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34 Accountant Resume Examples - Here's What Works In 2024

Accountants are key players in the daily operations of most businesses. we cover what you need to know to land an accounting job in 2023 (google docs and pdfs attached)..

Practically all businesses need to do some form of accounting. Companies typically manage their finances by monitoring cash flow and keeping records of transactions. In many cases, they also analyze financial data to gain insights about the health of the business. Accountants specialize in providing these financial services. Their duties can overlap with those of a financial analyst -- one major difference is that accountants focus on everyday operations, whereas financial analysts provide big-picture insights and recommendations based on company performance and market conditions over time. In either case, these professionals perform vital work for businesses. Accounting job prospects are expanding and are not likely to disappear anytime soon -- by 2029, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that accounting jobs will grow by 4%. Most accountants are detail-oriented, conscientious, and excellent at working with numbers. If you’re seeking an accounting job, you need a resume that shows you have the right skills for the job. What does it take to build a stellar accounting resume in 2023? Here are some templates to follow that could increase your odds of getting hired.

Accountant Resume Templates

Jump to a template:

• Accounting Clerk
• Accounting Manager
• Senior Accountant / Accounting Executive
• Entry Level Accountant
• Staff Accountant
• Cost Accountant
• Payroll Accountant
• Accounting Assistant
• Tax Accountant
• Accounting Specialist
• Junior Accountant
• Project Accountant
• Public Accountant
• Fund Accountant
• Senior Tax Accountant
• Property Accountant
• Experienced Accountant
• Construction Accountant
• Fixed Asset Accountant
• Corporate Accountant
• Revenue Accountant
• Chief Accounting Officer
• Director of Accounting

Jump to a resource:

• Keywords for Accountant Resumes

Accountant Resume Tips

• Action Verbs to Use
• Bullet Points on Accountant Resumes
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Related Finance Resumes

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Template 1 of 34: Accountant Resume Example

An accountant is a financial professional who keeps track of an organization’s transaction history, including costs and income. They evaluate a company’s financial performance and provide reports to stakeholders. Additionally, an accountant must issue employee payments, record bank statements, and issue taxes. You should demonstrate your impact on the bottom line in your accountant resume. Accountants can help organizations improve their operations, reduce risks, and generate more profit. You can use this as a reference as to what metrics and accomplishments to include in your resume.

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Tips to help you write your Accountant resume in 2024

   highlight your knowledge of relevant (and recent) accounting regulations on your resume..

Accountants should provide accurate and transparent financial information to the government, investors, and banks. That’s why accounting compliance regulates their operations and sets ethical standards that they must follow. Show knowledge of recent developments in your industry by including projects that involved up-to-date or recent laws or accounting frameworks.

   Indicate your area of specialization.

Accountants can specialize in a particular area such as payroll, tax, and inventory accounting. This is something you should specify in your resume, either in your resume's title or summary section. By doing this, you demonstrate more authority in your field, which makes you more competitive for recruiters.

Skills you can include on your Accountant resume

Template 2 of 34: accounting clerk resume example.

An accounting clerk sits on a company’s accounting team within their finance department. These professionals are responsible for administrative accounting tasks such as reporting, bookkeeping, discrepancy identification and resolution, and invoice collection. These professionals deal with the granular aspects of a business's finances, ensuring payments are timely from customers and books are balanced. To become an accounting clerk, you will need a minimum of an associate's degree in accounting. A bachelor’s degree can help you land this role but is not always required. Hiring managers will look for someone with accounting experience, such as a prior role as a bookkeeper or debt collector. Moreover, they’ll look for candidates with a deep understanding of accounting processes, computer literacy, and superb organization and time management skills.

Tips to help you write your Accounting Clerk resume in 2024

   highlight your organizational abilities.

Since accounting clerks are usually responsible for organizing and cataloging important paperwork such as bills, invoices, and payment orders - showing you are highly organized will help you get this role. Highlight your organizational skills by detailing situations where you have successfully kept track of varying documents in prior roles.

   Showcase your experience solving account discrepancies or delinquency

It’s important that the accounting clerk is able to solve financial issues such as delinquent accounts. It’s important to highlight any experience you have identifying discrepancies or delinquent accounts and how you solved them.

Skills you can include on your Accounting Clerk resume

Template 3 of 34: accounting clerk resume example.

Accounting clerks perform various administrative tasks such as bookkeeping, reconciling accounts, tracking payments, and collecting data for audits. To get this job, your resume should reflect that you are highly organized, analytical, and capable of juggling a myriad of responsibilities. Provide examples from your prior work experience to illustrate these skills.

   Uses clear action verbs to discuss accomplishments

Accounting clerks perform a wide array of clerical duties to support their departments. On your resume, you should choose precise action verbs to describe how you’ve handled similar responsibilities at previous jobs. Industry-specific verbs such as “audited”, “processed”, and “reconciled” are especially strong choices to emphasize your accounting skills.

   Resume lists relevant work experience

Although you can find entry-level accounting clerk positions, having prior experience within the field always makes you a stronger job candidate. Focusing your resume on accounting clerk positions (or similar roles) you’ve held in the past is ideal, and shows hiring managers that you are ready to succeed in the role.

Template 4 of 34: Accounting Manager Resume Example

The accounting manager is a senior-level position within the finance team at an organization. Accounting managers are leaders who oversee the accounting team and their day-to-day business processes. As an accounting manager, you may monitor and optimize workflow processes, identify cost-savings opportunities, and provide guidance to junior accountants. To become an accounting manager, you will need demonstrated knowledge in accounting, as well as an eye for detail and great leadership skills. For this role, hiring managers will look for a candidate with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or business. More importantly, ideal candidates will have significant and progressive experience working in finance roles. Hiring managers may look for someone with previous experience as a junior accountant, budget officer, or controller. It’s important that candidates for this role have leadership abilities as well as project management capabilities.

Tips to help you write your Accounting Manager resume in 2024

   become a cpa (certified public accountant).

The CPA is a credential given to licensed accounting professionals. Having this certification on your resume will show hiring managers you have completed at least 150 hours of accounting education and have a minimum of 2 years of professional accounting experience. Gaining a CPA is a great way to quickly show hiring managers you are knowledgeable.

   Demonstrate your ability to lead others

It’s crucial that the accounting manager is a strong leader as they will oversee junior finance staff who complete important tasks such as payroll, accounts receivable, billing, and more. You should showcase your ability to manage several team members with varying responsibilities on your resume.

Skills you can include on your Accounting Manager resume

Template 5 of 34: accounting manager resume example.

The accounting manager oversees and manages the accounting team. They determine goals, and policies, and delegate tasks to team members. Accounting managers ensure that the organization’s finances are at their best state by auditing their financial reports. Then they identify patterns that allow them to draw conclusions. This is a leadership position, so you should demonstrate your leadership and project management skills in your resume. You can mention previous experiences in which you managed a large team.

