Hi, I'm Jessica Kiech, founder of Open Book
My path to bookkeeping was unconventional, and I think it makes my approach a little different.
I started my career with a neurobiology degree from the University of Washington — not exactly the typical accounting origin story. But what that background gave me was a love of systems, detail, and figuring out why things work the way they do. Those same instincts turned out to be exactly what good bookkeeping requires.
Over the past two decades, I've worked in accounting and operations across a wide range of industries — construction, hospitality, tech, and public accounting — holding roles from Staff Accountant to Controller to Accounting Services Manager. I've sat on both sides of the books: as a controller inside growing businesses, and as an outside accountant supporting clients at a CPA firm. That combination of perspectives shapes how I approach every client engagement.
Rooting for small business owners every step of the way
A note on my background in operations
Having spent years as a controller and director of operations inside actual businesses (not just advising from the outside) means I understand what it feels like to be the person responsible for making the numbers work. I know the pressure of payroll, the stress of a cash flow crunch, and the relief of finally having financials you can trust. That experience informs everything about how I work with clients.
Before founding Open Book, I worked for several small businesses in Hawaii, and previously held accounting roles at companies in Arizona and Washington state. That experience means I'm not just familiar with Hawaii's General Excise Tax, I also understand the tax and compliance landscapes in Washington and Arizona, and I'm comfortable working with businesses across state lines.