Katrina Smitn

My journey into accounting started in an unexpected way - when I was in seventh grade, I attended a summer camp where FBI agents spoke about their careers, and I became fascinated with the idea of becoming an FBI agent. One of the required degrees was accounting, and out of the options like accounting, psychology, and others, I thought accounting was something I could do. I joined the military to help pay for college so I could get my accounting degree with that FBI goal in mind. But in my senior year of college, I got an accounting internship, and they offered me a full-time position afterward. The starting salary in the private sector at the accounting firm was way higher than what an FBI agent would make, so I ended up pursuing accounting instead, and I've been in the accounting field since 2008. Today, I work in federal accounting, helping the Department of War stay audit-ready in all of their financials. I manage an accounting database that tracks all the NFRs (Notice of Findings and Recommendations) that auditors issue when they find things that are incorrect or lack appropriate documentation. I work with all the different reporting entities throughout the Department to help them clear these items so that eventually everyone passes their audits with no issues. What I love about accounting is the puzzle aspect - making things work, making the numbers work, and figuring things out. Beyond my civilian career, I'm also a Major in the Army Reserves with almost 24 years of service, and I'm a CPA. Balancing both careers while raising my six children - my youngest is a toddler and my oldest is at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia - has been one of my most notable achievements. Being able to do it all and manage both careers successfully in addition to having my family is something I'm really proud of.