   Demonstrate your expertise in the accounting field.

As an accounting manager, you are expected to have several years of experience in the field, so it’s important to include all relevant project and job experience in accounting. This will demonstrate seniority and illustrate your value in the industry.

   Indicate that you are up-to-date with industry trends, such as new accounting software or techniques.

Accounting managers should be computer-literate and up-to-date with the latest trends in the industry. Some of the most used programs for accounting in 2023 include Oracle NetSuite Accounting Software, Intuit QuickBooks Online, Melio, and FreshBooks Accounting Software. It might be a good idea to research the company you're applying to by looking at the job description, find out what they're using, and including that exact stack of software on your resume.

Template 6 of 34: Accounting Manager Resume Example

Accounting managers oversee accounting departments, manage financial reporting, and lead their teams to success. To advance to a management position in accounting, you not only need to be a great accountant; you also need to demonstrate leadership and people skills. Make sure your resume reflects your experience in these areas.

   Promotions show proactivity and growth in accounting

Featuring past promotions on your resume tells hiring managers that you are an outstanding employee with the potential to excel. It takes proactivity and drive to rise through the ranks at any job, and those same qualities are essential when you’re seeking a leadership position.

   Cites specific, measurable achievements from past jobs

As a financial professional, you will be expected to produce results for your employers. Quantify your previous successes with specific numbers to show the impact you made at your old jobs. Prior achievements such as “recovered $2M in overstated expenses” or “consolidated sales over $10M” are a strong testament to your skills.

Template 7 of 34: Senior Accountant / Accounting Executive Resume Example

Writing a resume for a Senior Accountant or Accounting Executive role is an exercise in demonstrating expertise and leadership within the finance realm. It's essential to remember that these roles are often the backbone of the finance department, so your resume should reflect the depth and breadth of your experience. In recent times, companies increasingly value accountants who can leverage technological tools for efficiency and accuracy; your knowledge of accounting software should be a shining star on your resume. Furthermore, with the rise of remote work and globalization, Senior Accountants are expected to be comfortable managing virtual teams and handling International Financial Reporting Standards. Ensure to incorporate your experience or training in these areas too.

Tips to help you write your Senior Accountant / Accounting Executive resume in 2024

   highlight technical competency.

Due to the increasing reliance on technology within accounting, ensure that you dedicate space to your proficiency in diverse accounting software and tools. Mention your experience in QuickBooks, SAP, Oracle Financials, or any proprietary software you used.

   Showcase Leadership Skills

Senior roles require you to lead teams and communicate financial information to non-financial stakeholders. Highlight any instances of leading a project, automating a process, or explaining complex data to others in your work experience section.

Skills you can include on your Senior Accountant / Accounting Executive resume

Template 8 of 34: senior accountant / accounting executive resume example.

Senior accountants don’t always supervise other employees, but they are typically experienced professionals who have worked in accounting for a number of years. As a senior accountant, you’ll do some typical accounting tasks, but you’ll also do higher-level analyses of your company’s financial standing. Your resume should show your aptitude for data analysis and your ability to make complex business decisions that lead to positive outcomes.

   Skills section lists relevant accounting technical skills

In your years of accounting, you’ve probably gained experience with software such as QuickBook, Oracle, RSM Auditor Assistant, and others. You’re likely also familiar with concepts such as generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), auditing, and financial analysis. Use a separate skills section to list technical and other hard skills you’ve acquired over the course of your career.

   Accounting-specific action verbs highlight past successes

Strong action verbs are an effective way to introduce achievements from your former jobs. Verbs like “conducted”, “automated”, and “implemented” all demonstrate proactivity, and they paint a clear picture of the role you played in each accomplishment.

Template 9 of 34: Entry Level Accountant Resume Example

Entry level accountants help with maintaining financial records, gathering data, and assembling basic reports. While you don’t need formal accounting experience for this job, it can help to have a bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a similar field. Lead your resume with your educational experience, mentioning any relevant coursework (such as business law or microeconomics), and be sure to also mention any relevant internships you’ve held.

Tips to help you write your Entry Level Accountant resume in 2024

   emphasizes educational history.

At the beginning of your accounting career, you won’t have as much work experience to list on your resume -- so place more focus on your education, especially if you completed a degree in accounting and finance. A high GPA and any academic distinctions you’ve earned can show potential employers proof of your work ethic and dedication.

   Lists relevant internships and community projects

When you have less employment history under your belt, highlight any internships you’ve done in accounting or finance. These positions are valuable because they teach you similar skills to what you might learn in an accounting job. Volunteer projects where you’ve organized meetings, gathered donations, or developed other professional skills are also worth mentioning.

Skills you can include on your Entry Level Accountant resume

Template 10 of 34: staff accountant resume example.

Staff accountants keep track of and oversee all financial records in an organization, including balance sheets and cash flow, equity, and income statements. They must record transactions conduct the billing processes, and help stakeholders make more informed decisions regarding year budgets or new projects. That’s why you might want to highlight your business acumen on your resume by mentioning your impact on previous projects’ bottom line. A staff accountant can work in private, public, and non-profit institutions. Ideally, you should have a bachelor’s degree in finance, administration, or accounting.

Tips to help you write your Staff Accountant resume in 2024

   mention your familiarity with local and state staff accounting regulations..

One of your responsibilities as a staff accountant is to ensure the company is compliant with local and state regulations. You should guarantee that the accounting team is following the best practices to demonstrate transparency and accuracy in financial records.

   Highlight your financial analysis skills.

As a staff accountant, you should compare each year’s transactions to identify patterns in the data. This includes income, spending habits, and budgets. This way, you can help stakeholders make better financial decisions using data-backed insights.

Skills you can include on your Staff Accountant resume

Template 11 of 34: staff accountant resume example.

Staff accountants have a variety of duties that may include bookkeeping, processing payroll, preparing taxes, and generating financial reports and statements. They also help ensure compliance with local laws and regulations.

   Focuses on quantifiable achievements from past accounting jobs

When talking about your previous jobs, it’s wise to mention specific results that you achieved in each position so accounting hiring managers can see the extent of your capabilities. When you can say that you “reduced error rates by 20%” or “maintained monthly schedules of 30+ fixed assets”, you show that your actions and decisions had a measurable impact at past jobs.

   Leads accomplishments with action verbs

You should always lead your bullet-point achievements with precise action verbs such as “oversaw”, “maintained”, and “reconciled”. These types of verbs clearly illustrate what you accomplished at past jobs, and they help you position yourself as a skilled professional within your field. If you can choose verbs that are related to accounting and finance, do that!

