Contemplating taking a Federal government job. Career/Pension questions

ghenghispwn · Post by **ghenghispwn** » Fri Jan 10, 2025 11:32 am

Good morning,

I wanted to pose my questions to this forum because you are some of the sharpest people I know. You have life experience, you know money, and you can look back on your lives and offer advice that younger people I know cannot offer.

Contemplating accepting an offer from IRS-CI. This is the agency tasked with investigating federal tax crimes. I'm 35 and currently a CPA with 9+ years of experience in tax. I currently make $150k and work for a medium sized public accounting firm. My firm is good to me, but I've always had an itch somewhere inside me saying I need to look into other careers that may fit my personality better. I've always had something gnawing at me that I'd like to be a detective as I love digging into things, investigating and solving issues, and piecing stories together. I know Myers Briggs is viewed as pseudo science, but I'm an ESTP working as a tax accountant...

I'm very good at my job and I feel my position is secure, but I do have some concerns with the stress and health tolls I face with busy season. We eat garbage, work 12-13 hour days, our sleep schedule isn't as good, you miss out on events, etc. Granted when it's not busy season we have a lot of freedom to take vacation and not be in office if our projects are moving, but man the stress of busy season does grind you down.

In addition, I've been stagnating in my career. I had a very nice manager for most of my career, but towards the tail end I think he was checking out mentally and we didn't do a great job at keeping me growing (I realize part of this is my fault too in not being a stronger advocate for myself). Due to this I've been passed over for some promotions and I've been stuck in a bit of a rut due to not being put on a path for growth. Late last year I got a new manager who is amazing. She understands my struggles with my career progression and has setup a clear path for promotion, etc. I'm just bummed she was not my manager a couple years ago before I got so upset with my career that I was willing to leave. I let her know I'm thinking about leaving and she's very bummed that things got to the point where I felt I had to leave.

Regarding pay, I'm looking at roughly a 45-50% pay cut in my first year with IRS-CI. Within 5 years at IRS-CI I'll be where I'm at currently pay wise (there is a standard promotion/pay raise track), but of course I would have missed out on my pay raises/promotions at my current job so I'll never catch up to where I was. My new manager said it's very possible I could be close to $200k in 5 years if I stay with the firm. I'm struggling with this because one of my goals in life is to be financially independent and I realize how things quickly snowball if you are diligent in saving and investing.

Here is my current financial situation.

Personal investments - $91k
Cash/Safety Net - $10k
Roth IRA - $67k
Traditional IRA - $22k
401k (blend of Traditional/Roth) - $205k
Debt - $11k left on my 1.9% car note.

Pay rate for IRS should look like this (without inflation adjustment):

Year 1 - $78k
Year 2 - $86k
Year 3 - $100k
Year 4 - $120k
Year 5 - $143k

I'm currently 35 years old and you CANNOT get a Federal law enforcement job past 37 due to pension rules. If I let this pass by, my window to get into another agency will be quickly closing and there's no guarantee another agency will hire me (FBI/DEA are notoriously picky and slow, etc.). If I want to try out being a detective my window is very tight. One major downside besides the lower pay is I need to train in Georgia for 6 months. I'm definitely going to miss my dog and my girlfriend.

With this information here are my questions:

1. I have a weird relationship with money. I grew up relatively poor due to some hardships my family faced in my early teens. I feel like right now I've hit the lottery in terms of pay and benefits. I never thought I'd be where I'm at now. I'm having a very hard time coming to terms with the pay cut and the fact it may slow down some of my financial goals. I also struggle with the fact that if I do not take this job I very well may be locked out forever. A new administration is coming in, hiring freezes may be put in place, and before you know it I'm 37 and no longer eligible to work as a Federal LEO. Any advice on what you would do in my spot? Have you been in a similar situation and how did you respond?

Right now my gut is leaning towards taking the job, testing it out, and if I hate it I can always come back to public accounting after a year or two. The inverse is not true. My manager could not guarantee a job would be waiting for me in 2-3 years if I dislike the IRS, but she said she did not see any reason why the partner group would refuse to hire me if my skills were needed.

2. I'm not very familiar with government retirement plans or pensions. My understanding is a portion of my paycheck will go towards my pension and that I vest into it at the 5 year mark and you get an increased percentage of your highest wages as a pension distribution if you last the full 20 (you can also buy the healthcare plans at the government rate until Medicare IIRC). In addition, the government offers a plan similar to a 401k that they give a 5% match. What I'm struggling to determine is if the value of these retirement benefits really help offset the decreased pay. Obviously if I'm earning more money I can more easily max out my 401k, Roth IRA, and have more money to stash away into personal investments. Can anyone shed light on the true value of government retirement benefits - are they as valuable as people make them seem?

3. Any closing words of wisdom?

gotoparks · Post by **gotoparks** » Fri Jan 10, 2025 12:09 pm

The federal government offers steady pay with very little layoffs. This might change in the near future. IRS is a target agency for cuts to budgets and personnel. This is what I read, and you probably read the same. I'm a federal employee and the benefits are better than what I had in the private sector without the stress. TSP is the 401K version. You can read about it. Plenty of sick leave and annual leave. FERS pension that you pay into it plus social security. I've been around for over twenty years and there is very little turnover in my office and agency so that tells me what people think about their jobs. Health insurance is good, but you need to get separate insurance for eye and dental on most if not all plans.I pay out of pocket instead of getting additional insurance. There are other federal employees on the forum and if they see your post will probably chime in.

Gardener · Post by **Gardener** » Fri Jan 10, 2025 12:16 pm

Forgive me if I missed these answers in your OP. I’m about to head out the door.

Is this an 1811 job? If so, You would work 50 hours weekly, yes?

I am a federal employee and run a side business.

Federal work by and large is much slower paced than private sector work. You will have a much better work life balance.

In general, It is very difficult to get a fed job whereas I think you would agree, it’s relatively easy to get a private sector accounting job. Fed work and workers can be astonishingly inefficient, wasteful, etc. just realize that going in.

Also, federal benefits are very rich. Lots of days off (some for nonsense to be honest).

When I went from private sector work to fed work, it was like going from 100 mph to 10 mph.

If you really wanted to push it, you could do accounting related work on the side, yes?

Just my thoughts

ghenghispwn · Post by **ghenghispwn** » Fri Jan 10, 2025 12:25 pm

Gardener wrote: Fri Jan 10, 2025 12:16 pm Forgive me if I missed these answers in your OP. I’m about to head out the door.

Is this an 1811 job? If so, You would work 50 hours weekly, yes?

I am a federal employee and run a side business.

Federal work by and large is much slower paced than private sector work. You will have a much better work life balance.

In general, It is very difficult to get a fed job whereas I think you would agree, it’s relatively easy to get a private sector accounting job. Fed work and workers can be astonishingly inefficient, wasteful, etc. just realize that going in.

