Our Mission
Remove the worry and stress around taxes and accounting. We prize relationships with our clients and value communication, efficiency, and great service. By working with individuals and businesses, our mission is to contribute to healthy communities in the Pacific Northwest, and beyond.
ED ALKIRE
“My dad taught me that a good accountant is more than somebody wearing a blinder cap, with a pencil behind the ear, who never leaves the office. I like getting to know my clients, to see the shape of their lives. It helps me understand the people and businesses behind the numbers.”
Background
In 1976, Ed graduated with a B.A. from Evergreen State College. He followed his father’s footsteps in the accounting profession by taking a job at Touche Ross (now Deloitte), receiving his CPA certificate in 1978. After a decade in public accounting, Ed took a four-year hiatus to serve as CFO of SI Technologies, a manufacturer of electronic scales. In 1994, he returned to public accounting, joining Holman and Associates (now Holman Kaufman Krahling) where he worked for the next 22 years.
With his daughter Madeleine’s rise in the accounting and tax profession, Ed took the opportunity to partner with her in creating Alkire & Bell, PLLC. It gives him satisfaction to know, by building a practice together with her, the Alkire name will enter a third generation of being synonymous with a high standard of public accounting in the Pacific Northwest.
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MADELEINE ALKIRE BELL
“Growing up, I remember helping my parents mail Christmas cards to my dad's clients, filled with snapshots of my sister and me as kids. He prioritized his relationships with clients. Now, as a CPA, my interactions with clients are often the highlight of my day, and I am grateful for the role I get to play in their lives. ”
Background
In 2006, Madeleine graduated cum laude, with a B.A. in American Studies, from Northwestern University. She took her first steps in the accounting world as Town Treasurer for Virginia City, Montana, a historic mining town not far
from Yellowstone National Park. In 2010, she earned an M.B.A. from the Bainbridge Graduate Institute (now part of Presidio Graduate School). After starting her career as a CPA in Missoula, MT, she moved back to her hometown of Seattle to be closer to family and worked with a firm in Bellevue, WA.
In 2016, Madeleine and Ed launched Alkire and Bell, PLLC, and a few year's later, moved the firm's headquarters to the Methow Valley. Madeleine and Ed enjoy their work together, serving clients throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
Outside of work, Madeleine can be found wandering the trails of the Methow Valley with her kids and husband.
LIZA BEE HODGINS
Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Liza embarked on her journey into the accounting profession in 2008. While obtaining her undergrad at Central Washington University, she began working as a Full-Charge Bookkeeper for a local clothing company. After being awarded the “Outstanding Accounting Graduate” in 2010, she continued to work full-time, for multiple companies, while obtaining her MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management.
In 2012, she passed the CPA exams and shortly after, took a position at K2 Sports, Inc, as a Senior Staff Accountant. Within a few years, she progressed to Financial Analyst, specializing in financial statement preparation for the US headquarters and its global subsidiaries.
In the spring of 2018, Liza made the leap to small-town life in Winthrop, WA, and started her own practice. This allowed her to return to her passion of working with small businesses, which is what inspired her to pursue accounting initially. Shortly thereafter, she began working for Alkire & Bell, assisting with tax preparation. When not working, she enjoys backcountry skiing, mountain biking, and playing hockey here at the local rink.
