15 Accountant Resume Examples for 2024

In this guide, we'll share resume examples for accountants and essential tips. You'll learn the importance of clear, focused resumes in showcasing your skills in financial management and analysis. We understand the specifics of accounting roles and the need for attention to detail. Benefit from our insider knowledge to present your qualifications effectively and land the job you seek.

  Compiled and approved by Liz Bowen
  Last updated on See history of changes

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At a Glance

Here's what to ensure your resume includes for the accountant role.

  • Show Impact With Numbers: You should show how you've made a difference by including metrics like reduced expenses by 20%, managed a budget of $500,000, improved reporting efficiency by 30%, and saved 10 hours per week for your team.

  • Match Skills With The Job Description: Include skills on your resume that you have and are mentioned in the job description. Some important ones are financial analysis, tax preparation, GAAP knowledge, forecasting, and auditing.

  • Trends In Accounting Technology: Show you are up-to-date with current trends by including skills like proficient in QuickBooks, showing you can adapt to new technology such as experienced with blockchain.

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Position your education correctly

When listing your educational background, think about your current status. If you are new to the work scene or have just finished a significant course, put your education at the top of your resume. This shows what you have been doing recently. For those with work experience, mention your job roles first, then your education. Show education that is specific to accounting, like a bachelor's degree in accounting or a CPA certification, to stand out. This helps employers see your foundation in the field quickly.

Show accounting software expertise

Highlight your knowledge of key accounting software, as this skill is vital for an accountant. Companies look for proficiency in software such as QuickBooks or Microsoft Excel. If you have certifications or have completed coursework in accounting software, make sure this is easy to find on your resume. Also, use bullet points to list any specialized accounting areas you are skilled in, like tax accounting or auditing, to grab the employer's attention.

Keep your resume concise

A good length for a resume is one page, especially if you're at an entry to mid-level stage in your career. This makes your resume clear and easy to read. If you have over 10 years of experience in accountancy or in a related role, you can use two pages. But always aim to be brief. Share only recent or relevant roles and qualifications. For accounting roles, detail any relevant software skills or knowledge of accounting principles you have.

Detail your accounting achievements

Use your experience section to show your impact. In accounting, specifics matter. Note any times you helped save money or streamlined a process. Numbers stand out, so if you can, show how much money you saved a company or how you improved financial reporting speed. When you write your resume, think about what a company needs from an accountant and show how you can meet those needs with your skills and past work.

Beat the resume scanner

When you apply for an accountant role, know that your resume might first be read by a computer program called an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). This system looks for specific words and phrases to decide if your resume is a good match for the job.

To get past the ATS, include keywords from the job description. For example, if the job requires 'financial reporting' or 'tax preparation,' make sure these phrases are in your resume. Also, use a simple format with clear headings for each section, like 'Work Experience' or 'Education.'

Here are ways to improve your chances:

  • Include terms like 'accounts payable' or 'accounts receivable' if the job calls for it.
  • Show your knowledge of accounting software such as QuickBooks or SAP by listing them in your 'Skills' section.

Customizing your accountant resume

Why tailor your resume? To show you are the right fit for the job. How do you do it? By showing your skills and experience match what the job needs. Pick the strongest points that connect to the job’s duties.

  • Show you know the systems. If you’ve worked with software like QuickBooks or SAP, mention it. Example: Experienced in managing financial records using QuickBooks.
  • For a leadership role, talk about your team role. Example: Led a team of 5 in preparing accurate financial reports.
  • If you’re coming from another job, show similar duties. If you managed budgets before, that’s key. Example: Managed a department budget, ensuring cost-effective spending.

Showcase your achievements

When you write your resume, remember to focus on your achievements rather than day-to-day tasks. You want to show potential employers what you have accomplished in your role as an accountant, not just list your job duties. By doing this, you give a clearer picture of your value and how you can contribute to their company.

Instead of writing "Managed a team of accountants," which simply states a responsibility, you could say "Led a team of 5 accountants to streamline the end-of-year financial closing process, cutting the timeline by 10 days." This displays leadership and a concrete outcome of your work. Similarly, rather than "Responsible for preparing tax returns," an accomplishment-focused bullet would be "Prepared complex tax returns for 25+ corporate clients, ensuring 100% compliance and achieving a company-record 15% average client tax savings." This shows the scope of your responsibility and the positive result of your work.

