Bell & Associates
Bell & Associates, Inc. is a private executive recruiting firm based in the Kansas City area that places senior accounting, finance, HR, engineering, IT, and operations leaders nationwide for PE-backed, middle-market, and corporate clients.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersStilwell, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Bell & Associates does
Bell & Associates, Inc. is a private executive recruiting firm headquartered in Stilwell, Kansas, in the Kansas City metro area. Founded in 2011 by Phillip Bell, the firm specializes in retained and engaged executive search for senior-level accounting, finance, human resources, engineering, manufacturing operations, information technology, and private equity talent. Its client base spans private-equity-backed portfolio companies, growing middle-market organizations, established corporations, and PE firms across diverse industries. The firm claims a 93% successful placement rate for engaged searches, an average delivery of three interview-worthy candidates within seven to nine days, and a cumulative track record of over 1,200 successful placements.
The firm operates a horizontal practice structure across six specialized areas — Accounting & Finance (its primary specialization), Engineering & Manufacturing Operations, Executive Recruiting, Human Resources, Information Technology, and Private Equity — and generates revenue through three primary streams: retained executive search, direct-hire and contingency placement, and contract or contract-to-hire staffing, with an emerging fractional and interim talent offering for clients needing temporary executive oversight such as fractional CFOs. Distribution is exclusively direct-to-client through a team of 25 or more geographically distributed recruiters; the firm does not use marketplace or reseller channels, and pricing is negotiated on a per-engagement basis rather than through public rate cards.
Bell & Associates does not disclose any proprietary technology platforms; it describes its approach as combining traditional recruiting methodology with 'cutting-edge technology tools' for candidate sourcing and engagement. Marketing is conducted through LinkedIn, an active content program on its website, dozens of SEO-optimized location-specific landing pages, and earned-media signals including Forbes Top 250 Best Recruiting Firms recognition for three consecutive years and Phillip Bell's induction into The Pinnacle Society, an elite 75-member consortium of top-performing recruiters. No public filings, funding rounds, or institutional investment are disclosed.
Bell & Associates firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bell & Associates
- Legal name
- Bell & Associates, Inc.
- Website
- https://bellsearchfirm.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Bell & Associates, Inc. is a private executive recruiting firm based in the Kansas City area that places senior accounting, finance, HR, engineering, IT, and operations leaders nationwide for PE-backed, middle-market, and corporate clients.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bell & Associates industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Executive Search & Professional Staffing Services
- NAICS
- Executive Search Services (561312)
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Financial Services Leadership Search (Banking/Insurance/PE/Asset Mgmt) (BPACAAAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- C-Suite & Board Search (BPACAAAA), Industrial & Engineering Leadership Search (BPACAAAD)
Keywords
Where Bell & Associates is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Stilwell
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Bell & Associates business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Retained Executive Search: The firm operates a retained executive search model, charging client companies for dedicated, confidential search engagements for senior accounting, finance, HR, engineering, and operations leadership roles.
- Direct Hire / Contingency Placement: Placement of candidates on a direct-hire basis where the firm receives a success fee upon completed placement. The firm also notes engagement-based search services.
- Contract and Contract-to-Hire Staffing: Providing interim or fractional talent solutions to client organizations on a contract or contract-to-hire basis.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Retained and engagement-based executive search services — pricing negotiated per engagement |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Bell & Associates product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bell & Associates, Inc. is an executive recruiting and staffing firm that places senior-level talent in accounting, finance, HR, engineering, manufacturing operations, IT, and private equity roles on behalf of client organizations. Core offerings include retained executive search, direct-hire permanent placement, contract staffing, contract-to-hire staffing, and fractional/interim talent (such as Fractional CFOs) delivered through six specialized practice areas.
