Considered a Career as an FBI Financial Analyst?

Considered a Career as an FBI Financial Analyst?
Here’s What It’s Like: Up Close and Personal

09/24/04

Ever thought about putting your financial skills to work in the cause of justice? We thought you’d be interested in an interview we recently conducted with a financial analyst in the FBI’s Terrorist Financing Operations Section here at our headquarters in Washington. “Tony” is a certified public accountant who joined the FBI in 2003 after using his skills for ten years in the private sector.

Q: Tony, what’s a typical working day like for you?

A: My typical day involves using financial data collected from FBI, CIA, and NSA intelligence sources to identify the movement of money to terrorist operatives in the U.S. and abroad. I work closely with FBI agents to identify criminal evidence to disrupt terrorist plots in the U.S. Generally speaking, though, no two days are the same, as there always seems to be new information to learn and challenges to overcome. This makes the job interesting and rewarding.

Q: What’s your most memorable case?

A: I participated in an international terrorism investigation aimed at stopping the sale of weapons for use in terrorist operations. As part of the case, I identified a network of clandestine arms transfer activity directed at selling weapons and supplies to the Middle East and Africa.

Q: Have you ever traveled overseas on a case?
A. Yes. I can’t talk about the details, but I’ve met with members of Britain’s MI5 and the German BKA (Bundeskriminalamt) to collaborate on cases of mutual interest and to discuss the financial links among terrorist networks in our respective countries.

Q: What do you like best about the job?
A: There is no better job satisfaction than using my financial training and expertise to fight the war on terrorism.

Q: Any advice to prospective FBI recruits?
A: I would recommend this job to anyone who is interested in a rewarding public service career. The FBI work environment is great—ideas and expertise are respected, used, and directed to the mission at hand. Initiative is encouraged, appreciated, and rewarded. After working 10 years in the private sector, I feel very “at home” with the FBI.

Link: Interested in applying? Go straight to www.fbijobs.gov.