Government & Public Sector

We provide innovative solutions tailored to your unique operations, challenges, and strategic goals with the ability to help digitally transform every aspect of your organization.

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Transforming the Government & Public Sector in a Digital Age

Government and public sector organizations are in an environment of accelerated change and greater expectations from the constituents they serve. From fluctuating budgets, new program demands, increasingly complex compliance restrictions, political priorities, potential near-term economic changes, and the need from constituents for greater access to services and a seamless digital experience, the impetus for much-needed digital transformation in the government and public sector is essential to meet these challenges and better serve constituents.

Cherry Bekaert’s Government & Public Sector (GPS) team has a deep understanding of government business and the complex challenges federal, state and local governments, and public sector organizations face. We help government and public sector organizations transform and modernize to meet industry challenges and to work in new ways. Using a digital environment with data-driven practices can increase the efficiency and effectiveness of operations and teams, allowing a better focus on their mission and delivering results to constituents.

Guiding e-Government Forward

Cherry Bekaert’s GPS practice is comprised not only of accounting professionals with the skills and knowledge you expect from a national accounting firm with a rich audit heritage, but also of advisory professionals with deep business consulting experience, many of whom have worked in government with first-hand knowledge of government business process, technology, rules and regulations, and experience working with elected office holders and career civil servants.

Whether federal, state or local government, as technology continues to evolve, governments must prioritize their own transformation efforts. There is a sense of urgency for governments to now be hyper-focused on digital infrastructure, digital strategy, and digital security. Our priority is enabling governments to harness their full potential. Optimizing data for better decision-making and service delivery is critical, as is keeping the government and constituent data safe.

Let Us Guide You Forward

Our team is comprised of a diverse group of audit, advisory and tax professionals with decades of government public sector experience to help your organization.

Commitment to the Government and Public Sector

Our professionals have served in key positions on the Governmental Audit Quality Center (GAQC), the National Governmental Accounting and Auditing Update Conference (GAAC), the State and Local Governments Expert Panel of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), as well as participating in the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) Practice Fellow Program.

Additionally, we have and continue to serve on various state and local committees, as well as attend and teach at conferences hosted by the Government Finance Officer Association (GFOA) and the Association for School Business Officials (ASBO), including various state GFOA and ASBO chapters, the AGA (formerly the Association of Government Accountants), the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) and the Airports Council International (ACI).

Through our dedicated government professional experience and leadership roles, we bring unique insight and guidance to ensure our government and public sector clients are prepared for future developments.

Services to Strengthen Government Operations

Audit Services

  • Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) Financial Audits
  • Uniform Grant Guidance (UGG) Audits & Data Collection Forms
  • State Specific Single Audits
  • Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) Audits
  • National Transit Database (NTD) Reporting
  • State Specific Required Agreed Upon Procedures & Examinations
  • Electronic Submission of Real Estate Assessment Center’s (REAC)

Accounting Advisory

Grants Management

  • Grant Management Consulting Services
  • Pre-Award Grant Readiness Services
  • Post-Award Grant Compliance & Operational Support
  • Organizational Indirect Cost Analysis
  • Grant Technology Solutions

Risk Advisory

Technology Strategy & Implementation

  • Project & Program Management
  • IT System Requirements & Design
  • Independent Verification & Validation (IV&V)
  • Budget System & Process Consulting
  • Procurement to Payment (P2P)
  • Built for Purpose Business Solutions & Technology
  • Procurement Support & Negotiations

Audit Services

  • Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) Financial Audits
  • Uniform Grant Guidance (UGG) Audits & Data Collection Forms
  • State Specific Single Audits
  • Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) Audits
  • National Transit Database (NTD) Reporting
  • State Specific Required Agreed Upon Procedures & Examinations
  • Electronic Submission of Real Estate Assessment Center’s (REAC)

Accounting Advisory

Grants Management

  • Grant Management Consulting Services
  • Pre-Award Grant Readiness Services
  • Post-Award Grant Compliance & Operational Support
  • Organizational Indirect Cost Analysis
  • Grant Technology Solutions

Risk Advisory

Technology Strategy & Implementation

  • Project & Program Management
  • IT System Requirements & Design
  • Independent Verification & Validation (IV&V)
  • Budget System & Process Consulting
  • Procurement to Payment (P2P)
  • Built for Purpose Business Solutions & Technology
  • Procurement Support & Negotiations

State & Local Government

At Cherry Bekaert, we understand the distinct challenges state and local governments face. As one of the largest providers of audit and accounting services to the state and local market, we have unique insight into the operations and business of governments. We recognize economic impacts of any kind impact state and local government and offer a wide range of services to help organizations continue to meet their missions.

