Enrique Casado Carnero, a 25-year-old from Valladolid, has achieved a rare feat: earning a coveted Inspector of Hacienda post in less than two years. His disciplined approach and intense study routine set him apart in a notoriously demanding selection process.
Enrique Casado Carnero, at just 25, has accomplished what many consider nearly impossible in Spain’s public sector: he secured a place in the elite Cuerpo Superior de Inspectores de Hacienda del Estado after only 20 months of preparation. Most candidates spend up to six years preparing for this notoriously difficult exam, but Casado’s relentless discipline and focus propelled him to finish third nationwide, according to EL ESPAÑOL Noticias de Castilla y León.
Casado, a native of Valladolid, graduated in Law and Business Administration from the University of Valladolid. Initially, he planned to enter the private sector, but a chance encounter with working inspectors and a period of reflection before graduation led him to reconsider. By September 2024, he had committed fully to preparing for the Inspector of Hacienda exam, a decision that would reshape his daily life.
Unusual Success in a Grueling Competition
The 2024-2025 call for the Inspector of Hacienda exam offered 192 open positions and 94 for internal promotion, as published in the BOE on December 28, 2024. Out of nearly 1,700 applicants, only 75 ultimately secured a spot, with more than half of the available positions left unfilled due to the high standards set by the examination board.
Casado’s achievement stands out not only for the speed of his preparation but also for his ranking. He received confirmation of his success on June 19, earning the third-highest score in Spain. The process itself is considered one of the most demanding in the Spanish civil service, combining written and oral exams, practical exercises, and language proficiency tests in subjects ranging from law and accounting to financial mathematics and foreign languages.
Discipline and Sacrifice
Casado’s preparation was marked by two distinct phases. In the first year, he balanced study with sports and reserved time for family, friends, and his partner. As the first written exam approached in September 2025, his study hours increased from 8-9 effective hours per day to 11-12, and in the final months, he reached up to 14 hours daily.
He describes the most challenging aspect not as the exams themselves, but the uncertainty between each stage. Candidates often received their results only days before the next test, forcing them to continue studying without knowing if they would advance.
Life Beyond the Exam
While he had to give up football and tennis during the final stretch, Casado maintained running as a way to manage stress and stay mentally resilient. He credits regular exercise as a key factor in his ability to endure the intense preparation period.
With the exam behind him, Casado’s next step is the mandatory training course at the Instituto de Estudios Fiscales in Madrid, which lasts up to 12 academic months. His high ranking gives him priority in choosing his first assignment, though most top positions are typically located in Madrid or Barcelona. Despite this, he says Valladolid will always be his reference point.
Casado also emphasizes the importance of the Inspector of Hacienda’s role in upholding the law and combating tax fraud. As he prepares to move to Madrid in September, he faces the future with the satisfaction of having reached a major milestone through discipline and determination.
For context, the Inspector of Hacienda exam is widely regarded as one of the most challenging public sector competitions in Spain, with a pass rate that often falls below 5%. Success requires not only academic excellence but also sustained mental resilience and personal sacrifice.
