2024-12-31-accounts - Counter Fraud Professional Awards Board

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The Counter Fraud Professional Awards Board

Registered Charity Number 1201280

A Charitable Incorporated Organisation

TRUSTEES’ 2024 ANNUAL REPORT

Reporting period:

January 2024 - December 2024

Charity name: The Counter Fraud Professional Awards Board

Charity registration number: 1201280

Principal Address: 77 Mansell Street, London E1 8AN

Charitable Objects

As set out in its constitution, the objects for which the Counter Fraud Professional Awards Board (CFPAB) is established, for the public benefit, are for advancing the education of the public in counter-fraud and thereby promoting and ensuring high professional standards in counter-fraud practice by:

Establishing and maintaining professional standards in the delivery of a portfolio of approved professional training programmes in the field of counterfraud practice, to those engaged in (or training to be engaged in) such work and in line with the core learning aims and syllabi agreed by the CFPAB
Overseeing the delivery of approved training programmes by CFPAB Approved Training Providers (ATPs), considering their quality and effectiveness, in accordance with the rules and requirements stipulated by the CFPAB
Ensuring, where appropriate, that approved training programmes are structured so that higher education learning credits can be awarded to successful programme participants and that in particular a recommended credit rating is communicated to the CFPAB by a relevant higher education institution
Formally recognising, by way of professional certification, an individual’s successful completion of an approved training programme with the bestowal of the appropriate award
Encouraging and fostering the continued professional development (CPD) of CFPAB award holders through the giving of advice, guidance and recognition of CPD activity
Promoting professional training programmes for counter-fraud practitioners (or those training to be such practitioners) and working with organisations with an interest in supporting economic security and sound financial management through adopting counter-fraud practices

“Counter-fraud” and “counter-fraud practice” means the practice of protecting the economic well-being and security of the public (including critical national infrastructure, commerce, public and third sector services and individuals) from the threat of fraud and other cognate threats, such as bribery and corruption.

The CFPAB is managed and governed by volunteers, without whom the charity would not exist. The trustees are therefore extremely grateful for the time given by these individuals and their respective member organisations they represent.

Achievements and Performance Against Charitable Objects 2024

During this reporting period, the CFPAB has overseen the professional accreditation of 444 individuals for a variety of awards, as detailed in the table set out at Appendix 1 (Objects 3 and 4)
Attained membership of the Government Counter Fraud Profession’s (GCFP’s) Trailblazer Group for the proposed Fraud Control Officer apprenticeship (Object 6)
Retained a position on the Tackling Economic Crime Awards (TECAS) judging panel and attended the annual awards ceremony (Object 6)
Sponsored TECAS category “Outstanding Young Professional” (Object 6; see report)
Grant funded the Fraud Advisory Panel’s “Future Counter Fraud Community” initiative (Object 6; see report)
Grant Funded the Tenancy Fraud Forum’s “Detecting Tenancy Fraud in London” research project (findings published March 2025) (Object 6; see report)
Appointed as an expert stakeholder organisation to the Advisory Committee of the landmark “Strengthening Counter Fraud Across the NHS in England’” research project conducted by Northumbria University, Newcastle (UNN) (Object 6)
Relicensed all existing CFPAB Approved Training Providers (ATPs) to deliver CFPAB accredited courses (Object 2)
Grown the CFPAB’s LinkedIn social media page to circa 830 followers (Object 5)

Other notable activity

John Rosenbloom appointed as new member of the Trustees’ Board – June 2024
Worked with the Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA) to recognise CFPAB awards as gateway qualifications for membership of the GCFP (work still in progress)
Considered and rejected one application for ATP status

Planned activity in 2024 and outturn

Set out in the CFPAB’s 2023 Annual Report were 5 workstream activities – over and above the CFPAB’s ongoing ‘business as usual’ activities – planned for 2024. These activities are tabulated immediately hereunder along with their outturns and corresponding comment:

No.	Activity	Outturn	Comment
1	Fully engage with identified partners concerning the distribution of charitable funds.	Charitable funds were distributed to the Fraud Advisory Panel, Tackling Economic Crime Awards and the Tenancy Fraud Forum	See‘Achievements and Performance Against Charitable Objects 2024’ section above for further details
2	Engage with the Government Counter Fraud Profession concerning recognition of the ACFS award as a gateway qualification to ‘the profession’	Continued work in progress with positive engagement having occurred throughout 2024	Recognition anticipated in 2025 subject to establishment of CFPAB quality assurance and CPD frameworks
3	Establish a quality assurance framework for the delivery of approved accredited training programmes	No material progress made in 2024	See ‘Planned activity in 2025’ section below
4	Establish a CPD framework for CFPAB award holders	No material progress made in 2024	See ‘Planned activity in 2025’ section below
5	Broaden the portfolio of CFPAB awards with a focus on fraud prevention and international specialist awards	Development of the fraud prevention award was held in abeyance pending the publication of the GCFP’s Level 4 Fraud Control Officer Apprenticeship (FCOA) Occupational Standard which the CFPAB intends to utilise in creating and aligning its own award with, for the benefit of aspirational non- apprenticeship Fraud Control Officers No material progress was made on the development of the desired International Specialist award	The CFPAB is collaboration with the GCFP in developing the FCOA standard which is expected to be published in the 3rd or 4thquarter of 2025. This will enable planning to begin for a comparable CFPAB Level 4 award in 2026 No progress made due to lack of capacity. The matter remains on the agenda for 2025

Planned activity in 2025

Establishment and implementation of Quality Assessment and CPD frameworks for CFPAB awards. Recognising the lack of progress in 2024 concerning these vital activities the trustees will appoint a dedicated supplier to carry out the required work in conjunction with UNN, starting in March 2025 and concluding the following May for full implementation during the ensuing months until the end of Quarter 1 2026. The work will also entail a review of the CFPAB’s governance and secretariat arrangements to identify potential areas for improvement in terms of delivering the Board’s charitable objects
PSFA recognition of ACFS award for individual membership of the GCFP
Development of an International Specialist award
Active stakeholder participation in UNN’s “Strengthening Counter Fraud Across the NHS in England’” research project
Continue to engage with identified partners concerning the distribution of charitable funds

Financial Review (1[st] January to December 31[st] , 2024)

A review of the CFPAB’s financial position has been undertaken and can be summarised as follows:

Income:	£Nil
Expenditure:	£13,612
Bank balance:	£31,658

Expenditure Breakdown:

Item	Amount
Grants	£13,000
Travel & Expenses	£477
Admin costs	£135

Total £13,612

During 2024 the CFPAB experienced a significant downturn in accreditation applications resulting in a corresponding downturn in expected income. This would appear attributable to a diversion of learners in the public sector from the ACFS programme to the Fraud Investigator apprenticeship programme. Given some of these apprentice programmes also have integrated within them an ACFS award, the numbers are expected to partially recover over time as apprentices graduate from their apprenticeship programmes, thereby allowing them to simultaneously apply for an ACFS award.

The Nil income shown above arose because of no invoicing to Northumbria University for the accreditation certificate fee rebate arising from the 444 accreditations authorised during the reporting period. Income due was £3,320 and will be invoiced as a matter of priority during the 2025 reporting period. Arrangements have been put in place to prevent recurrence of this issue.

Notwithstanding the above, the CFPAB’s financial position remained healthy throughout 2024, and accounts are completed in the prescribed format for submission to the Charity Commission.

Furthermore, the trustees are considering ways of returning the board’s income to what might be considered historic levels with expansion of the awards portfolio being one of several options.

Reserves Policy

The trustees continue to maintain a financial reserves policy for one-off, infrequent or unanticipated costs associated with CFPAB activities; for example, costs associated with advertising and tendering for services, financial support to an Authorised Training Provider (ATP) to take on additional students in the event another ATP becomes insolvent, legal advice, authorised out-of-pocket trustee expenses and so on.