Template 12 of 34: Cost Accountant Resume Example

Cost accountants analyze and assess the costs of producing products or services. They help businesses identify areas where they could become more profitable. In addition to the math and data analysis skills that most accountants need, cost accountants need strong budgeting skills and the ability to communicate effectively with management about their findings. Use your resume to highlight your accounting background and your skills at collaborating with others.

Tips to help you write your Cost Accountant resume in 2024

   promotions demonstrate a drive to succeed.

If you’ve advanced from less-senior positions to roles with more responsibility in the past, make sure to point out your promotions on your resume. Starting as an auditor and leveling up to a management accountant position demonstrates your financial acumen and tells recruiters that you are likely to thrive in a potential new role.

   Industry-specific action verbs show financial expertise

When you’re pursuing a job in accounting, use verbs specific to finance (such as “analyzed”, “audited”, and “managed”) throughout your resume to talk about your past accomplishments. These verbs are a great way to showcase your knowledge and experience within the financial industry.

Skills you can include on your Cost Accountant resume

Template 13 of 34: payroll accountant resume example.

Payroll accountants supervise and process payments. They are responsible for ensuring that payments are processed efficiently, on time, and following legal regulations. Additional responsibilities include calculating deductions, resolving salary conflicts, and generating salary statements for employees. Generally, payroll accountants have a bachelor’s degree in finance or administration. Keep in mind that it’s important to demonstrate your knowledge of relevant tax laws on your resume.

Tips to help you write your Payroll Accountant resume in 2024

   indicate you have extensive knowledge of payroll functions on your resume..

As a payroll accountant, you should demonstrate proficiency in payroll functions. This includes calculating wages, deductions, bonuses, and processing payments for each employee. That’s why you should include skills such as payroll processing, auditing, tax deduction, and financial reporting.

   Showcase the payroll software that you are familiar with in your resume.

There are numerous tools out there that help you automate payroll tasks. Some of the most popular ones include QuickBooks Payro, Gusto, and OnPay. However, you can mention any payroll tool that you are familiar with. It’s also a good idea to check your potential employer’s requirements to see if they have a particular program they use.

Skills you can include on your Payroll Accountant resume

Template 14 of 34: payroll accountant resume example.

Payroll accountants are responsible for processing companies’ employee compensation. Each pay period, they calculate each employee’s earnings, deduct the proper amounts for income tax and benefits, and issue paychecks. To get a payroll accountant position, use your resume to show that you have general accounting skills, experience using payroll software, and a working knowledge of labor and tax regulations.

   Prominent skills section for hard accounting skills

Payroll accounting requires some specialized knowledge. You’ll need to know your local labor and tax laws to ensure your company is in compliance. You may also use software such as ADP Payroll to process your company’s payroll. A resume skills section allows you to list your job-specific hard skills in a place where they’ll be easy to see.

   Resume is tailored to the specific payroll-related job

Always target your resume to the job you’re applying for. Adding the job title “Payroll Accountant” near the top of the document can help your resume get through automated tracking systems (ATS) and other resume screening tools. Make your resume even more relevant to the position by adding accounting keywords throughout your work experience and skills (“payroll”, “processing”, and “reporting” are just a few of many examples).

Template 15 of 34: Accounting Assistant Resume Example

Being an accounting assistant requires a particular set of skills. You're often the backbone of the accounting department, handling data entry, invoice processing, and overall financial record keeping. The job requires meticulous attention to detail, great numerical skills, and often, a good handle on certain software like Quickbooks or Excel. Lately, due to increased digitalization, many accounting assistant roles may also require familiarity with cloud-based tools and software. As you craft your resume, remember that hiring managers are keen to see your technical skills, your ability to work with a team, and examples of how you've added value in past roles, such as improving processes or saving company resources. Specificity is key, so provide quantifiable achievements whenever possible.

Tips to help you write your Accounting Assistant resume in 2024

   highlight software proficiency.

As an accounting assistant, you'll likely be using a variety of accounting and data management software. Specify which programs you're familiar with, like QuickBooks, MS Excel, or any other cloud-based accounting tools, as this can be a key deciding factor for hiring managers.

   Detail achievements with numbers

When drafting the experience section, don't just list your routine tasks. Instead, highlight achievements and improvements you've brought about, ideally using specific numbers. For example, "Implemented a new data entry method that improved efficiency by 20%".

Skills you can include on your Accounting Assistant resume

Template 16 of 34: accounting assistant resume example.

In an accounting assistant role, you’ll be doing basic accounting tasks such as record keeping, cash handling, and billing to help support your company. You may be able to get this job straight out of school, but some companies may require a few years of accounting experience. Use a resume like this one to showcase the experience you do have, giving specific examples of achievements that illustrate your organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

   Resume is focused on the specific accounting position

Recruiters like to see consistency in resumes, and if you have a lengthy work history within a specific role, you’ll be a desirable candidate for that position. Having held previous accounting assistant positions (including ones of increasing seniority), you’ll have gained many relevant and transferable skills for your new job.

   Relevant educational history is included

Most companies want to hire accounting assistants who at least hold a bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject area (such as applied business, accounting, or finance). Be sure to mention your finance-related educational background and credentials on your resume.

Template 17 of 34: Tax Accountant Resume Example

As a Tax Accountant, your resume should show that you're more than just an individual who crunches numbers. Your expertise in complex tax law, vast knowledge about regulations and meticulous nature are important. These days, companies are becoming more and more aware of the importance of abiding by tax laws. They want accountants who are informed and up-to-date with these regulations, both federal and state. Keep in mind, your resume is the first opportunity to showcase these skills to potential employers. Recently, there's been a shift towards valuing soft skills like communication and problem-solving in the Tax Accountant role. It's not enough to just be good with numbers, you should also be able to explain complex tax concepts to non-tax professionals. When writing your resume, it's crucial to demonstrate both technical expertise and these soft skills.

Tips to help you write your Tax Accountant resume in 2024

   include relevant certifications.

Next to your formal education, make sure you include any additional certifications like the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or the Chartered Tax Advisor (CTA). These qualifications not only confirm your competence in tax law and regulations, but also display your commitment to the accounting field.

   Showcase your problem-solving skills

Don't just list your roles and responsibilities, but illustrate how you've used your skills to solve real tax issues. Maybe you identified a tax-saving opportunity for your previous employer or assisted in a difficult audit. Concrete examples will make your resume stand out.

Skills you can include on your Tax Accountant resume

Template 18 of 34: tax accountant resume example.

A tax accountant specializes in preparing and filing tax forms for businesses and individuals. These accountants must stay abreast of current tax regulations to help their clients comply with the law. You’ll need specialized knowledge in order to become a tax accountant -- so if you have experience in tax accounting, auditing, or tax preparation, make sure to say so on your resume.

