Counter Fraud Investigator

Job summary

Can you analyse complex information and turn it into clear, concise summaries that are easily understood by a wide range of audiences?

Have you gained experience in criminal investigations or other complex investigative environments?

Are you someone who can quickly interpret complex information and communicate it in a way that is clear and accessible?

If so, we’d love to hear from you!

Join a dedicated team working at the heart of investigations and operational support, helping to deliver fair, consistent, and evidence-based outcomes. You'll collaborate with a range of colleagues and stakeholders, contributing to work that has a real impact while developing your skills in a supportive and professional environment. This is an excellent opportunity to be part of a team that values collaboration, continuous improvement, and high-quality service delivery

Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays a privilege day for the King’s birthday
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Read more in the Benefits section below!

Find out more about what it's like working at DVSA .

Job description

This role offers the opportunity to support DVSA's counter-fraud function by conducting investigations across driver, rider and vehicle environments. You will help deliver timely, customer-focused investigations into allegations of fraud, bribery and corruption, ensuring cases are managed effectively and professionally. Working closely with senior investigation colleagues, you will gather and assess information, support decision-making, and help maintain robust processes for identifying, managing and addressing matters of impropriety in line with organisational priorities and objectives.

Your responsibilities will include, but aren’t limited to:

• Adopt the role of "lead investigator" when allocated, with the responsibility of planning, preparing and managing the investigation.
• Conduct investigations in line with current best practices, Police & Criminal Evidence Act (PACE), Criminal Procedures & Investigations Act (CPIA), Data Protection Act (DPA), & Freedom of Information Act and Scottish equivalents
• Prepare full reports and papers for prosecution cases to critical deadlines
• Appear in court as an expert witness
• Investigate all allocated reports of suspected theory and practical driving tests (including impersonation and technology assisted cheating at tests) and malpractice against the agency
• All investigations to be conducted to the criminal standard
• Planning and executing surveillance on target nominals, including dealing with Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA)
• Investigate all allocated reports of suspected illegal driving instruction and malpractice against the agency.

For further information on the role, please read the role profile Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.

Person specification

You will be required to provide evidence that you hold any essential qualifications/licenses at some point during the recruitment process. If you cannot provide evidence, your application will be withdrawn.

Required experience:

To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:

• Ability to extract accurate, concise summaries from complex information that can be understood by a wide audience.
• Experience in dealing with criminal investigations OR experience in dealing with complex investigation work.
• Excellent organisational skills

Qualification/Professional Memberships

Hold or be prepared to work towards Counter Fraud Investigator qualification or similar.

Additional Information

Working hours, office attendance and travel requirements

Full time roles consist of 37 hours per week.

Whilst we welcome applications from those looking to work with us on a part time basis, there is a business requirement for the successful candidate to be able to work at least 30 hours per week.

This role is suitable for hybrid working, which is a non-contractual arrangement where a combination of workplace and home-based working can be accommodated subject to business requirements.

The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time a month will be spent at either your designated workplace (one of the locations cited in the advert) or, when required for business reasons, in another office/work location/visiting stakeholders. Your designated workplace will be your contractual place of work. There may be occasions where you are required to attend above the minimum expectation.

Frequent travel to other offices will be required, which will involve overnight stays.

If you have a question about hybrid working, part time/job share hours, flexible working, travelling for work, or require a reasonable adjustment, please contact the Vacancy Holder during the recruitment process to avoid possible disappointment later in the process should your working arrangements not be compatible with the requirements of the role (see below for contact details).

Visa Sponsorship

Please note that we do not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker Licence sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship. Candidates must ensure they have the appropriate rights to work in the UK before application.

Licences

Full and Valid UK Driving Licence.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Making Effective Decisions

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £30,485, Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency contributes

£8,831 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave).
• 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday.
• Access to the staff discount portal.
• Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the department, such as CIPD, Prince2, apprenticeships, etc.
• Joining a diverse and inclusive workforce with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues.
• 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff.
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Find out more about the benefits of working at DfT and its agencies (opens in a new window).

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) , and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

How to apply:

Our selection process ensures a comprehensive assessment of each applicant's qualifications, skills, and potential fit within our organisation.

The selection process for this role will be:

Stage 1: Sift of CV and personal statement

Stage 2: Interview

You must be successful at each stage to progress to the next stage.

Stage 1: Sift

At sift, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:

• Behaviours – you will be asked to provide a 250-word statement on the following Behaviours: Making Effective Decisions.
• Experience – you will be asked to provide a CV (unlimited wordcount) and personal statement (750-word count). Please provide evidence of your Experience of the following:
• Ability to extract accurate, concise summaries from complex information that can be understood by a wide audience.
• Experience in dealing with criminal investigations OR experience in dealing with complex investigation work.
• Excellent organisational skills

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead Success Profile element, Making Effective Decisions. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

The sift will take place week from 30th September 2026.

Stage 2: Interview

At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:

• Behaviours – Delivering at Pace and Making Effective Decisions
• Experience
• Strengths

The interviews will take place week commencing 26th October 2026.

This interview will be conducted online via Microsoft Teams. Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.

You can find out more about our hiring process, how to apply, and application and interview guidance on our careers site (opens in a new window).

Please note that we will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change

Further information on the selection process

We will also hold a 12 -month reserve list for this role, which may lead to potential opportunities beyond the role you applied for.

Reasonable Adjustments

As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Document Accessibility

This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website . Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert or the information on our website, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Further Information

For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.

Pre-employment Checking

If your application is successful but you have been dismissed from the Civil Service,