A little bit about us:
East West Rail is a nationally significant railway project which aims to deliver much-needed transport connections for the vibrant communities between Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge. Together these communities contribute around £111 billion to the national economy each year.
EWR is also one of the UK’s largest infrastructure projects, which the government committed to delivering in full in the Autumn 2024 Budget, and again in the 2025 Spending Review as part of its ambition to unlock the potential of the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor.
EWR is being championed by the Government as a key driver to economic growth leading to a potential £78 Billion boost to the UK economy: supporting new towns, housing, and regeneration.
About the Role:
The Counter Fraud Lead will be responsible for the day-to-day management of fraud, bribery and corruption risk.
In discharging this role, they should:
- devise, manage and implement the organisation’s counter fraud, bribery and corruption strategy
- be responsible for developing capability within the organisation, and ensure that staff have the skills and capability to deliver the organisation’s counter fraud, bribery and corruption strategy, policy and response plan
- actively seek out best practice on counter fraud, bribery and corruption and integrate this into the practices of the organisation and their delivery partners
The person undertaking this role will maintain:
- a detailed understanding of the fraud, bribery and corruption risks that the organisation faces
- an effective method for communicating these to the Board and the Audit and Risk Committee, via the board member accountable for counter fraud.
- a good understanding of the organisation, and the context within which it operates, alongside the limitations it may have in dealing with fraud, bribery and corruption
- a good understanding of the organisation’s fraud, bribery and corruption controls, their effectiveness and limitations
Counter Fraud Strategy & Policy
- Develop, implement and continuously improve the organisation’s counter fraud, bribery and corruption strategy and policies, ensuring alignment with Government Functional Standards and cross-government priorities.
- Translate strategic objectives into practical action plans and assurance measures.
- Advise senior leaders on fraud risk, control effectiveness and emerging threats, supporting informed decision-making.
Counter Fraud Operations
- Develop, review, and maintain appropriate fraud risk assessments.
- Identify inherent, residual, and emerging fraud risks and evaluate the effectiveness of controls
- Support management in embedding fraud controls into business processes.
- Advise EWR Co. teams (e.g. Commercial, Finance, Risk and other business areas) on fraud risks and preventive controls.
- Support fraud awareness training for all staff
- Contribute to a positive, open counter fraud culture across the organisation.
- Monitor the effectiveness of fraud prevention measures and recommend improvements.
- Support horizon scanning and identification of emerging fraud threats
Governance & Reporting
- Maintain oversight of fraud, bribery and corruption risk, ensuring clear reporting to the senior leadership, the Board and Audit Committee
- Develop and lead EWR Co’s Fraud Risk Assessment (FRA) framework, ensuring risks are identified, assessed and supported by proportionate controls.
- Oversee fraud reporting processes, including compliance with wider audit and assurance requirements.
- Maintain accurate, confidential case records in line with data protection and legal requirements.
- Prepare performance data, trend analysis, and management reports ensuring key risks, issues and trends are translated into actionable insight and improvement activity.
Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement
- Act as a trusted adviser to senior leaders and operational managers.
- Support alignment with departmental requirements and expectations, including oversight of fraud risk across delivery partners and supply chains.
- Liaise with auditors, insurers, external investigators, and law enforcement where required.
- Support disciplinary action, civil recovery, or contract remedies arising from investigations.
Essential Criteria
Experience & Knowledge:
- Demonstrable experience of working on counter fraud.
- Experience developing and implementing strategies, frameworks or operating models that improve organisational maturity and control effectiveness.
- Strong understanding of fraud risk assessment frameworks and methodologies
- Experience working across organisational boundaries, engaging effectively with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
Counter fraud qualification such as Accredited Counter Fraud Specialist (ACFS, CIPFA) or equivalent.
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Skills & Abilities:
- Good written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong analytical skills.
- Ability to interpret financial and contractual information.
- Ability to prioritise work, manage workload, and meet deadlines.
Ability to work independently and influence stakeholders at all levels.
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Personal Attributes:
- High integrity, professionalism, and discretion.
- Strong commitment to fraud prevention and ethical behaviour.
Desirable Criteria
- Experience within central government, with a strong understanding of working within a departmental and / or ALB landscape and the application of the Government Functional Standard GovS 013: Counter Fraud.
- Proven leadership of counter fraud, risk or assurance functions within complex environments, including establishing or developing capability at scale.
- Experience working with sponsoring central government departments or major delivery partners, including understanding of oversight arrangements.
- Experience of reporting against assurance frameworks (e.g. PSFA requirements, Cabinet Office returns).
- Member of the Government Counter Fraud Profession.
- Experience delivering counter fraud, bribery or corruption training or awareness sessions.
- Knowledge and understanding of fraud risks within the construction sector and related supply chains.
- Experience of overseeing / undertaking fraud, bribery or corruption investigations.
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Competitive salary that reflects your skills and experience
- Up to 12% employer pension contribution to support your future
- 36 days annual leave (including bank holidays) plus the option to buy up to 2 extra days
- 2 volunteering days, a chance for you to give back to the community
- Enhanced family-friendly policies to support you and your loved ones
- Life assurance (4x your annual salary) for peace of mind
- Employee Assistance Programme for confidential support when you need it
- Access to Perkbox for a wide range of discounts and wellbeing benefits
- Recognition programme, including on-the-spot and annual awards
- Advanced learning and development opportunities to help you grow.
Diversity and Inclusion:
At East West Railway Company, we’re committed to building an inclusive railway for all. We believe that to do that, we must nurture a diverse team that represents the UK communities that we impact. Our approach is simple - to create an environment where everyone is welcome and able to be themselves. We celebrate diversity and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer encouraging applications from all backgrounds and experiences.
East West Railway Company is a new and exciting venture at the forefront of the changing landscape of the rail industry, delivering substantial fast-paced improvement to modernise the railway.
