Hello,
I am applying for a job within a financial institution and I am subject to their credit & criminal record checks. Although in a financial institution, it is not a FSA approved role. I believe that this means it will be a basic criminal record check (my convictions should be spent). Can anyone tell me if this correct?
 Thanks

In theory ....
The Bank can only apply for a standard DBS check if the role is an FCA/PRA controlled function (see the link below for the list).
https://www.fca.org.uk/firms/approved-persons/controlled-functions

In general, these are going to be sales/client-facing roles, roles within the payments process and roles which exert a significant influence.  Even then, the bar is pretty high with regard seniority and influence of the role. For example, in one bank I know well anyone selling derivatives, investment or complex products will require a CF30 from the FCA but anyone selling vanilla products or a cashier in a branch require no FCA approval and therefore only a basic DBS.

One thing to be careful of are authorised payment institutions which are on the increase (remittances, FX payments, e-money, fintechs..) - technically, any managerial role in these firms can be legally subject to a standard DBS check.

Remember, the DBS certificate after the check is sent to the applicant and not the Bank - you will at least be able to see what has been disclosed before you pass it onto the Bank.  While the DBS are in the process of establishing an electronic process, this is still some time away (Unlock have a lot of information on their site about this).

Bottom line - I would apply for the role and channel your energy into ensuring you are offered the job.  You could always pull out down the line if anything adverse appears on your certificate (which the Bank won't of seen). Better to have a job offer and say no if necessary, than not get the offer and never know ....

Thanks for the reply Yankee,

The Job is 'back office' (non-financial) and the job description states that a credit check & DBS is applicable. If they request anything beyond a basic check I will challenge it with Disclosure Scotland.
I hate how you just cant escape the conviction (see my numerous other posts - but mines was seriously unjust), even though you do everything right. I don't think a day has ever gone past that it hasn't made me feel like crap one way or another!

All criminal record checks in England and Wales are now being done by the DBS, so don't go to Disclosure Scotland unless you actually live in Scotland. It's worth using the DBS's own eligibility tool here to see what level of check is allowed. According to them, unless you are a licenced financial professional, you should have a basic check.

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If you are to punish a man retributively you must injure him. If you are to reform him you must improve him. And men are not improved by injuries. (George Bernard Shaw)

You will be fine with a back office role - good luck.
Once your conviction is spent - like yours - life gets much, much easier. Only the Google effect to worry about if there was adverse publicity at the time.

Thanks all. Didn't get the job
Still... it is all good experience.

Hi, 
I' hoping someone can help me. I've been offered a job to work in a bank call centre but have to do criminal record checks. Just wondering if anyone works in a bank or have any idea what level of checks they do? I have a conviction from quite a few years ago and on the application it asks for all spent and unspent convictions. I will just be answering calls in regard to customer queries but really worried my conviction will show up 

Thank you 

It seems surprising that a job in a call centre (regardless of in what sector) would require anything beyond a basic check (i.e. that would only show unspent convictions). Is your conviction spent? Hopefully someone on here can advise, it sounds like any deeper check would be disproportionate.

Thank you for replying. Yes it's spent around 12 years. I have been worried as the question asks for both spent and unspent under ROA. I'm not 100% sure they are allowed to ask that but I don' want to apply incase it is a standard check and it's not been filtered off. It was a 12 month conditional discharge 

Hi Jooles, I would expect a call centre job to be a basic check. Just because they are asking about spent and unspent convictions doesn't mean they have to be told about them - that's what the record check is for, and they only have a right to know what is shown on that check. That doesn't stop them trying it on and requesting a standard DBS check, so it's worth paying close attention to the form they get you to sign. Unlock has some information about it on their website here and here. As for your conviction, if it is eligible for filtering, that would be done after 11 years, if the offence is eligible. Again, Unlock has some information on their website here and they have more detailed information here if you need it. If it is filtered, then you'd have nothing to fear from a standard DBS check.

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If you are to punish a man retributively you must injure him. If you are to reform him you must improve him. And men are not improved by injuries. (George Bernard Shaw)