Is it confidential if I send my resume?

Yes. Candidate information is never submitted to a company without the candidate's go-ahead.

Accounting & Finance Recruitment · El Paso, TX & Nationwide

Specialized talent, matched with intent.

Q: How quickly will I see candidates?

It depends on the role. For contract placements, candidate profiles are often ready within 24 to 48 hours. For direct-hire searches, most produce a first round of qualified candidates within the first couple of weeks.

Q: Do you charge candidates anything?

No. The fee is always paid by the hiring company — there is never a cost to candidates.

AK Specialized Talent is an accounting and finance recruiting practice led by Alyssa Kiehn. From administrator to senior leadership, across direct-hire and contract roles, I match qualified candidates with the hiring teams that need them — built on one point of contact, deep knowledge of a single field, and a relationship grounded in trust rather than a transaction.

I'm hiring → I'm looking for a role

Track record: Six years in accounting & finance search; hundreds of successful placements.
Levels: Accounting administrator through Controller, Director, and VP.
Reach: Small business to large corporate — nonprofit, government, healthcare, higher ed, manufacturing, construction.

What I recruit for

Roles I focus on

Every search sits within accounting and finance, plus the operations, HR, and project management roles that often overlap with them. Below are the positions I place most often, grouped by level. If your role or your background fits this world but isn't listed, it still belongs here — reach out.

01 Administrative & Entry

Accounting Administrator / Clerk
Accounts Payable Specialist
Accounts Receivable Specialist
Payroll Administrator
Bookkeeper
Billing Coordinator
Junior / Staff Accountant

02 Mid-Level

Senior Accountant
Financial Analyst
Senior Financial Analyst
Cost / Project Accountant
Payroll Manager
AP / AR Supervisor
Accounting Supervisor

03 Senior & Leadership

Accounting Manager
Assistant Controller
Controller
FP&A Manager / Director
Director of Accounting
VP of Finance
Chief Financial Officer

04 Operations, HR & Project Management

Operations Manager
Director of Operations
Business Operations Analyst
HR Generalist / HR Manager
HRIS Analyst
Compensation & Benefits Analyst
Payroll & HR Manager
Project Manager — Finance Systems / ERP

Common Questions

FAQ

What clients and candidates usually ask before reaching out. Don't see yours here? Just ask.

For employers

Do you place direct-hire, contract, and contract-to-hire roles?

Yes — all three. Whether you need a permanent hire, contract support, or a contract-to-hire arrangement, I can build the right approach for the role.

How are you paid?

It depends on the placement type — a contingency fee for direct-hire roles, and a bill-rate arrangement for contract and contract-to-hire roles. Either way, there's no upfront cost to you, and the fee is paid by the company, never the candidate.

How quickly will I see candidates?

It depends on the role. For contract placements, I can typically have candidate profiles to you within 24–48 hours. For direct-hire searches, most produce a first round of qualified candidates within the first couple of weeks. Tell me your timeline and I'll build the search around it.

What if the hire doesn't work out?

If a placement doesn't work out within the guarantee period, I'll go back to work on a replacement at no additional cost. Terms vary by role level — ask me for specifics when we talk.

For candidates

Is it confidential if I send you my resume?

Yes. Your resume and information stay with me — I never submit you to a company without talking to you first and getting your go-ahead.

Do you charge candidates anything?

No. My fee is always paid by the hiring company. There's never a cost to you as a candidate.

My exact title isn't listed under "Roles" — should I still reach out?

Yes. If your background is in accounting or finance, it belongs here even if the exact title isn't listed — reach out and let's talk about where you'd fit.

Will I hear back even if there's no match right now?

Yes. I respond to everyone who reaches out, and I'll keep you in mind as new searches come up that fit your background.

Contact

Let's talk

Whether you're building a team or making your next move in accounting or finance, reach out directly — I answer every message myself.

Email alyssa@aktalentsearch.com

Phone (915) 292-2568

LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/alyssa-kiehn

Based in El Paso, TX — working with clients and candidates locally and nationwide

Start a conversation

Send a note with a bit of context — the role you're hiring for, or the kind of move you're considering — and I'll get back to you within one business day.

