Brent has 25 years of government contract industry experience. He works with a broad array of public and private contractors and not-for-profit organizations providing consulting, accounting, auditing, and investigative services in a wide variety of industries including aerospace and defense, transportation/logistics, energy, healthcare and life sciences, international development, professional services, A&E, construction, and manufacturing.
Brent specializes in the complexities and nuances of the Cost Accounting Standards, FAR Part 31 and 2 CFR 200 Cost Principles, the Truth in Negotiations Act, contract terminations, Requests for Equitable Adjustments, Claims, and contractor business systems. Brent works with his clients to avoid or address DCAA audit findings and negotiate reasonable resolutions or settlements. He also works with outside counsel to investigate and resolve allegations of wrongdoing arising under the False Claims Act.
- Advises clients and works with outside counsel to avoid and resolve disputes involving complex cost accounting, contract pricing, financial accounting, and regulatory compliance matters arising under the Federal Acquisition Regulation, Cost Accounting Standards, the Truth in Negotiations Act, OMB Uniform Requirements for Federal Awards, and other accounting and contract pricing-related rules and regulations, including US GAAP.
- Supports clients to design and improve business processes critical to managing compliance and financial risks unique to government contractors. In this regard, his assistance has included identifying, implementing, and monitoring business system internal controls to manage risks, create efficiencies, and achieve DFARS business system approvals.
- Assists companies to prepare and support contract cost proposals as well as investigate and prepare change orders, claims, and termination settlement proposals. His work has included in-depth analyses to create and support cost estimating and cost allocation methodologies. He has supported his clients in connection with cost and price negotiations with the Government, including settlement of indirect cost rates, cost accounting practice changes, REAs/claims, and other disputes.
- Conducts independent investigations to assess allegations of fraud, accounting errors and irregularities, cost mischarging, false claims, defective pricing, and other asserted or potential wrongdoings.
- Assists clients to design and develop cost allocation structures and systems, as well as assists them to prepare final indirect cost rate proposals (i.e., incurred cost proposals), CASB Disclosure Statements, and CAS cost impact analyses.
- Prepares and assesses the adequacy of procurement policies, procedures, and procurement file documentation to help his clients prepare for and pass Contractor Purchasing System Reviews (CPSRs).
- Served as an expert witness in the United States Court of Federal Claims and Virginia Circuit Court. He has provided expert testimony in deposition and at trial.
- Section 809 Panel, Team 4, sub-team on contract audits and financial oversight
- American Bar Association, associate member (public contract section)
- National Defense Industrial Association
- Professional Services Council
- National Contract Management Association
- Advisory board, Department of Accounting & Information Systems, Virginia Tech Pamplin College of Business
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
- Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
Location
Washington DC
Education
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech)
Bachelor of Science in accounting (with Honors)