The trustees consider that an ongoing reserve balance of £5,000 should be maintained in the CFPAB accounts, reviewable on a regular basis and at least annually.

Structure, Governance and Management

The CFPAB is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, and the Board of Trustees is the key body accountable for its governance. The CFPAB’s primary governing document is its constitution. In addition, pursuant to their powers the trustees, through a scheme of delegation, delegate certain powers and/or functions to a committee known as the Executive Board (EB) that is made up of CFPAB member organisation representatives. The scheme’s document sets out the extent of the delegation that must be exercised reasonably and with due care and attention by the EB.

In summary and notwithstanding certain matters reserved for the Board of Trustees, the EB is responsible for the general running and operational management of the CFPAB and the effective implementation of policies and strategy as determined by the trustees, with the EB Chair responsible to the Board of Trustees.

Trustees and Members

Trustees

The current trustees are:

Peter Darby
Les Dobie
Alan Doig
Phillip Sapey
John Rosenbloom

Trustees are private individuals acting in their personal capacity who are appointed in accordance with the CFPAB’s constitution.

Members

The CFPAB membership is made up of organisations in the UK and Northern Ireland that meet the following criteria:

are incorporated by law, statute or other similar enactment
can demonstrate having a significant interest or role in, or influence over, the counter fraud sector
have a clear interest in furthering the CFPAB’s objects and possess the resources and capability to do so
conduct business either on a non-commercial or not-for-profit basis

The current members are:

Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (Executive Board Chair)
City of London Police
Cifas (Deputy Executive Board Chair)
Department for Work and Pensions
His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs
Insurance Fraud Investigators Group

Member organisations nominate representatives from within their ranks to the EB.

In accordance with the constitution, trustees are members ex officio.

Secretariat

The secretariat is an administrative function responsible for providing administrative support to the CFPAB. The role is renewed every 3 years by way of a competitive process. The current secretariat is University of Northumbria University, Newcastle. Both the Board of Trustees and the Executive Board are grateful for the ongoing support provided by the secretariat.

Declarations

Signature:

Full name: John Rosenbloom

Position: Interim Chair of the Board of Trustees Date: 19 March 2025

Appendix

2024 CFPAB Awards

Provider Name	Number of Awards	ACFS	ACFTech	ACFT	ACFM	ACFIS	ACFITec h	ACFSS
CIPFA	96	60	33	0	0	0	0	3
CIFAS	34	22	12	0	0	0	0	0
City of London Police	45	0	0	0	45	0	0	0
HMRC	137	42	1	0	0	69	25	0
Larus Consulting	15	15	0	0	0	0	0	0
Peter Darby Associates	49	25	23	1`	0	0	0	0
RNA Training	68	68	0	0	0	0	0	0
AML Consulting	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Totals	444	232	62	1	45	69	25	3

Charity Name No (if any) CFPAB 1201280 Receipts and payments accounts

CC16a

For the period Period start date Period end date To from 1/1/2024 12/31/2024

Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ A1 Receipts

Section A Receipts and payments
A1 Receipts - - - - - - - - - - - Sub total - Total receipts - A3 Payments Grants 13,000 Travel & Expenses 477 Operational & Admin costs 135 - - - - - - Sub total 13,612 - - Sub total - Total payments 13,612 Net of receipts/(payments) - 13,612 A5 Transfers between funds - A6 Cash funds last year end 45,269 Cash funds this year end 31,658 Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ *Sub total*(Gross income for AR) A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table)	to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Restricted funds	to the nearest £ Endowment funds	Total funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - 13,000 477 135 - - - - - - 13,612 - - - 13,612 - 13,612 - 45,269 31,658	Last year to the nearest £
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Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

Categories B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B3 Investment assets B5 Liabilities B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees	Details Details Details Details Details Signature *Total cash funds* (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s))	to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - Agreement Error OK to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Print Name Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional)	to nearest £ Endowment funds
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			Date of approval