Email me Connect on LinkedIn

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About

Who you're working with

I'm Alyssa Kiehn, and for the past six years I've recruited exclusively in accounting and finance — successfully placing hundreds of candidates in roles from the accounting administrator level through senior leadership. I've partnered with organizations of every size, from small businesses to mid-market companies to large corporate teams, across nonprofits, government, higher education, healthcare, manufacturing, and construction.

Before recruiting, I worked inside the field itself — at a financial services firm and in bookkeeping — so I understand the work I'm hiring for, not just the job titles. I hold a degree in finance from San Diego State University. AK Specialized Talent is my own agency, built on the way I've always preferred to work: one point of contact, deep knowledge of a single field, and a relationship grounded in trust rather than a transaction.

A good placement isn't the one that closes fastest. It's the one where, a year later, both sides are still glad it happened.

For hiring managers: you get a partner who understands the difference between a Staff Accountant and a Senior Accountant on your team, who screens for fit and not just keywords, and who won't send you ten résumés when three are right.

For candidates: you get someone who will represent you accurately, tell you what a role actually involves, keep you informed at every stage, and never push you toward something that isn't a step forward.

If you've worked with a large staffing firm before, you know the pattern: an intake call with one person, then a hand-off to someone else for the actual search, updates that trickle in through a portal, and no real sense of who's representing you. That's not how this works here. There's no queue and no hand-off — the person you talk to on the first call is the person running your search from start to finish, and I take on only as many searches as I can give real attention to.

I'm based in El Paso, Texas, and I work with clients and candidates both locally and across the country.

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For candidates

Resume Tips

I've read thousands of accounting and finance resumes, and the same handful of things tend to make the difference. None of it is complicated — mostly it comes down to making your experience easy to see at a glance. Here's what I share with the candidates I work with.

Lead with scope, not duties

"Managed AP" says little. "Owned full-cycle AP for a $40M manufacturer, 600+ invoices/month, 3-day close contribution" tells a hiring manager exactly where you fit.

Quantify everything you can

Dollar volumes, transaction counts, team size, close timelines, variance reduced, audit findings cleared. Numbers are your native language — use them on the page.

Name your systems

List your ERP and tools plainly: NetSuite, SAP, Oracle, QuickBooks, Sage, Workday, Excel (name the functions — pivot tables, XLOOKUP, Power Query), and any BI tools. Many searches filter on these first.

Show the close

For any accounting role, state your part in the month-end close and how long it takes. Reconciliations owned, journal entries, accruals, consolidations — be specific.

Credentials and status up top

CPA, CMA, CFA, EA, MBA, or actively sitting for exams — put it near your name. Include licensure state and candidacy progress if relevant.

Keep it clean and one voice

Reverse-chronological, consistent tense, no graphics or columns that break parsers, PDF unless asked otherwise. One or two pages. Proofread twice — this field notices errors.

Explain gaps and moves briefly

A one-line note on a contract role, a company acquisition, or a relocation prevents a recruiter from guessing. Honesty here always works in your favor.

Tailor the top third

Your summary and most recent role are what get read. Adjust them to mirror the language of the job you're applying for — without inventing anything.

Ready when you are

Send me your resume

Once it's in shape, send it over. I recruit exclusively in accounting and finance, and I'll tell you honestly where it lands, what to tighten, and which roles it fits.

Emailalyssa@aktalentsearch.com Phone(915) 292-2568 LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/alyssa-kiehn

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Testimonials

What people say

Feedback from clients and candidates I've worked with.

“

Alyssa was able to quickly assess our needs and match us with individuals possessing the skillsets needed to immediately jump in and assist. I have enjoyed working with Alyssa for over three years and have developed a deep respect for her ability to ask the right questions and offer timely solutions.

Steve E.Accounting Manager

“

Alyssa was instrumental in positioning me for long-term career success. Her ability to assess talent, listen intently, and match individual strengths with the right organization fit is second to none. Throughout the placement process, she demonstrated exceptional communication, proactive advocacy, and dependable support. I would readily refer any colleague or professional to Alyssa, and she remains my trusted advisor for any future career decisions.

Andrew G.Candidate

“

Alyssa has consistently taken the time to truly listen to our staffing needs and understand our company culture. Her ability to identify and present highly qualified candidates has been instrumental in helping us build a strong team. We greatly appreciate her responsiveness, professionalism, and commitment to finding the right fit for every role.

Anne P.CFO