Digital Investigator - National Digital Investigation Unit in Cardiff

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.

HMRC is the UK’s tax, payments and customs authority and we have a vital purpose: we collect the money that pays for the UK’s public services and help families and individuals with targeted financial support.

HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service (FIS) is responsible for the department’s civil and criminal investigations. FIS provides HMRC with an effective investigation arm to enforce the Department’s compliance policies. This enables the Department to deliver against the strategic responsibilities across all the taxes and duties it administers. This includes complex offshore evasion, international smuggling of illicit excise goods, exports of controlled weapons and technology, labour market abuses, VAT and Self‑Assessment repayment frauds and a host of other fraud attacks targeted at the tax system.

FIS is home to a wide range of people with a variety of skills and professional backgrounds – including accountants, cybercrime specialists, criminal justice professionals, tax professionals and operational delivery support teams to name but a few. We use a range of powers and approaches to protect funding for UK public services, investigating the most harmful tax cheats and ensuring nobody is beyond our reach.

Covert Operations, Digital Exploitation (CODE) sits within HMRC’s wider Fraud Investigation Service (FIS). Working across Law Enforcement and government, CODE provides investigative tools and covert techniques to front‑line investigations and works with key partners to develop and provide access to new technology and systems to enable investigators to respond to serious and complex tax evasion and crime.

HMRC is faced with increasingly complex frauds committed by well‑resourced and, often, digitally informed and aware criminal groups. This post sits within the CODE Digital Operations command that includes the Communications Data Unit (CDU) and the National Digital Investigation Unit (NDIU). This command recognises the importance and synergy between these two technical areas.

This is an opportunity to join CODE Digital Operations during a crucial period of expansion, development of capability and impact. The National Digital Investigation Unit (NDIU) specialise in digital problem solving, drawing upon operational experience and pragmatic application of datasets, such as but not limited to Communications data, Open Source Intelligence, vehicle telematics, ANPR data and digital forensics (handset downloads). Developing an effective digital strategy is fundamental to achieving meaningful operational outcomes.

The NDIU has a presence in most Regional Centres and strategic sites. Being a national team involves regular travel with overnight stays to attend training courses or work alongside colleagues, particularly within the first year on the team.

You will be joining a team of full time Digital Investigators providing ongoing and dynamic operational advice and support to case teams and wider internal ‘customers’ such as, the Priority Criminals Unit, Internal Investigations, Protected Persons Unit and the Operational Security network to name a few.

You will become proficient in the application of Digital Investigation techniques, exploiting social media, closed sources and emerging communications systems, using several bespoke third party solutions. You will provide advice in support of proactive and reactive operations including live deployments to identify data acquisition and exploitation opportunities. Ranging from sustained dedicated support over many months to short term assistance.

You will be working on interesting and high impact cases covering the full range HMRC’s statutory functions, some of which are aligned to FIS Tactical priorities. Exploiting all available digital opportunities to help achieve the case teams’ objectives. Gathering intelligence and evidence on individuals, corporates, and organised crime groups to progress and enhance criminal investigations into attacks on our tax systems.

You will be responsible for considering and creating bespoke digital strategies to assist and support high priority, complex and sensitive HMRC investigations. Provide guidance to SIOs/Investigators on the application of technology in investigations. Taking a lead role in difficult or complex cases.

You will be part of a 1 in 4 On‑call cadre. This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a command that enhances HMRC’s response to sophisticated organised crime and serious fraud. Our work is varied, rewarding and impactful, investigating the most harmful tax frauds and criminal groups. Every day will be different. Using innovative digital approaches and techniques, you will be making decisions that will help tackle fraudsters who present the highest threat to the UK Exchequer.

You will be working with like‑minded people, who constantly look for opportunities to add value and share knowledge to drive investigations forward. Bespoke training will be available to cover the range and skills required in the role.

For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations. If your location preference is for the following site, it’s important to note that this is not a 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. This site is: Benton Park View, Newcastle - moving to Pilgrims Quarter, Newcastle. You will be given more information about what this means at the job offer stage.

Qualifications

• You must hold one of the qualifications listed below.
• Have a sound knowledge of Communications Data.
• An understanding of Digital Investigation opportunities.
• This role also requires experience of conducting criminal investigations and a thorough working knowledge of Criminal Justice procedures.
• Including, Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA).
• Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (PoCA).
• Criminal Procedures and Investigations Act (CPIA).
• Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE).

Seniority level Mid‑Senior level

Employment type Full‑time

Job function Finance, Government Administration