Richmond, Va. (May 8, 2003) -- Cherry Bekaert & Holland – the largest regional CPA and consulting firm in the Southeast – can now provide accounting, financial, and management advisory services to federal government agencies thanks to its recent service contract schedule awarded by the General Services Administration.
The firm has helped businesses work with federal, state, and local agencies for nearly three years. Being on the GSA schedule expands CB&H’s overall service offerings into an area where it feels little competition, according to Susan Moser, partner-in-charge of the firm’s federal contracting group.
“Outside of a few national firms, we have not seen others that have multiple locations that could provide these services on a firm-wide basis,” said Moser. “It is a natural extension for our firm to move into governmental accounting.”
CB&H is now one of over 50 CPA firms classified under the Financial and Business Solutions Schedule 520. Categories of services available under Schedule 520 include: due diligence and support services, financial and performance audits, recovery audits, accounting, budgeting, complementary financial services and outsourcing of financial management services.
The firm has offices in areas where there is a significant federal agency presence including Atlanta, Charlotte, N.C., Orlando, Fla., Raleigh, N.C., Richmond, Va. and most recently Vienna, Va. through the acquisition of Offutt Childers & Putnam – a local CPA firm with expertise in federal contracting work.
Moser said that helping companies deal with federal government contract work takes “a certain knowledge and skill set many firms don’t have.” She also noted that it can be very lucrative once companies “know the ins an outs” of the niche.
“There are plenty opportunities in this area,” Moser said. “Federal agencies contract for over $200 billion annually in goods and services -- now CB&H is one of a few regional CPA firms with a direct conduit to this business.”
CB&H has a total of 18 offices and more than 500 employees across the firm.
-- Seth Fineberg
