Most people associate DBS checks with education and healthcare, but these are far from the only sectors where some level of criminal records checking is required on some employees. Financial services companies such as banks, building societies and insurance companies have to be very careful about who they recruit, as in this sector there is potentially the opportunity for fraud or theft. Checks run through the Disclosure and Barring Service will help companies minimise the risks to their business of getting the wrong person. The sort of check, and the frequency of the checking, will depend on the role the applicant will be doing.
Basic Checks
A basic DBS check can be requested on anyone. Employers can’t run this sort of check without an applicant’s permission though, so will usually state on adverts whether a basic check is needed. A basic DBS check is just a statement of an applicant’s current and unspent criminal record. It won’t tell employers about older offences which are “spent” under rehabilitation legislation, but a basic disclosure is a pretty good indication of whether someone is trustworthy or not. Many companies will ask frontline staff handling customer money, or who have access to transfer money to and from accounts, to have a basic DBS check.
Standard DBS Checks
Unlike the basic checks, employers can only run standard checks for specific job roles as set out in law. A standard check digs a bit deeper and looks at unspent convictions and cautions too, if they are relevant to the position. In the financial services world, there is a wide range of occupations which might require a standard DBS check. These include:
- Chartered or certified accountants – people wishing to join the official accounting registers must have a standard disclosure check when applying, but once registered might not need another for the rest of their career.
- Financial Conduct Authority – this industry lists the positions which need standard DBS checks, which they call “controlled functions”. This involves people who are directors of a regulated financial firm, who are responsible for the company’s banking or accounts, or who are in charge of making sure companies comply with FCA rules.
Enhanced DBS Checks
It is unlikely that anyone working in financial services will qualify for an enhanced DBS check, as these are usually reserved for people who are working with vulnerable groups such as children. Even staff in retail banking are likely to be dealing with children, unsupervised, and without a parent present.
Getting DBS Checks
Larger financial institutions should have written policies and procedures detailing which positions require DBS checks, and their process for carrying them out. Smaller firms won’t often have written processes but will follow the same basic steps as larger organisations. For anyone applying for a job in financial services, there is lots of information and guidance online. The Disclosure and Barring Service also has a phone and email helpline to answer any specific queries you might have about your own circumstances.