   Skills section highlights specialized tax and accounting knowledge

To become a tax accountant, you’ll need additional training in tax law and preparation beyond what is standard for your industry. Once you’ve acquired these hard skills, list them prominently in your resume skills section.

   Discuss past achievements using specific numbers related to accounting

All types of accountants usually produce tangible results for the companies they work for. Instead of providing vague statements about what you did at past jobs, mention past achievements using specific numbers to measure the scope of what you accomplished (e.g. “resolved over 100 tax issues” or “reduced tax penalty fees by 20%”).

Template 19 of 34: Accounting Specialist Resume Example

As an Accounting Specialist, you're often perceived as the 'financial lifeline' of a company. Your role requires you to masterfully balance numbers and ensure that the financial health of the company is spot on. It's a job that's all about precision and accuracy, and it's gaining more importance as companies evolve in this technology-driven era. With this trend, employers are increasingly looking for people who can navigate not only the traditional accounting tasks but also new age financial software and systems. Therefore, when crafting your resume, it's crucial to convey your in-depth knowledge in accounting principles, alongside your proficiency in financial software. In recent times, companies have been advocating for automation in accounting, aiming to reduce errors and increase efficiency. Not to forget, the accounting field is also adopting machine learning and artificial intelligence to streamline processes. As such, candidates who can demonstrate their adaptability to these evolving trends will have an edge. Your resume should highlight your willingness to learn and adapt, while also showcasing your expertise in the core accounting tasks.

Tips to help you write your Accounting Specialist resume in 2024

   highlight your technology proficiency.

As an Accounting Specialist, you must emphasize your familiarity with accounting software like QuickBooks, Excel, or any other specific tools you've mastered. Mention any special certifications you have in these tools as it would demonstrate your initiative and proficiency.

   Show Evidence of Your Accuracy and Precision

Accounting is all about accuracy and precision. Ensure to highlight any accomplishments or roles where you've demonstrated these qualities. Use specific numbers or statistics as evidence. For example, you could mention the percentage of accuracy achieved in your previous role or any error reduction initiatives you've spearheaded.

Skills you can include on your Accounting Specialist resume

Template 20 of 34: accounting specialist resume example.

Accounting specialists may have wide ranging responsibilities such as maintaining financial records, processing payroll, generating reports, and making projections. To get this job, focus your resume on accounting skills such as balancing budget sheets, processing invoices, or managing account transfers.

   Uses effective action verbs to talk about achievements

When writing your resume bullet points, consider leading with verbs such as “conducted”, “streamlined”, and “spearheaded” to underscore the impact of your successes. Verbs like these ones show that you are proactive and take your career seriously.

   Relevant technical skills in skills section

As an accounting specialist, you may need to use certain types of software in your daily duties. Create a dedicated skills section on your resume where you can list the programs you’re proficient with, such as Microsoft Access, QuickBooks, or NetSuite ERP.

Template 21 of 34: Junior Accountant Resume Example

This is an entry-level position and you will be working under the supervision of a manager or senior accountant. Tasks you can expect include preparing financial reports, handling payroll, creating and updating financial statements, etc. Your resume must show recruiters your skills in accounting as well as a strong accounting background, Take a look at this resume sample.

Tips to help you write your Junior Accountant resume in 2024

   include accounting-related certifications..

Impress recruiters by listing any accounting certifications you may have gotten. Internationally recognized certifications like a CPA would be particularly impressive, and in some cases required.

   Focus your skills section on accounting-related skills and tools.

Just by taking a look at your skills section, recruiters should be able to tell what you are capable of as an accountant. So make sure you include all industry-standard accounting tools, and mention your experience and skills in all the main tasks in accounting.

Skills you can include on your Junior Accountant resume

Template 22 of 34: project accountant resume example.

As the name suggests, as a project accountant you will be responsible for handling and monitoring the finances of a project. You will approve payments, analyze expenses, and ensure that the project progresses as intended and within the allocated budget. Recruiters will want to see a strong educational background in accounting and will be looking to see experience in accounting and more specifically in project accounting. If you have experience doing accounting in the same industry as the recruiting company, all the better. Take a look at this successful resume sample.

Tips to help you write your Project Accountant resume in 2024

   show a variety of accounting skills in the skills section..

Because you will be in charge of the accounting for a project, you will have a variety of accounting tasks to complete. Show that you are capable of completing all expected tasks by ensuring your skills section lists the various tasks.

   Indicate the financial size of the projects you have worked on.

Give recruiters an idea of what you are capable of handling by adding figures of the financial size of the projects you have worked with. This applicant had worked on a project worth $22M.

Skills you can include on your Project Accountant resume

Template 23 of 34: public accountant resume example.

A public accountant is similar to a freelancer or contractor. You do not work as a full-time employee of one company but you instead offer your services to many companies or individuals. You may be preparing their returns, doing a forensic analysis of their books, or even just giving relevant advice. Your qualifications are of great importance for this title, so ensure they are clearly shown. Above that, individuals and companies will be looking to see the experience you have had doing the kind of tasks they need to be done, so ensure that your experience section reflects all your capabilities.

Tips to help you write your Public Accountant resume in 2024

   indicate the kind of clients you generally work with..

Huge corporations may need very different accounting services than individuals or small businesses. It is therefore very important to indicate who your clients have been so far so potential clients can get an idea of how much experience you have in the tasks they need to be done.

   Use metrics to highlight your achievements.

Metrics are an easy way to quantify your achievements and impress potential clients. So include metrics like how many clients you had, how much much money you saved them, etc.

Skills you can include on your Public Accountant resume

Template 24 of 34: fund accountant resume example.

Fund accountants perform everyday accounting functions for a fund. These functions might include valuing net assets, balancing the books, providing vetted and accurate statements, etc. Apart from these general accounting tasks, you might also be tasked with analyzing financial metrics in the industry to help firms accurately value their funds.

Tips to help you write your Fund Accountant resume in 2024

   show a history in the financial sector..

Because this position is in the financial sector, clients would prefer to hire someone with a long history doing accounting tasks for firms in the financial sector. So make sure your experience section concentrates on your financial sector past jobs.

   Write ‘Fund Accountant’ in your title to bypass ATS.

Most recruiters use ATS resume filters, so you must clearly state your title to help you bypass these filters. Writing ‘Accountant’ only for your title may not be enough to get you through. Be specific.

Skills you can include on your Fund Accountant resume

Template 25 of 34: senior tax accountant resume example.

As the name suggests, this is an experienced tax accountant. Tasks you can expect include preparing all tax documentation, training junior tax accountants, and ensuring your client remains tax compliant. Recruiters expect to see a resume that shows at least 5 years of experience and a strong accounting background. Evidence of managerial or leader experience would be an extra benefit. Here is a recruiter-approved resume sample.

