In the ceaseless churn of bureaucratic hiring, the IRS is jumping into 2024 with a surprising spirit of innovation.

With a target of recruiting a whopping 20,000 new staff by the close of fiscal 2024, Traci DiMartini, the IRS’ human capital officer, is on a mission, armed with a bold strategy and a budget that’ll make the accountants dance, according to the Federal News Network. Brace yourself as the American tax authority unveils its recruitment saga, a tale where traditional meets telework, and auditors emerge as unlikely heroes.

The IRS is Using “Every Tool” in the Toolbox

In the quest for the dream team, DiMartini boldly declares, that “every tool that is available to us” shall be employed. Picture this: direct hire authority, recruitment fiestas, social media jazz-ups, veteran and military spouse benefits, and a dash of early-career charm via the Pathways Program. It's a sure fire way to grab people's attention. But wait, there's more! A telework-friendly haven, a remote work pilot, student loan repayment enticements – in 2023 the agency repaid over $50 million in loans -, and golden carrots for accountants. The IRS is not just recruiting, it’s going fishing with some incredible bait.

The Bounty from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)

Flush with a cool $60 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the IRS is on this spree after a decade of fiscal famine. DiMartini declares, "This is truly a time of transformational change," as the funds breathe life into the IRS's withered resources. The IRA windfall is a phoenix moment, especially as the agency braces for a wave of retirements.

Auditors, USA Staffing, and Engagement

DiMartini's playbook goes beyond the conventional; it’s a script borrowed from her successful stints at the General Services Administration. In the IRS’s quest for auditors, she throws down the gauntlet: "If you know where all the accountants are hiding across the United States, I want all of them," she said. As part of the process, subject-matter experts take the stage, ensuring that those recruited not only have a passion for civil service, but also wield the technical prowess the IRS needs.

The recruitment saga continues with a revamp of USA Staffing, a program run by the Office of Personnel Management that manages application and employment data for many agencies. The IRS is adding a tech-savvy touch by embracing the use of text messages to deliver real-time updates to applicants. While those of us in the private sector might raise their eyebrows at SMS use being a talking point, when the agency was recently bigging up its use of AI…

Alongside new hires, the agency is also taking a look at retention, with DiMartini and her team “looking for avenues to improve employee engagement among the current workforce”.

It certainly seems like exciting times for the IRS. We just hope they’ve got enough calculators stashed away to cope with the sudden influx.