Two months after merging with Washington, D.C.-based Beers + Cutler and announcing its national expansion plans, accounting and advisory firm Baker Tilly significantly expanded its government contractor consulting practice with the recent addition of several senior level professionals.

Bill Keating, John Van Meter, Tom Tagle, and Brent Calhoon recently joined Baker Tilly as partners in the firm's government contractor consulting practice. All four joined from Navigant Consulting where they were practice leaders in the government contractor consulting group. Previously, Keating and Van Meter led KPMG's government contractor advisory services practice, and Tagle and Calhoon were with Arthur Andersen's government contracts group. All advised contractors on a wide range of cost accounting and compliance matters.

In addition, a number of other senior government contracting advisors from Navigant Consulting have recently joined Baker Tilly. The firm now has more than 50 professionals located on both the east and west coasts, dedicated to providing federal grants and contracts consulting services.

"The experience that Bill, John, Tom, and Brent bring to our government contractor consulting practice elevates our client service capabilities to an unprecedented level," said Ed Offterdinger, managing partner of Baker Tilly's east region. "Now more than ever, contractors need a trusted advisor with proven, practical solutions for maximizing cost recovery and contract compliance while keeping pace with the rapidly changing federal contracting environment."

The addition of these top-tier professionals strengthens the firm's ability to tackle the most complex challenges large government contractors face, while offering a wide variety of value-added service options to those companies who are entering the market or expanding their federal presence, according to Tony Fuller, who leads Baker Tilly's government contractor consulting practice.

"In addition to our government contract cost accounting services, we advise contractors and their legal counsel on a variety of General Services Administration (GSA) schedule, information system, internal audit, compliance, and litigation matters, as well as Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) and Inspector General (IG) audits," Fuller said.

Beers + Cutler merged with Chicago-based Baker Tilly Virchow Krause on December 1, 2009. The combination of these two well-respected firms resulted in a $250+ million firm with more than 1,400 team members. Baker Tilly ranked as the 17th largest certified public accounting firm in the United States, according to Public Accounting Report's most recent "Top 100" rankings. The firm expects the ranking will increase to 13th largest following the merger with Beers + Cutler. The D.C. office will serve as the firm's east coast hub as Baker Tilly continues its national expansion, and firm leadership sees the government contractor consulting practice, which is also based in D.C., as a major area for future growth.

"Our ability to attract professionals with this depth of experience is a tribute to our local market presence," said Tim Christen, CEO of Baker Tilly. "The solid reputation established by our colleagues at Beers + Cutler, both in the D.C. area and in the government contracting space, plays an important role in Baker Tilly's ability to offer extensive capabilities to meet the needs of this very specialized industry."