Tips to help you write your Senior Tax Accountant resume in 2024

   get certified as a tax professional..

Accounting certifications are always nice, but for this position, you should aim to get tax-specific accounting certifications. It will set you apart from all the more generic accountants you are competing with and will show recruiters that you are highly skilled and passionate about the field.

   Include tax-specific keywords.

Using job-specific keywords in your resume may help you bypass ATS resume filters put in place. So use keywords relevant to tax accounting like ‘IRS’, ‘corporate tex’, and ‘compliance’.

Skills you can include on your Senior Tax Accountant resume

Template 26 of 34: property accountant resume example.

This accountant handles the financial documents associated with real estate. You may assist in valuing properties, preparing financial reports, or figuring out your client's tax obligations and preparing the correct documentation. Recruiters will be looking to see if your resume indicates expert knowledge in real estate and the accounting and tax processes and obligations associated with real estate. Ensure that your experience in this industry is well-highlighted. Take a look at this strong resume sample.

Tips to help you write your Property Accountant resume in 2024

   include property-specific skills in your skills section..

Accounting largely requires the same basic skills regardless of the industry you are working in. But if you are a specialized accountant as this title positions you to be, ensure that your skills section indicates skills in this particular industry. Skills like ‘property accounting’ and ‘property management’ would be effective.

   Get property-specific certification.

Show recruiters that you are particularly skilled and knowledgeable in property accounting by getting certified. This applicant’s certification in property management is a good example of a certification that would give an applicant an edge.

Skills you can include on your Property Accountant resume

Template 27 of 34: experienced accountant resume example.

An experienced accountant, sometimes called a senior accountant, is a professional who has worked successfully in the field for many years (at least 5). Your tasks may be the same as more junior accountants but you may be tasked with the most important and central accounting functions. This position requires accuracy, interpersonal skills, and a strong accounting skill set. Here is a successful resume sample.

Tips to help you write your Experienced Accountant resume in 2024

   list your expertise on various functions in the introduction section..

Start your resume strong by including the accounting functions you are particularly skilled at, and include a key achievement that shows the outcome of your skills. Starting your resume off strong will help your resume look more impressive overall.

   Use metrics to quantify your accounting success.

Metrics jump out among the text in a resume and are an easy way to impress recruiters. A great accountant will work to maintain the financial health of the company, increase efficiencies, and reduce costs. If you have done any of the 3, include metrics to prove them.

Skills you can include on your Experienced Accountant resume

Template 28 of 34: construction accountant resume example.

Construction accountants have the same functions as project accountants, except they operate solely on construction projects. Tasks you can expect include planning budgets, updating financial records, approving payments to suppliers, etc. You are basically in charge of ensuring that the budget allocated is used as it was intended. Extensive knowledge about the workings of the construction business is expected, as is experience being an accountant for projects. Take a look at this recruiter-approved resume sample.

Tips to help you write your Construction Accountant resume in 2024

   use strong action verbs that indicate a variety of experiences..

Action verbs can be really powerful in shaping your experience. Use strong and varied action verbs like ‘supervised’ and ‘analyzed’ to show recruiters that you can perform a variety of accountant functions.

   Write ‘Construction Accountant’ in your title to bypass ATS.

Most recruiters use ATS resume filters, so you must clearly state your title to help you bypass these filters. Writing ‘Accountant’ only for your title may not be enough to get you through. Be industry-specific.

Skills you can include on your Construction Accountant resume

Template 29 of 34: fixed asset accountant resume example.

As the name suggests, you will be in charge of accounting tasks related to fixed assets. Tasks you can expect include valuing, recording, and even identifying fixed assets. You will also be responsible for providing financial reports to decision-makers, and doing other general accounting tasks. You must have an in-depth knowledge of fixed assets and must be a talented accountant. Your resume should show your strength in both. Here is a resume sample that does that effectively.

Tips to help you write your Fixed Asset Accountant resume in 2024

   show career progression through promotions..

Show recruiters that you are a hardworking and successful employee by showing promotions in your career. It will also show recruiters your dedication to your profession. This applicant started as an audit intern and moved their way up to a fixed asset accountant position.

   Include the skills level for skills you are excellent at.

An easy way to impress recruiters and also show them your strengths is by including proficiencies for some of your skills. This applicant has listed ‘advanced’ for some skills and ‘experienced’ for others.

Skills you can include on your Fixed Asset Accountant resume

Template 30 of 34: corporate accountant resume example.

In this position, you will specialize in accounting for a business or company. Your tasks may include preparing financial documents, maintaining good financial records, preparing tax documents, and ensuring that the business is compliant with all relevant financial or tax regulations and laws. You need to show that you are experienced working in this type of accounting. Ensure both the experience and skills sections of your resume show that. Here is a good resume sample.

Tips to help you write your Corporate Accountant resume in 2024

   highlight your accountant certifications and qualifications..

Because of the large budgets and complicated accounting processes attributed to corporations, your formal qualifications are particularly important and in many cases required. So ensure you highlight your internationally recognized certification like your CPA.

   Write ‘Corporate Accountant’ in your title to bypass ATS.

Skills you can include on your Corporate Accountant resume

Template 31 of 34: revenue accountant resume example.

A revenue accountant is in charge of monitoring a company’s incoming revenue. You will create invoices, track payments, update transaction records, and ensure that all incoming revenue is accounted for. You need to have a strong understanding of the company and its processes concerning revenue. You also need to show a strong accounting background to attract recruiters. Here is a recruiter-approved resume sample.

Tips to help you write your Revenue Accountant resume in 2024

   concentrate on revenue-related experience..

You want to show that you are an all-rounded accountant but you need to show that you have a wealth of experience doing revenue-related accounting tasks, so focus on highlighting those.

   Highlight revenue accounting technical skills.

Your skills section is small and should include the skills most relevant to the job position. So ensure that your skills section focuses on revenue accounting skills like revenue recognition.

Skills you can include on your Revenue Accountant resume

Template 32 of 34: chief accounting officer resume example.

As the CAO you are in charge of the entire accounting department and its operations. Tasks you can expect include compiling financial reports, overseeing payroll, Analyzing and developing budgets and other accounting goals, etc. Most companies will expect you to have a master’s degree in accounting or a related field and you will need to have at least 5 years of experience. Most companies will also ask for a CPA certification so make sure your certifications are clearly listed on your resume. Here is a successful resume sample.

Tips to help you write your Chief Accounting Officer resume in 2024

Show recruiters your upward progression in your career. It will show recruiters your dedication to your profession and give them a better idea of the relevant skills you have gained along the way. This applicant started as a financial controller and moved their way up to a CAO position.

