11 Public Accountant Resume Examples for 2025

Creating a strong resume is crucial for aspiring public accountants. This article provides proven resume examples and strategic advice tailored to the industry. Learn how to highlight relevant skills, emphasize key experiences, and use the right keywords to catch hiring managers' attention. Read on to make sure your resume stands out.

  Compiled and approved by Marie-Caroline Pereira
  Last updated on See history of changes

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At a Glance

Here's what we see in the best resumes for public accountants:

  • Show Impact With Numbers: Include metrics in your resume to show impact. Some good metrics for accountants are: reduced tax errors by 20%, improved audit time by 30%, saved $50K in costs, handled 150+ clients.

  • List Job-relevant Skills Only: Include skills on your resume that you have and are mentioned in the job description. Some popular ones are GAAP, Auditing, ERP systems, QuickBooks, and Tax planning. But don't include all of them; choose the ones you have and are mentioned in the JD.

  • : Certifications matter in accounting. Common ones are CPA and CMA. Highlighting your certified status can make a big difference.

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Position your education correctly

When you organize your resume, think about what a hiring manager needs to see. If you are new to work or just finished a degree, put your education at the top. For example, if you just got your bachelor's or master's in accounting, or finished a CPA course, show this first. This tells the hiring manager that your training is fresh, even if you have less experience.

If you have been working as an accountant for a few years, list your experience first. You can place education after experience to show that you have practical skills. Do not include your high school details. Focus on post-secondary degrees and any accounting-specific certifications or courses that make you a good fit for accounting work.

Highlight certifications

For a public accountant, showcasing your certifications is crucial. Mention your CPA certification prominently in your resume. Also include other relevant certifications such as CFE or CMA.

Putting these credentials immediately after your name or at the beginning of your resume makes them easily visible to hiring managers. It shows your commitment and expertise in the field.

Ideal resume length

As you put together your resume for a public accountant position, keep it concise. If you have less than 10 years of relevant experience, aim for a single page to show that you can prioritize the most important information. This also makes it easier for hiring managers to review your qualifications quickly.

For those with more experience, especially in senior positions, two pages may be necessary to capture all of your relevant skills and knowledge. Focus on relevant accounting certifications and work history, highlighting experiences that show your ability to handle complex financial tasks and regulations, which are crucial in this field. Remember, clear and focused resumes reflect a professional who values precision – an essential quality for public accountants.

Quantify your achievements

Always use numbers to show your impact as a public accountant. Mention specific figures like how many audits you have conducted or the amount of cost savings you have achieved for clients.

Quantifying your accomplishments helps hiring managers understand your real-world impact clearly, which is especially important in a numbers-focused field like accounting.

Beat the resume bots

When you apply for a job as a public accountant, your resume might first be read by a computer program called an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). You need to make your resume in a way that both people and these systems can read well.

To do this, use clear job-related words like 'tax preparation' or 'financial auditing' which show your skills. Also, match your language to the job ad. If the job wants 'GAAP knowledge,' use that exact phrase. Here are some ways to make your resume ATS-friendly:

  • Include keywords and phrases from the job description.
  • List your certifications like 'Certified Public Accountant' clearly.

Showcase relevant skills

To get the attention of hiring managers, your resume must show clear and relevant experience. Think about what skills are needed for public accountants – like attention to detail and strong analytical abilities – and make sure your resume shows you have them. Do this by giving examples from your past work that apply to accounting.

  • Point out your experience with financial software, such as QuickBooks or Microsoft Excel, as these are tools often used by public accountants.
  • Show how you have managed budgets or audits. For example, say something like, 'Oversaw a budget of $500,000 and led annual audits.'
  • If you have any certificates, like a CPA, add these in. They tell managers you have the formal training needed.

Show achievements, not tasks

When you write your resume, it's vital to focus on what you've achieved rather than just listing what your job was. This helps employers see how you added value in your past roles, which is much more impressive.

Instead of simply saying you 'prepared tax returns,' show the impact: 'Streamlined tax preparation processes, cutting client turnaround time by 20%.' Instead of 'managed client accounts,' you could say, 'Managed over 30 client accounts, ensuring a 98% satisfaction rate and retaining clients year over year.'

Remember, it's not just about what you did, but how well you did it. Think about times you saved money, improved processes, or received praise for your work. These specifics make your experience stand out.

Use strong action verbs

When you prepare your resume, it's essential to use strong action verbs that accurately describe your professional experiences. These verbs help you show your impact and how you've contributed to past roles. Think about the tasks you've completed and the results you've achieved, then pick verbs that best highlight these accomplishments.

Ensure the verbs you choose are clear and easy to understand. You want to show your skills and experience in a way that anyone can grasp, even if they're not familiar with accounting jargon. Here's a list to get you started:

  • To illustrate your ability to analyze financial statements, use verbs like examined, reviewed, evaluated, interpreted, and verified.
  • If you want to showcase your auditing skills, include verbs such as audited, inspected, investigated, surveyed, and scrutinized.
  • To demonstrate your role in financial management, use verbs like managed, administered, allocated, budgeted, and directed.
  • For highlighting your tax preparation skills, consider verbs such as prepared, computed, filed, documented, and reconciled.
  • Show your commitment to compliance and regulation with ensured, enforced, adhered, complied, and updated.

Want inspiration for other action verbs you can use? Check out synonyms to commonly used action verbs like Gained, Coordinated, Delivered, Supervise, Demonstrate.

Showcase leadership growth

When you're applying for a position in accounting, it's important to show that you've grown in your roles. Have you been promoted or taken on more responsibility? Make sure to highlight this on your resume. Here are ways to show your leadership growth:

  • Mention any titles you've held that show you've moved up, such as 'senior accountant'.
  • Describe any team projects you've led or where you've managed others.

Think about times when you've been asked to lead an audit or when you've trained new staff. These are good examples of leadership. Use simple phrases to describe these experiences, such as:

  • Led a team of four in a complex tax audit, resulting in a positive outcome for the client.
  • Promoted to senior role within two years, based on strong performance in client management.

Essential skills for accountants

When crafting your resume, it's vital to highlight your technical expertise. Here are some key skills you should consider including:

  • Financial reporting
  • Tax preparation
  • Audit compliance
  • General ledger proficiency
  • GAAP knowledge
  • Financial analysis
  • Account reconciliation
  • QuickBooks proficiency
  • Accounting software mastery
  • Regulatory knowledge

Include these skills in a dedicated section on your resume. This makes it easy for hiring managers to see your qualifications quickly. Also, many companies use software to scan resumes for specific skills. So, by listing them, you improve your chances of getting noticed.

Remember, you don't need to show every skill listed. Choose the ones that match the job you want. For example, if you're aiming for a role focused on tax, make sure to include tax preparation and regulatory knowledge. Always tailor your resume to the position to stand the best chance of success.

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