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.com.