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

The role

Are you ready to play a pivotal role in disrupting serious and organised crime through cutting‑edge financial investigations? We’re looking for a driven, detail‑oriented professional to join our specialist team, your expertise will help dismantle criminal networks, bring offenders to justice, and recover illicit assets. This is your chance to make a real difference-working on complex, time‑sensitive cases that protect communities. In this role, you’ll lead high‑impact financial investigations, uncover hidden assets, and translate complex financial activity into clear, compelling evidence for court. Using your knowledge of legislation and investigative powers, you’ll directly contribute to disrupting criminal enterprises and ensuring the proceeds of crime are identified and recovered.

What you’ll do

• Identify criminally obtained assets and using thorough knowledge of legislation and available legislative powers, prepare documentation required to satisfy a court for non‑conviction and conviction‑based orders. This will be done both reactively when responding to an existing operation/ investigation and proactively through the identification of money laundering offences.
• Prepare applications and obtain part 8 investigative orders, including production orders, disclosure orders, accounting monitoring orders from circuit judges.
• Serve the orders and obtain information from financial institutions / cryptocurrency exchanges to satisfy the requirements of confiscation, forfeiture and money laundering proceedings.
• Have responsibility to lead financial investigations into all levels of serious and organised crime.
• Utilise financial powers including new civil recovery powers such as account freezing / forfeiture orders and seizing listed assets to deprive criminals of their illicit funds.
• Provide tactical advice and guidance to Senior Investigating Officers.
• The oral and written preparation, management and presentation of formal applications and statements for and in court proceedings.
• Attend both the criminal and civil courts to present evidence professionally and competently and demonstrate ability to deal with cross‑examination, including preparation of all relevant documentation, both in magistrates and crown court.
• Liaising with and working alongside the Crown Prosecution Service and police legal services.
• Develop and maintain a network of contacts, both internal and external to the Force, to identify key intelligence and information sources to enhance the function of the role.
• Much of this will include the communication of sensitive information and intelligence with financial institutions spanning from established banks to crypto exchanges to emerging fin‑tech companies both within UK borders and globally.
• Educate and coach operational police officers and colleagues, undertaking awareness sessions as necessary, on legislation relevant to financial and cryptocurrency investigations.
• Provide real‑time subject matter expertise to police officers and staff whilst in attendance during the execution of search warrants, regarding the seizure and retention of property.

What you’ll bring

• Qualified to a degree level or demonstrate work experience at an equivalent level.
• To have or be willing to attain National Crime Agency (NCA) accreditation to use powers of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) as a Financial Investigator.
• Understanding of Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
• To demonstrate by example the ability to deal successfully with confrontation situations.
• Ability to prepare and present case material to an acceptable standard including recording and retaining material.
• Ability to effectively prioritise and manage workload, identifying critical tasks working to essential deadlines.
• Ability to follow processes, apply investigative methods and use investigative tools in line with thorough knowledge of current legislation to impact tactical decision making.
• Adopt a creative and problem‑solving mindset to progress financial investigations, directing / influencing partner agencies, to create a comprehensive disruption plan.
• Complete upskilling exams and training in relation to powers obtained via the CRISP course.
• To have a knowledge of Police and Criminal Evidence Act and Police Conduct Regulations.
• To be able to demonstrate a sound awareness of relevant legislation, evidential and disclosure issues.

We know it's important for you to feel that you’re not only part of a great team, but part of a community. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. Harnessing these differences creates a productive environment in which everyone feels valued, and their talents are fully utilised. 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 - allowing you to fit your working hours around your individual needs.
• Flexible working (we are happy to discuss options such as compressed hours).
• Fantastic market‑leading public sector pension scheme with up to 16% employer contribution.
• Corporate travel schemes – local rail, bus services and metro discounts.
• Access to private healthcare and eye test vouchers.
• Discounts on shopping and eating out thanks to the Blue Light Card and Blue Light Tickets.
• We’ve invested in extensive paid sick leave, trained mental health first aiders on‑site, an employee advice service for the times you need that additional support.
• Access to gyms in some stations.
• Sports & Social Club – join our thriving sports scene at Team NP and enjoy further exclusive discounts on days out and travel.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Opportunity to volunteer in local community.

We are also a Disability Confident Employer, therefore if you demonstrate that you meet the minimum criteria for this role as stated in the advert, we will progress your application and offer you an interview. If you tell us that you have a disability, we can make adjustments to support you through the recruitment process (for example we can arrange extra time for tests or provide a sign language interpreter). You can get in touch with us via careers@northumbria.police.uk for any support regarding the application process. Please provide us with plenty of notice so we can ensure your visit goes smoothly.

If your application is successful, we’ll ask you to complete Management Vetting and Security Clearance (SC) form, therefore you must be a resident of the UK for a minimum period of 5 years to ensure vetting checks can be successfully performed. A job offer will be dependent upon vetting clearance, medical information, and references.

Terms of appointment

This is a fixed term role subject to a six-month probationary period. Please note if you are a current NEROCU/Northumbria Police employee interested in applying for this role as a secondment opportunity, please discuss this with your Line Manager and gain agreement prior to applying. We’re pleased to advertise this funded opportunity, with the appointment expected to be confirmed following the finalisation of funding. If you are successful in your application, you will have a six-month probation period with us where you will be unable to apply for any other post advertised internally or externally. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.