Also, federal benefits are very rich. Lots of days off (some for nonsense to be honest).

When I went from private sector work to fed work, it was like going from 100 mph to 10 mph.

If you really wanted to push it, you could do accounting related work on the side, yes?

Just my thoughts

Yes, this is an 1811 position, so I think the retirement pension is a bit more generous. 1.7% per year at 20 years IIRC vs 1.1 or something similar per year. This is all new to me so excuse my ignorance.

In the event anyone else wants to know more about it, I'm basically a detective for the IRS. I get a badge, gun, and car.

stan1 · Post by **stan1** » Fri Jan 10, 2025 12:36 pm

1811 (criminal investigator) changes dynamic for everything, is it what would be called a forensic accounting job?

You get the 1.7% multiplier rather than 1.0 or 1.1% multiplier. So 20 years is 34% of pay with COLA under current law for the rest of your life.

There are other federal agencies, local governments, and private attorneys who hire forensic accountants. You might find that the federal government would pay for further specialized training if not certifications.

I would not do it for the pension though, I would do it because you feel it will be rewarding and the type of work you like.

ghenghispwn · Post by **ghenghispwn** » Fri Jan 10, 2025 12:40 pm

stan1 wrote: Fri Jan 10, 2025 12:36 pm 1811 (criminal investigator) changes dynamic for everything, is it what would be called a forensic accounting job?

You get the 1.7% multiplier rather than 1.0 or 1.1% multiplier. So 20 years is 34% of pay with COLA under current law for the rest of your life.

There are other federal agencies, local governments, and private attorneys who hire forensic accountants. You might find that the federal government would pay for further specialized training if not certifications.

I would not do it for the pension though, I would do it because you feel it will be rewarding and the type of work you like.

100% agree. I'm mostly doing this because it's been an interest gnawing at me for at least 5-6 years. My GF reminded me that on our first date back in 2019 I mentioned I was taking additional courses at a community college while working so I could become a police officer (my state requires certain classes to be taken that I had missed in my business degree). The pandemic hit as well as George Floyd so I put it on the back burner. I had more interest in the detective side of things instead of being a patrol man.

She's really encouraging me to take it due to this. She's aware it's been on my radar for years and isn't a recent development.

IRS is nice because I feel the process for getting on is much more streamlined vs other agencies. My understanding with this job is it's not super heavy on accounting work - it's more interviewing suspects, building a case with financial records, etc. A lot of the civil side will do the accounting work for you and deliver it over to you. I'm investigating tax fraud, money laundering, etc. I believe this is the ONLY agency that can investigate federal tax crimes.

stan1 · Post by **stan1** » Fri Jan 10, 2025 12:48 pm

ghenghispwn wrote: Fri Jan 10, 2025 12:40 pm
stan1 wrote: Fri Jan 10, 2025 12:36 pm 1811 (criminal investigator) changes dynamic for everything, is it what would be called a forensic accounting job?

You get the 1.7% multiplier rather than 1.0 or 1.1% multiplier. So 20 years is 34% of pay with COLA under current law for the rest of your life.

There are other federal agencies, local governments, and private attorneys who hire forensic accountants. You might find that the federal government would pay for further specialized training if not certifications.

I would not do it for the pension though, I would do it because you feel it will be rewarding and the type of work you like.

100% agree. I'm mostly doing this because it's been an interest gnawing at me for at least 5-6 years. My GF reminded me that on our first date back in 2019 I mentioned I was taking additional courses at a community college while working so I could become a police officer (my state requires certain classes to be taken that I had missed in my business degree). The pandemic hit as well as George Floyd so I put it on the back burner. I had more interest in the detective side of things instead of being a patrol man.

She's really encouraging me to take it due to this. She's aware it's been on my radar for years and isn't a recent development.

IRS is nice because I feel the process for getting on is much more streamlined vs other agencies. My understanding with this job is it's not super heavy on accounting work - it's more interviewing suspects, building a case with financial records, etc. A lot of the civil side will do the accounting work for you and deliver it over to you. I'm investigating tax fraud, money laundering, etc. I believe this is the ONLY agency that can investigate federal tax crimes.

Lots of forensic accountant jobs (FBI, SS, DEA, BATF, FINCEN, etc) involve in crime of various types.
I don't know how easy it is to lateral.
Also helps if you are in DC area of course, and often there more potential for higher pay rate jobs too.

Collinkp · Post by **Collinkp** » Fri Jan 10, 2025 12:57 pm

An 1811 is a criminal investigator. Once you have “CITP” the 6 months in GA. Yes, it makes it easier to bounce around the government (FBI/DEA). The ability to retire early as an LEO is also a big plus. Government work can be as stressful as you make it. Lots of perks and work life balance opportunities. You will probably only work 80 hours a week the other 20 are law enforcement availability hours that you could have to work. You get paid for the hours and should be prepared to work them but it won’t be forever.

Collinkp · Post by **Collinkp** » Fri Jan 10, 2025 1:00 pm

Also to add as a federal LEO, you will end up making more than you anticipate. It may take a few years to get there but 150-191k is not unreasonable for GS13+.

InvisibleAerobar · Post by **InvisibleAerobar** » Fri Jan 10, 2025 1:12 pm

ghenghispwn wrote: Fri Jan 10, 2025 12:40 pm
stan1 wrote: Fri Jan 10, 2025 12:36 pm 1811 (criminal investigator) changes dynamic for everything, is it what would be called a forensic accounting job?

You get the 1.7% multiplier rather than 1.0 or 1.1% multiplier. So 20 years is 34% of pay with COLA under current law for the rest of your life.

There are other federal agencies, local governments, and private attorneys who hire forensic accountants. You might find that the federal government would pay for further specialized training if not certifications.

I would not do it for the pension though, I would do it because you feel it will be rewarding and the type of work you like.

100% agree. I'm mostly doing this because it's been an interest gnawing at me for at least 5-6 years. My GF reminded me that on our first date back in 2019 I mentioned I was taking additional courses at a community college while working so I could become a police officer (my state requires certain classes to be taken that I had missed in my business degree). The pandemic hit as well as George Floyd so I put it on the back burner. I had more interest in the detective side of things instead of being a patrol man.

She's really encouraging me to take it due to this. She's aware it's been on my radar for years and isn't a recent development.

IRS is nice because I feel the process for getting on is much more streamlined vs other agencies. My understanding with this job is it's not super heavy on accounting work - it's more interviewing suspects, building a case with financial records, etc. A lot of the civil side will do the accounting work for you and deliver it over to you. I'm investigating tax fraud, money laundering, etc. I believe this is the ONLY agency that can investigate federal tax crimes.

