April Knight

Years with MIL: 9

What were you doing before joining MIL?

Prior to joining MIL, I worked as a Business Analyst for another contracting company in Charleston, supporting the Department of State Central Allotment Accounting Division.

Why did you decide to join MIL?

I wanted to move back home to Maryland.  I was referred to MIL’s hiring manager in Rosslyn, VA for a position in the CGFS Bureau.

What are you working on now?

I’m currently assigned to the AmSals portfolio within the Bureau of Budget and Planning (BP).  I’m tasked with providing payroll analysis/reporting and ensuring proper reconciliation for each pay period.

What is important about your work?

The importance of my work includes merging data from different systems in order to provide accurate analysis for payroll.  It also includes, providing cost analysis for FTE purchases, fiscal year funding/personnel estimates, and interacting with GTM to provide employment ceiling levels to assist analyst in building Operating Plans for Hill review.

What are the best aspects about your current job?

The best aspects of my current role is interacting with different divisions within BP. Senior Management provides a wealth of knowledge to help understand my position and how it feeds into other segments to complete the entire cycle.

Why do you enjoy working at MIL?

I enjoy working at MIL because there is a genuine spirit of cooperation and shared goals to provide excellent service to our clients.

What is the most challenging project you’ve worked on at MIL?

The most challenging project I have worked on at MIL is my current role in BP.  It is very important when gathering financial and personnel data to build an Estimate or an Initial Operating plans that you are interacting and discussing with your team the changes that go on throughout the day, week, and/or fiscal year.  The challenge is that these changes can have a positive or negative impact on your plan, and you will need to justify to Senior management why these changes have resulted in a surplus or deficit.

What is the best piece of career advice you can offer someone in your field who is either applying to or beginning a career at MIL?

Align yourself with those who have more experience than you.  This will help build your knowledge and help to understand the importance of your position as well as the goal of the client.  Also, look for cross training opportunities within your team.