  • Risk Advisory
  • Accounting Advisory
  • Cybersecurity & Information Assurance
  • Digital Advisory
  • Audit & Assurance

Federal Government

We provide specialized services to Federal government agencies and departments to help them realize their digital government modernization and reform goals while driving accountability and transparency.

To help Federal agencies better manage risk, protect value, and build sustainable and resilient operations, our advisory and consulting practice focuses on risk assessments, lease accounting, internal controls, internal audit, grants management, financial management, business process improvement, accounting advisory, information technology, analytics, information assurance and cybersecurity.

GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) – Professional Services Contract #47QRAA22D006H

Cherry Bekaert holds the following U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Multiple Award Schedule (MAS), Professional Services SINs:

  • Auditing Services (541211/541211RC)
  • Budget and Financial Management Services (541219/541219RC)
  • Management and Financial Consulting, Acquisition and Grants Management Support, and Business Program and Project Management Services (541611/541611RC)
  • Risk Assessment and Mitigation Services (541990RISK/541990RISKRC)
  • Software Licenses (511210/541210RC)
  • Cloud Computing and Cloud Related IT Professional Services (518210C/518210CRC)
  • Highly Adaptive Cybersecurity Services (54151HACS/54151HACSRC)
  • Information Technology Professional Services (54151S/54151SRC)
  • Order-Level Materials (OLM’s) (OLM/OLMRC)

Technology Solutions

We employ a wide range of to improve the efficiency, quality, compliance, integration, and speed of our engagements. Examples of technology resources include:

  • Alteryx for data preparation, advanced analytics, and automation (Associate Partner).
  • CCH Engagement for workpaper management, allowing us to prepare, review, transfer, and manage our work in a paperless environment.
  • FiveTran for automated data extraction and management from ERPs, financial systems, marketing systems, and other standard applications.
  • IDEA data analysis software to test for ways to improve efficiency and effectiveness and ActiveData advanced data analytics and statistics to assist in understanding trends and identifying anomalies.
  • Lease Crunch software is scalable and allows CPA firms, companies, and government entities to address the biggest challenges in the new lease standard while automating the required deliverables.
  • LeaseQuery software that will meet the lease accounting needs found under SFFAS 54, GASB 87, as well as GASB 94 and 96.
  • MindBridge, which leverages artificial intelligence to detect unintentional errors and intentional misstatements, minimizing financial loss while automating our audit approach.
  • Ninetexfor business process automation and robotic process automation (Certified Partner).
  • SmartSheet® for secure, web-based document management, allowing clients to seamlessly and securely transmit data files to our team.
  • Tableau for data visualization, data management and analytics (Gold Partner).

Additionally, Cherry Bekaert is a Microsoft Gold Partner for Cloud Platform and Silver Partner for Cloud Productivity, Data Analytics and Enterprise Mobility Management.

Other Public Sectors

Public sector organizations face unique issues including economic and social challenges, outdated systems, staffing shortages, and increasingly complex compliance restrictions. Navigating these matters requires implementing strategic solutions that drive transformation and optimize operations to achieve mission objectives.

We specialize in solutions tailored to the unique needs of public sector organizations, including transportation organizations — airports, light rail, bus, toll roads, port authorities and expressways, publicly funded universities, public utilities, and public health care providers. Our team has experience with all aspects of public sector clients from mission or service delivery to internal business management.

We offer a wide range of specialized services designed to maximize performance, drive innovation, enhance profitability, reduce expenses, and meet long-term organizational goals, including audit, lease accounting, tax, compliance, digital transformation, data and analytics, risk management, assessing and mitigating cybersecurity and privacy risks, and improving supply chain functions.

Our Professionals

Connect With Us

Christian Fuellgraf

Government & Public Sector Industry Leader

Partner, Cherry Bekaert Advisory LLC

Contact Our Government & Public Sector Team