Internal Revenue Service

I've seen more articles lately where our leaders refer to us as forensic accountants. To me, that is a put-down. It sounds like a Revenue Agent or an expert witness, not a Criminal Investigator GS1811. Forensic accountants are series 0510, same as Revenue Agents and other government accountants; they are not law enforcement officers. There are people in Congress (and some in IRS) who would like to disarm us and take away our 1811. Let's not give them ammunition. Personally I like the term Treasury agent. Food for thought- especially for those in SES.

The IRS Special Agents are often referred to as "accountants with guns".

I tried to recruit people with backgrounds besides accounting- a state cop with a finance degree, a military cop with a minor in accounting, a Secret Service agent. All were beat out by CPAs, one who made a career and the other who quit in three years. It does not take a CPA to be successful in this job, although it looks good to a jury. I don't know what we are recruiting these days. But if we sell the job as a forensic accountant, we are shortchanging our history and ignoring good people. Those early T-Men were former Postal Inspectors and one went on to head Secret Service. Mike Malone was a former cop. Some of the best agents I worked with had the minimum accounting requirement but other valuable experience.

Forgot to add: The Chief (SAC) who got OCDETF started in parts of the Midwest was a former NYPD Chief of Detectives. The agents loved working for him.

the best agents we have are ones who had no connection to civil and can't quote the irm. those are the horses that actually get ***** done and get ridden by management and unfortunately leave for other opportunities. It's unfortunate...the good ones get tired of carrying the load when the RA who took the job for the leap and a gride slugs it out and milks a 120k tax case for five years. God forbid you ask them to work a drug case. They'd ***** their pants just going into the hood with the DEA..

Current RA that wants to leave the civil side and be a special agent - currently in the application process and took the KaSE a few weeks ago. I don’t feel like this describes me and I also don’t want it to me or to be perceived that way. Best advice that any of you would give to a RA coming into an 1811 position.

Yep. Just because you grew up in your career giving someone a tax bill doesn’t always mean it’s the end all be all. It’s always tax tax tax from mgt until the annual report comes out and the only thing you read about is case work involving money laundering and seizures.

Edited by user Friday, February 18, 2022 8:40:12 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

And I knew a special agent who thought O.J. was innocent! Reinforces my suspicion about our recruiting. (He was a former RA). DUBYAC-when I asked what are we getting, I meant recruits at Glynco. Mostly other IRS, or outside hires, CPAs, vets, LEOs, etc.? As to the way our brass portrays us, I'd rather be pictured as Kevin Costner in The Untouchables than as Stephen Root in Office Space.

I correct anyone who says accountants with guns in my presence. It seems to be a plea to accounting students that even if you never thought about law enforcement before and figured you would be an accountant we can turn you into a criminal investigator.
It's an underwhelming statement buts it's printed on some of our old schwag.

I've never considered myself an accountant, barely met the education requirements. I had more LE experience than accounting experience when I applied. I had even more experience with administering federal law and regulations and making legal decisions that had real effects on people. My training class had 6 agents with some form of LE background whether current or prior to what they were doing upon entry with CI. We also had CPAs, attorneys, public accountants, civil side folks, bankers, and someone who just really liked spreadsheets.

While recruiting I have had people ask me if the job is really just forensic accounting. I steer the conversation to the need to understand basic accounting principles but that there are many parts to the job.

It sounds like we are getting some good people. I know the ones I worked with were good, especially those in OCDETF. I just get bummed when I hear "forensic accountants" from the brass, and think it attracts people who have a false impression of the job.