Meet the driving force behind HireFinance Group: driven by a mission to redefine the recruitment landscape. We bring a wealth of experience, deep industry knowledge, and a passion for connecting talented individuals with their ideal career opportunities.
Mike Assaad
Founder and Managing Partner
Mike Assaad
Michael Assaad, Founder and Managing Partner of HireFinance Group, brings more than 25 years of experience in the staffing and recruiting industry, specializing in Accounting, Finance, and the Family Office sector. He holds an Accounting degree and an MBA from DePaul University and has built an award-winning career with two of the largest global staffing organizations.
Michael has held executive leadership roles including Recruiting Manager, National Perm Director, and Vice President of Permanent Placement for North America. His achievements include Rookie of the Year, a top-10 global ranking in his second year in industry, and the Employee Excellence Award for outstanding contributions in permanent placement. A passionate coach and developer of talent, Michael has trained more than 4,500 recruiters—many of whom remain top producers in the industry today.
Michael and his wife, Tracey, live in the Chicago area with their four children. Outside of work, he is an avid football fan and volunteers with prison ministry, a suicide prevention center, and his local church.
Tony Bilden
Founder and Managing Partner
Tony Bilden
Tony specializes in Financial Search across Accounting, Finance, Audit, and Tax, serving clients in sectors such as Private Equity, Financial Services, Energy, Manufacturing, Professional Services and Public Accounting, to name a few. Known for going above and beyond, he is committed to delivering the right match, a unique approach, or a creative solution for every client and candidate. He prides himself on being a true advisor, confidant and partner with the clients and candidates he represents.
A University of Iowa Accounting graduate, Tony enjoys spending time with his wife, Elizabeth, and their three children, cheering on the Hawkeyes and Cubs, and playing golf.
Kyle Kraus
Founder and Managing Partner
Kyle Kraus
Kyle Kraus, Founder and Managing Partner of HireFinance Group, brings nearly 15 years of specialized experience in finance and accounting recruitment, including 13 years leading high-performing recruiting teams. His career began in Investor Relations at a global real estate firm, where five years in a leadership role taught him the value of honest, consistent communication in client-facing environments.
Kyle built his reputation on deep financial understanding, a candid approach, and an unwavering commitment to delivering high-quality results. After experiencing staffing industry success at both an established global industry leader, and a fast-growing startup, it became clear that the next step was to leverage this success and build something together with trusted, former colleagues.
A graduate of Miami University with a Bachelor’s in Finance and a Division 1 scholarship athlete, Kyle is now based in Madison, WI and is a loyal supporter of Wisconsin sports. Outside of work, he enjoys relaxing on a beach, fishing and spending time outdoors with his wife, Megan, cheering on their four young children.
Corey Newman
Practice Director – Consulting
Corey Newman
Corey is the Practice Leader behind HireFinance Group’s Contract Staffing & Consulting division, where he leverages 20+ years of hands‑on accounting, finance, and HR consulting expertise to help organizations accelerate growth and solve mission‑critical challenges. Beginning his career in audit with a global public accounting firm and later supporting the SEC reporting team of a multi‑billion‑dollar hospitality company during its landmark 2009 IPO, Corey brings a rare blend of technical depth and strategic business insight.
Throughout his career, Corey has been a trusted partner to middle‑market companies, private‑equity‑backed organizations, and Fortune 500 enterprises. He has built high‑performing teams, launched new service verticals, and designed operational models that drive measurable value. Recognized as a top performer and a transformative leader, his work consistently helps clients scale faster, operate smarter, and stay ahead in rapidly evolving environments.
What truly sets Corey apart is his ability to turn complex business needs into practical, high‑impact solutions. Drawing on real‑world accounting experience and a deep understanding of organizational dynamics, he advises clients through major projects, interim staffing demands, and strategic hiring initiatives. In doing so, Corey has guided hundreds of professionals in advancing their careers.
Corey earned his B.S. in Accounting and Marketing from Indiana University Bloomington and expanded his global business perspective through international finance and marketing studies at the University of Manchester in the UK. He is also a CPA in the State of Illinois. His family resides in Zionsville, IN. When he is not chasing his three children around, you can find him jogging the Zionsville Rail Trail or on the golf course.
Chris Wong
Sr. Recruiting Manager
Corey Newman
Chris Wong is a Senior Recruiting Manager specializing in Finance and Accounting recruitment across the Chicago market and beyond. He brings more than a decade of combined experience in executive search, permanent placement, public accounting, internal audit, and corporate finance operations.
Chris partners closely with clients and candidates across accounting, finance, audit, tax, and operations, helping organizations identify top talent while guiding professionals toward career opportunities that align with their goals. His background as a former auditor with a national public accounting firm and a Fortune 500 organization gives him a strong technical foundation and a practical understanding of the roles he recruits for, allowing him to effectively evaluate talent and advise clients on specialized hiring needs.
Prior to his current role, Chris held senior recruiting and leadership positions with national and boutique staffing firms, where he built long-standing client relationships, led recruiting teams, and successfully placed professionals across a wide range of accounting and finance functions. He also served in a corporate finance operations leadership role with a leading national mortgage lender, overseeing compensation accounting processes, managing a team, and partnering cross-functionally with legal, HR, accounting, finance, and executive leadership.
Chris earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Accountancy from Northern Illinois University. Known for his relationship-driven approach, technical recruiting knowledge, and commitment to delivering strong results, Chris is passionate about connecting high-quality talent with organizations where they can make an immediate and lasting impact.
Chris lives in the Chicagoland area with his wife, Sarah, and their two young sons. Outside of work, he enjoys playing video games, watching sports, and reading autobiographies.
Emily Isely
Sr. Recruiting Manager
Corey Newman
Emily Isely is a seasoned recruiting and finance professional with more than a decade of experience specializing in finance and accounting recruitment, talent acquisition strategy, and relationship management. Throughout her career, she has successfully led full-cycle recruiting efforts, partnering with organizations to identify, attract, and place top-tier talent across finance, accounting, operations, and leadership roles. Emily is known for her ability to build meaningful relationships with both candidates and clients, develop strategic sourcing initiatives, and create a seamless, high-touch candidate experience from initial outreach through onboarding.
Her background includes recruiting leadership roles where she developed expertise in sourcing passive talent, conducting in-depth candidate assessments, managing high-volume pipelines, and partnering closely with hiring leaders to align recruitment strategies with business goals. In addition to her recruiting expertise, Emily’s prior experience in accounting and finance gives her a unique ability to understand technical roles and effectively connect organizations with highly qualified professionals.
Emily holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resource Management from Baylor University. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her two children, running marathons, exploring the outdoors, and cheering on the Baylor Bears.