14 Accounting Manager Resume Examples for 2025

In this guide, find winning resume examples for accounting managers. As a hiring expert, I'll share simple yet powerful tips. Learn what to include: from CPA credentials to leadership skills, ensuring your resume reflects the vital role you play in financial stewardship. Keep your document clear, and focus on your experience in managing accounting teams, budgeting, and compliance. This advice will help you present a good, strong case to potential employers.

  Compiled and approved by Jason Lewis
  Last updated on See history of changes

  Next update scheduled for

At a Glance

Here's what we see in strong accounting manager resumes.

  • Quantifiable Impact With Numbers: The best resumes show clear impact with numbers like reduced expenses by 20%, managed a budget of $500K, increased efficiency by 30%, and oversaw a team of 10 accountants. These figures help you see the real-world impact of their work.

  • Relevant Skills Aligned With The Job Description: Include skills on your resume that you have and are also in the job description. Some important ones are financial reporting, tax compliance, budgeting, GAAP standards, and forecasting. Pick the ones that match your experience.

  • Understanding Of Current Regulations: Show you are up-to-date with the latest regulations by including phrases like familiar with SEC filings or current IFRS expertise. This tells employers that you can ensure compliance.

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Where to list your education

As an accounting manager, you want to quickly show your relevant knowledge in the field. If you are a seasoned professional, include your education after your experience. Place your degree, certifications, or licenses here in reverse-chronological order, placing the latest achievements first.

If your most recent and significant achievement is a higher degree in a relevant field, such as a master's in accounting or finance, position this information before your experience. This is especially true if the education has been completed recently. Highlight any concentration or coursework that is directly applicable to being an accounting manager, such as advanced financial reporting or management accounting.

Tailoring for the finance sector

When targeting an accounting manager role, emphasize leadership in financial projects. Details about your role in budgeting, financial analysis, or audit coordination show your expertise.

Also feature any specialized certifications like Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA), which are highly regarded in the financial industry and could improve your job prospects.

Ideal length for your resume

As an accounting manager applying for a new opportunity, you should aim to present your experience succinctly. If you have less than 10 years of experience or are at a mid-level stage, your resume should ideally fit on one page. This length encourages you to focus on your most relevant accounting and management experience.

For those with more than 10 years of experience or in a senior-level position, a two-page resume is acceptable. You should put your strongest, most relevant accomplishments on the first page because hiring managers typically scan this area first. Remember, readability is key. Avoid small fonts and thin margins – if space is tight, it’s better to cut less important information or switch to a layout that uses space efficiently.

Highlighting accounting skills

Focusing on specific software skills can set you apart when applying for an accounting manager position. Showcase your proficiency in accounting software like QuickBooks or Oracle Financials.

Include any experience in regulatory compliance or tax preparation, as these competencies are critical in the accounting field and demonstrate your capability to handle complex financial tasks.

Understand resume screeners

When you apply for an accounting manager role, know that your resume may first be read by a computer program known as an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). This system looks for specific keywords and phrases to decide if your resume should move forward.

Here are things you can do to help your resume pass an ATS:

  • Use standard job titles like 'accounting supervisor' instead of creative ones. This increases the chance that the ATS recognizes your experience.
  • Include keywords from the job description, such as 'budgeting,' 'financial reporting,' or 'tax compliance.' These are terms often searched for in accounting management.

Keep your resume format simple and clear. Complex designs can confuse an ATS. By following these steps, you help ensure your resume shows what you can do in a way that both computers and people can understand.

Match your resume to the job

Your resume should show that you are the right person for the job of managing accounts. Use the job posting as your guide. Show how your past work makes you a good fit for this job. Make sure you use words from the job posting in your resume.

  • Show you can lead a team by including examples like 'Managed a team of 10 accountants.'
  • List software you've used like QuickBooks or SAP to show your technical skills.
  • If you are changing to this field, talk about your experience with budgets or data analysis from other jobs.

Essential skills for accounting managers

When you're crafting your resume, focusing on the key hard skills is crucial. Below is a list of skills essential for an accounting manager. Remember, you should only include skills that you are proficient in and match the job you are applying for.

  • Financial reporting
  • Budget management
  • General ledger
  • Account reconciliation
  • Cost accounting
  • Audit coordination
  • Tax preparation
  • Financial analysis
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Accounting software (such as QuickBooks, SAP, or Oracle)

Include these skills in a dedicated section on your resume. This makes it easier for hiring managers and tracking systems to find and match them to job requirements. Place the most relevant skills higher on the list to catch the eye quickly.

For example, if the job you’re applying for emphasizes financial analysis, ensure financial analysis is prominent on your resume. If you have experience with specific accounting software, list those too, as many companies look for proficiency in their preferred systems.

