Financial Investigator - NEROCU in Sunderland

Salary: Band 8, £36,066 - £41,028 (Candidates who are Accredited Financial Investigators with full Confiscator powers will receive an additional £5,937 per annum)

Location: Sunderland

Hours/Contract: 37 Hours, FTC 31 March 2029

Working for: North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (“NEROCU”)

The North East Regional Organised Crime Unit is one of ten Regional Organised Crime Units (“ROCU”) in England and Wales who lead the regional response to tackling serious and organised crime whilst supporting local and national delivery. The ROCU network continues to expand and Home Office funding through police officer uplift and increased police staff capacity presents exciting opportunities to further enhance service delivery and positively impact on our partners and the public.

The Home Office Serious and Organised Crime Strategy defines ROCU as leading the regional fight against Serious and Organised Crime and NEROCU have a critical role in leading, connecting and co-ordinating delivery across our region in all four P’s of the strategy:

• Pursue – prosecuting and disrupting people engaged in serious and organised criminality.
• Prevent – preventing people from engaging in serious and organised criminality.
• Protect – increasing protection against organised crime.
• Prepare – reducing the impact of serious and organised crime where it takes place.

NEROCU comprises of specialist teams delivering across intelligence, operations, investigations, cyber, economic, technical and digital capabilities.

The role involves playing a pivotal role in disrupting serious and organised crime through cutting-edge financial investigations. The successful candidate will help dismantle criminal networks, bring offenders to justice, and recover illicit assets. This role includes leading high-impact financial investigations, uncovering hidden assets, and translating complex financial activity into clear, compelling evidence for court.

Key responsibilities include:

• Identifying criminally obtained assets and preparing documentation required to satisfy a court for non-conviction and conviction-based orders.
• Preparing applications and obtaining part 8 investigative orders, including production orders, disclosure orders, accounting monitoring orders from circuit judges.
• Serving the orders and obtaining information from financial institutions / cryptocurrency exchanges to satisfy the requirements of confiscation, forfeiture and money laundering proceedings.
• Leading financial investigations into all levels of serious and organised crime.
• Utilising financial powers including new civil recovery powers such as account freezing / forfeiture orders and seizing listed assets.
• Providing tactical advice and guidance to Senior Investigating Officers.
• Preparing, managing and presenting formal applications and statements for court proceedings.
• Attending both the criminal and civil courts to present evidence professionally and competently.
• Liaising with and working alongside the Crown Prosecution Service and police legal services.
• Developing and maintaining a network of contacts to identify key intelligence and information sources.
• Educating and coaching operational police officers and colleagues on legislation relevant to financial and cryptocurrency investigations.

Essential qualifications include:

• Qualified to a degree level or demonstrate work experience at an equivalent level.
• Willingness to attain National Crime Agency (NCA) accreditation to use powers of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA).
• Understanding of Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
• Ability to deal successfully with confrontation situations.
• Ability to prepare and present case material to an acceptable standard.
• Ability to effectively prioritise and manage workload.
• Ability to follow processes and apply investigative methods in line with current legislation.
• Creative and problem-solving mindset to progress financial investigations.
• Completion of upskilling exams and training in relation to powers obtained via the CRISP course.

Desirable qualifications include:

• Knowledge of Police and Criminal Evidence Act and Police Conduct Regulations.
• Sound awareness of relevant legislation, evidential and disclosure issues.
• Open source trained.

We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community. Appointments are based on merit alone.

What we offer:

• 26 days’ leave (increasing to 30 days for 5 years+ service) plus 8 bank holidays.
• NHS Fleet Solutions Car Lease Scheme.
• Enhanced maternity, shared parental and adoption leave.
• Flexi time and flexible working options.
• Market-leading public sector pension scheme with up to 16% employer contribution.
• Corporate travel schemes and discounts.
• Access to private healthcare and eye test vouchers.
• Extensive paid sick leave and mental health support.
• Access to gyms in some stations.
• Opportunity to volunteer in the local community.

Our application form will help us understand how your work, education and life experience has prepared you for the role. We encourage applicants to ensure their submissions accurately reflect their personal qualifications, experiences, and skills.

If your application is successful, you’ll need to complete Management Vetting and Security Clearance (SC) form, and you must be a resident of the UK for a minimum period of 5 years.

This is a fixed term role subject to a six-month probationary period.