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16 June 2026
4pm on 13 July 2026
24 July 2026
7 August 2026
Dear Candidate,
The Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Act 2025 gives the government important powers to tackle fraud against the public sector. Those powers need to be used with strong, independent, oversight.
The Independent Reviewer will provide this important oversight, reporting to Ministers and Parliament. It is an important role, critical to the safe use of the PAFER Act powers. If, after reading this candidate information pack, you have further questions about any aspect of this post you are welcome to email psfa@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you have questions about the appointment process, you can contact the Cabinet Office Public Appointments Team via copa.partnerships@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
If you believe you have the experience and qualities we are seeking, we very much look forward to hearing from you.
Mark Cheeseman OBE
Chief Executive Officer, Public Sector Fraud Authority
Thank you for your interest in the role of the Independent Reviewer of Public Sector Fraud Authority Enforcement. This is a new statutory role created under the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Act 2025 (the Act).
Part 1 of the Act provides powers for the Minister for the Cabinet Office (MCO) to tackle fraud against public authorities in England and Wales - and introduces arrangements for the oversight of these powers to drive their effective use and ensure they are not misused. Part 1 of the Act also bestows certain powers from the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) on Authorised Investigators (AIs) in order that they may exercise the MCO’s function to investigate fraud against public authorities. Certain other Ministerial functions under Part 1 are delegated to Authorised Officers (AOs). AIs and AOs sit within the Public Authorities Fraud Investigation and Enforcement Service (PAFIES), which was announced in the Autumn Budget 2025 and is located in the Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA).
The Independent Reviewer is a Ministerial appointee who will carry out reviews of all functions under Part 1 of the Act and consider whether the exercise of those functions has been (i) in compliance with the requirements of the Act, relevant codes of practice and relevant guidance, and (ii) effective in delivering three of the MCO’s core functions in Part 1:
investigating suspected fraud against public authorities,
recovering payments made as a result of fraud or error or any other amount a public authority is entitled to recover in respect of fraud, including interest, and
taking enforcement action in connection with fraud against public authorities.
The Independent Reviewer’s role will be to add further oversight and assurance to the existing layers of safeguards and oversight in place.
As the Independent Reviewer you will ensure your reviews will consider whether the exercise of the functions in Part 1 of the Act is 1) in keeping with the legislation, any codes of practice and relevant guidance, and 2) effective in delivering the MCO’s core functions in Part 1 that are listed above. Your reports, which you will submit to the MCO and which will be published and laid before Parliament, must set out any recommendations you consider appropriate.
In response to commitments made in Parliament the Independent Reviewer will, in their first year, meet with Members of both Houses of Parliament who have raised areas where they think the Independent Reviewer’s work should be focused and conduct a review of PSFA’s use of whistleblowing in cases of public sector fraud.
The Independent Reviewer will also report directly to the MCO and will be supported by two Cabinet Office civil servants (in the PSFA). You must have experience relevant to the scrutiny of oversight or governance of counter fraud or investigative functions, with a working understanding of PACE powers and civil and criminal investigation frameworks.
The Independent Reviewer will have a key role in upholding public trust by ensuring PAFIES exercises the powers contained in the Act proportionally and correctly. As with any Public Office holder, we would expect the Independent Reviewer to uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life.
As such, the role demands a highly-skilled, credible, and suitably experienced candidate who will play a vital national role. If you have what it takes to successfully deliver in this position then we strongly encourage you to apply.
Appointment description
This role is key in providing continuing assurance to Ministers and Parliament that the functions set out in Part 1 of the Act are used in line with the intent of the Act and that Ministers and Parliament are clearly sighted on the progress of the investigation and enforcement activity under the Act.
As part of this role, you will be supported by two civil servants and will be responsible for:
Ensuring reviews of individual cases, and sampling from a range of cases, are conducted either at random or with a view to testing compliance with a particular power and that you form a view on compliance and use of the powers;
Providing an Annual Report to the MCO, who will publish the report and lay it before Parliament, on how the functions in Part 1 of the Act have been exercised and how the exercise of those functions has been effective in delivering three of the MCO’s core functions under Part 1 (as set out above);
Providing assurance that the training or procedures for the use of the functions set out in the Act are sufficient; and
Providing advice to PAFIES and its AOs and AIs on your findings, and recommending improvements in any aspect of practice.
This is an important role and the successful candidate will need to be able to build relationships with the PAFIES team while retaining independence. You will need a good understanding of your role in building public trust and confidence and should help to raise awareness of your role in Parliament through engagement and publishing high quality reports and recommendations underpinned by strong evidence, yet remaining responsive to concerns raised by Parliament.
You will be supported by a small team based in the PSFA. This offers the team access to a wide range of stakeholders across government and the wider counter fraud landscape.
The PSFA is responsible for working with departments and arms-length bodies to better understand and reduce the impact of fraud against the public sector. It was launched on the 3rd August 2022 following an increased focus in government on tackling fraud, and succeeded the Government Counter Fraud Function (GCFF) in the Cabinet Office. The PSFA leads work across government and public bodies to improve the prevention, detection and recovery of fraud. It is outcome and performance driven, offers a depth and breadth of expertise and works jointly with HMT to tackle fraud in the public sector.