Using this approach, you directly communicate how your expertise as an accountant has had a tangible impact, displaying your skills and the potential benefits you bring to a new employer.

Choose strong action verbs

As you describe your previous roles, using strong action verbs can help you show your impact and responsibilities. Think about the tasks you have done and how they helped the company. Then pick verbs that make your involvement clear and direct.

Here is a list of verbs that can help you stand out. They are linked to common tasks in accounting and show your skills in a simple way. Use these verbs to explain what you did in each job.

  • To demonstrate your experience with managing accounts, use verbs like maintained, balanced, reconciled, monitored, and adjusted.
  • If you want to show how you've analyzed data, include analyzed, evaluated, calculated, forecasted, and assessed.
  • For tasks related to financial reports, verbs like prepared, compiled, reviewed, presented, and verified are good choices.
  • When showing your role in budgeting, use planned, budgeted, projected, allocated, and limited.
  • To illustrate your proficiency in compliance, include verbs such as ensured, complied, enforced, adhered, and audited.

Want inspiration for other action verbs you can use? Check out synonyms to commonly used action verbs like Hosted, Deliver, Maintaining, Assist, Determined.

Important skills for accountants

When crafting your resume as an accountant, it's crucial to highlight specific skills that show you're well-equipped for financial tasks. The right skills can set you apart and show employers you have what it takes to manage their finances effectively.

Here are some of the key skills you should consider including:

  • Financial reporting
  • Account reconciliation
  • Tax preparation
  • Auditing
  • Budgeting
  • General ledger proficiency
  • Cost accounting
  • Financial analysis
  • Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
  • Proficiency with accounting software (like QuickBooks or SAP)

As you decide which skills to include, think about the exact role you're applying for. Not all accountant jobs are the same; some may focus on tax, while others might require strong skills in financial analysis or forensic accounting. Place these skills in a dedicated section on your resume to ensure they catch the eye. Remember, applicant tracking systems (ATS) often scan resumes for specific skills, so including them can help your resume get noticed. However, don't feel pressured to list every skill mentioned. Choose those that best match your experience and the job you want.

Quantify your accounting impact

When you show your impact with numbers, you make it easy for hiring managers to see your value. Accounting is about precision and quantifiable achievements. Think about how you've improved efficiency or saved costs.

  • Highlight any reduction in financial discrepancies you achieved through diligent reconciliation processes.
  • Did you speed up the monthly closing cycle? State by how many days you reduced the timeline.

It's fine if you're not sure about exact numbers. Estimate how your efforts helped. For example:

  • If you implemented a new software, estimate the percentage of time saved in report generation.
  • When you optimized a process, consider the decrease in audit preparation time or the drop in error rates.

Use simple terms to describe these numbers. For example, 'Cut audit prep time by 20%' or 'Lowered error rates by 15% annually'. This clear evidence of your skill will make your resume stand out.

Show leadership and growth

When you apply for accounting roles, it's important to show how you've grown in your career. Include any leadership roles or promotions you've had. These details can help you stand out.

Think about tasks you've led or times when you trained new team members. Even if you haven't had a formal title change, these are signs of leadership. Here are two ideas of what you might include:

  • Managed a team of junior accountants to ensure accurate and timely monthly financial reporting.
  • Promoted to senior accountant after consistently meeting and exceeding quarterly audit objectives.

Use clear, simple language to describe your achievements. If you have received any awards or recognitions for your work, make sure to include these as well. They show your dedication and skill.

Showcasing your career growth

When you apply for a job, showing that you have moved up in your career is important. It tells us that you have been recognized for your work and can handle more responsibility.

Here are some ways you can show this:

  • Include job titles that show progress, like 'Junior Accountant' to 'Senior Accountant'.
  • List any special tasks or projects where you were the leader.

Think about times you helped your team or took on extra work. This shows us you are ready to lead and have grown in your field.

Tailor your resume for company size

When you apply for accounting roles at small companies or startups, like QuickBooks or FreshBooks, show that you can wear many hats and adapt quickly. For example, you might write 'Managed a small team to streamline billing processes, leading to a 20% reduction in errors.' This shows your ability to lead and improve systems.

For larger companies, such as Deloitte or PwC, your resume should highlight your experience with complex financial systems and compliance. You could say 'Oversaw financial reporting for a $10M project, ensuring compliance with GAAP standards.' This demonstrates your knowledge of industry practices and attention to detail.

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