Covid Fraud Compliance & Investigation Lead

Posting date:	16 February 2026
Salary:	£57,204 to £63,953 per year
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	01 March 2026
Location:	Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Company:	Government Recruitment Service
Job type:	Permanent
Job reference:	448845/2

Summary

The Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA) is responsible for holding departments and arms-length bodies to account for their handling of fraud in the public sector. The PSFA is at the centre of government and leads work across government and public bodies to improve the prevention, detection and recovery of fraud. It was launched on the 3rd August 2022 following an increased focus in government on tackling fraud. The PSFA is outcome and performance driven, offers a depth and breadth of fraud expertise and works jointly with HM Treasury. Working in the PSFA offers access to a wide range of stakeholders across government and the opportunity to work with various sectors in a high-profile policy area with high media, parliamentary and ministerial interest.

Enforcement and Intelligence is the PSFA team dedicated to taking action against fraud occurring in any central government department or public authority. We assess intelligence and disseminate it for action, develop cases, and undertake fraud investigations to the civil and criminal standards. We use Proceeds of Crime Act powers, and from April 2026 will have Police and Criminal Evidence Act search and production powers, Investigatory Powers Act telecoms data acquisition powers, and bespoke information gathering and civil penalty powers just legislated for in the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error & Recovery) Act 2025 (“PAFER”). The team is expanding to deliver the Covid Fraud ‘hit squad’ announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in September 2025. This is an exciting time to join and lead something new in government, and make a real difference in the fight against fraud.

The successful candidate will lead the ‘COVID Hit Squad’ announced by the Chancellor in September 2025, building a team of Authorised Officers to take action to investigate cases, recover fraud and error and penalise people who have committed COVID fraud against public authorities, and leveraging that to drive renewed compliance in those who, whether by fraud or error, have not repaid COVID loans. Detected fraud is in the billions and recovery so far has been limited. PAFER has extended the time limit for COVID fraud to 12 years from the point the fraud was detected to allow action to be taken on these cases.

We are seeking a creative and decisive leader who can build new teams and processes, manage risks and cut through issues to deliver outcomes and work with stakeholders across government to drive delivery at pace. The post holder will develop and operationalise the COVID fraud recovery and sanctions strategy to deliver the most effective return on the investment. This will focus on compliance yield, fraud recovery and monetary penalties for wrongdoing.

The team will undertake compliance ‘nudge’ campaigns to bring loan recipients back into repayment compliance. Where fraud is suspected and repayment is not in evidence, the team will investigate. The investigation work the post holder leads will be primarily desk-based and seek to establish the facts to ‘the balance of probabilities,’ but may also involve seeking prosecution in some cases, collaborating with Authorised Investigators in the wider PSFA investigation team (led by another G7) to prove cases ‘beyond reasonable doubt’. The successful candidate must be willing to take risk-based judgment calls based on facts and evidence, and stand by their decision making under challenge.

The post holder will lead on establishing claims through the civil courts and using civil litigation where required, collaborating with Cabinet Office Legal Advisers and external lawyers, and engaging with instructing counsel when required.

The post holder will become the Subject Matter Expert for the imposition of civil penalties under PAFER and lead on the strategy for their use. They will take the lead on the representations and appeals process for penalties, and take appealed cases to the Tribunals as required. They will work with colleagues in debt management and recovery to ensure that funds are recovered, and with oversight colleagues to ensure that the use of information and penalty powers can be reviewed in line with the requirements of PAFER.

This is a management post, and the post holder will manage at least 2 x SEO, and may also manage at least 2 other staff at either SEO or HEO grade in line with PSFA’s overall management approach. Their team will be 12 FTE in 26-27, rising to 22 in 28-29. The team may be based over more than one of PSFA’s locations and therefore the role will involve remote management and some UK travel.

The successful candidate must be willing to undertake sufficient relevant investigation training and develop to become an Authorised Officer under the provisions of PAFER (to lawfully use the powers and oversee others doing so) and to join the Government Counter Fraud Profession.

This role offers considerable development opportunities for an ambitious and dynamic leader who wants to do something new which they can own, shape and deliver with autonomy, in a very high-profile business area.

Responsibilities:

• Lead team of 12 – 22 FTE (2-4 direct reports). Act as member of Enforcement & Intelligence senior management team
• Build new multi-site unit into an effective volume delivery operation
• Lead operational stakeholder relationships with Dept. of Business and Trade and British Business Bank to acquire and utilise data on Covid loan populations and to verify outcomes.
• Develop wider stakeholder relationships to build effective partnerships and collaborate with other government departments and public bodies, and wider UK compliance and enforcement.
• Deliver Covid compliance campaigns (e.g., letter/contact campaigns, publicity campaigns) in both pilot form and at scale, to drive populations back into compliance
• Lead Covid fraud investigations with a view to imposing civil penalties for fraud under PAFER 2025 and in some cases, referring cases for further investigation for potential prosecution Lawfully and effectively use information, penalty and debt powers, and be accountable for their use.
• Use the courts to establish claims for debt recovery where necessary, and lead for civil litigation in some instances.
• Plan case delivery to achieve outturn and outcome targets, and score and report on an ongoing basis
• Collaborate with policy and operational policy colleagues to develop policy and guidance for Covid fraud cases, including (for example) disclosure, case flow, triage policy and other areas.
• Ensure self and staff complete relevant training sufficient to become Authorised Officers and join the Government Counter Fraud Profession. Training may include mentoring staff through Level 4 Investigation Apprenticeships.
• Lead individual projects to develop and improve Enforcement & Intelligence and wider PSFA, including developing business cases and evidence for action.
• The role will require occasional travel to PSFA locations. This may include overnight stays.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

About Disability Confident

A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.