Cyber Fraud Analyst

About the job

Job summary

Discover a career in your hands at HMRC. Whether you're seeking purpose, growth, or a workplace that gives you a true sense of belonging, hear from some of our employees as they share their story about what it's really like to work at HMRC.

Visit our YouTube channel to watch the full series and come and discover your potential.

Our team is rapidly growing as we invest in new technologies and capabilities, and we are in search of enthusiastic individuals who can help us in achieving our mission. We are continually improving the service we give to our customers and, in line with this, we are creating a new response and management team within the HMRC Fraud Prevention Centre.

The Fraud Prevention Centre (FPC) is a strategic capability within HMRC Security, designed to safeguard customers and the organisation against identity-related fraud and emerging threats. Its mission is built on three interconnected pillars: Protection, Detection, and Response, all underpinned by advanced threat intelligence and customer support. The Centre operates across multiple functional areas, including Proactive Protection, Customer Support & Response, and Strategy & Advisory, to deliver a holistic approach to fraud prevention.

Job description

We're looking for a proactive and analytical professional to support HMRC's fight against identity fraud. You'll help lead data-driven investigations into suspicious activity related to identity verification and authentication services, while working with the team and partners, acting as a key contributor in a team that supports customers and provides insight into identity fraud activity and proactive searching for threats. This is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference, working in a dynamic and evolving environment.

Person specification

• Manipulate and analyse large data sets and investigate suspicious activity.
• Learn, develop, and apply methods using data analytics techniques such as data mining, data matching, clustering analysis and outlier detection.
• Use basic scripting languages to develop visualisations and automate effective searches to build a growing analytical suite of capabilities that you can operate efficiently.
• Have strong communication skills and be able to demonstrate working across business and technical domains. You will have excellent interpersonal skills.
• Apply your knowledge of security and fraud risks to digital services.
• Support and deputise for the senior analysts, producing clear, insightful reports and presentations for senior stakeholders.
• You will be confident working in an environment that may flex its focus in response to emerging issues and have a delivery focus.
• You will be eager to learn and widen your experience in different areas of identity work.
• You will use your experience of scripting, for example SPL, Python, SQL, KQL to proactively search and discover anomalies.
• Be flexible and enthusiastic whilst working with some ambiguity as the team forms, grows and matures.
• Support senior managers in the reporting of metrics and support the wider aims of the HMRC Security Identity Team.
• Identify process improvement areas.

Essential Criteria

• Knowledge of fraud detection techniques, including behavioural analysis and anomaly detection and investigation and OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) methods.
• Data analysis skills and experience with large data sets, with proficiency scripting complex queries in analysis environments.
• Solid technical understanding of web and API services (e.g. cookies, IP addresses, authentication processes) and threats to those services from cybercrime actors and tools.
• Experience using Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) platforms, preferably in a security operations setting.
• A sound understanding of Identity, Verification and Authentication principles.

Desirable Criteria

• A degree in Data Analysis, Data Science, Information Security, Cyber Security, or other Cyber qualifications eg SANS, or at least previous experience in a relevant cyber role.
• Proven experience in fraud detection, cyber security, or threat intelligence within a large organisation.
• Active use of at least one of the following: Python, SQL, KQL, SPL.

Further Location Information

Please ensure that you only apply for a location that you are willing and able to work from, as we will only make one offer of employment. Any additional notes included in a 'Further Location Preferences (optional)' field within the application form, will not be considered. Please be aware that you cannot change your location preference after submitting your application.

Office closures

For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations.

If your location preference is for one of the following sites, it's important to note that these are not long-term sites for HMRC and we will require you to move to a new building in the future, subject to our location strategy and the applicable employee policies at that time.

These sites are:

• Benton Park View, Newcastle - moving to Pilgrims Quarter, Newcastle
• Telford Plaza, Telford - moving to Parkside Court, Telford
• Trinity Bridge House, Salford - moving to an alternative office in Manchester/ Salford

You will be given more information about what this means at the job offer stage.

Leeds Locations

Moves Adjustment Payment will be available for this role, provided the successful applicant is a current HMRC colleague in Bradford and meets the eligibility requirements outlined in the HMRC's Moves Adjustment Payment guidance.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,682, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £10,916 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).

HMRC operates both Flexible and Hybrid Working policies, allowing you to balance your work and personal commitments. We welcome applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, considering our operational and customer service needs.

We offer a generous leave allowance, starting at 25 days and increasing by a day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days.

• Pension - We make contributions to our colleagues' Alpha pension equal to at least 28.97% of their salary.
• Family friendly policies.
• Personal support.
• Coaching and development.

To find out more about HMRC benefits and find out what it's really like to work for HMRC hear from our insiders or visit Thinking of joining the Civil Service

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 Strengths and Experience.

How to Apply

As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide the following:

• A name-blind CV including your job history, previous experiences and qualifications. Qualifications are not mandatory for this role.
• A 750-word Personal Statement. Your Personal Statement should be used to describe how your skills and experience would be suitable for the advertised role, making reference to the Essential Criteria and Person Specification outlined in the advert.

Please complete a separate statement (Max 250 words) for the Desirable Criteria where applicable. This is not essential for the role but may be considered by the vacancy-holder where candidates have the same scores at interview.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Prior to applications being sifted candidates will be asked to complete an additional IKM assessment. Candidates will be sent details of the assessment once the advert has closed. This assessment is a pass or fail and only those who pass will be considered at the sift stage.

Sift

In the event of a large number of applications being received, an initial sift may be held on your CV.

At full sift your CV and your Personal Statement will be assessed, with the successful candidates being invited to interview.

We may also raise the score required at any stage of the process if we receive a high number of applications.

Interview

During the panel interview, your experience will be assessed, and you will be asked strength-based questions to also explore what you enjoy and your motivations relevant to the job role.

This is an example of a strengths-based question:

"It is often said that the customer's needs should come first. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?"

There is no expectation or requirement for you to prepare for the strengths-based questions in advance of the interview . click apply for full job details