IRS finds new deputy commissioner

Sherry will replace Beth Tucker, who retired from the agency last month. The deputy commissioner for operations support, one of two positions directly below the commissioner slot, oversees the IRS chief financial officer and around 11,500 employees in all.

{mosads}The IRS, never the most popular agency in town, has found itself under especially harsh scrutiny this year, following its admission that it singled out Tea Party groups seeking tax-exempt status.

GOP lawmakers have also tried to tie that controversy to the agency’s roll in implementing President Obama’s healthcare law.

Tucker herself was no stranger to criticism, testifying this year before House Oversight about an IRS official who helped steer a half billion dollars in contracts to a friend’s business. Conservatives also accused Tucker of racking up excess travel costs.