   Include any accounting-related certification.

Apart from the expected CPA certification, include any other certifications you have gained related to accounting or management. It will give recruiters a better idea of your specializations or your styles of management. This applicant has an internal auditor certification which indicates their accounting specialization and could have listed an Agile certification which would have indicated their management ideology.

Skills you can include on your Chief Accounting Officer resume

Template 33 of 34: director of accounting resume example.

A Director of Accounting role is about leading the finance team and making high-impact decisions, but remember, it's not all about numbers. It's how you articulate your strategic mindset to transform raw data into actionable insights in your resume that sets you apart. Recently, there's been a trend towards placing a higher value on those who can demonstrate their ability to implement new technologies, such as AI or blockchain, to streamline financial operations. Writing a resume for this position is more than just listing your achievements. It's about showcasing your leadership style, your ability to influence others and the strategic thinking behind your decisions. To truly stand out, you need to capture your holistic view of a company's financial health and how you've driven companies to thrive, not just survive.

Tips to help you write your Director of Accounting resume in 2024

   show your experiential proficiency with financial technology.

Showcase your experience with modern financial tools, ERP systems, or even AI-powered accounting software. Demonstrate how you've used these technologies to increase efficiency or accuracy in your previous roles. This will show that you're forward-thinking and readily adapt to technological advancements.

   Exhibit your strategic financial planning skills

In the Director of Accounting role, it's essential to look beyond the numbers. Hence, you need to include instances where you've developed strategic financial plans which successfully drove company growth. Show how you've worked with different departments to achieve these financial goals.

Skills you can include on your Director of Accounting resume

Template 34 of 34: director of accounting resume example.

A director of accounting is a senior, experienced accounting professional. They will lead the way in financial reporting, international exchanges, intercompany transactions, and audits. They may also be tasked with optimizing internal controls, preparing detailed financial reports for investors, and more. This position oversees direct reports in the accounting department making managerial skills also important. When looking for a director of accounting, hiring managers will be looking for someone with at least a Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance, though a Master’s degree may give a candidate a competitive edge. Hiring managers will want a candidate with 5+ years of progressive professional accounting experience. Having accounting specific certifications will also be desirable to hiring managers.

   Obtain a CMA or CPA credential

Certifications show hiring managers you have studied and been tested on core aspects of accounting and financial management. Obtaining your CPA (Certified Public Accountant) or CMA (Certified Managerial Accountant) credential can show employers you’re well-versed in accounting principles.

   Show your experience managing teams in a financial setting

As a director of accounting, you’ll be expected to lead junior accountants in daily processes and operations. To land this role, it’s wise to show you have the leadership skills to do this. If you’ve previously overseen a team, or led your team in accounting projects or overhauling processes, it’s wise to detail your success with it in your resume.

As a hiring manager who has recruited accountants at top companies like PwC, Deloitte, and KPMG, I've seen countless resumes over the years. The best ones always stand out by showcasing the candidate's skills, experience, and achievements in a clear and compelling way. In this article, we'll share some tips to help you create a strong accountant resume that will catch the attention of hiring managers and increase your chances of landing an interview.

   Highlight your accounting certifications and education

Make sure to prominently feature your accounting certifications, such as CPA, CMA, or CIA, as well as your educational background in accounting or a related field. Here are some examples:

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA), [State], [Year]
• Master of Science in Accounting, [University Name], [Graduation Year]
• Bachelor of Science in Accounting, [University Name], [Graduation Year]

Avoid simply listing your certifications or degrees without providing context:

   Emphasize your experience with accounting software and tools

Highlight your proficiency with commonly used accounting software and tools, such as:

• Microsoft Excel (including advanced functions like VLOOKUP and Pivot Tables)
• Oracle NetSuite

Provide specific examples of how you've used these tools to improve processes or solve problems in your previous roles. For instance:

Implemented a new invoicing system using QuickBooks, reducing payment processing time by 30% and improving cash flow.

   Quantify your achievements with metrics and data

Use numbers and percentages to quantify your accomplishments and show the impact of your work. Here are some examples:

• Reduced accounts receivable aging by 25% through proactive collection efforts and improved invoicing processes
• Identified and corrected errors in financial statements, saving the company $50,000 in potential penalties
• Managed a team of 5 accountants, overseeing the preparation of monthly and quarterly financial reports for 20+ clients

Avoid using vague or generic statements that don't provide any context, like:

• Responsible for accounts receivable
• Prepared financial statements
• Managed a team of accountants

   Tailor your resume to the specific job description

Customize your resume for each job application by highlighting the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the position. For example, if the job description emphasizes experience with tax accounting, make sure to focus on your tax-related projects and achievements.

Here's an example of a tailored bullet point:

• Prepared and filed federal and state income tax returns for individuals and small businesses, ensuring compliance with tax laws and regulations

Avoid using a generic resume that doesn't address the specific requirements of the job, like:

• Assisted with various accounting tasks

   Showcase your problem-solving skills with specific examples

Demonstrate your ability to analyze financial data, identify issues, and recommend solutions by providing concrete examples from your previous experience. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your examples.

Situation: Noticed discrepancies in the company's financial statements during month-end close Task: Investigate the source of the discrepancies and recommend corrective actions Action: Analyzed financial data, traced transactions, and identified a systemic issue with the revenue recognition process Result: Implemented a new revenue recognition policy, ensuring accurate financial reporting and compliance with GAAP

Avoid simply stating that you have strong problem-solving skills without providing any evidence to support your claim.

   Include relevant volunteer experience or professional affiliations

If you have volunteered in a financial capacity or are a member of professional accounting organizations, include this information on your resume. It can demonstrate your commitment to the field and provide additional evidence of your skills and experience.

For example:

• Volunteer Treasurer, [Non-Profit Organization], [Dates]
• Member, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), [Dates]

However, avoid listing memberships or volunteer experiences that are not directly relevant to accounting or finance, as they may distract from your core qualifications.

Ready to start preparing your accounting resume? Keep these tips in mind as you write to maximize your chances of getting the job you want.

   Make sure to include relevant education and certifications

Most companies today want prospective accountants to have at least a bachelor’s degree in accounting or another finance-specific area. Accounting jobs are growing more competitive, so having an educational background in accounting might give you the edge you need to get hired. Although not all accounting positions require you to have additional certifications (such as CPA, CFA, and others), acquiring these will add to your training and help you advance to more senior roles. Don’t skip including your accounting-related education and credentials on your resume.

   Create a skills section to list your hard and technical accounting skills

Accounting professionals should be familiar with generally accepted accounting practices, relevant laws, and business concepts. They may have specialized knowledge of tax, auditing, financial analysis, or other areas. Often, accountants need to be comfortable using software like QuickBooks or NetSuite ERS. Because there are so many hard skills associated with accounting, it’s smart to create a section in your resume to showcase these abilities. Note that your skills section is ideal for listing hard and technical skills only; it’s better to illustrate soft skills like communication or teamwork through examples in your work experience section.