Product overview
Bell & Associates is an executive recruiting and staffing firm offering a unified suite of talent acquisition services. The core offering consists of retained executive search for senior leadership roles (CFO, Controllers, Finance Directors), direct hire permanent placements, contract staffing, and contract-to-hire solutions, with specialized fractional/interim talent offerings. The firm's services are organized across six specialized practice areas: Accounting & Finance (their primary specialization), Engineering & Manufacturing Operations, Executive Recruiting, Human Resources, Information Technology, and Private Equity. The firm leverages both traditional recruiting methodology and technology while maintaining a focus on speed-to-market, claiming to provide three interview-worthy candidates within seven days and a 93% successful placement rate for engaged searches.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Executive Recruiting Services
Quantifiable outcome
- 93% successful placement rate for engaged searches
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Bell & Associates
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Bell & Associates technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Bell & Associates partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Bell & Associates competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Robert Half: Robert Half is the largest publicly traded staffing and executive search firm specializing in accounting and finance placement, with a national network of recruiters. It is the most direct competitor to Bell & Associates' core A&F retained and direct-hire practice.
- Kforce: Kforce is a national professional staffing firm focused on finance, accounting, and technology talent, operating a direct-hire and contract staffing model similar to Bell & Associates. It competes head-to-head for the same mid-market and enterprise A&F mandates.
- Vaco: Vaco is a national consulting and direct-hire firm with a strong Accounting & Finance practice and PE portfolio support, making it one of Bell & Associates' closest head-to-head competitors in A&F executive search.
- Parker + Lynch: Parker + Lynch (now under the Adecco Group) is a national executive search and direct-hire firm dedicated to accounting, finance, and legal placement at the controller, CFO, and senior management level, directly competing in the same niche as Bell & Associates.
- Aston Carter (Aston Group): Aston Carter is a national staffing and search firm with deep practices in accounting, finance, and compliance—closely overlapping with Bell & Associates' A&F focus and serving similar enterprise and PE-backed clients.
- Addison Group: Addison Group is a national staffing and search firm with dedicated Finance & Accounting, HR, and Engineering practices that compete for many of the same mid-market and enterprise roles as Bell & Associates.
Broad incumbents
- The Adecco Group: The Adecco Group is one of the world's largest staffing conglomerates and parent of Parker + Lynch, LHH, and other A&F-focused brands. It competes broadly for the same senior A&F and HR candidates Bell & Associates places.
- Randstad: Randstad is a global staffing and HR services leader with significant US presence in finance, accounting, and engineering staffing, serving as a broad incumbent competitor to Bell's boutique search practice.
- Korn Ferry: Korn Ferry is a global organizational consulting firm with a market-leading executive search practice placing senior finance, HR, and operations leaders, including for PE-backed clients, overlapping with Bell's executive search offering at the senior end of the market.
- Heidrick & Struggles: Heidrick & Struggles is a global executive search firm placing C-suite and senior leaders across functions including finance, HR, and operations, competing for the same large PE-backed and Fortune 1000 mandates.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Bell & Associates social profiles
Digital presenceBell & Associates financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bell & Associates leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles27 records
Bell & Associates funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bell & Associates M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bell & Associates
What does Bell & Associates do?
Bell & Associates, Inc. is an executive recruiting and staffing firm that places senior-level talent in accounting, finance, HR, engineering, manufacturing operations, IT, and private equity roles on behalf of client organizations. Core offerings include retained executive search, direct-hire permanent placement, contract staffing, contract-to-hire staffing, and fractional/interim talent (such as Fractional CFOs) delivered through six specialized practice areas.
Is Bell & Associates a public or private company?
Bell & Associates is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Bell & Associates founded?
Bell & Associates was founded in 2011. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Bell & Associates based?
Bell & Associates is headquartered in Stilwell, United States, in the North America region.
How does Bell & Associates make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Retained Executive Search is the primary driver. The others are direct Hire / Contingency Placement and contract and Contract-to-Hire Staffing.
Who are Bell & Associates's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Robert Half, Kforce, Vaco, Parker + Lynch, Aston Carter (Aston Group) and Addison Group. Broad incumbents are The Adecco Group, Randstad, Korn Ferry and Heidrick & Struggles.
Does Bell & Associates have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bell & Associates.
What industry is Bell & Associates in?
Bell & Associates's product category is Executive Search & Professional Staffing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACAAAF, Financial Services Leadership Search (Banking/Insurance/PE/Asset Mgmt), with a secondary code of BPACAAAA, C-Suite & Board Search. Its NAICS code is 561312 and its SIC code is 7361.