2024 Government Contracting Conference

Brian Bender

Brian Bender serves as a Director in Aprio’s Consulting Services Group. Brian has 20+ years of government contract consulting and industry experience. His consulting projects related to DCAA, FAR, litigation support, Incurred Cost Submission, accounting system reviews, etc. In industry he was a Controller and Director of Finance working on day-to-day tasks and CFO-level strategic topics. Brian is responsible for integrating new clients to outsourcing as well as providing system optimization, consulting services, and CFO-level advisory services. He understands client needs, currently and prospectively, provides expertise in many areas critical to small, growing, and established businesses. Brian has high expertise in Unanet, but is software agnostic in his consulting.

He has been a guest speaker on various financial and government contracting topics for such organizations as the Northern Chapter VSCPA, the GWSCPA, VIP, and the Unanet Conference (topics have included Incurred Cost Submissions, Budgeting and Project Plans, and CAS Disclosure Statements). Brian received a Bachelor of Science with Honors in Accounting from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a Certificate in Procurement from the University of Virginia.

Peter Ragone II

Pete Ragone is a Director in SC&H’s Audit and Tax Services practice. With more than 30 years of audit and accounting experience leading attestation engagements for public and privately-held domestic and international companies, Pete serves as the partner in charge of the SC&H audit practice in Tysons Corner serving the Greater Washington DC area. He works closely with client owners and management to discuss attestation engagement results and provide detailed insight on technical accounting and government contracting issues. Pete also is well versed in mergers and acquisitions, including overseeing due diligence engagements on behalf of buyers of government contractors.

Prior to joining SC&H, Pete served in an audit management role for a “Big 4” firm and most recently for a large national accounting firm. His experience includes supervising and training audit staff, coordinating preparation of tax returns, and assisting clients in accounting software selection and implementation best practices. In addition, he maintains expertise in cost accounting, DCAA audit compliance, incurred costs submissions, Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and DFARs, Cost Accounting Standards (CAS), as well as foreign currency translation accounting, fair value accounting, complex revenue recognition issues, accounting for income tax provisions, accounting for share-based compensation and accounting for business combinations.

Pete’s clients have included government contractors ranging from publicly traded companies to SBA small business and 8a certified government contractors, as well as clients from various industries including; manufacturing, distribution, construction, technology, property management, and energy. Pete has also authored position papers on accounting issues and developed and delivered training sessions on topics such as audit methodology, financial reporting, effective communication, and the impact of new accounting standards.

Pete is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia and Maryland, and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants (VSCPA), and the Greater Washington Society of Certified Public Accountants (GWSPCA). Pete earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from James Madison University (JMU) in Accounting and Finance, with a minor in Economics.