   Target your resume to the specific role you’re applying for

Be sure to tailor your resume to the particular accounting position you want. Whether you’re hoping to become a tax accountant or accounting manager, your resume should mention the specific job title you’re applying for. Focus on your most relevant work experience and skills, and add accounting and finance-related keywords (such as “payroll”, “tax”, “reconciliation”, and others) wherever possible. Adding keywords and tailoring your work history to the position is beneficial for several reasons. First, it shows recruiters that you are interested in the specific job they’re offering -- a much better strategy than firing off generic resumes to dozens of hiring managers. And second, a tailored resume with relevant keywords is more likely to get through automated resume-filtering systems (such as ATS) that employers commonly use.

Writing Your Accountant Resume: Section By Section

  header, 1. include your name, email, and phone number.

Your header should prominently feature your full name at the top, followed by your email address and phone number. Make sure to use a professional email address that includes your name, rather than a casual or outdated one.

Here's an example of a well-formatted header for an accountant resume:

• John Smith, CPA
• [email protected] | 555-123-4567

Avoid cluttering your header with unnecessary details like:

• John Smith, CPA, MBA, EA
• 123 Main St, Anytown USA 12345
• [email protected]

2. Highlight your accounting credentials

If you have earned a CPA license or other relevant accounting certifications, be sure to include them after your name in your header. This immediately conveys your expertise and qualifications to employers.

• Jane Doe, CPA
• Bob Johnson, CMA, CFE

However, avoid listing all of your credentials if you have many. Focus on the most impressive and relevant ones for the specific accounting role. For example:

Sarah Lee, CPA, CIA, CFE, EA, CGMA, CISA, MBA

3. Consider including your LinkedIn profile URL

In today's digital age, many employers will look up candidates on LinkedIn. You can make it easy for them by including a link to your LinkedIn profile in your resume header.

• linkedin.com/in/john-smith-cpa

Just be sure your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date and presents you in a professional light before linking to it. Avoid linking to a bare-bones profile, or one that has discrepancies from your resume.

  Summary

A resume summary is an optional section that provides a brief overview of your qualifications, experience, and career goals. While it's not a required component of a resume, it can be a valuable addition for experienced accountants or those seeking a career change. A well-crafted summary can quickly capture the attention of hiring managers and showcase your most relevant skills and achievements.

However, it's important to note that you should never use an objective statement in place of a summary. Objective statements are outdated and focus on what you want from an employer, rather than what you can offer them. Instead, use your summary to highlight your unique value proposition and demonstrate how you can contribute to the organization's success.

To learn how to write an effective resume summary for your Accountant resume, or figure out if you need one, please read Accountant Resume Summary Examples , or Accountant Resume Objective Examples .

1. Tailor your summary to the specific accounting role

When writing your summary, it's crucial to align your qualifications with the requirements of the specific accounting position you're targeting. Research the company and the job description to identify the key skills, certifications, and experience they're seeking.

For instance, if you're applying for a tax accountant role, your summary might look like this:

CPA with 5+ years of experience in corporate tax accounting. Skilled in preparing and filing federal and state tax returns, identifying tax savings opportunities, and ensuring compliance with tax laws and regulations. Proven track record of successfully managing multiple client accounts and delivering timely and accurate results.

On the other hand, a generic summary that fails to address the specific requirements of the role might read:

Experienced accountant with a strong work ethic and attention to detail. Proficient in various accounting software and able to handle multiple tasks simultaneously. Seeking a challenging position in a dynamic organization.

2. Highlight your most relevant skills and achievements

Your summary should showcase your most impressive and relevant accomplishments, skills, and qualifications. Focus on the aspects of your background that directly relate to the accounting position you're seeking and demonstrate your ability to excel in the role.

When highlighting your skills and achievements, be specific and quantify your results whenever possible. For example:

• Managed accounts payable and receivable for a $10M company, ensuring 98% on-time payment and reducing outstanding receivables by 25%
• Implemented a new financial reporting system that streamlined processes and reduced month-end close time by 40%

Avoid using vague or generic statements that don't provide concrete evidence of your abilities, such as:

• Experienced in various accounting functions
• Strong problem-solving skills

  Experience

Your work experience section is the core of your resume. It's where you have the chance to showcase your career trajectory, key accomplishments, and the impact you've made at previous companies. In this section, we'll break down step-by-step what you should include and how to write about your experience to impress hiring managers.

1. Highlight your accounting specialization

As an accountant, you likely have experience in a specific area of accounting, such as tax accounting, auditing, or financial accounting. Make sure to highlight your specialization in your work experience section.

Here are a few examples of how to showcase your accounting specialization:

• Managed tax accounting for a portfolio of 50+ clients, ensuring compliance with federal and state tax laws
• Conducted financial audits for public and private companies, identifying areas of risk and providing recommendations for improvement
• Prepared and analyzed financial statements for a $50M company, providing insights to senior management

2. Quantify your impact with metrics

Numbers are a powerful way to demonstrate your impact and value to a company. Use metrics to quantify your accomplishments whenever possible.

Here are some examples of how to use metrics in your work experience section:

• Reduced accounts receivable by 30% by implementing a new collections process
• Identified and corrected errors in financial statements, saving the company $100,000 in potential fines
• Managed a team of 5 accountants to complete month-end close process in 3 days, a 50% reduction from previous timeline

Avoid using vague statements like this that don't quantify your impact:

• Assisted with financial statement preparation

3. Showcase your progression and promotions

Hiring managers love to see candidates who have progressed and been promoted within their previous companies. It shows that you were a valued employee and were able to take on increasing levels of responsibility.

Here's an example of how to showcase your progression:

Senior Accountant, XYZ Company, New York, NY (2018-Present) - Promoted to Senior Accountant after 2 years as a Staff Accountant - Manage a team of 3 junior accountants to complete financial reporting and analysis - Prepare and review complex tax returns for high-net-worth individuals Staff Accountant, XYZ Company, New York, NY (2016-2018) - Assisted with preparation of monthly financial statements - Reconciled bank statements and credit card accounts - Prepared individual and business tax returns

4. Highlight relevant tools and technologies

Accounting roles often require proficiency in specific software or tools. Highlight your experience with these tools in your work experience section to show hiring managers that you have the necessary skills for the job.

Some common tools and technologies for accountants include:

• Microsoft Excel

Here are a couple examples of how to incorporate these tools into your work experience:

• Managed financial reporting using Oracle NetSuite ERP system
• Created complex financial models and forecasts using Microsoft Excel

  Education

Your education section shows hiring managers that you have the necessary knowledge and training for the accountant role. It also gives them a sense of your career trajectory and goals. Here are some tips for crafting a strong education section on your accountant resume.

