of three multi-functional teams responsible for handling all incoming demand one week in three – so a good working knowledge of Trading Standards legislation is desirable.
• You will have excellent communication skills (and the ability to deal confidently with a range of stakeholders) and be equally comfortable working both alone and as part of a team of Trading Standards professionals across the whole service.
• Excellent organisational skills are a must together with the ability to work flexibly and independently to meet the demands of the role and service.
• You will be confident to assess and prioritise workload to hit agreed deadlines.
• Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.

Benefits include: 

• Holiday entitlement of 26 days per annum (plus bank holidays), with the opportunity to buy additional annual leave. 
• Local Government Pension Scheme, including life assurance of three times annual salary 
• Learning and Development Opportunities 
• Employee Wellbeing and Counselling provision 
• Employee Networks 
• Volunteering leave 
• Eye care vouchers, Travel discounts, Season ticket loans and much more! 

There is also an employee Rewards Scheme available for all permanent employees, which includes: 

• Retail and restaurant discounts 
• Cashback on purchases 
• Private health and dental care plans  
• Cycle to Work scheme (via Salary Sacrifice) 
• Tax free savings on Childcare (via Salary Sacrifice) 

Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.

To read more about us please visit: Economy, Investment and Public Health

Why Essex? Essex County Council has a location to be proud of. Our 1,300 square miles stretch from Constable Country to the Thames Estuary, from the dynamic M11 corridor to the traditional seaside resorts of Clacton and Walton. England’s oldest town, Colchester, and two of its newest – Basildon and Harlow – are right here. Along with the City of Chelmsford, the county town, they form our major population centres. It means real choice and makes Essex the ideal place for your career. Read more about us here.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.

We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

What you should do next

If you are interested in finding out more about this role, we would love to hear from you. Please apply via the Working for Essex website.

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community ​here.  

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk

To apply click here

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Further details can be found on our careers page