Internal Investigator

Costain Group PLC’s vision is to create connected, sustainable infrastructure that enables people and the planet to thrive. Costain, a UK company, shapes, creates and delivers pioneering solutions that transform the performance of the infrastructure ecosystem in four strategic sectors: Transport, Energy, Water and Defence.

As construction, consulting and digital partners we engineer solutions to the most complex problems. Together, our people transform the performance of the infrastructure that connects, protects and powers people's lives. We have a portfolio of large-scale infrastructure and critical public service delivery contracts of values in excess of £500m.

Everything we do is rooted in delivery and organised around our clients, anticipating and solving their challenges across the infrastructure ecosystem. Our 150-year heritage of pioneering problem solving, together with constant innovation, enables us to deliver sustainable, efficient and practical answers for our clients.

Headquartered in Maidenhead, the company also has offices in London and Manchester and presently employs around 3,400 staff. The Group has a clear purpose and strategy, excellent reputation and strong track record of performance.

The company operates through two divisions:

- Natural Resources - with responsibility for Water, Energy and Defence; and
- Transportation - with responsibility for the Rail, Highways and Aviation sectors

**About the role**

You will be responsible for Costain’s whistleblowing service which receives allegations of malpractice and unethical behaviour from Costain employees, the supply chain and the public and for any consequent investigations. You will be a member of the legal & company secretarial team working closely with the Deputy General Counsel and General Counsel & Company Secretary.

**Key responsibilities**
- Carrying out investigations arising from Costain’s whistleblowing facility relating to fraud, bribery, corruption and matters of ethical business conduct
- Where appropriate (due to scale/capacity) managing the external conduct of investigations by third parties
- Engaging closely with relevant areas of the business on suspected matters of criminal conduct including interviewing witnesses (staff, suppliers and any other parties), gathering, securing and preserving evidence for use in investigations
- Ensuring that any investigations arising from Costain’s whistleblowing facility are conducted impartially and robustly and that any recommendations are captured and actioned to ensure continuous improvement
- Drafting reports for review by members of the Executive Board and HR on the findings of investigations and the recommended courses of action
- Drafting reports for the Audit Committee (a subcommittee of the Costain plc Board) in relation to the outcomes of whistleblowing investigations and Costain’s counter-fraud strategy
- Assist in meeting any necessary external reporting obligations in relation to fraud or suspected fraud incidents to local police constabularies or other prosecuting organisations
- The efficient and effective operation of Costain’s whistleblowing facility and maintaining Costain’s whistleblowing policy to ensure it meets relevant laws and procedural standards
- Leading, developing and implementing an effective counter-fraud strategy for Costain covering fraud policies, processes and initiatives (including proactive prevention and detection)
- Proactively promote and communicate Costain whistleblowing facility and its counter-fraud, bribery and corruption policies and processes to mitigate the risk of loss (financial and reputational) from fraud, bribery and/or corruption.

**About you**
- Knowledge of legislation relating to fraud, bribery and corruption offences including the Fraud Act 2006 and the Bribery Act 2010
- Knowledge of law enforcement/court processes, including burden of proof and evidential burden, with regard to securing a conviction of fraud or bribery
- Knowledge of best practice with respect to the mitigation of fraud, bribery, and corruption risks
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills: to brief and report to senior management and Executive Board members and to interact with a wide range of personnel within Costain, and its supply chain on sensitive matters
- Ability to understand, oversee and undertake complex and sensitive malpractice and ethical investigations that may result in poor outcomes (financial and reputational) if not handled appropriately
- Advanced interviewing skills with regard to serious criminal offences, bribery, fraud, etc.
- Problem solving skills
- Influencing and negotiating skills
- Strong written skills including report writing
- Experience of leading and undertaking complex/sensitive investigations into fraud, bribery and corruption
- Experience of producing reliable and accurate reporting products and evidential packages
- Experience of working with Risk, Audit, Procurement and Commerc