Operations Manager - AFI

Operations Manager - Accredited Financial Investigator
Permanent
Grade 6 - £54,495- £64,811
Consultation grade - subject to formal evaluation under the Pay Equity Review
Working 36.5 hours per week

Make a National Impact Tackling Organised Financial Crime

Do you have experience in Trading Standards, financial investigation or a related enforcement service? Are you ready to accelerate your career in a fast‑moving, nationally recognised law‑enforcement environment? If so, this is your opportunity to develop specialist skills while contributing to vital work that protects vulnerable communities.

Birmingham City Council’s Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT) leads the fight against illegal lending and financial exploitation across England. We are seeking an Operations Manager to lead a specialist financial investigation unit delivering high‑profile, complex criminal investigations with real national impact.

If you're a skilled financial investigator, senior manager or law‑enforcement professional looking for a role where your work disrupts organised crime, shapes national strategy and safeguards the public, we want to hear from you!

We’re looking for an Operations Manager who brings… 

• NCA‑accredited Financial Investigator with Confiscation, Restraint and Part 5 powers.
• Relevant management or investigative qualification or substantial experience leading complex cases.
• Strong track record in financial investigations, including acting as SAO.
• In‑depth understanding of POCA 2002, Money Laundering Regulations and asset‑recovery processes.
• Proven ability to produce high‑quality, court‑ready prosecution files.
• Experience leading and developing specialist staff in a law‑enforcement setting.
• Strengths in strategic planning, risk‑based targeting and national enforcement work.
• Exceptional leadership and communication, including stakeholder and public engagement.
• Confident decision making under pressure in operational and safeguarding scenarios.
• Strong digital and analytical capability, with MS Office and law‑enforcement systems.
• Commitment to professional integrity, Health & Safety and continuous development.
• Full UK driving licence with ability to travel nationally.

As Operations Manager, you will…

• Lead daily operations of a national specialist financial investigation team.
• Coach, develop and lead specialist staff, including Accredited Financial Investigators (AFIs).
• Oversee complex investigations, ensuring legal compliance, and investigative excellence.
• Act as a trusted advisor on financial crime, working closely with the NCA, Treasury, FCA, government and law‑enforcement partners.
• Manage key financial resources, including the POCA ARIS fund, ensuring compliant and effective use.
• Shape national strategies to disrupt organised crime through financial intervention.
• Represent the service nationally, contribute to media activity, and produce high‑level reports and prosecution files.
• Deliver essential operational duties such as warrant executions, safeguarding decisions, custody actions and on‑call responsibilities.

If you have the expertise, drive and leadership capability to take on this high‑impact national role, we’d love to hear from you.

What we offer in return…

• Membership of West Midlands Pension Fund – with generous employer contributions
• Enhanced Holiday Entitlement – 30 days, increasing with length of service
• My Rewards Scheme – access to over 800 brands providing discounts and savings
• Health and wellbeing support – independent and confidential employee assistance and counselling, occupational health

Ready to lead a team making a national difference?

Apply now and help us continue the fight against illegal financial activity and exploitation!

For any informal enquires please contact: Resourcing@birmingham.gov.uk 

Please upload an up-to-date CV and Supporting Statement via the attachments part of your application.  The Supporting Statement should outline how you meet the criteria for the role through your personal qualities, skills and experience and include your motivation for applying to the post.  Note the Personal Statement should be no more than 1500 words.  Unfortunately, we cannot consider any applications without a CV and Personal Statement attached

We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the communities we serve. Our data tells us that for this level of role, ethnic minorities are underrepresented and therefore we will use positive action to support us to achieve diverse shortlists. This may mean that recruitment times are a little longer, but we think this is worth it to achieve our aim.

Birmingham City Council is an accredited Disability Confident Leader employer, and we are committed to employing, retaining and developing all of our people.

We want to ensure your recruitment journey with us is a positive and equitable one, so please let us know if there are any reasonable adjustments, additional support, accessibility needs, or if there is any way in which we can support you through your application.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be undertaken.

Proof of Right to work in the UK will be required for all applicants in accordance with UK Home Office requirements, before any employment offer can be confirmed.

Birmingham City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our citizens and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. You can view our Corporate Safeguarding Policy | Birmingham City Council here.

Job Description and Person Specification