Job summary
- Main area
- Counter fraud
- Grade
- Band 6
- Contract
- Fixed term: 12 months (Contract will end 12 months after start date)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 263-SS26-007-LB
- Employer
- Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Tanfield Lea Business Centre
- Town
- Stanley
- Salary
- £38,682 - £46,580 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 17/02/2026 23:59
- Interview date
- 19/02/2026
Employer heading
Counter Fraud Specialist
Band 6
Hello!
We are so delighted you are considering coming to work with us at Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW).
We know the power of looking into an organisation, one you might want to work in, or one where you are going to get help, and being able to say, ‘I’ve seen somewhere I can fit in and be myself.’ We’re on a journey to make the Trust an inclusive employer, representative of the community we serve and we want more of our community to consider applying for jobs with us.
Opportunities for you
Spanning east to west coasts from Northumberland to Cumbria and from the Scottish Borders down to Middlesbrough we’ve got exciting new opportunities available at every level and in every area.
We offer flexible working, helping work fit around family and caring responsibilities, or training and development needs and there’s lots on offer in the way of benefits, such as, lease cars, childcare schemes, staff discounts, season tickets for travel and a cycle to work scheme. All this in a vibrant workplace supported by the following staff networks.
- Cultural diversity staff network
- Disabled staff network
- LGBT+ staff network
We also have a number of staff support groups which are open to any staff to attend. These Include:
- Armed Forces and Veterans Staff Network
- Mind, Health and Wellbeing Community
- Menopause toolkit and cafes and staff carer support group
We offer fantastic personal development opportunities through our Collective Leadership Programme and other Organisational Development initiatives. Whatever you are looking for, you will be joining a supportive, friendly team, offering varied and interesting roles, with opportunities for career progression.
Always improving
CNTW is regulated by the national healthcare regulator, the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Our last two inspections have rated us as an outstanding organisation. We’re always seeking to improve as an organisation. Do you want to be part of that?
Please note that it is a requirement of this Trust that all external applicants pay for their own DBS certification if a DBS check is required for the post. The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first monthly pay
Job overview
Did you know that the NHS is vulnerable to £1.346 billion worth of fraud each year? Do you want to play a critical part in making sure that our valuable NHS resources are used for patient care and not personal gain?
As part of a team of accredited counter fraud specialists, the postholder will play a crucial role in helping to deliver a wide range of proactive counter fraud activity across a number of clients. Some reactive investigation activity may also be required.
If GCFP membership or the accredited counter fraud specialist qualification is not already held by the successful applicant, the postholder may be asked to undertake this training opportunity.
Due to the nature of this role, it is a requirement that the post holder has a valid driving licence and is either a car owner and able to use the car for work purposes, or has a trust personal lease vehicle which may be used for the role. However, please note that the trust welcomes applications from disabled people whatever their impairment and would consider making reasonable adjustments to the role, if necessary, to enable a disabled person to undertake the role.
Please note that shortlisting of application forms is based on our assessment of how the content demonstrates you meet the essential and desirable criteria for the role (as set out in the person specification).
If your application is shortlisted, you will be invited to attend an interview on Thursday 19 February 2026.
Main duties of the job
The counter fraud specialist will play a crucial role in the delivery of counter fraud work across a range of clients. They will be involved in delivering a wide ranging work plan of proactive counter fraud work and will be required to carry out investigation tasks within agreed deadlines and assist investigation officers when necessary.
The counter fraud specialist will offer expert advice and guidance on all financial crime matters and will be expected to manage competing priorities in frequently challenging circumstances.
Through their day to day work, the counter fraud specialist will demonstrate their commitment to AuditOne’s vision, values and behaviours and will be competent in the skills and key competencies we have outlined in the attached job description and person specification.
Working for our organisation
Hosted by Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, AuditOne is a modern NHS assurance provider based in the North-East but with clients throughout the UK. We are very proud of our NHS heritage and bring together a team of over 60 specialist staff working across our assurance and operations teams.
The AuditOne Way underpins who we are and what we do, and our values of Trust, Respect, Quality and Innovation are at the heart of everything we do with our people, our clients and our business.
Our office is based in Tanfield Lea, Co. Durham, although many of our staff have a trust site as their base which is closer to home. We operate an agile working policy which sees many of our staff choosing a hybrid model of working, whether this be in the office, at client sites or at home.
Should your application be successful, we will require references from your current and previous employer(s) which must cover a minimum period of three years. Please ensure that the reference section of your application is completed appropriately giving the address, telephone number and work email address of each of your current and previous line manager(s). If this section is not fully completed your application may not be processed.
NHS Employees identified as at risk of compulsory redundancy and those eligible for the NENC Re-Deployment careers hub will receive prior consideration.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To have a detailed knowledge of the NHS Counter Fraud Functional Standard and Requirements and the practical implementation of them.
