IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) benefits from a highly skilled workforce, where employees across various roles provide essential support to ensure the smooth progression of investigative efforts. With a team of over 950 professional staff, approximately one-third of the workforce is committed to delivering the expertise and assistance necessary to advance CI's critical mission of deterrence. These personnel are organized into three primary categories: Investigative, Administrative, and Technical Staff. Each category is seamlessly integrated into CI's operations, contributing to the success of both the broader IRS Enterprise mission and CI’s specific criminal tax mission.
Investigative Professional Staff
The contributions of CI’s investigative professional staff are essential to the advancement of its law enforcement initiatives. These professionals are integral to every aspect of criminal investigations, whether they are on the front lines handling casework or working behind the scenes to support CI’s mission. They actively participate in all stages of criminal investigations, from initiation through to prosecution.
Among their diverse roles are:
Supervisory Investigative Analyst (SIA)
The SIA serves as a front-line supervisor, responsible for delegating, overseeing, and evaluating the tasks of subordinate staff members. This role involves organizing and coordinating work schedules, managing operations, designing and implementing employee training and development programs, assessing employee performance, and fulfilling additional administrative and managerial responsibilities.
Tax Fraud Investigative Assistants (TFIA)
The TFIA supports Special Agents (SAs) in investigating suspected tax fraud and financial crimes. Duties include identifying information needs, developing effective strategies, and managing administrative tasks such as organizing electronic files, processing investigative packages, and overseeing the Federal Tax Return Inventory (TRI).
Investigative Analysts (IA)
The IA assists SAs in their investigations into suspected tax fraud and financial crimes. Responsibilities include conducting research, collecting, analyzing, and evaluating information to uncover tax law violations and support criminal investigations. The role requires a range of tasks, such as gathering and synthesizing data from multiple sources, verifying the accuracy of information, staying informed on the investigation's progress, adapting search strategies as needed, exploring various investigative avenues, and compiling detailed reports to support larger investigative efforts.
Administrative Professional Staff
CI’s administrative professionals play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth operation of CI activities, securing financial resources, and maintaining equipment functionality.
Among their diverse roles are:
Administrative Officer (AO)
The AO assumes administrative duties to streamline operations and services, serving as both an assessor and advisor to management on the efficiency and effectiveness of program operations. Additionally, the AO acts as the primary liaison with Headquarters, the Director of Field Operations, and other senior leaders, managing administrative affairs related to personnel, training, physical security, equipment oversight, and facility support.
Management Program Analyst (MPA)
The MPA serves as an analyst, evaluator, and consultant for management, providing insights into the efficiency and effectiveness of program operations across CI field offices.
Secretary
The Secretary provides essential administrative support within the field office, often functioning independently without parallel positions. This role involves performing a wide range of administrative and secretarial tasks, requiring an in-depth understanding of management policies, perspectives, and priorities, particularly those of the Special Agent in Charge (SAC).
Technology Operations and Cyber and Forensic Services
CI’s Technology Operations and Cyber and Forensic Services staff bring a diverse range of backgrounds, educational levels, and experiences, enriching the team with varied perspectives and expertise. Their roles span a broad spectrum of innovative work, including cybercrime investigations, data analytics, cybersecurity, and other technological domains.
To enhance criminal investigations on both national and global levels, CI established the Digital Forensics Lab (DFL). This 11,000-square-foot facility, located in Woodbridge, Virginia, is 25 miles south of CI Headquarters in the Metropolitan DC Area. The DFL supports criminal investigations through forensic acquisition, preservation, investigative analysis, and reporting of digital and cyber evidence. Forensic examiners collaborate with and advise SAs and other law enforcement partners on all digital aspects of criminal investigations.
Among their diverse roles are:
Computer Investigative Forensic Specialist (CIFA)
CIFAs assist SAs across the country in retrieving and forensically analyzing electronic evidence. This role requires a broad knowledge base to support investigations involving digital evidence and electronic crimes effectively.
Latent Print Specialist
The Latent Print Specialist is responsible for examining latent prints and providing expert testimony in court. Duties include developing, analyzing, assessing, and validating fingerprints and palm prints, as well as presenting detailed case information in complex courtroom environments.
Computer Operations Administrator (COA)
COAs serve as a technical expert, playing a critical role in providing end-user support for automated information technology systems and specialized law enforcement applications within Automated Criminal Investigation (ACI). Responsibilities may include organizing and overseeing Hotline operations, managing Hotline staff, and offering customer service and assistance to CI’s user community.
Info Tech Specialist
The Info Tech Specialist is responsible for ensuring the smooth operation of network systems. This includes assisting in the development, configuration, installation, and maintenance of Local Area Networks (LANs) and Wide Area Networks (WANs), as well as troubleshooting and resolving issues to maintain system stability. The role involves installing, configuring, and troubleshooting LAN and WAN components such as routers, hubs, switches, call processors, and servers.
CI is invested in the development and maintenance of its Professional Staff community, and the roles listed above are just a portion of the career pathways available to qualified applicants. If you are interested in helping CI accomplish its law enforcement mission, please review open announcements listed below under Current CI Career Opportunities.
Compensation and Benefits
Certain location-based pay entitlements, such as locality payments, special rate supplements, and nonforeign area cost-of-living allowances, are determined by the location of an employee’s official worksite, which is associated with the employee’s position of record. The official worksite is generally considered the location where the employee regularly performs their duties. However, all Federal employees are entitled to a comprehensive range of outstanding benefits, and the IRS strives to provide a broad array of benefit programs to support its workforce.
As a federal employee, you will enjoy unmatched benefits. Please refer to our benefits programs for additional information.
How can I determine my initial salary?
Please reference the appropriate Pay Table for your geographic area and job series published by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
When referencing an OPM Pay Table, it is essential to use the Pay Table for the current year, as these tables are subject to annual adjustments determined by Congress. To find the appropriate Pay Table, employees should identify their Post of Duty (POD) based on their geographic location.
Current CI Career Opportunities
To view all current announcements, please click here.
Discover more about current CI job openings by participating in one of our virtual information sessions. View the full schedule of events by clicking here.
Connect with a Local Recruiter
For inquiries about a career with CI, please reach out to a local recruiter in your region. Click here for contact information.
You can also contact our Professional Staff Advocates directly via email at THEADVOCATES@ci.irs.gov. They are available to discuss career opportunities within our Investigative, Administrative, and Technical Staff divisions.