10 Staff Accountant Resume Examples for 2024

Reviewing resumes for staff accountant jobs requires knowing what hiring managers look for. In this article, you will find examples of effective resumes and learn strategies to highlight skills and experience. Understand how to structure your work history, education, and certifications to make a strong impression. Follow our advice to improve your chances of getting the job.

  Compiled and approved by Diana Price
  Last updated on See history of changes

  Next update scheduled for

At a Glance

Here's what we see in the best staff accountant resumes:

  • Show Impact By Using Numbers: Good resumes use metrics. Common numbers in staff accounting include reduced audit time, lowered tax issues, improved reconciliation speed, and cut costs.

  • Include Skills From The Job Description: Include skills on your resume that you have and are mentioned on the job description. Some popular ones are GAAP, QuickBooks, Excel, financial reporting, and account reconciliation. But don't include all of them, choose the ones you have and are mentioned in the JD.

  • Highlight Relevant Certifications: Highlight certifications like CPA and CMA. Sample phrases: Certified Public Accountant, Certified Management Accountant.

Get your resume scored

Want to know if your resume stands out for staff accountant positions? Our resume scoring tool gives you a clear picture of where you stand. It checks your resume against key criteria that hiring managers in the accounting field look for.

Upload your resume now. You'll get a free, unbiased assessment that shows your resume's strengths and areas for improvement. This feedback can help you create a resume that gets noticed by employers and increases your chances of landing interviews.

...
Drop your resume here or choose a file.
English resumes in PDF or DOCX only. Max 2MB file size.
   100% privacyWe're committed to your privacy. Your resume will be scanned securely to give you confidential feedback instantly. Your resume is completely private to you and can be deleted at any time.

Education section placement

As a hiring manager, you want to see the most relevant information first. For staff accountants, especially those new to the profession or recent graduates, education is a key component. You should place your education section near the top of your resume. This highlights your academic background in accounting or a related field, which is essential for staff accounting roles.

If you have been working for some time and have gathered significant accounting experience, list your experience first. Your work history will show your practical knowledge and skills in accounting. For staff accountants with advanced degrees like a master's in accounting or CPA certification, putting education first can show a strong commitment to the field and specialized expertise.

Prioritize relevant experience

When writing your resume for an accountant role, highlight any accounting internships or relevant part-time jobs. List these experiences first to show your hands-on skills in accounting tasks.

Include any specific software skills you have, such as proficiency in QuickBooks or Excel. Showing your familiarity with these tools can make you stand out to employers.

Ideal resume length

For a staff accountant, you aim to keep your resume to one page if you have less than ten years of relevant work. This helps you show clear, relevant information without overwhelming the reader. When you have more than ten years of experience or you hold a senior-level position, a two-page resume is acceptable. This allows room to detail significant achievements and roles in accounting that showcase your skills.

Focus on recent accounting jobs and relevant accomplishments. If space is tight, remove less relevant details like old education or activities that do not apply to accounting. Remember, a shorter resume signals that you can identify and highlight the most crucial parts of your career.

Emphasize certifications and training

If you have certifications like CPA or CMA, place them prominently near the top of your resume. These credentials can give you an edge over other candidates.

Also, mention any relevant training workshops or online courses you have completed. Highlighting continuous learning can show employers your dedication to the profession.

Beat the resume screeners

As a hiring manager, you need to know how resume screeners work. These screeners, including Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), can be the first hurdle in your job search. Here's how to make sure your resume for a staff accounting position gets noticed.

First, use keywords from the job description. If the job asks for 'ledger reconciliation,' make sure you mention your experience with this in your resume. Second, keep the format simple. Avoid tables and graphics since ATS may not read them well.

  • Include 'financial statement preparation' if you've done it.
  • Use 'budget management' to show your experience in budgeting.

Make your resume fit

When you're applying for a job as a staff accountant, you need to show you're a good fit for the role. This means your resume should speak directly to the job's needs. You want to make sure every point on your resume shows you have the skills and experience they are looking for. Think about what an accountant does every day and how your past work lines up with those tasks.

  • Look at the job description. Find the keywords they use, like 'financial reporting' or 'tax compliance', and use these in your resume. For example, Managed monthly financial reporting and ensured compliance with tax regulations.
  • Highlight any accounting software you're skilled in. If they want experience with QuickBooks, and you have it, make sure it’s on your resume. Say something like, Expert in leveraging QuickBooks for efficient financial management.
  • If you have experience in the same industry as the job, show it. Mention how your work has directly supported that industry’s unique needs. Example: Provided financial analysis and reporting for public sector organizations, adhering to government accounting standards.

Essential skills for accountants

As a staff accountant, you need a strong set of skills to stand out. Here are key abilities you should include on your resume:

  • Financial reporting
  • General ledger maintenance
  • Account reconciliation
  • Tax preparation
  • Accounts payable and receivable
  • QuickBooks proficiency
  • Excel expertise
  • GAAP knowledge
  • ERP systems
  • Financial analysis

You do not need to be an expert in all areas. Choose the skills you are good at and that match the job you want. Include these skills in a dedicated section on your resume. This helps with automated tracking systems that look for specific keywords. It is also a good idea to show these skills in action in your job descriptions. For example, you could say you 'improved financial reporting speed by 20% using advanced Excel functions.'

Quantify your accounting impact

When you apply for a staff accountant position, it is important to show your impact in clear, numerical terms. Employers value candidates who can demonstrate their ability to contribute to the business's financial health and efficiency. Here's how you can do that:

Think about times you have saved money or time for your company. Use percentages to show how much you saved. If you helped to reduce expenses, estimate the percentage decrease in costs. For example, if you negotiated better rates with suppliers, calculate the cost savings over a year.

  • If you have experience with financial reporting, specify how frequently you prepared reports and by what percentage you increased their accuracy or timeliness.
  • Consider any account reconciliations you've done. Estimate how many you completed monthly and the error reduction rate achieved through your attention to detail.
  • For those who have worked on budgeting, indicate how you helped to manage the budget. Show how you stayed within or under budget, using percentages or dollar amounts.
  • If you improved any processes, describe the time savings in hours or the increase in productivity by percentage.

Remember to think through your past roles for instances where your work had a measurable effect. If you're unsure of exact numbers, make a good estimate based on the information you have. It is better to show an estimated impact than none at all.

Tailor for company size

When you apply for a staff accounting role, think about the size of the company. You might aim for firms like Deloitte or PwC, which are large, or smaller local firms. Each has different needs.

For big companies, show you can handle complex systems and large amounts of data. Use phrases like 'managed extensive financial databases' or 'analyzed significant transaction volumes.' This shows you can work on a big scale.

For smaller firms, they might value a closer relationship with clients and a broader skill set. Use phrases like 'delivered personalized accounting services' or 'oversaw all financial aspects of the business.' This shows you are adaptable and ready to take on varied tasks.

Need more resume templates?

Quick links

Samples


Insights