Highlighting leadership growth

When crafting your resume, it's crucial to show evidence of your growth into leadership roles. As someone who's moved up the ranks, you have valuable experience that employers seek.

  • Include specific job titles that demonstrate progression, such as 'junior accountant,' 'senior accountant,' and finally 'accounting manager,' to reflect your career growth.
  • List any leadership-related duties, like 'oversaw a team of accountants' or 'managed department budgets,' to clearly show your responsibilities.

Think about any special projects where you took the lead, such as implementing a new accounting software or leading a team through an audit. Include these instances as bullet points to underline your leadership skills.

  • Phrase like 'Lead the transition to a new financial software, boosting team productivity by 20%' can make a strong impact.
  • Use clear metrics to quantify your achievements, such as 'Expanded the accounting team by 50% while maintaining a 98% accuracy rate in financial reporting.'

Show leadership and growth

When you're applying for an accounting manager position, it's crucial to show how you've grown into leadership roles. Think about the times you've led a team or project and how you can share these experiences on your resume.

  • Include any titles that show advancement, such as 'Senior Accountant to Accounting Manager' or 'Team Lead' to emphasize progression.
  • Highlight specific leadership tasks you've taken on, like 'Managed a team of 10 accountants' or 'Led quarterly budget planning sessions.'

Remember to focus on achievements that can be measured. Think about the impact you've had in previous roles and how you can quantify this. Here are some ideas:

  • Mention any successful projects you've overseen, such as 'Implemented a new accounting software that reduced processing time by 30%'.
  • Discuss any recognition you've received for your leadership, like 'Awarded Employee of the Month for outstanding team management.'

Showcase leadership growth

As an accounting manager, showing your climb up the career ladder can set you apart. If you've moved up in ranks or taken on more responsibility over time, make sure to highlight these changes on your resume. This shows employers that you're not just capable, but that others have trusted you with increasing levels of authority.

  • Example: 'Promoted from junior accountant to accounting manager in 3 years, overseeing a team of 5 accountants.'
  • Example: 'Led a team through a major financial audit, resulting in zero compliance issues.'

Think about times when you've been tasked with leading a project or mentoring new team members. These experiences demonstrate leadership skills. Even if you're not sure if it counts as 'leadership,' if you were the point person or the go-to expert, that's worth mentioning.

  • Example: 'Managed monthly book-closing process, reducing errors by 20%.'
  • Example: 'Trained 4 new employees in accounting software and practices.'

Show impact with numbers

When you talk about your work as an accounting manager, numbers can tell a strong story. They make your impact clear. Think about how you have helped your company. Maybe you saved money or made processes better. Here are ways to show this with numbers:

  • Look at how you cut costs. Did you negotiate better deals? Write down by how much you reduced expenses, for example, 'Cut supply costs by 15% year-over-year.'
  • Consider the budgets you manage. Show the size of the budgets you handle with numbers like '$500,000 quarterly budget.'
  • Did you improve the time it takes to close monthly books? Share it like 'Reduced month-end closing time by 3 days.'
  • Think about your team. Did you lead a team that completed audits with fewer errors? Note it as 'Increased audit accuracy by 25%.'
  • Maybe you made reports faster or better. Say 'Enhanced report generation efficiency, saving 10 hours per month.'
  • Have you improved cash flow? Include by how much, such as 'Improved cash flow by 20% through strategic accounts receivable management.'
  • If you helped in getting more money back, show this. For example, 'Increased revenue by optimizing billing processes, leading to a 5% uplift.'
  • Did you work with new systems? Mention how they made a difference, like 'Implemented a new accounting software that reduced data entry errors by 30%.'

Think about your job. Remember times when you made things better. Use numbers to show this. It will help people see how good you are at your job.

Showcase leadership growth

When applying for a role as an accounting manager, you need to show how you've grown into leadership roles. This gives a clear picture of your ability to take on more responsibility over time. Consider these ways to highlight your journey.

  • Include job titles that reflect upward movement, such as 'Junior Accountant to Senior Accountant' or 'Team Lead.' This shows you have been recognized with more complex tasks.
  • Detail any projects where you led a team, even if it was temporary. For example, 'Led a team of 5 in a successful audit,' demonstrates your leadership skills.

Show leadership and growth

When you apply for an accounting manager role, showing your growth in your career is key. You want to highlight any leadership roles and promotions you've had. Think about times you've moved up or taken on more responsibility.

  • Managed a team of accountants, overseeing monthly financial reporting and analysis, which led to a 15% reduction in errors year-over-year.
  • Promoted to senior accountant within 2 years, due to strong performance and leadership in streamlining the budgeting process.

Use bullet points to describe your experience in a simple way. For example:

  • Lead a project to implement a new accounting software, improving the team's efficiency by 20%.
  • Chosen to represent the department in cross-functional leadership meetings, influencing company financial strategies.
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