I’d like to work for the FBI either as a Special Agent or Professional Staff as a Forensic Accountant. I am currently a Senior Forensic Accountant at a public accounting firm but we mainly handle commercial damage calculations, business valuations, and SOME investigations that one might think of as “was there fraud? We’re not sure, please Mr. Forensic Accountant can you take a look at our QBs?”
Question: is this experience preferable to the FBI? Or do they prefer the AML professionals? CPA + CFE
You should be qualified for those roles with your qualifications. I think FBI SA roles are always open but forensic accounting positions are rarely posted
What’s unique about government jobs is you can apply to both and it won’t ruin your chances of getting either. But honestly which one interests you more? They are different jobs. One requires a badge and gun and you won’t know where you’ll end up until 3-4 weeks into Quantico vs you will know your location upfront with FOA but there is more limit on career growth. It generally takes a year to go through the process for both. I know they are canvassing for agents right now and rumor is they may have an FOA announcement in the spring. Also what city would you be interested in for FOA? That can shape how competitive it is and what certifications (if any) they look for. If you’re interested in agent and able to pass the PFT, I would pursue that. While you can make the switch internally, it’s a bit bureaucratic. Right now they are only requiring 5 points (1 in each category) to send you to Quantico. You’ll still need to get 12 points there, but you’ll have time during you’re background investigation to get in shape. FYI for agents they love any financial background.
Agent for me, I assume for him as well
OP - You have great relevant and transferable experience. I know this post is a bit old, but recently went through the process and happy to chat 1:1 to clear up questions and share info. Also, can share recent posts for FOA if you want to apply. DM if you’re still interested!
IRS CI (Special Agent) also hiring rn. Seem to be moving quickly and no poly or fitness test.
I don’t know that it automatically disqualifies you but it will likely result in a longer medical eval. process + psych review. I’m certain it’s case dependent and not as strict as FBI
I would suggest applying for a forensic accountant position over a Special Agent. Any background can qualify for an agent position but an accountant would be more specialized. Plus, you should take age into consideration. Special agents have to be younger than 37. Professional staff can be any age. I was offered an Intelligence Analyst position last year but opted not to accept because it required relocating for a minimal increase in pay.
^ this. Additionally, there are fitness standards and lots of other red tape. If you want to move over relatively quickly, apply for regular forensic accountant. You can pivot internally for SA roles relatively easily. Better that, then getting rejected a bunch of times and being stuck in your current role (not that there's anything wrong with it).
One last caveat, it's all about how you present yourself and your experiences. Using words like intelligence and investigations on your resume will help you a lot. Also, when you speak about your experiences on your interview, highlight the most applicable projects you've worked on etc. Ultimately, it's a niche space, so you'll be okay regardless. I'm sure your skill will be much more transferable than majority of other career-pivoting candidates.
How’s the comp for an FBI forensic accountant?
Much appreciated.
Don’t
Please expand on this