You just mentioned a significant other. How far is DC from where you presently live, and how much would the initial decrease in salary affect things? Would it be easy for your significant other to get a job in the area if you guys currently aren't in DC metro area?

Then there's the point raised in post #2 above. Which, if things were to go adversely, would mean you taking a pay-cut.

In terms of your own finances, are the salary increases you listed something easy to achieve, or are these subject to various hurdles? The salaries you listed is rather reminiscent of step-1 salaries starting at GS-10 to GS-14. Maybe your job is different, but in general, grade level increases rarely occur automatically. Make sure you find out just what is required to get to the next grade, and that it isn't a "pie-in-the-sky" scenario.

The plus side of taking this job is that in addition to your natural inclination toward it, it'll probably open doors to quite a few opportunities in the private sector.

Best of wishes, regardless of what you decide.

ghenghispwn · Post by **ghenghispwn** » Fri Jan 10, 2025 1:55 pm

InvisibleAerobar wrote: Fri Jan 10, 2025 1:12 pm
ghenghispwn wrote: Fri Jan 10, 2025 12:40 pm

100% agree. I'm mostly doing this because it's been an interest gnawing at me for at least 5-6 years. My GF reminded me that on our first date back in 2019 I mentioned I was taking additional courses at a community college while working so I could become a police officer (my state requires certain classes to be taken that I had missed in my business degree). The pandemic hit as well as George Floyd so I put it on the back burner. I had more interest in the detective side of things instead of being a patrol man.

She's really encouraging me to take it due to this. She's aware it's been on my radar for years and isn't a recent development.

IRS is nice because I feel the process for getting on is much more streamlined vs other agencies. My understanding with this job is it's not super heavy on accounting work - it's more interviewing suspects, building a case with financial records, etc. A lot of the civil side will do the accounting work for you and deliver it over to you. I'm investigating tax fraud, money laundering, etc. I believe this is the ONLY agency that can investigate federal tax crimes.
You just mentioned a significant other. How far is DC from where you presently live, and how much would the initial decrease in salary affect things? Would it be easy for your significant other to get a job in the area if you guys currently aren't in DC metro area?

Then there's the point raised in post #2 above. Which, if things were to go adversely, would mean you taking a pay-cut.

In terms of your own finances, are the salary increases you listed something easy to achieve, or are these subject to various hurdles? The salaries you listed is rather reminiscent of step-1 salaries starting at GS-10 to GS-14. Maybe your job is different, but in general, grade level increases rarely occur automatically. Make sure you find out just what is required to get to the next grade, and that it isn't a "pie-in-the-sky" scenario.

The plus side of taking this job is that in addition to your natural inclination toward it, it'll probably open doors to quite a few opportunities in the private sector.

Best of wishes, regardless of what you decide.

Want to clarify a few things. I train in GA, but I will return to my home city for duty. The office I will be working out of is roughly 20 minutes from my girlfriend's house, so I will not have to move for this job. This is a huge plus. I do not need to move to a backwater border town nor do I have to move to whatever city the FBI wants to stick me in.

From my understanding of talking to various IRS-CI agents is that the promotion from 7-9-11-12 is automatic. You will get these unless you royally screw up. The promotion to 13 is NOT automatic, but if you're been performing you should hit it.

smwisc · Post by **smwisc** » Fri Jan 10, 2025 2:18 pm

My situation was different from yours in a number of ways, and I can't speak to the federal pension side of things at all. But I did make a similar shift. I was younger, worked in the private sector as a business analyst/project manager for a few years, and was on a pretty fast track when I decided to leave to go to graduate school for public policy (which had always been my plan, delayed by some personal considerations). After graduate school I got a job with the state making slightly less than I'd been making in the private sector (and certainly less than I would have made if I'd stayed). Despite now being pretty much in the top rung of state civil service, I'd easily be making double if I'd stayed on the private sector, probably more. I'm frugal, financially stable, my spouse was a SAHD for many years, we're in a position to significantly help our kids with college, and I'll likely be able to retire around age 60 if I want to. Zero regrets.

ghenghispwn · Post by **ghenghispwn** » Fri Jan 10, 2025 2:33 pm

smwisc wrote: Fri Jan 10, 2025 2:18 pm My situation was different from yours in a number of ways, and I can't speak to the federal pension side of things at all. But I did make a similar shift. I was younger, worked in the private sector as a business analyst/project manager for a few years, and was on a pretty fast track when I decided to leave to go to graduate school for public policy (which had always been my plan, delayed by some personal considerations). After graduate school I got a job with the state making slightly less than I'd been making in the private sector (and certainly less than I would have made if I'd stayed). Despite now being pretty much in the top rung of state civil service, I'd easily be making double if I'd stayed on the private sector, probably more. I'm frugal, financially stable, my spouse was a SAHD for many years, we're in a position to significantly help our kids with college, and I'll likely be able to retire around age 60 if I want to. Zero regrets.

This helps me. It's scary letting go of the bar I've been holding onto. This current job is all I know since college.

I find career philosophies come down to two flavors:

1. A job is simply a way to make money. Find your fun, purpose, interests, thrills, etc. outside of work. Your task is to find the job you find most tolerable that pays the most money.

or

2. You spend a lot of time and attention at work. It is wise to find a career that touches on some deep interests or passions, even if it isn't your dream job. Find a career that pays enough to survive as long as you enjoy your time at the work.

I think I fall a bit in camp 2 at this point.

MnD · Post by **MnD** » Fri Jan 10, 2025 2:59 pm

Sounds very interesting and fulfilling. You may be surprised at how relatively easy it is to move up past the grade 12 level if you are smart and a go-getter. A fair number of your federal coworkers will not be as ambitious.

I started as a GS-5, got a 7-9-11-12 guaranteed position (unless you were a screw up) with nothing beyond that promised.
Ended up retiring in my mid-50's at a GS-15 step 10. I could have gone higher if I had made it known I was interested in further advancement and stuck around longer. I wanted neither. I loved the GS-15 job and yet wanted out by my mid-50's.

I entered federal service at a "terrible time" with all kinds of threats and rumors swirling about bad things that were going to happen to federal employees. I did end up in FERS (hired just after the cut-off date of CSRS) which I think worked out great.

I think the kicker is your thinking that if you hate it or bad things really do happen you can likely get a job back similiar to what you are doing now. That reduces the risk of the switch by a lot.

InvisibleAerobar · Post by **InvisibleAerobar** » Fri Jan 10, 2025 3:10 pm

ghenghispwn wrote: Fri Jan 10, 2025 11:32 am 2. I'm not very familiar with government retirement plans or pensions. My understanding is a portion of my paycheck will go towards my pension and that I vest into it at the 5 year mark and you get an increased percentage of your highest wages as a pension distribution if you last the full 20 (you can also buy the healthcare plans at the government rate until Medicare IIRC). In addition, the government offers a plan similar to a 401k that they give a 5% match. What I'm struggling to determine is if the value of these retirement benefits really help offset the decreased pay. Obviously if I'm earning more money I can more easily max out my 401k, Roth IRA, and have more money to stash away into personal investments. Can anyone shed light on the true value of government retirement benefits - are they as valuable as people make them seem?

