Compliance Investigator

ComReg Overview

ComReg is the statutory body responsible for regulating fixed and mobile communications, postal and premium rate services in Ireland since 1997.

Our mandate is to create a competitive marketplace, to protect and inform consumers, and to encourage innovation.

This is an exciting time of growth for ComReg as we are shortly to be given new responsibilities from Government covering digital matters arising from EU legislation that includes: the 2022 Network and Information Systems Directive (NIS2), the Critical Entities Resilience (CER) Directive – addressing cybersecurity and network resilience – plus the EU Data Act Regulation, and the European Accessibility Act (EAA).

We are a professional, multi-disciplinary organisation, operating in a dynamic electronic communications environment that is constantly evolving.

While the role of regulation is evolving, our fundamental mission remains the same. ComReg aims to facilitate the development of a competitive electronic communications sector in Ireland attracting investment, encouraging innovation and empowering consumers to choose and use communications services with confidence.

The Compliance Team

As part of the Wholesale Division, the Compliance team is responsible for monitoring and investigating compliance with regulatory obligations in electronic communications markets. The team investigates potential breaches by regulated entities and, where appropriate, prepares cases for administrative or criminal enforcement. Its work can involve complex legal, technical, financial and economic issues and evidence from a wide range of sources. The team works closely with legal, economic, technical, data and digital-forensics specialists across ComReg.

Role and Responsibilities

We are looking to recruit candidates with experience in investigations, enforcement or other casework involving the assessment of evidence to join the Wholesale Division as Compliance Investigators. Reporting to a Wholesale Compliance Manager, the successful candidate will work on investigations into potential breaches of regulatory obligations by regulated entities and contribute to the preparation of cases for enforcement action.

The role involves examining potential breaches of regulatory obligations, gathering and assessing evidence, and considering information and explanations provided by regulated entities and other external parties. Investigators will develop an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework and of the technical or other issues arising in their cases. They will prepare clear written material to support investigation and enforcement decisions.

The successful candidate will be responsible for the following:

• Conduct and contribute to investigations into potential breaches of regulatory obligations, whether initiated by ComReg or arising from complaints or other information.
• Plan and progress assigned investigative work, in consultation with the Wholesale Compliance Manager, including the issues to be examined, the information required and the next investigative steps.
• Obtain, review and assess information and evidence from a range of sources, including documents, data, technical and financial records, correspondence and witness evidence.
• Develop a sufficient understanding of the legal, regulatory and technical matters relevant to each case, including any financial or economic issues.
• Engage with regulated entities, complainants, witnesses, their representatives and specialists, including where facts or positions are disputed.
• Prepare investigation plans, correspondence, information requirements, reports, case files and other written material to support the investigation and any subsequent enforcement action.
• Work with legal, economic, technical, data and digital forensics specialists as required and apply their advice and analysis to the case.
• Participate, as required, in interviews, on-site inspections, statutory information gathering and the acquisition or preservation of documentary or digital evidence in accordance with applicable procedures.
• Maintain accurate and complete investigation records and manage assigned work across concurrent matters.
• Contribute to compliance monitoring and the development of investigation procedures.

The above is intended as a guide to the general role description and is intended to be neither definitive nor restrictive. It will be subject to periodic review with the post holder.

Qualifications & Experience:

Essential Qualifications & Experience:

• A minimum level 8 degree in a relevant area (such as law, finance, engineering, computer science, information systems or data science) or a closely related discipline.
• Relevant experience of conducting investigations or making a substantial contribution to investigation, enforcement or comparable evidence-led casework involving external organisations or individuals. Candidates should be able to demonstrate their personal contribution to the work concerned.
• Experience gathering and assessing information from a range of sources, identifying the issues arising and informing reasoned findings or recommendations.
• A record of producing clear, well-structured reports, assessments, or recommendations based on evidence.
• A proven analytical and problem-solving skills, with the capacity to understand unfamiliar or complex subject matter and apply it in practice.
• Experience of effective communication and professional engagement with external organisations or individuals on substantive or sensitive matters.
• Sound judgment, good organisation and the ability to manage assigned work and work effectively within a multidisciplinary team.

Desirable Qualifications & Experience:

The following would be advantageous:

• Externally facing investigations involving disputed matters, formal evidence gathering or direct engagement with investigation subjects or their representatives.
• Regulatory, civil enforcement, criminal, disciplinary, competition, consumer protection, fraud, financial crime or comparable investigation or enforcement work.
• Formal interviews, inspections, statutory or compulsory information gathering, or the acquisition or preservation of documentary or digital evidence.
• Preparation of case files for administrative and criminal enforcement actions in respect of regulatory breaches.
• Engagement with legally represented parties in an investigative, enforcement or comparable context.
• Analysis of technical, financial, operational, digital or other specialist evidence.
• Working with legal advisers or litigators and with economic, technical, data or digital forensics specialists.
• Electronic communications, digital or cloud-based services, cybersecurity, data services or another technically complex regulated sector.
• Familiarity with national and European Union institutions, the regulatory environment, and the application of European Union directives and regulations.

Competencies

In addition to your technical qualifications and experience, you will bring professional competencies and skills in the following core areas:

• Analytical & Critical Thinking: Objectively analyses and evaluates information in order to identify patterns between situations that are not obviously related. Develops and clearly articulates solutions to complex problems.
• Planning and Organising: Establishes and monitors priorities, systematically differentiating between urgent, important and unimportant. Manages activities to deliver results. Meets objectives within predetermined time frames.
• Communicating and Influencing: Communicates clearly, confidently and respectfully. Engages, persuades and convinces others to follow a particular course of action. Ensures all relevant parties are appropriately updated and notified.
• Decision Making and Judgement: Effectively builds evidence base to support the decision-making process. Assesses alternative options. Uses judgement to adapt to specific and challenging requirements of the organisation.
• Teamwork: Promotes and enhances team performance through working collaboratively and in cooperation with others to achieve goals. Interacts in a manner that builds respect and fosters trust.
• Technical Knowledge & Continuous Improvement: Possesses a command over the technical and professional skills for a particular discipline. Keeps an open mind. Demonstrates commitment to continuous improvement.

Our Package

We are offering an attractive package:

• Salary €64,746.40 – €89,416.79 * (Pay increases will be awarded annually subject to satisfactory performance)
• Dublin city centre location – IFSC
• Blended working environment
• 28 days Annual Leave per year increases with service
• Fully paid Maternity, Paternity and Parent’s leave
• Income protection scheme
• Education assistance and Training Opportunities
• Professional membership fee pay
• Attractive pension scheme
• ComReg Wellbeing Programme
• Travel tax saver scheme, Access to Cycle to Work Scheme
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to a member’s run sports and social club

*(entry will be at the minimum point and the rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy.)

Check out the Recruitment section of our Careers website if you have any questions or need further information about the role or the recruitment process -https://www.comreg.ie/about/careers/recruitment-faq/

Please Note (1)

We hope that our recruitment process supports applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. We understand that having a diverse workforce contributes to making us stronger as an organisation. We are committed to positively supporting candidates with disabilities.

Please let us know if there are any reasonable accommodations we can make to enable you to take part in the process by creating the environment to give you the best opportunity to show your strengths and competencies. Rest assured that whatever information you disclose will only be used to enable us to provide the necessary support and will never have a bearing on the outcome of the process.

Please Note (2)

ComReg assesses all applicants fairly based on the requirements for the role. Due to the high volume of applications we receive for positions, we are unable to provide feedback to candidates who are not shortlisted for interview. If you are short-listed for interview, and are subsequently unsuccessful, you can request verbal feedback from your recruitment contact – if you are represented by an agency.