Greg Bingham is a forensic accountant and quantum expert in the field of government consulting, with over 36 years of experience. He is a partner at HKA, Global, Inc., where he counsels contractors doing business with U.S. government . Greg also serves on the GW Law Government Contracts Advisory Council. Recently, Greg generously endowed a scholarship at GW Law for students interested in government procurement and accounting. We had the pleasure to speak with him about what motivated him to create this scholarship and about his distinguished career. Greg also provided helpful insights for students and recent graduates considering a career in government contracts law as it relates to business and accounting.
Interview with Greg Bingham
You have had a distinguished career in government contracts field as it relates to accounting and finance. How were you introduced to this area of practice?
I took a rather circuitous route. After obtaining a BS in Electrical Engineering, I worked as an engineer in the oil industry. That particular job was not a good fit for me. I then pursued an MBA to change career paths. Once I completed the MBA program, I accepted a job with Peterson Consulting, which provided consulting services to government contractors. I enjoyed this new career path and have been in this area of work since then.
Along the same line, could please describe your career path. How did you become interested in the government contracts field?
I’ve always had an analytical bent and interest in technology and business operations. Some of my early assignments as a consultant for Peterson Consulting in the late 1980s involved aerospace & defense contractors making advanced products for the Department of Defense. To properly assist our clients, I needed to understand their business operations, which required an understanding of their products and services, all of which I found to be very interesting.
“Attorneys do not need to be certified public accountants to succeed . . . . they can provide value to their clients with a high level understanding of general accounting and business principles. Attorneys should remember the adage — perfect is the enemy of good.”
Greg Bingham
You recently endowed a scholarship at the law school for government contracts students with experience or interest in accounting. What motivated you to create this scholarship at GW Law?
I created the Greg Bingham Endowed Scholarship in Government Procurement because it is important to support and foster students’ interest in these disciplines, which sometimes can be perceived as unrelated but in reality, are very much intertwined. Today, lawyers are facing increasingly complex legal and business issues, particularly in the area of government contracts. And as it is often said, accounting is the language of business, and in a very real sense, it is. Thus, students graduating from GW Law will provide better services to their clients — be they government agencies or contractors — if they understand more about business operations and accounting. On a related point, my consulting skills have enhanced by my knowledge of the law, which has grown since becoming more involved at GW Law and the ABA Public Contract Law Section.
You are also a member of the GW Law Government Contracts Advisory Council. Could you please share a bit about your decision to join the Council and your experience thus far?
I decided to join the GW Law Government Contracts Advisory Council because I am able to interact with and learn from key leaders in government procurement, including members from academia, industry, and government. For example, I interact with judges, the leading attorneys in government agencies, counsel for major government contractors, outside counsel arguing important cases, and professors addressing the toughest procurement problems. Not only has my time on the Council benefitted my consulting work but I have found the Council’s work very interesting.
A lot of law students are intimidated by areas of the law that involve accounting – what advice would you give to students or junior attorneys who may be hesitant to learn more about this subject?
Students and attorneys should not be intimidated to pursue areas of law, such as government procurement, that may involve accounting. Attorneys do not need to be certified public accountants to succeed in these practice fields. Rather, they can provide value to their clients with a high level understanding of general accounting and business principles. Attorneys should remember the adage — perfect is the enemy of the good.