Do you know how much you need to contribute to your pension? Is it the standard FERS 4.4% or is it something else?

I lucked out by starting just before they implemented the 3.3% contribution rate, which eventually became 4.4%.

At my 0.8% contribution rate and with a payout of 1.1%, I value the pension to be ~20% of my annual salary. My rationale went something along the lines of what is the money otherwise needed to pay for the premium needed to purchase a COLA-adjusted SPIA comparable to my FERS pension. This 20% number obviously gets significantly devalued for colleagues of mine who started a mere two years later (paying 4.4% for 1.1% of high-three).

Dunningedangkruger · Post by **Dunningedangkruger** » Fri Jan 10, 2025 3:18 pm

Speaking from the perspective of local police, if you have an interest your time is limited federally. You already recognize this. As you stated, you have a small window. You only have 1 time around in life. Seize the day.

Law Enforcement, federal or otherwise, is purpose driven. You can make good money but it is capped. You have good pension benefits that take decades to capture. It is a different form of duration risk.

As an 1811 you are insulated but not immune from losing your job. You have a different subset of risk as well. Like carrying a gun, putting your name on affidavits that felons get to see, and getting in fights, serving search warrants, making arrests. Running informants, seizing contraband and evidence and testifying. It all encompasses risk. Carrying a gun for work is different than carrying only a pen.

If you believe this is for you, you should do it. CPA skills are very valuable. Get your CFE. You can work a variety of cases that never get boring. You can always go back to private sector. Good luck.

Bruce · Post by **Bruce** » Fri Jan 10, 2025 7:10 pm

2 essential resources if you are wanting to learn more about federal retirement and pay and benefits for fed law enforcement careers.

First is from a retired FBI financial crimes investigator “The FERS Guide” only available via Amazon,

the FERS guide. By Dan Jamison CPA.

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Dan-Jamis ... 935a7d2b85

Second is the website and multiple free resources and white papers written by retired US Deputy Marshall and CPA Chris Barlow , his website is
https://www.barfieldfinancial.com/

Don’t limit your search to one agency for open postings, Department of Homeland Security actually has more LE postions then any other federal agency, some with a special tasking focusing on financial investigations .

Good luck in your application and career.

Bruce · Post by **Bruce** » Fri Jan 10, 2025 7:19 pm

Also suggest start by reading this short article from Chris Barlow , advice on what he would do today if newly hired into a fed law enforcement position.

https://www.barfieldfinancial.com/new-b ... ired-today

Chris writes,

“Hopefully many younger employees come to this page to read this article over the years and it helps them prepare for the future. I hear the following refrain ALL. THE. TIME.

“I wish someone would have told me this stuff when I was first hired!”

Consider this article to be that person.”

finite_difference · Post by **finite_difference** » Fri Jan 10, 2025 7:48 pm

I would keep your current job, especially while you have a good manager. Prioritize time with your girlfriend and dog.

6 months training and then probably lots of travel on top of that for your job? Not worth it for a huge pay cut in my opinion. Better to work hard and retire earlier.

There are lots of good government jobs for CPAs. Potentially can even work remotely. I would apply to those.

ghenghispwn · Post by **ghenghispwn** » Fri Jan 10, 2025 8:58 pm

finite_difference wrote: Fri Jan 10, 2025 7:48 pm I would keep your current job, especially while you have a good manager. Prioritize time with your girlfriend and dog.

6 months training and then probably lots of travel on top of that for your job? Not worth it for a huge pay cut in my opinion. Better to work hard and retire earlier.

There are lots of good government jobs for CPAs. Potentially can even work remotely. I would apply to those.

Just to clarify, is your response mainly due to money? No travel required after GA. I have a home office and won’t have to move like FBI.

Adam11 · Post by **Adam11** » Fri Jan 10, 2025 9:15 pm

An 1811 job is the envy of many, a golden ticket, and will be a highly interesting career that keeps you on your toes. And don’t dread FLETC. Progressing thru it will build a lot of confidence as you prove your mettle, while some of the exercises will be the most fun you’ll ever get a chance to have. The six months will go by quickly as there will be very little downtime. If I was ever skilled and experienced enough to be selected for this type of career path, I would take it in a heartbeat.

Johnfmh · Post by **Johnfmh** » Sat Jan 11, 2025 12:25 pm

I just want to add note about the work hours and work ethos of federal employees:

Between my spouse and I, we’ve worked at five different Federal Government agencies including Homeland Security, a variety of DoD agencies, and a Treasury Department agency. We have 45 years of federal service between us.

For most of our careers, we’ve worked far more than 40 hours a week. I regularly work 50-60 hours and for my spouse, 80 hours are not unusual. We get a good amount of vacation time but often find ourselves taking our laptops with us to keep up with our work. Other than occasionally receiving credit hours that we often don’t have time to use, we get no overtime. Both of us regularly receive generous performance bonuses and have decent salaries.

We love our jobs and are very dedicated and patriotic. The work is very meaningful for both of us. Compensation is fair.

Bottom line: don’t go into federal service looking for an easier lifestyle. Many federal agencies expect hard work and dedication.

BattyNatty · Post by **BattyNatty** » Sat Jan 11, 2025 1:10 pm

Go for it! The 6 months in GA seems like the biggest downside to me, but also the easiest to just make a decision about whether it’s worth it to you. Right now you’re working for a company that could let you go tomorrow if they run into business trouble, so your current salary isn’t actually guaranteed and should be discounted a bit accordingly for your mental math.

I made a jump from private to public sector with some similar factors. One thing that helped me pull the trigger was running an analysis on how much income I actually needed to be able to hit my spending & retirement goals. For me it worked out that what I’d be getting in government was enough, even if it would mean not hitting FI quite as early as I could have by staying private. But I bought myself way more flexibility and interesting work in the many intervening years.

The LEO ability to get a (bigger) immediate pension prior to 60 is huge. Don’t overlook the flexibility you’ll get for having lifetime access to FEHB (cheap good health insurance) as well.

wtjbatman · Post by **wtjbatman** » Sat Jan 11, 2025 9:51 pm

As someone in law enforcement, I'll be a more cautious voice than I'm seeing here. I believe it's easier to say, "Go for it!" if the heaviest thing you've carried on your belt is a cell phone.