Experience: a track record of delivering and overseeing investigations at a senior level.
Knowledge: a clear understanding of the processes to undertake compliance activity and criminal and civil economic crime investigations and enforcement and debt recovery processes. Deep knowledge of the legal frameworks surrounding investigation and fraud, including public sector fraud.
Judgement: Effective decision-making skills with the ability to critically analyse a wide range of information to provide rigorous, independent assurance that statutory powers from the Act are applied effectively.
Relationship building: the ability to build strong stakeholder relationships, underpinned by personal credibility and integrity, with Ministers, senior government officials and external stakeholders.
Communication: Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to listen, accept challenge and constructively challenge others in discussions with clarity and respect.
Highest level of ethical standards, free of conflicts of interest, committed to transparency and accountability and the Seven Principles of Public Life.
Experience of scrutinising or assuring enforcement activity, criminal investigations, in a regulatory inspection or audit role; ombudsman or inquiry roles with oversight of compliance; sanctions or recovery regimes at a senior level.
Experience of parliamentary accountability, including preparing or contributing to reports laid before Parliament and supporting or appearing in parliamentary scrutiny processes.
Some public appointments are made by the Prime Minister, or the Crown on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. Others are made by Secretaries of State or other ministers and are of interest to the Prime Minister.
Public appointments made by or of interest to the Prime Minister
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Once you are logged into your account, click on 'apply for this role' and follow the on-screen instructions To apply, all candidates are required to provide:
We will ask you to check and confirm your personal details to ensure your application is accurate.
You will also have the opportunity to make a reasonable adjustment request or apply under the disability confident scheme before you submit your application.
Public appointments are made on merit following a fair and open competition process which is conducted in accordance with the Governance Code for Public Appointments. We will deal with your application as quickly as possible and will keep you informed at key stages. We aim to conclude the appointment process within three months of the deadline for applications – this is in accordance with the Governance Code.
The assessment process
Ministers are responsible and accountable to Parliament for the public appointments made within their department. As a result, they must be consulted at every stage of the appointments process.
An Advisory Assessment Panel (“Panel”) is appointed by Ministers to assist them in their decision making. The role of the Panel is to decide, objectively, which candidates meet the eligibility criteria for the role.
At the shortlisting meeting the Panel will assess applications against the eligibility criteria and decide which candidates have best met the criteria, who should be recommended for interview. Ministers will then be consulted on the Panel’s recommended shortlist. If you have applied under the Disability Confident Scheme and you meet all the essential criteria, then you will also be invited for an interview.
Once the shortlist has been agreed by Ministers, you will be advised (by e-mail) whether you have been shortlisted. Those shortlisted will be invited to an interview.
The Panel will meet again to interview candidates and determine who is appointable to the role. The Panel may invite you to make a brief presentation at the start of the interview and will go on to question you about your skills and experience, including asking specific questions to assess whether you meet the criteria set out for the post. The Panel will also explore with you any potential conflicts of interest or any other issues arising from your personal and professional history which may impact on an appointment decision.
Details of the panel’s assessment of interviewed candidates are provided to Ministers, including whether they have judged a candidate to be appointable to the role. It is then for Ministers to determine merit and decide who should be appointed. In some circumstances, Ministers may choose not to appoint any candidates and re-run the competition.
Ministers may choose to meet with candidates before deciding the outcome. Candidates should therefore be prepared for a short time gap between interview and a final appointment decision being made. Candidates who have been interviewed will be kept informed of progress.
Once the decision on the appointment has been made, interviewed candidates will be advised of the outcome of their application, including whom they may approach for feedback. Successful candidates will be issued with their Terms & Conditions and a letter of appointment should they agree to take up the position.
has no political activity to declare.
In general, you should have the right to work in the UK to be eligible to apply for a public appointment.
There are a small number of specialist roles that are not open to non-British citizens. Any nationality requirements will be specified in the vacancy details.
The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards.
You cannot be considered for a public appointment if:
you are disqualified from acting as a company director (under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986);
have an unspent conviction on your criminal record;
your estate has been sequestrated in Scotland or you enter into a debt arrangement programme under Part 1 of the Debt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 17) as the debtor or have, under Scots law, granted a trust deed for creditors.
When you apply, you should declare if:
you are, or have been, bankrupt or you have made an arrangement with a creditor at any point, including the dates of this.
you are subject to a current police investigation.
You must inform the sponsor department if, during the application process, your circumstances change in respect of any of the above points.
When you apply you should also declare any relevant interests, highlighting any that you think may call into question your ability to properly discharge the responsibilities of the role you are applying for. You should also declare any other matters which may mean you may not be able to meet the requirements of the Code of Conduct of Board Members (see Outside interests and reputational issues section below)The successful candidate must undergo a criminal record check. The successful candidate must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Security Check (opens in a new window).
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
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