To act as a subject matter expert in the area of economic crime and offer advice and guidance to clients and colleagues.
To be skilled in effective communication with a wide range of people, including senior stakeholders (directors, audit committee chairs and non-executive directors) and effectively manage challenges in an ever-changing environment.
To be able to build productive relationships with key client stakeholders including the negotiation and implementation of AuditOne created working protocols with key departments such as HR, finance and corporate communications teams.
To be able to proactively review and follow sign off process for audit committee progress reports and submit within agreed submission deadlines. To be able to confidently present audit committee papers at committee meetings and appropriately deal with challenging scrutiny.
To be able to manage NHS CFA inspections or engagement visits in their entirety. Including preparing advance evidence, planning inspection day timetable/schedules, representing the client at inspections or engagement visits and drafting and agreeing action plans post inspection.
To attend and actively engage with counter fraud meetings, forums and conferences.
To be able to identify and appropriately assess fraud risks. To include the ongoing maintenance of a bespoke client fraud risk assessment document which is used to independently create a bespoke risk based annual counter fraud work plan on behalf of clients.
To be able to independently complete a Counter Fraud Functional Standard Return (CFFSR) on behalf of client organisations.
To be able to complete the AuditOne standard annual counter fraud report template in line with NHSCFA requirements.
To actively contribute to the creation of quarterly counter fraud newsletters.
To deliver innovative, creative and targeted publicity to raise awareness of the counter fraud team and assist in creating an anti-fraud culture, including the design, creation and delivery of counter fraud training (including presentations and workshops). Also, be able to deliver innovative ways of measuring the success of the counter fraud publicity activity.
To be able to write and review economic crime related policies.
To be able to review a wide range of policy, guidance and process documents in order to identify and implement appropriate counter fraud controls.
To be able to seek out, create and maintain effective working relationships with external partner agencies including but not limited to police forces, local authorities, Home Office and DWP.
To be able to carry out counter fraud local proactive exercises in line with identified fraud risks and, as part of these, identify system weaknesses and make recommendations to address them.
To have a good working knowledge of the National Fraud Initiative (NFI) and be able to manage the entire process independently.
To build productive relationships with key internal audit colleagues.To be able to work in accordance with set counter fraud team framework processes and within allocated or agreed deadlines.
To be able to identify appropriate areas of weakness or risk that should be shared with clients by way of formal alerts. Including the appropriate consideration, sharing and ongoing monitoring of the same.
To identify, undertake and record a programme of continuous professional development.
To have an excellent working knowledge of Microsoft office programmes and be able to use a laptop/computer for prolonged periods.
To be able to manage own time within the requirements of the service and service priorities ensuring that work is prioritised effectively and appropriately.
To be able to carry out allocated administrative investigation tasks within agreed deadlines and assist investigation officers when necessary.
To be able to receive and effectively record fraud referrals by telephone, email, or in person.
To carry out any other task or activity as required by the service.
Please find attached job description for full details.
Advertising date : 3rd February 2026
Closing date : 17th February 2026
We welcome your application.
Please note - this vacancy may close early once a suitable number of applications are received.
Person specification
Education and Qualification
Essential criteria
- • Degree level education supported by a Post Graduate Diploma qualification or equivalent demonstrative specialist experience
Desirable criteria
- • Accredited counter fraud specialist qualification or GCFP membership
Knowledge and experience
Essential criteria
- • Experience of completing proactive reviews of systems and procedures and making system improvement recommendations.
- • Understanding of the practical application of all relevant legislation in relation to the delivery of counter fraud work.
- • Experience of producing reports.
Desirable criteria
- • Experience of presenting reports to committees.
- • Experience of preparing risk based annual counter fraud work plans, including the ability to review and report on progress.
- • Experience of creating and delivering innovative awareness material including presentations, workshops, newsletters.
Skills and competencies
Essential criteria
- • Strongly developed communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex information
- • Highly developed analytical and judgement skills
- • Ability to work with minimal supervision.
- • Excellent presentation and report writing skills.
- • Proficient IT skills (to include as a minimum: Word Excel, PowerPoint, HR databases).
- • Ability to meet tight deadlines and work independently.
- • Ability to gain and maintain good working relationships with staff at all levels.
- • Ability to maintain confidentiality and deal with complex situations in a sensitive and professional manner.
Desirable criteria
- • Experience of writing policy and procedures.
Role/Team specific requirements
Essential criteria
- • Ability to work in a team
- • Ability to meet the mobility and geographical requirements of the post.
Personal characteristics
Essential criteria
- • Detail orientated and diligent, demonstrated by the quality of data gathered and produced.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Michelle Watson
- Job title
- Associate Director - Counter Fraud
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07580 589024
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