My perspective is from local law enforcement, not federal. I am a deputy sheriff. The benefits of becoming a LEO? Obviously, start with the wonderful pension. Retirement at 55 with a solid pension, possibly 50 with an early retirement. Starting at 35+, you won't have a 30-year pension giving you 99% like the state I work in. We are at a 3% modifier, so 16 years in gets you just under 50% pension, some guys go 33 to get our max which is 99%. I'm not sure what the federal government offers. I just know that, again obviously, us in law enforcement are given a more generous benefit for a reason. Although don't let anyone make you feel bad for that. We've all seen the out of shape 55-year-old police officer who should have retired already, who wants a 65-year-old police officer who may have to chase after someone and physically subdue them? Compared to a deputy in a sheriff's office, I don't know how much of that you will actually be doing, as you alluded to when you talked about not wanting to be a patrol officer. Although I am always wary of individuals who focus so much on wanting to be a "detective" without going through the steps leading up to it. When you're on patrol, you are a problem solver who spends all shift communicating with people and attempting to gain voluntary compliance. And as a deputy sheriff, I am usually alone when I'm doing it. It builds a hell of a skill set.

I don't know how it works federally, but local LEOs (city/county/state) are paid hourly. While that's a scary word for people in other places, it's wonderful in law enforcement. Worked past the end of my shift time? Overtime. Came in early? Overtime. Call in to court? Overtime. In-service training? Overtime. Covering for a guy going on vacation for a week? Overtime. Suddenly, end of year, your actual wages are 25%-50% greater than what your base wage should be. Comp time, PTO/Vacation/Sick time, great health insurance, great life insurance, guaranteed lifetime pension for your spouse if you're killed in the line of duty, etc.

When young people tell us they want to become police officers, you know what we half-jokingly say? Become a fire fighter instead. It's not that we don't need good people in law enforcement. It's that it's a tough field right now, and it takes a tough person. You need to be ready physically and mentally, day after day, week after week, month after... you get the idea. Your days off are wonderful, enjoy your time with the family, and humor the people who ask you questions about what it's like "being a cop". Then back to work, where a mistake could mean nothing, or it could mean a felon gets away with a crime, or it could cost someone's life. Balancing that, you need to be kind to people, show empathy, and always put your best foot forward. When you wear the badge, you represent yourself, your department, and your profession.

All of that said, and really, I just wanted to balance out some of what I'm seeing on this thread. Don't let me convince you NOT to try. Instead, I hope you understand some of what I'm saying. If it discourages you, or makes you have doubts, then you really do need to second guess it. If you've read what I wrote and said challenge accepted, or I'm going to prove that guy wrong? Then get after it. Apply. Go to the academy. When they try to smoke you? Just sweat some more, say yes sir, and keep going. If you make it through it all, and still want to make a difference, then you're the right person for the job. If you don't? Well, there's a reason my academy only graduated 65% of those who started, and not all of those got jobs afterwards.

No matter what, best of luck and be safe.

joppy · Post by **joppy** » Sat Jan 11, 2025 10:13 pm

Envision yourself as an 80 year-old looking back at your life.
Which decision will make you think "I lived a good life"?
What about "I lived a great life"?
Which decision will you regret more if your life turns out poorly?

Sammyshanker · Post by **Sammyshanker** » Sat Jan 11, 2025 11:54 pm

Congratulations on receiving the employment offer from IRS CI. Your question reminds me of myself 24 years ago. I received an offer to leave a Federal management position to become a Federal criminal investigator ( aka 1811 or Special Agent). I have been an 1811 for 24 years retiring this year. I do not regret my decision. My second day on the job was 9/11/2001 which did make me ask myself what I had gotten myself into.

Your training will be in Glynco, GA, at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC). Your first three months will be completing the Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP), and the next three months will be completing the IRS CI specific training. Your time at FLETC will go by quickly. Southern coastal Georgia can be nice depending when you are at FLETC. Just know that you will be required to pass certain classes or you can fail out of CITP leaving you with no employment if you quit your job. Most individuals that fail at FLETC do so in either firearms and/or legal training. Based on your background, I am certain the legal courses will be no issue for you. If you are motivated, firearms should be no issue. I witnessed one individual in my class go from putting one round out of 60 on the target the first day (Yikes) to easily qualifying by the end. The firearms instructors are world class.

Others have mentioned the work hours. As a 1811 at IRS, you will be required to travel a fair amount. I know this because I work with several IRS 1811s. I work for the FDIC OIG investigating crimes affecting financial institutions. As a 1811, you will be required to work 50 hours per week. 40 work hours and 10 hours of law enforcement availability pay (LEAP) which is an additional 25 percent added to your pay. LEAP is also included in the calculation of your high three years for FERS retirement purposes. I would also recommend exploring Barfield Financial and Dan Jameson's FERS Guide for retirement/Thrift Savings Plan advice.

If you want no regrets, I would go forward with the IRS CI as they are a good agency with interesting work. My better half told me to take the 1811 offer because she did not want me regretting not following my interest in law enforcement. Good luck and best wishes whatever you decide. Feel free to reach out if you have any other questions.

ghenghispwn · Post by **ghenghispwn** » Sun Jan 12, 2025 2:23 am

joppy wrote: Sat Jan 11, 2025 10:13 pm Envision yourself as an 80 year-old looking back at your life.
Which decision will make you think "I lived a good life"?
What about "I lived a great life"?
Which decision will you regret more if your life turns out poorly?

I wish I knew. I have two voices arguing internally.

One voice is the one who understands living in poverty and refuses to ever live like that again. This voice values money, saving, investing. Sacrifice pleasure for the sake of financial growth even if you find yourself on April 10th yelling at your computer saying you want to leave public accounting. This is the voice saying to stay at my company and to remain diligent in saving. I don’t know what the end goal is besides making the pot of money bigger.

The other voice is the one who has fire in their belly. The voice understands that living a fulfilling and interesting life is greater than just acquiring money. Comparison is the thief of joy and trying to accumulate more money for the sake of riches will leave you looking back wondering if it was a life worth living. This is the voice telling me to leave my comfort zone, pursue an interest I’ve had for years, to explore the world.

I’m leaning towards the second voice. Why? A couple reasons:

1. If the IRS isn’t my cup of tea I can always go back to public accounting. Sure, I lost out on higher wages for 2-3 years, but I learned something about myself. If I like it, I can still make a very solid income after 4-5 years. Being around colleagues making $150k+ and clients making $500k+ has warped my sense of money. Making $150k+ as a federal LEO is a GREAT salary compared to the median American.

2. When I tell people I’m an accountant/tax professional, I know full well that it will kill the conversation. No one besides business owners, wealthy people, or fellow travelers in accounting care to ask follow-ups. I’m proud of the work I do and I put a lot of effort in, but if someone were to ask if I love it or if I’m passionate about it then no. I want to find a path that gets me so excited about the work I do, people will need to tell me to shut up!

