Counter Fraud Investigator

On a counter-fraud investigator apprenticeship course, you’ll help lead small non-complex criminal investigations, such as allegations of fraud.

As a counter-fraud investigator, you are responsible for examining fraud claims and making sound decisions to progress the investigation from referral to a conclusion. The end of an inquiry may mean support for a successful prosecution, the imposition of a penalty (or equivalent), or no further action.

In most cases, you will collaborate with HMRC, DEFRA, the Insolvency Service, the Serious Fraud Office, or local government, as well as lawyers, judges, magistrates, and other law enforcement partners. You will utilise your knowledge of civil procedures, such as tribunal applications, to testify in tribunal and judicial review hearings.

Property searches, audits of firm accounts and their parts, and other professional paperwork are evidence collecting situations.

Because your employment may include disputed conditions, such as arrest, you must analyse all actions taken and devise methods to reduce the identified risks wherever possible.

What you’ll learn

On a counter-fraud investigator apprenticeship course, you’ll learn to:

• Apply laws and relevant principles of practice and identify issues to substantiate throughout an investigation. Observe departmental policies.
• Identify sources of information, such as those connected to policy and legal reform procedures.
• Keep-case files and develop investigative strategies in compliance with the standards required for criminal, civil, regulatory, or disciplinary investigations. Use the Fraud Investigation Model (Criminal) / or the organisational equivalent when responding to allegations of fraud.
• Differentiate various types of evidence (direct, circumstantial, hearsay, etc.) and explain their significance.
• Discover forensic possibilities and use them in investigations (where relevant to the type of investigations undertaken).
• Implement excellent practices for taking notes during an inquiry (where relevant to the type of investigations undertaken). 
• Use best practices for witness statements throughout an inquiry (Relevant to the type of investigations undertaken).
• Keep track of all investigative activities and enquiries made throughout an investigation. 
• Apply the rules and standards controlling evidence continuity to support the source of evidence correctly. 
• Participate in searches (including legal professional privilege consideration) of people, buildings, vehicles, or workplaces in compliance with organisational policy and regulations.
• Assess the strength of the evidence and, depending on the function, utilise applicable laws and standards of practice to gather evidence that fulfils the required requirements.
• Produce witness testimony in compliance with the investigation’s required standard, such as the Criminal Investigation Standard.
• Apply analytical methodologies to a wide range of data, and make reasonable and fair inquiry decisions as needed. Use the organisation’s protective marking approach and source management before distributing material.
• Conduct an interview appropriate for the investigation, offering testimony and evidence as required during the interview.
• Recognise and respond to the diverse demands of the witness.
• Create and maintain accurate investigative notes, narrative statements, third-party witness testimonies, and transcripts.
• Prepare proper quality court filings, applications, and orders for the activity.
• As a witness, testify at appropriate hearings. Suitable cases should be referred to other law enforcement authorities.
• Comply with the standards for disclosure in judicial proceedings.
• Gather, record, and present evidence in court throughout the proceedings.
• Prepare detailed and accurate post-investigation reports.
• Create an evidence file with documents to support judicial, tribunal, or disciplinary processes following relevant legislation, codes of practice, or departmental policy.
• Use the appropriate investigative skills for the kind of investigation.
• Establish and maintain new and existing partner/stakeholder connections to progress objectives, significant projects, and shared interests and foster excellent working relationships.

Entry requirements

You’ll usually need:

• Depending on the employer, but likely A-levels or equivalent qualifications or relevant experience.
• Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level before taking the end-point assessment.

Assessment methods

The End Point Assessment consists of two distinct assessment methods: 

• Professional discussion underpinned by portfolio.
• Investigation report, presentation, and questioning based on an ongoing Counter Fraud Investigation.

Duration, level, subjects and potential salary upon completion

Apprenticeship standard

More information about the Level 4 Counter Fraud Investigator Apprenticeship standard can be found here.

Apprenticeship end point assessment

For more information about the End Point Assessment Process, please read the Institute of Apprenticeships’ information page.