The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) exists to fight serious financial crime, deliver justice to victims and 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 a public information professional to join our growing, multidisciplinary communication team. You will be a proactive self-starter with outstanding organisational skills, strong judgement and written skills.
Reporting to the Communication Manager (Public Information), you will help ensure the SFO publishes and issues accurate, timely information about the organisation, in line with relevant legislation and guidance.
We are looking for a team player who can deliver high-quality work across a range of tasks, and who can also manage and support the development of an Assistant Communication Officer. Working collaboratively across the organisation, you will build strong relationships in order to gather the information needed to inform our audiences about our work to fight economic crime and build the SFO's reputation as a transparent and responsible public body.
A relatively small team by Whitehall standards, we all work together, meaning we are looking for a fast learner who is keen to become proficient in all areas of communication. Our team is responsible for media relations, digital and internal communications and information management., As a Communication Officer (Public Information) you will be responsible for:
+ Writing and editing accurate and timely responses for Freedom of Information Act requests and other public-facing key stakeholder correspondence within statutory timeframes, applying relevant exemptions where appropriate.
+ Processing individuals' rights requests (especially Subject Access Requests) in line with ICO best practice, escalating issues as appropriate.
+ Building excellent professional relationships across the office including internally with Senior Management, lawyers, case teams; and externally with correspondence and FOIA teams across the Civil Service.
+ Line managing and supporting the development of one Assistant Communication Officer.
+ Management of the SFO's publication scheme and relevant web page, ensuring information is up-to-date, complete and understood by the organisation.
+ Maintain an excellent understanding of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, General Data Protection Regulation and Data Protection Act 2018.
For more information about the role and for a full list of key responsibilities, please see attached Job Pack., It will not be possible to provide feedback to applicants who are unsuccessful at the application stage.
Interview stage
Behaviours, experience and technical criteria as outlined in the job pack will be tested at interview.
Candidates invited to interview will also be required to complete an assessment.
Full details of the interview process will be made available to shortlisted candidates in the invite to interview.
Sift to take place from 27 August 2025.
Interviews are expected to take place w/c 15 September 2025.
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.
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.
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.
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).
+ Delivering at Pace
+ Making Effective Decisions
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
+ Essential: Skilled at applying relevant guidance or legislation to decision-making.
+ Essential: Able to recognise risk and escalate appropriately.
+ Desirable: Working knowledge of FOIA 2000 and data protection legislation.
£34,437 - £37,853
Staff applying on promotion within the Civil Service will usually be appointed to the salary minimum or receive a 10% increase on their existing salary. Individuals appointed on level transfer will retain their existing salary. Applicants from outside of the Civil Service should be aware that starting salaries will normally be at the band minimum and you should not expect to receive a higher salary.
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP, Alongside your salary of £34,437, Serious Fraud Office contributes £9,976 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 http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/pensions
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. http://www.cssc.co.uk/
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 https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
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