3. One of the biggest perks of my current job is freedom. As long as my stuff gets done people leave me alone. I have free time outside of busy season and can travel or pursue my interests outside of work. From discussions I’ve had with agents, IRS-CI offers very good WLB. As long as I still have time to enjoy life outside of the office then a big component of work satisfaction for me has been acquired.

4. I worked with a career coach early in this process. One of my guide stones was justice. I absolutely hate when people get scammed and screwed over. I hate when good guys sit back and let evil prevail. I also value physical and mental fitness. Public accounting is not good for your physical health.

If I see myself as an 80 year old looking back at my past I have to assume the greater feeling of regret is from not exploring an interest that has been on my mind for years. I may hate it, but I won’t know until I try it and the door is closing rapidly. As long as basic financial needs are met I assume most old people say their regrets are from not taking a shot when they were able.

Even though this post makes it seem I’m gung-ho on taking the job, please understand I’m still torn on the decision and it’s the hardest choice I’ve had to consider.

gotoparks · Post by **gotoparks** » Sun Jan 12, 2025 2:41 am

I don't really see the big deal in moving jobs. I've switched jobs multiple times over my career and have also been laid off. I have a flexible personality and roll with the punches. In the private sector, there are no guarantees and you could lose your job at any time and will have to find a new one. In one of my first gov't jobs, I worked in an office supporting workers in the trades. There were millionaires who worked there. Lots of them invested in land and had nice houses. It is a good read if you have never read The Millionaire Next Door. There are plenty of gov't workers who are not GS 15/10 who do well and also workers in the private sector who don't make 150K who also do well. The average household income in the US is like 80K. If you don't live in a high cost of living area and you get a gov't job you will be set.

ghenghispwn · Post by **ghenghispwn** » Sun Jan 12, 2025 2:45 am

gotoparks wrote: Sun Jan 12, 2025 2:41 am I don't really see the big deal in moving jobs. I've switched jobs multiple times over my career and have also been laid off. I have a flexible personality and roll with the punches. In the private sector, there are no guarantees and you could lose your job at any time and will have to find a new one. In one of my first gov't jobs, I worked in an office supporting workers in the trades. There were millionaires who worked there. Lots of them invested in land and had nice houses. It is a good read if you have never read The Millionaire Next Door. There are plenty of gov't workers who are not GS 15/10 who do well and also workers in the private sector who don't make 150K who also do well. The average household income in the US is like 80K. If you don't live in a high cost of living area and you get a gov't job you will be set.

I overthink everything. I spent 20+ hours researching what car to buy. 10+ hours into furnace brands, tax credit eligibility, etc.

I can’t help it and it drives me nuts.

kenai · Post by **kenai** » Sun Jan 12, 2025 3:12 am

Based on what you wrote, I would take the offer. You may always wonder about the what ifs if you don’t accept it. You already know what it’s like working as an accountant. This may be the only opportunity left for you to get that 1811 job due to aging out. You can always get back to another accounting job if the IRS doesn’t work out or you can always change agencies.

Parkinglotracer · Post by **Parkinglotracer** » Sun Jan 12, 2025 4:10 am

My dad was an fbi agent and I was an f-16 pilot; you only live once so go for it. I worked long hours with great people. We had to make sure people didn’t stick around work too long so they weren’t rested to fly or they alienated their family. We had a few relationship casualties. We did have a bar in the squadron that opened at last takeoff. Bottom line : You will be more excited waking up each day in your new job than you are now. Your girlfriend sounds like a smart, perceptive lady. You might want to lock her in for a long term assignment. lol.

Financially you will be fine. I was an Air Reserve technician for two years as a GS-13 flying and the FERS benefits and TSP are great programs. I ended up with a military retirement then worked 15 years for Lockheed Martin after that. With your work ethic and skill set you will do great in the new job and if for sone reason it’s not your cup of tea you can go back to civilian life.

There is no worse pain than looking back and asking oneself over and over why I didn’t do something like this. GO FOR IT.

Swansea · Post by **Swansea** » Sun Jan 12, 2025 5:16 am

InvisibleAerobar wrote: Fri Jan 10, 2025 1:12 pm
ghenghispwn wrote: Fri Jan 10, 2025 12:40 pm

100% agree. I'm mostly doing this because it's been an interest gnawing at me for at least 5-6 years. My GF reminded me that on our first date back in 2019 I mentioned I was taking additional courses at a community college while working so I could become a police officer (my state requires certain classes to be taken that I had missed in my business degree). The pandemic hit as well as George Floyd so I put it on the back burner. I had more interest in the detective side of things instead of being a patrol man.

She's really encouraging me to take it due to this. She's aware it's been on my radar for years and isn't a recent development.

IRS is nice because I feel the process for getting on is much more streamlined vs other agencies. My understanding with this job is it's not super heavy on accounting work - it's more interviewing suspects, building a case with financial records, etc. A lot of the civil side will do the accounting work for you and deliver it over to you. I'm investigating tax fraud, money laundering, etc. I believe this is the ONLY agency that can investigate federal tax crimes.
You just mentioned a significant other. How far is DC from where you presently live, and how much would the initial decrease in salary affect things? Would it be easy for your significant other to get a job in the area if you guys currently aren't in DC metro area?

Then there's the point raised in post #2 above. Which, if things were to go adversely, would mean you taking a pay-cut.

In terms of your own finances, are the salary increases you listed something easy to achieve, or are these subject to various hurdles? The salaries you listed is rather reminiscent of step-1 salaries starting at GS-10 to GS-14. Maybe your job is different, but in general, grade level increases rarely occur automatically. Make sure you find out just what is required to get to the next grade, and that it isn't a "pie-in-the-sky" scenario.

The plus side of taking this job is that in addition to your natural inclination toward it, it'll probably open doors to quite a few opportunities in the private sector.

Best of wishes, regardless of what you decide.

Some Agencies will bring in new hires above step 1. It would be good to inquire about the Above The Minimum, if you get an offer.

AzWDC · Post by **AzWDC** » Sun Jan 12, 2025 6:17 am

Go for it.

If it does not suit you, you can always return to the private sector, even if it is not with your current employer. The many thoughtful replies above list the benefits and possibilities.

You mentioned your early poverty and how this shaped some of your life choices. I had similar experiences, and it took me until my 40s to understand that those experiences were far distant in the past, they shaped some orientations, but that I was a different person with a history, as an adult, of very different choices and outcomes.

I was hired as a Federal employee in my 40s, after years in the private sector, and did not regret the reduced pay. I kept a side business for extra income, the Fed benefits package and job security were wonderful, and the work was interesting for years. I think that the Federal system hires and keeps a greater percentage of minimally productive employees than the private sector. If you are personable and perform well, you will shine.

