Southend on Sea City Council is a Unitary local authority, providing vital services to meet the needs of the local community. We employ around 1,800 staff who are working alongside our partners and local communities to deliver the city vision and make lives better for the people of Southend. Working for Southend on Sea City Council offers a challenging and rewarding career in local government within a collaborative and innovate environment, with the benefit of flexible working practices to support a positive work life balance. As a Unitary Authority we are responsible for all local government functions ranging from social services, transport, public health and parks through to planning, trading standards, community safety and education, so we offer a wide range of career opportunities. The diversity of our economy and communities and investment in a number of exciting regeneration projects makes our Council a great place to work, learn and make a difference. Southend-on-Sea City Council is seeking an experienced Investigation Officer to work within the Counter Fraud & Investigation Team on a 6 month fixed term contract. This role is being offered on a hybrid basis which is a combination of working from home and attending the office. The role involves the identification and investigation of fraud and corruption committed against the Council, working with other agencies as necessary. Investigations are conducted to the criminal standard and, where appropriate, prosecuted. Success in this role is achieved through engagement with key stakeholders, including partner agencies that have fallen victim to crime. As a member of the team you will have experience in investigating crime against the public sector and strategies for achieving best evidence. You will have a personal caseload of investigations and will also provide assistance to other officers in the conduct of their investigations. You will identify weaknesses and vulnerabilities in systems and controls and develop proactive initiatives to reduce the risk of fraud against the Council. Training to other Council Departments may be required. You must possess a recognised qualification in criminal investigation or extensive experience in Local Authority criminal investigations. A good working knowledge of relevant legislation and experience in the investigation of fraud and corruption, particularly in the context of a Local Authority is essential. You must also have experience of conducting investigations as the Officer in the Case and be able to work on your own initiative; planning tactics, interventions, disruption and supporting prosecutions through the Courts. You must be able to present evidence at court as a professional witness and have experience of acting as the Disclosure Officer in criminal prosecutions. Excellent communication, analysis and ICT skills are essential for this post, and you should also be able to work and make decisions independently and under pressure. The role will require an individual who is able to work outside of core hours. Your application will not be considered if you do not have a full and clean driving licence or if you do not have a commitment to get one in the nearest future. When joining the council, you can enjoy a range of benefits including: 25 days annual leave pro rata, flexible working and excellent training and development opportunities. They are committed to ensuring that you are supported in this varied and challenging role with the appropriate level of training. A full list of benefits provided by Southend Council can be viewed on the "Why Work For Us?" tab. If you are interested in this role, please click 'apply online' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV. If you would like a copy of the Job Description please click here Please note: Applications for this vacancy may close prior to the date advertised above so you are advised to apply as soon as you are able to. All applicants for this role will require an enhanced DBS check. The Council is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications, regardless of race, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, age or religion or belief.