The role will be based at our offices at 2-4 Cockspur Street, London, SW1Y 5BS, in central London. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas. Informal hybrid working arrangements apply and there is an expectation that staff will attend the office regularly. Work pattern and office attendance will be agreed with successful candidates.
Job Summary
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) exists to fight serious financial crime, to deliver justice to victims and to protect the UK's reputation as a safe place to do business. We hold to account those who steal, defraud or corrupt others.
We are looking for an enthusiastic and creative digital communication professional, with planning experience,to join our growing, multidisciplinary communication team. You will be a proactive and confident self-starter, with the ability to spot and drive through digital opportunities - from conception to delivery – to demonstrably further the organisation's agenda.
Supported by our Communication Manager (Strategy) you will deliver engaging digital content across a variety of channels, leading on social media, including planning and content creation ensuring that all content adheres to the high standard the SFO maintains in its online presence. Working with the wider communication team and our expert lawyer, investigator and intelligence teams, you will help raise the profile of the SFO's efforts and maintain our brand.
You will have an excellent understanding of a range of social media and experience of crafting communications which meet Government accessibility standards.
The Communication Officer (Digital & Planning) also runs our communication planning and maintains the organisation's communication grid and forward look, maximising opportunities for internal and external engagement while building excellent relationships across all parts of the organisation.
A relatively small team by Whitehall standards, we all pitch in where necessary meaning we are looking for a fast learner who is keen to become proficient in all areas of communication and engagement. This role is a great opportunity for a fast learner to progress quickly and develop a varied skill set; our team is responsible for press and media relations, digital and internal communication and public information.
Job Description
As a Communications Officer (Digital and Planning) you will be responsible for:
* Developing a strong understanding of the department's work, the wider fraud picture and how the department is likely to be received on digital channels
* Leading on digital media monitoring, disseminating key information and breaking news to the communication team as well as senior leaders and the wider organisation
* Leading on digital content creation and planning across multiple platforms including content capture and creation, ensuring products meet Government standards for accessibility. Working with our in-house graphics team where required to ensure a high standard is maintained.
* Offering well-judged and evidence-based digital communication handling advice to internal stakeholders
* Running our communication planning, working with relevant internal and external partners to maintain our forward look, lead planning meetings and seek opportunities to promote the organisation
* Building and maintaining good working relations with all team stakeholders including senior management, partner agencies and other Government departments
* Line management of a GCS Digital Apprentice due to start in the latter half of 2025
As a Communications Officer (Digital and Planning) you will be responsible for:
* Developing a strong understanding of the department's work, the wider fraud picture and how the department is likely to be received on digital channels
* Leading on digital media monitoring, disseminating key information and breaking news to the communication team as well as senior leaders and the wider organisation
* Leading on digital content creation and planning across multiple platforms including content capture and creation, ensuring products meet Government standards for accessibility. Working with our in-house graphics team where required to ensure a high standard is maintained.
* Offering well-judged and evidence-based digital communication handling advice to internal stakeholders
* Running our communication planning, working with relevant internal and external partners to maintain our forward look, lead planning meetings and seek opportunities to promote the organisation
* Building and maintaining good working relations with all team stakeholders including senior management, partner agencies and other Government departments
* Line management of a GCS Digital Apprentice due to start in the latter half of 2025
Person specification
See above and attached Job Pack.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Communicating and Influencing
* Managing a Quality Service
* Working Together
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
* Insight: Grow our audience through evaluating the performance of our content and use this information to inform digital strategy.
Alongside your salary of £34,347, Serious Fraud Office contributes £9,950 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Option to join the Civil Service pension scheme. For further details, click here
Generous annual leave provision of 25 days which increases to 30 days after five years' service plus an additional day in recognition of the King's Birthday and the option to buy or sell up to five days' leave per year. Different terms may apply if you are already a Civil Servant.
Discretionary performance-related bonus scheme.
Interest-free season travel ticket, bicycle loan and cycle to work scheme.
Access to the Rental Deposit Salary Advance Scheme which assists employees in meeting the costs of deposits for privately rented homes.
Opportunities for learning and development.
Flexible working arrangements and family-friendly policies.
Voucher for eye care and discounted spectacles.
Access to a range of discounts through membership of the Civil Service Sports and Social Club, CSSC Sports and Leisure.
Maternity and paternity leave provision over and above the statutory entitlements.
Access to My CPS Rewards Gateway. My CPS Rewards offers staff a range of rewards and savings including:
* Discounts with high street retailers
* Savings on grocery shopping at a range of supermarkets
* Special salary sacrifice and recognition schemes
* Reloadable gift cards and e-cards
* Instant vouchers
Any move to the Serious Fraud Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
Application stage
As part of the application process you will be required to provide:
* A personal statement of no more than 500 words that explains how your skills and experience meet each of the essential experience criteria as listed in the job pack.
* A CV detailing your career history.
Lead Criteria
In addition to the above, you will be asked to provide a separate statement of no more than 250 words describing a specific example of when you have increased audience share through insight and evaluating content.
Your response to this question will be assessed first and candidates who do not meet the required standard will not have the remainder of their application considered.
It will not be possible to provide feedback to applicants who are unsuccessful at the application stage.
Interview Stage - In Person
There will be a 30 minute in tray exercise assessing Essential Experience followed by an interview assessing Behaviours, Essential Experience and Technical Criteria.
Full details of the interview process will be made available to shortlisted candidates in the invite to interview.
Sift to take place from 8th October 2025.
Interviews will take place
in person at the SFO, Cockspur Street
from 16th October.
All dates are indicative and subject to change.
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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
Security
Successful candidates 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).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates 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).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups
* UK nationals
* nationals of the Republic of Ireland
* nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
* nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
* nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
* individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
* Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact
* Name : People and Culture
* Email :
Recruitment team
* Email :
Further information
For external competitions there is no appeal against the selection decision. However, individuals have a right to appeal if they feel that the principle of appointment on merit through fair and open competition and the Civil Service Commissioners' recruitment principles have not been met. Individuals who want to appeal should do this by setting out their grounds for appeal in an email for the attention of Head of People to If, after an internal appeal, you still believe that the Civil Service Commissioners' Principles have not been met, then you can contact the Commission directly: Complaints should be sent in writing to: Civil Service Commission, Room G08 ,1 Horse Guards Road, London SW1A 2HQ. Email