Your GF sounds like a keeper.

Blue456 · Post by **Blue456** » Sun Jan 12, 2025 6:25 am

You can't directly compare federal pay to private sector pay. Federal pay offers more federal holidays, sicks days and vacation. You work less hours. My TSP match is 6x that of my DW. You also need to account how much you would have to pay to replace inflation adjusted federal pension.

More things to consider... Do you have kids? Are you planning to have kids? The little ones grow up very fast. You only going to have small child for 4 years and you don't want to miss this being at work.

Eating junk food is also not going to help you with enjoying long retirement.

z3r0c00l · Post by **z3r0c00l** » Sun Jan 12, 2025 6:33 am

I would seriously rethink taking a federal job over the next four years. Those who I know currently working in government, on clean water and air, basic research on human health, or fisheries management for example, are likely to have their jobs impacted soon. Best case they live under a few years of uncertainty, maybe a shutdown or two, chronic abuse from all directions from the head of their government to anonymous threats via the Internet, but squeak through. This isn't idle speculation, it happened to some of them in the 2016-2020 timeframe. Those specifically working on the environment are probably going to lose their jobs this year. The IRS is near the center of the crosshairs for efficiency cuts too. Even if the agency isn't cut, don't expect them to encourage interesting investigative work from you.

Sorry for the unlucky timing on what is normally a stable, good paying job.

mouth · Post by **mouth** » Sun Jan 12, 2025 9:28 am

ghenghispwn wrote: Sun Jan 12, 2025 2:45 am
gotoparks wrote: Sun Jan 12, 2025 2:41 am I don't really see the big deal in moving jobs. I've switched jobs multiple times over my career and have also been laid off. I have a flexible personality and roll with the punches. In the private sector, there are no guarantees and you could lose your job at any time and will have to find a new one. In one of my first gov't jobs, I worked in an office supporting workers in the trades. There were millionaires who worked there. Lots of them invested in land and had nice houses. It is a good read if you have never read The Millionaire Next Door. There are plenty of gov't workers who are not GS 15/10 who do well and also workers in the private sector who don't make 150K who also do well. The average household income in the US is like 80K. If you don't live in a high cost of living area and you get a gov't job you will be set.
I overthink everything. I spent 20+ hours researching what car to buy. 10+ hours into furnace brands, tax credit eligibility, etc.

I can’t help it and it drives me nuts.

I feel seen!

il0kin · Post by **il0kin** » Sun Jan 12, 2025 10:01 am

I think you’d be crazy not to take the position. If after a few years it isn’t what you hoped, it’s very easy to explain to a private sector accounting firm that you wanted to try it but it wasn’t for you. Managers (reasonable ones, anyway) would completely understand that.

I understand not wanting to leave a golden goose laying 150k eggs but our time on the planet is too short to not do the things you really want to do. The stakes are low. Stop overthinking it, say yes, and go bust some bad guys!

finite_difference · Post by **finite_difference** » Sun Jan 12, 2025 10:10 am

ghenghispwn wrote: Fri Jan 10, 2025 8:58 pm
finite_difference wrote: Fri Jan 10, 2025 7:48 pm I would keep your current job, especially while you have a good manager. Prioritize time with your girlfriend and dog.

6 months training and then probably lots of travel on top of that for your job? Not worth it for a huge pay cut in my opinion. Better to work hard and retire earlier.

There are lots of good government jobs for CPAs. Potentially can even work remotely. I would apply to those.

Just to clarify, is your response mainly due to money? No travel required after GA. I have a home office and won’t have to move like FBI.

My response is due to valuing family and a good boss. Are you willing to lose your girlfriend over this opportunity? Are you willing to suffer through multiple bad bosses? If so, then I think you should take it. Otherwise count your blessings and find some hobbies to make life more interesting. "I’m a CPA and a volunteer firefighter/EMT/scuba diver/ski instructor/Tai Chi Master”. There’s more to life than work and you are already a CPA, which is already awesome and a major achievement.

Sam_957 · Post by **Sam_957** » Sun Jan 12, 2025 11:24 am

Bruce wrote: Fri Jan 10, 2025 7:19 pm Also suggest start by reading this short article from Chris Barlow , advice on what he would do today if newly hired into a fed law enforcement position.

https://www.barfieldfinancial.com/new-b ... ired-today

Great article. Can apply to state/local workers too.

Sam_957 · Post by **Sam_957** » Sun Jan 12, 2025 11:39 am

finite_difference wrote: Sun Jan 12, 2025 10:10 am
ghenghispwn wrote: Fri Jan 10, 2025 8:58 pm

Just to clarify, is your response mainly due to money? No travel required after GA. I have a home office and won’t have to move like FBI.
My response is due to valuing family and a good boss. Are you willing to lose your girlfriend over this opportunity? Are you willing to suffer through multiple bad bosses? If so, then I think you should take it. Otherwise count your blessings and find some hobbies to make life more interesting. "I’m a CPA and a volunteer firefighter/EMT/scuba diver/ski instructor/Tai Chi Master”. There’s more to life than work and you are already a CPA, which is already awesome and a major achievement.

Couldn’t the ‘good boss’ leave any day? The girlfriend is encouraging the job - I don’t see the issue there either.

On the topic of the new admin and possible cuts to IRS, I think you put that concern into the same bucket as ‘don’t like the job’. You move back to a private firm with very little sunk cost in the pension.

jerrysmith · Post by **jerrysmith** » Sun Jan 12, 2025 11:56 am

If you can afford the cut, I say take it. There's nothing saying that you can't go back to an accounting firm should you not like this gig. Good luck.

user9532 · Post by **user9532** » Sun Jan 12, 2025 12:39 pm

As a CPA you can have good career with the government.

I’m a CPA retired from the fed gov. Before joining fed I worked three years in public accounting and then a few years for a local government organization. With the fed I worked for an Office of Inspector General (OIG) doing performance auditing. I also spent a few years as a data analytics manager. The work was great. At an OIG you get to work in multiple subject areas, the work is never boring. They provided ample training opportunities for learning and meeting CPE requirements. They also paid membership dues for up to two professional certifications.
OIG’s also have 1811’s working for them. I have worked with them on a couple of projects. Sometimes audits lead to investigations.

I almost always worked over 40 hrs a week and traveled a lot. When I joined them I was in the GS-13 range and retired in the GS-15 range.

