About Us
Partner with a Relationship-Driven Firm That Delivers Superior Service
Royal Search Group takes a relationship-driven approach to recruitment, focusing on thoughtful conversations, honest guidance, and true alignment beyond job descriptions. There are no shortcuts when it comes to careers or building teams.
The Royal Search Group Mission Statement
At Royal Search Group, you can be confident you’re working with a firm that not only prides itself on being Relationship Driven and providing Superior Service but also on building long-term partnerships that go beyond the transactional. We believe in understanding the unique needs of both our clients and candidates, fostering trust, and delivering customized recruitment solutions that consistently exceed expectations. Our commitment is to your success, and we work tirelessly to connect the right talent with the right opportunities, ensuring a seamless experience that adds value at every stage of the process. With Royal Search Group, you're not just getting a recruitment service; you're gaining a dedicated partner invested in your growth and success.
Our Vision
At Royal Search Group, we focus on relationship-driven recruitment and long-term partnerships. We take time to understand the unique needs of both clients and candidates, delivering tailored solutions that consistently exceed expectations. Our team is committed to connecting the right talent with the right opportunities and ensuring a smooth, value-driven experience at every step. With us, you’re not just working with a recruiter—you’re gaining a dedicated partner invested in your success.
Trustworthy. Transparent. Thorough.
Without those core principles, we believe it’s impossible to achieve long term success as a headhunter and it's part of what sets Royal Search Group apart in a convoluted industry where working with a transactional mindset seems to be prevalent.
One of the common things we hear after a meeting with a client or candidate, is how thorough my process and conversations are.
Helping a person with the next step in their career is not a deal. Helping a client fill a critical position on their team is not a deal. They will need to work and interact with that person sometimes more than they do with family & friends. This is real life stuff, not a transaction. As a firm, we meet with everyone we work with to gain an understanding of what’s important for them outside of the job description. We’ve never placed someone in a role who we haven’t had multiple conversations with and met in person or over an extended video call.
There are no cutting corners when it comes to someone’s career. Same for the other side when we are helping hiring managers/clients fill a critical position. When presented with an opportunity to recruit for a position – no matter the level - we will take the time to go over the desirables, technical skills, and culture fit and from there begin recruiting and isolating candidates that meet the criteria. There’s a human, match making element to our process which is way more than just lining up job description & resume.
The Experts Behind Royal Search Group
AJ Lewis
Founder
With 9+ years in Accounting & Finance and 8 years in Recruitment, I bring experience from both sides of the hiring process. I focus on building strong, non-transactional relationships and delivering timely, high-quality results. I’ve led high-performing teams, developed new business, and successfully placed top talent across all company sizes—from public and PE-backed firms to family-owned businesses.
Talya Dressler
Director
With over 4 years of experience specializing in Accounting & Finance recruitment, I excel at identifying top talent and aligning them with organizations where they can grow. Known for my strong communication skills and emotional intelligence, I assess both qualifications and culture fit to ensure successful placements. I’ve supported companies of all sizes and now enjoy life in Charlotte with my husband and our Doberman, Lady
Michael Hill
Director, Client Development
With 10+ years in corporate finance at PE-backed companies and an earlier career in public accounting, I bring a practitioner's perspective to finance recruitment. Having held senior finance leadership roles myself, I understand what clients need and the challenges they face in finding the right talent. I specialize in building relationships with business owners, executives and operating partners in PE-back firms and family-owned businesses; helping them find and place their most important asset: people
The Experts Behind Royal Search Group
AJ Lewis
Founder
With 9+ years in Accounting & Finance and 6+ years in recruitment, I bring experience from both sides of the hiring process. I focus on building strong, non-transactional relationships and delivering timely, high-quality results. I’ve led high-performing teams, developed new business, and successfully placed top talent across all company sizes—from public and PE-backed firms to family-owned businesses.
Talya Dressler
director
With over 4 years of experience specializing in Accounting & Finance recruitment, I excel at identifying top talent and aligning them with organizations where they can grow. Known for my strong communication skills and emotional intelligence, I assess both qualifications and culture fit to ensure successful placements. I’ve supported companies of all sizes and now enjoy life in Charlotte with my husband and our Doberman, Lady
Michael Hill
Senior Manager, Client Development
With 10+ years in corporate finance at PE-backed companies and an earlier career in public accounting, I bring a practitioner's perspective to finance recruitment. Having held senior finance leadership roles myself, I understand what clients need and the challenges they face in finding the right talent. I specialize in building relationships with business owners, executives and operating partners in PE-back firms and family-owned businesses; helping them find and place their most important asset: people
Positions We’ve Successfully Placed
Royal Search Group has successfully filled a wide range of accounting, finance, operations, and leadership roles across industries, company sizes, and organizational structures.
