Counter Fraud Officer

Job Title - Counter Fraud Officer

Business Area/Directorate - Student Awards Agency Scotland

Location - Saughton House

Working Arrangement – Our standard hours are 35 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options depending on the needs of the role. SAAS have a hybrid working arrangement with colleagues expected to attend the office (Saughton House, Edinburgh) a minimum of 6 days per month. SAAS have separate Public and Privilege holiday arrangements and are fully closed between Christmas and New Year.

Grade - A4

Advert type - Temporary Promotion or Level Transfer

Duration - 6 months

Eligibility - Applications are invited from eligible colleagues in bands A for this role.

Sponsorship: Skilled Worker sponsorship is not available for this role. As a result, we are unable to appoint candidates who require Skilled Worker sponsorship now or in the future. Applicants must have an existing and ongoing right to work in the UK.

Do you have an eye for detail and a passion for uncovering the facts? Are you looking for an opportunity to develop your investigative skills while helping protect public funds and ensuring support reaches those entitled to it?

Join our Counter Fraud Investigations Team and play a key role in conducting fraud investigations, gathering evidence, managing information requests and supporting court proceedings.

The Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government responsible for delivering financial support to eligible students across Scotland.

We are seeking a proactive and professional Counter Fraud Officer to join our Counter Fraud Investigations Team on a temporary basis. This role will support the delivery of SAAS's counter fraud function by conducting fraud investigations, gathering and assessing evidence, progressing cases through to conclusion and managing information requests relating to ongoing investigations.

The post holder will work with a range of internal and external stakeholders to obtain, analyse and evaluate information, ensuring investigations are conducted efficiently, proportionately and in accordance with relevant legislation, policies and professional standards.

Created to strengthen investigative capacity and support business continuity, this role will play an important part in protecting public funds, maintaining integrity.

Responsibilities

• Conduct fraud investigations from referral through to conclusion.
• Gather, analyse and evaluate evidence from a range of internal and external sources.
• Manage investigative enquiries and requests for information to support ongoing investigations.
• Liaise with customers, educational institutions, government departments, employers, financial institutions and other organisations to obtain evidence and information.
• Undertake intelligence and information checks to support investigative activity and identify fraud risks.
• Maintain accurate, auditable and up-to-date case records in line with organisational standards and legal requirements.
• Produce investigation reports, evidential summaries and recommendations.
• Prepare witness statements for criminal and civil court proceedings.
• Attend court hearings and provide oral evidence when required.
• Collaborate with Counter Fraud colleagues and stakeholders to support the effective delivery of fraud investigations.
• Ensure all investigations are conducted in accordance with relevant legislation, policy, professional standards and organisational procedures.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of fraud investigation processes and practices.
• Support wider fraud prevention activities through the sharing of intelligence, trends and lessons learned.

Success Profile

Essential Experience

• Experience of conducting investigations, enquiries, compliance reviews, fact-finding exercises or other evidence-based casework.
• Experience of gathering, analysing and evaluating information from multiple sources to support sound decision-making.
• Experience of managing caseloads and maintaining accurate records.
• Experience of producing clear, concise and evidence-based written reports and correspondence.
• Experience of communicating effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, including in challenging or sensitive situations.
• Experience of handling sensitive, confidential and personal information appropriately and securely.

The following is desirable

• Experience of working within a counter fraud, investigation, compliance, regulatory, criminal justice or law enforcement environment.
• Experience of preparing witness statements for criminal, civil or tribunal proceedings.
• Experience of attending court, tribunal or other formal proceedings and presenting evidence.
• Knowledge of fraud investigation techniques and evidential standards.
• Understanding of public sector counter fraud principles and practices.

Technical Skills

Applicants will be assessed against the following technical skills

• Investigative Practice and Case Management – Awareness
• Evidence Gathering and Evaluation – Awareness
• Analysis and Use of Information – Awareness

Behaviours

Applicants will be assessed against the following Civil Service Behaviours:

Communicating and Influencing – Level 1

Making Effective Decisions – Level 1

Delivering at Pace – Level 1

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, here: Behaviour levels - Success profiles: candidate guide

Working Pattern

This role is a temporary position with an expected commitment of 6 months.

This post is a full-time role, but we welcome applications from staff with different working patterns, proposed working patterns will be assessed against the business requirements for this post.

Our standard hours are 35 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options depending on the needs of the role. SAAS have a hybrid working arrangement with colleagues expected to attend the office (Saughton House, Edinburgh) a minimum of 6 days per month. SAAS have separate Public and Privilege holiday arrangements and are fully closed between Christmas and New Year.

Further Information

Further information about this opportunity is available from [email protected]

How to Apply

Applications are invited from eligible staff in A band for this vacancy, see guidance on Saltire for details on eligibility criteria: Temporary vacancies and lateral move opportunities.

Please submit a statement outlining your suitability for the role, relevant skills and experience, and what you would bring to the team (maximum 750 words). Please align this to how you meet the behaviours, experience and technical skills listed in the Success Profile above.

Vacancies close at 23:59pm on Wednesday 28 October.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application, but all statements and examples 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, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

Please see ourcandidate guidance for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment.

Selection Process

Applications will be reviewed by panel. Shortlisted candidates who are considered to have the skills and experience will be invited to interview with the hiring manager and another panel member. The panel will recommend the candidate considered most suitable for the post.

Interviews are expected to be scheduled for w/c 2 November.

Recruitment Principles

As a government organisation, we adhere to the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principlesand we investigate any complaints received in relation to recruitment cases.

About Us

The Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government responsible for providing information, support, assessment and funding to Scottish Students undertaking a course of Higher Education (HE) within the UK. More information on SAAS can be found on our website https://www.saas.gov.uk.

SAAS administer budgets of around £1.4 billion each year, making payments to both higher education institutions and over 190,000 students a year. We are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that is representative of the clients we serve.

Our staff are part of the UK Civil Service, working for Ministers and senior stakeholders to deliver vital public services which improve the lives of the people of Scotland. We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer.

As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules.

Security checks

Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), before they can be appointed. BPSS is comprised of four main pre-employment checks – Identity, Right to work, Employment History and a Criminal Record check (unspent convictions).

You can find out more about BPSS on the UK Government website, or read about the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide.

Sponsorship

Skilled Worker sponsorship is not available for this role. As a result, we are unable to appoint candidates who require Skilled Worker sponsorship now or in the future. Applicants must have an existing and ongoing right to work in the UK.

Equality statement

• We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation.
• Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them.
• Further information
• Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website. Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.
• Apply before: 28/10/2026 (23:59). This role is open to internal candidates and common citizenship organisations only.