An OIG can be a good choice if you later consider a career move. IRS has its own OIG (I never worked there):

https://www.tigta.gov/

jerryk68 · Post by **jerryk68** » Sun Jan 12, 2025 2:26 pm

I retired as an 1811 after working at three different federal government agencies. It was not job to me because I enjoyed going to work every day. There is, however, a mandatory retirement age which was 55 when I retired but is now 57. You really don't want old guys chasing down those real young offenders. I was able to get another job in the private sector at age 53 which really helped me in retirement. Anyway, since your going to work at the IRS there is a tax advantage for health insurance purchase called the Public Safety Officers (PSO) tax exclusion which helps pay for health insurance for retirees. Check it out.

ghenghispwn · Post by **ghenghispwn** » Sun Jan 12, 2025 9:34 pm

One last thing nagging on me - my elderly mom’s health.

She’s definitely not doing well physically or mentally. I fear dementia or some other cognitive issue. She fell a few weeks back and broke her nose, she has no memory of how it happened. After this fall her memory has been worse than usual and she gets confused easily. She was forgetting where my sister lives, etc.

She had a CT scan done a couple days after the fall and no bleeding or other issues were noticed. Due to this and a bunch of other issues, I setup an appointment with her and her doctor tomorrow. I want to make sure her doctor is aware of how bad things are and I want to be there to hear what our next steps are.

I’m concerned about being in Georgia for six months as she deteriorates, but I’m not sure I can keep living my life plus altering my life to help her out. I’ve been the one tasked with helping her the last 6-8 years due to her cutting off friends/family. This has been a tough part of the decision too. I fear my “good time” with her is dwindling.

I assume assisted living is coming sooner rather than later.

vinhodoporto · Post by **vinhodoporto** » Sun Jan 12, 2025 11:29 pm

I’m sorry to hear about your mom’s health.

This may sound harsh but I would not recommend giving up on your dream because something might go wrong with your mom. Lots (most) people have to deal with aging parent issues. You can’t put your entire life on hold for it. As a parent I certainly wouldn’t want my kids to.

Do what you can to ensure that she has the right support system before you go, and check in regularly. If something goes seriously sideways there’s likely a process for emergency leave during your training. I would also think you’ll have some weekends off where you could go back home and check on mom. You’ll presumably be going to see your girlfriend when you have time off as well. Someone who’s been through that training can probably comment more specifically.

lhl12 · Post by **lhl12** » Mon Jan 13, 2025 5:59 am

You sound like a thoughtful, talented person with the right skills and self-selection for the work. I won’t offer an opinion one way or the other, but I hope you take the job. The government needs capable people and the IRS in particular needs to grow its workforce to root out fraud and crime. If you do decide to take it you have this citizen’s gratitude! And, if it doesn’t work out you’ll have skills and experience that should make you highly attractive to the private sector.

Dude2 · Post by **Dude2** » Mon Jan 13, 2025 6:31 am

I advise against this because it is just too much wishful thinking that the imagined/purported job on the other side of the impenetrable line of sight is going to be anything like it is envisioned to be. All new jobs/opportunities are like this. It isn't about the money or the losses you'd incur going down this rabbit hole. If ultimately on the other side it was worth it, no amount of lost income is a factor. As an impartial "guy on the internet" I just don't see it working out as imagined. My experience with the government is the stereotype. One group is responsible for putting out the reqs. A team of mindless drones will process the paperwork. The right hand doesn't know what the left is doing. After interviewing, you can be put into a long, long queue, and you'll never hear back from anyone, not know who to talk to. You may give up on it, and then all of a sudden 18 months down the line, somebody will contact you asking if you are going to start the job and what's a good start date. Do not envision a well-oiled machine. Envision the reality -- a group of not very well paid people that are trapped in their careers that possibly started out with every good intention in the world, now ground down to a nub. Little Kings that control their small empires, but their arbitrary decisions are what move big money around (not theirs). I say take a breath of reality.

ETA: Electrical/Software Engineer, INTJ, works in defense and former military. Obviously YMMV. Contemplated job with DOD at one point. Most things I think can/are contracted out. If there was such a need for what you are describing, it would probably be something that got offloaded to the private sector, leaving you to be essentially a cat herder for the people that are actually tasked with the work. It can all be an illusion, e.g. what your recruiter tells you is not reality.

Tatupu · Post by **Tatupu** » Mon Jan 13, 2025 7:15 am

Aside from the financial aspects of this decision, to me it’s more important to consider public service vs. private sector. They are just so different. I believe public service to be noble work and my career as a federal employee has been infinitely more personally rewarding to me than when I worked in the private sector. The ability to retire early in your 50s is the cherry on top.

slow n steady · Post by **slow n steady** » Mon Jan 13, 2025 7:25 am

That's my dream job. Go for it. Just remember, it's a large org that can spit you out no matter how great your are. But I guess that's the case in most jobs.

Parkinglotracer · Post by **Parkinglotracer** » Mon Jan 13, 2025 7:34 am

Dude2 wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 6:31 am I advise against this because it is just too much wishful thinking that the imagined/purported job on the other side of the impenetrable line of sight is going to be anything like it is envisioned to be. All new jobs/opportunities are like this. It isn't about the money or the losses you'd incur going down this rabbit hole. If ultimately on the other side it was worth it, no amount of lost income is a factor. As an impartial "guy on the internet" I just don't see it working out as imagined. My experience with the government is the stereotype. One group is responsible for putting out the reqs. A team of mindless drones will process the paperwork. The right hand doesn't know what the left is doing. After interviewing, you can be put into a long, long queue, and you'll never hear back from anyone, not know who to talk to. You may give up on it, and then all of a sudden 18 months down the line, somebody will contact you asking if you are going to start the job and what's a good start date. Do not envision a well-oiled machine. Envision the reality -- a group of not very well paid people that are trapped in their careers that possibly started out with every good intention in the world, now ground down to a nub. Little Kings that control their small empires, but their arbitrary decisions are what move big money around (not theirs). I say take a breath of reality.

As a parent of kids out chasing their dreams everyday and a government / military employee for 26 years and a defense industry employee for 15 years, I think this view is depressing and a dream killer. What does he have to lose? OP has a job offer. He is a CPA with a decade of experience. No risk of unemployment oil the LEO job isn’t his cup of tea. He might miss a tax season. He has a Supportive significant other. He could end up being the next head of the IRS!

I have hundreds of friends that dreamed of being ( fill in the blank ) and were educated by and worked for the US government and ended up as CEO’s of their own companies, generals, heads of the Air Force, astronauts, members of congress, airline captains, judges, millionaires, and many, many patriot friends that have spent years of their life in strange places that have served their country for the dream of democracy and duty, honor, and country. Dreams are what life is made of. Fight the black cloud that keeps us out of the fight to make the world better for ourselves and everyone.

I had this poem on my bulletin board for 4 years at the Air Force Academy … 10 years later I was an F-16 pilot.

https://allpoetry.com/poem/14327858-Don ... bert-Guest

Don’t stop believing’!!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k8craCGpgs

OP has a realistic dream … GO FOR IT

Post a picture of you at graduation in 6 months. Keep in touch!