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After tax season ended, Forbes released a list of the . Among the names featured for 夜色视频app was UAA accounting and global logistics supply chain management alumna Kylie Kroeker, co-founder of Earth and Fire CPA, who was just starting to enjoy a rare moment of rest after the busiest stretch of her year.

That post-season breather is a relatively new practice for Kroeker. For much of her life, she鈥檚 worn the badge of a self-described workaholic, driven by a deep sense of discipline in pursuit of clear financial goals. That mindset dates back to her childhood. Unlike her more artistic siblings, she found joy in numbers. Her dedication was put to the test when her parents promised to get her a pet giraffe if she could only save $100, which they assumed was an astronomical amount for a child to save. Unfortunately for them, Kroeker devoted an entire year to doing chores for family and neighbors, saving every penny and nickel she could.

鈥淭hat's what triggered it for me 鈥� there is something I want that I don't have the money for, and the only way to get there is by being good with accounting and saving,鈥� said Kroeker. 鈥淭he sad part of the story is I didn鈥檛 get my pet giraffe.鈥�

Kroeker鈥檚 early financial awareness influenced her decision to enroll at UAA. Growing up in Eagle River, the choice to pursue an education close to home was one grounded in affordability and opportunity. It was at UAA that she solidified her path in accounting, guided by professors who helped ignite her passion for tax law and financial literacy.

Specifically, Kroeker credits her time at UAA with giving her two essential skills that continue to serve her well. First, she learned how to talk to people across a wide range of backgrounds. As someone who started taking college classes at age 14, her classmates ranged from teenagers to retirees. That diversity offered an early crash course in communication 鈥� a critical skill for a CPA who now works with clients from all walks of life. After all, everyone has to pay taxes.

鈥淲hat I really love about UAA is how well it represents what real life is like,鈥� said Kroeker. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e always going to be in a mix of people, backgrounds, ages and experiences. In most schools out of state, you're surrounded by people that are your age 鈥� you don't get that exposure until you get out in the workforce and have to learn how to communicate.鈥�

Second, the accounting program at UAA was built to prepare students for the profession. Through initiatives like Accounting Week, Kroeker gained exposure to local industry partners, internship opportunities and job interviews long before graduation. That structure made her transition into the workforce a seamless one.

Through Accounting Week, Kroeker was offered an internship, and eventually a position, in the Anchorage office of BDO, one of the largest accounting firms in the world. At BDO, she found camaraderie in the bullpen and sharpened her technical skills under the guidance of numerous managers. Over time, however, she felt the pull toward a smaller firm where she could engage more directly with clients. That led her to a local office where she worked with a tight-knit team 鈥� an experience that offered new insights into client relationships, personal service and day-to-day operations.

Ultimately, Kylie and a former colleague from BDO 鈥� who would later become her husband 鈥� decided to combine their experience and start something new. They co-founded , drawing from the best aspects of both large and small firms to build a workplace that prioritized both excellence and employee well-being.

The name Earth and Fire reflects more than Kroeker and her husband鈥檚 zodiac signs 鈥� it embodies a philosophy. Earth, representing Kroeker鈥檚 Capricorn sign, stands for grounding, growth and steadiness, while fire, representing her husband鈥檚 Aries sign, stands for passion, reinvention and a willingness to challenge outdated models. Together, the firm symbolizes a desire to bring new life to the field of accounting, balancing tradition with innovation.

鈥淲e joked that we were going to burn down the old ways of doing things and then regrow them new and fresh 鈥� bringing new life to accounting,鈥� said Kroeker. 鈥淎t first we got comments from colleagues and clients saying that accounting firms just need to be our last names. But our last names are hard to spell and pronounce so no one would find us. Plus, we wanted our name to be something people of our generation are going to be excited about. 

When Earth and Fire CPA launched near the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kroeker and her co-founder weren鈥檛 sure how quickly they could build a client base. Those concerns were quickly put to rest thanks to the collaborative nature of Anchorage鈥檚 accounting community, which readily referred clients their way. That spirit of mutual support is one of her favorite aspects of the profession 鈥� echoing the camaraderie she experienced in the bullpen from her early days at BDO. Today, Kroeker pays it forward by participating in the 夜色视频app Society of Certified Public Accountants, where firm owners and managers regularly share strategies, resources and encouragement to help one another succeed.

鈥淚f I see that a tax return I鈥檓 working on was done by another firm and there's something weird with it, I could call that firm like I was calling another department and just talk things through with them,鈥� said Kroeker. 鈥淚n a lot of other industries, everybody's a competitor. Not in accounting 鈥� we鈥檙e all colleagues.鈥�

As a business owner, Kroeker now focuses on cultivating the kind of workplace she wishes she had earlier in her career. She鈥檚 committed to maintaining the camaraderie and opportunity of a big firm with the flexibility and intimacy of a small one. That means offering support tailored to each team member 鈥� whether that鈥檚 accommodating family needs, encouraging professional development or simply making sure the fridge is stocked during tax season. 

Earth and Fire CPA has grown significantly since its founding, expanding to a team of five. Now recognized as one of 夜色视频app鈥檚 top CPAs, Kroeker sees the honor as a testament not just to her technical ability, but to the values she鈥檚 cultivated throughout her career. Her journey 鈥� from a piggy bank stuffed with dreams of a giraffe to co-leading one of the most respected firms in the state 鈥� is a reminder that financial literacy isn鈥檛 just about numbers. It鈥檚 about people, persistence and purpose.

鈥淚 love investing in others,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o it鈥檚 really a huge honor that all that effort that I put into other accountants, into clients, into our team, it got noticed.鈥