SEC Reporting Manager
Director of Real Estate & Project Accounting
Family Office CFO
Finance Manager
Financial Analyst
Director FP&A
Controller
Chief Financial Officer
More About Our Founder, AJ Lewis
From Long Island, NY, now living in Charlotte, NC since March 2020, with my wife and 3 kids who were all born within 31 months. I have a Bachelor's Degree (BS) in Accounting from Sacred Heart University (CT), and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) in Finance from Hofstra University (NY). Prior to my career as a headhunter, I was a Financial Analyst & Tax Accountant for the nations leading provider of Foundation Tax, Legal, Administrative Services, then rose from Staff Accountant to Accounting Manager at a Fortune 500 technology company - which no longer exists, where I split my time between the North America General Ledger team, and the Global Equity Accounting team. After that company was acquired, I found myself meeting with headhunters looking for my next role, but felt I was at a crossroad with what I wanted to do next as I knew I didn't love doing accounting & finance work, but I had a great appreciation for the profession and wanted to stay in it in some capacity. That's when I took the leap of faith and made the career change.
With over 8 years of experience in the finance and accounting recruitment industry, I am passionate about being different than majority of people in my profession, by being honest, thorough, and investing the proper time it takes to help whoever I'm dealing with whether you're a hiring manager or a job seeker. I have a proven track record of building and managing high-performing teams, developing new business opportunities, and placing top talent in various sectors, in large publicly traded companies, PE backed companies, and smaller family-owned businesses.
In early 2020, I was recruited to join one of the country's largest staffing firms, a company that was recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Best Recruiting Firms, to be their new Branch Manager, and to build, manage, and oversee the finance and accounting direct hire division in the NC & SC market. I was responsible for generating revenue by filling positions, growing market share, coaching and mentoring staff, and ensuring quality service delivery. I achieved two consecutive Echelon Club awards, which recognize the top performers and leaders in the company. One of my key accomplishments include growing the vertical from $0 to a multimillion dollar vertical in less than 3 years.
After years of working within two different recruiting firms, I went out on my own for various reasons. I am now no longer geographically restricted, I have more flexibility when it comes to rates/terms for clients, and I can bring the big company experience with a more boutique feel for everyone involved.
Built on Performance, Growth, and Leadership
Award-Winning Performance
2× Echelon Club Qualifier (2021–2022) as both an individual producer and team manager— the only Charlotte-based employee to qualify during that time.
Built from the Ground Up
Launched a startup vertical during COVID and grew it into a multi-million-dollar business unit in under three years.
Proven Team Builder
Trained and led recruiters from the ground up, delivering successful direct-hire placements across public, PE-backed, and family-owned companies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Experienced placing professionals in a wide range of industries, including technology, financial services, healthcare, real estate, manufacturing, retail, construction, and more. Expertise and experience allow us to match top talent with companies across various sectors and locations, ensuring the right fit for both employers and job seekers. Our specialty is Accounting & Finance, however we can also work on HR, Administrative, and Operations.
The placement process begins with an in-depth consultation to understand your skills, experience, and career goals. We then meet in person or over an extended video call upon which we match you with opportunities that align with your aspirations, guiding the application, interview, and negotiation stages to maximize the chances of a successful placement.
Understanding your specific needs, whether you’re an employer or a job seeker. You can expect personalized advice, actionable strategies, and expert insights tailored to help you achieve your recruitment or career goals effectively.
Yes, utilizing an extensive network and resources, we can potentially be able to help you bypass the job board application process and get your resume in front of the hiring manager, increasing your chances of securing an interview. Contact to learn more.
Currently, we only support direct hire searches, contingent or retained. We do have resources and other reputable partners that we can refer to help with contract/temporary/consulting searches. Contact to learn more.
Roles We’ve Successfully Placed:
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Chief Financial Officer
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Controller
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Senior Project Controller
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Director FP&A
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Financial Analyst, Senior Financial Analyst
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Finance Manager
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Family Office CFO
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Director of Real Estate & Project Accounting
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Plant Controller
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Valuation & Forensics Professionals
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Accounting Manager, Assistant Controller
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SEC Reporting Manager
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VP Accounting
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Treasury (Senior & VP level)
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Tax Audit Manager
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Tax Manager
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Fund Accounting - Staff/Senior/Manager/VP/SVP
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Cost Accounting Manager
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Internal Audit (all levels)
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Pricing Analyst
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IT Audit Senior
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Accounting Support (Associate, Bookkeeping, Staff, Senior)
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Tax - all levels - public (CPA firms), and industry
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Senior Operations Associate
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Billings Manager, Collections Manager
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Human Resources Director
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