Shreya
Financial Analyst

I work side by side with contractors to support over 2,000 end users for 
our financial system. We ensure that the data has integrity. We ensure 
that our reports are generated on a timely basis. We ensure that the 
reports are accurate, so our analysts can essentially report up to the 
executives on the status of our budget and the financial well-being
of the IRS.

In order to be a budget analyst or a financial analyst at the IRS, you 
have to have a bachelor's degree in something related to finance, whether 
it be economics, whether it be finance, accounting. We also have accountant 
positions that don't require CPAs, but a CPA is highly desirable. But a 
bachelor's in accounting is definitely required to be an accountant. So 
you have your various choices. If you're not a bean counter, you can be 
a financial management analyst or a budget analyst without having an 
accounting degree.

For me, joining the government was very important. It was after 9/11, and 
I really wanted to make a difference, do something patriotic. I thought 
serving for the government, being a public servant is the direction I 
wanted my career to go after working in the private sector for so long.

It gave meaning to my responsibilities and my job. Once you enter the 
IRS and become a subject-matter expert in your area or in a certain area, 
you are the go-to person. You get the credibility, you get the reputation 
very quickly. Executives will look to you, no matter what your level. If 
they know you have that knowledge, they will seek you out and find you.

And because of that, you essentially get promoted very quickly. And I've 
been working for the IRS for about six years now, and I've essentially 
received five promotions.