Federal Position Descriptions
Print

Assistant Attorney General Tax Division

Assistant Attorney General (Tax Divison), Department of Justice
Responsibility
Management Scope

The Tax Division requested a total of 639 permanent positions (377 attorneys), 534 full-time equivalent work years and $114 million for fiscal 2017.3

Primary Responsibilities

• Represents the United States and its officers in most civil and criminal litigation that concerns or relates to the internal revenue laws
• Seeks to secure correct, uniform and fair interpretations of the internal revenue laws in federal district and appellate courts, and to ensure that uniform standards are applied in criminal tax prosecutions
• Works closely with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and attorneys’ offices to develop tax administration policies; handle civil trial and appellate litigation in federal and state courts; pursue federal grand jury investigations; and handle criminal prosecutions and appeals
• Advances initiatives on handling criminal investigations and prosecutions of terrorist financing cases; fighting abusive and fraudulent tax promotions; attacking the use of foreign bank accounts to evade taxes; combating schemes that cheat the IRS through abuse of the bankruptcy system; enhancing policy coordination between the tax division and the IRS; and others4

Strategic Goals and Priorities
[Depends on the policy priorities of the administration.]
Requirements

• Strong background in tax law
• Prior agency or government experience (helpful)

Competencies

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to manage highly skilled and experienced personnel, and manage office staff and budget
• Ability to work under high pressure
• Ability to handle sensitive matters
• Negotiation skills (helpful)

Past Appointments
  • Kathryn Keneally (2012 to 2014): Partner, Tax Department, Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.5
  • Nathan J. Hochman (2008 to 2011): Principal, Hochman, Salkin, Rettig, Toscher & Perez, P.C.; Assistant U.S. Attorney, Criminal Division, Central District of California; Clerk for U.S. District Judge Stephen V. Wilson6
  • Eileen J. O’Connor (2001 to 2007): Officer, Tax Services, Aronson & Co.; Assoc. Partner, Office of Federal Tax Services, Grant Thornton; Specialist, National Office of the Internal Revenue Service7
AGENCY

Department of Justice

Mission: To enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States according to the law, ensure public safety against foreign and domestic threats, provide federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime, seek just punishment for those guilty of unlawful behavior and ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans.

COMPENSATION

Level IV $155,500 (5 U.S.C. § 5315)1

REPORTS TO

Associate Attorney General2

SENATE COMMITTEE

Judiciary

Appointee Tracker

Check out our Political Appointee Tracker

Go to the tracker
Footnote
  1. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-31, May 5, 2017), contains a provision that continues the freeze on the payable pay rates for certain senior political officials at 2013 levels during calendar year 2017.
  2. https://www.justice.gov/agencies/chart
  3. https://www.justice.gov/jmd/file/820916/download
  4. OPM
  5. http://www.law.nyu.edu/news/keneally_kathryn_confirmed
  6. https://www.morganlewis.com/bios/nathanhochman
  7. http://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=35853968&privcapId=1680186&previousCapId=1680186&previousTitle=Pillsbury%20Winthrop%20Shaw%20Pittman%20LLP
More federal position descriptions