1. Put your education section near the top if you're a recent grad

If you graduated within the last few years, your education is likely your strongest qualification for the job. In this case, put your education section above your work experience.

Include any relevant coursework, academic achievements, or extracurricular activities that show your accounting skills:

• Bachelor of Science in Accounting, XYZ University, 2020
• Relevant Coursework: Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Auditing, Taxation
• GPA: 3.8/4.0
• Treasurer, Accounting Students Association

2. Keep your education section brief if you're an experienced accountant

If you have several years of accounting experience, your work history is more important than your education. Keep your education section short and to the point.

Bad example:

• Bachelor of Science in Accounting, XYZ University, 1995-1999
• Relevant Coursework: Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Auditing, Taxation, Business Law, Economics, Statistics
• GPA: 3.6/4.0
• Accounting Club Member

Good example:

• Bachelor of Science in Accounting, XYZ University
• CPA, ABC State Board of Accountancy

3. Include your CPA license and other relevant certifications

Many accountant jobs require or prefer candidates with a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) license. If you have your CPA, make sure to include it in your education section.

You can also include other relevant certifications, such as:

• CMA (Certified Management Accountant)
• CIA (Certified Internal Auditor)
• CFE (Certified Fraud Examiner)
• EA (Enrolled Agent)

Education Bachelor of Science in Accounting, XYZ University CPA, ABC State Board of Accountancy CMA, Institute of Management Accountants

Action Verbs For Accountant Resumes

When discussing your accounting experience on your resume, you’ll want to lead into your achievements with strong action verbs. Choose the clearest, most concise word to express the role you played in your accomplishment. Active, specific verbs like “managed” or “developed” are always a stronger choice than vague phrases like “assisted with” or “was responsible for”. Finally, remember that finance comes with its own specialized “language” and vocabulary. As much as possible, pick verbs that are industry-specific to convey your expertise.

• Administered
• Restructured

For a full list of effective resume action verbs, visit Resume Action Verbs .

Action Verbs for Accountant Resumes

How to write an accountant resume.

Here we take you through the process of creating a resume for an accountant position. These steps will help you whether you are applying for an entry-level or senior accounting position.

Start by completing the essentials on any Accounting resume

1.1: your resume header should capture your key information..

A resume header is one of the first things that many recruiters see, and so it should include essential details like your name, location (your full address is not required), and your email address. You can optionally include the job title of the job you are applying for - especially if you're making a career change into accounting.

1.2: Use conventional resume section titles

In general, your resume will have at least 3 core sections: Experience, Education, and Skills. Make sure you have a clear section title for each section. If you have a lot of experience outside of accounting, you might find it useful to create a separate section for those called "Other Experience", while creating a dedicated section for accounting called "Accounting Experience" or "Relevant Experience."

Demonstrate your experience as an Accountant using bullet points

2.1: highlight relevant achievements using bullet points..

Bullet points make resumes easy to skim through for the hiring managers who are actually going to read your resume. Plus, they're also the most conventional resume format and is what hiring managers expect to see. Remember to always focus your bullet points on clear achievements, ideally involving accounting with things like accounts reconciliation or bookkeeping. For example: Identified discrepancies in reports totaling $125,000, resulting in crediting money back to the direct group This is a good example of a bullet point to use in your accounting resume.

2.2: Emphasize your attention to detail by using action verbs

Use strong action verbs to demonstrate your achievements as an accountant. Strong action verbs like "analyzed," "audited," "calculated," and "computed" show that you were tasked with accounting-related responsibilities and highlight your attention to detail - an important skill set recruiters want to see through your bullet points.

2.3: Emphasize your accomplishments.

Avoid things that fit more into a job description, like "I was tasked with keeping books." Instead, focus on achievements by saying something like, " Reduced the company's tax penalties by 10% in just one financial year as a tax accountant."

Optimize your skills to make them easier for an Applicant Tracking System to pick out

3.1: tailor your resume to the specific accounting job posting..

Tailoring your resume to suit the specific accounting job ensures the Applicant Tracking System finds it relevant to the job posting. For example, if applying for a Payroll Accountant position, your resume should show you have skills in payroll administration, payroll processing, and ADP payroll.

3.2: Include relevant keywords in the skills section.

Ensure you include skills relevant to the accounting job you are applying for in the skills sections, as these are the keywords the ATS system will look for as it scans the resume. For example, if applying for a tax accountant position, include keywords like "tax" and "reporting."

Polish up your Accountant resume

4.1: add a summary section if you are applying for a senior accountant position..

A summary is optional, but it is good to have it at the top of your resume if applying for a senior accountant position or switching careers to an accountant role. Summaries provide an easy way to direct the hiring manager to particular achievements that don't have space on other parts of your resume.

4.2: Include relevant certifications.

If you have any relevant certifications, honors, or awards related to your accounting profession, including them is a good idea. For example, you can include your CFA, CPA, or CMA certifications even if the job advertisement does not require you to have them.

Skills For Accountant Resumes

Many people think of accounting as a data-centric job -- and it is. You do need to have excellent math and data analysis skills because you’ll spend much of your time working with numbers. However, there is also a collaborative aspect to being an accountant; you’ll probably work in teams with others, and in some roles, you’ll give presentations and reports to management that will help guide their financial decision-making. Being a great accountant requires a blend of technical and people skills. So give plenty of examples from your prior work experiences where you’ve developed and used these abilities. Talk about how you’ve successfully managed expenses, conducted account analyses, and worked on project teams. Make sure to also list your software proficiencies (such as QuickBooks and Oracle) and other hard skills in a separate skills section.

• Accounts Receivable (AR)
• Account Reconciliation
• Accounts Payable
• General Ledger
• Journal Entries
• Bank Reconciliation
• Financial Reporting
• Financial Statements
• Financial Accounting
• Financial Analysis
• Accounts Payable & Receivable
• Cash Collection

How To Write Your Skills Section On an Accountant Resumes

You can include the above skills in a dedicated Skills section on your resume, or weave them in your experience. Here's how you might create your dedicated skills section:

Skills Word Cloud For Accountant Resumes

This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on Accountant job descriptions and resumes. The bigger the word, the more frequently it appears on job postings, and the more 'important' it is.

How to use these skills?

Resume bullet points from accountant resumes.

You should use bullet points to describe your achievements in your Accountant resume. Here are sample bullet points to help you get started:

Collaborated with 10 department managers and peers to develop and implement policies and procedures that increased internal efficiency by 20%.

Provided excellent customer service, effectively reducing customer complaints from 65% to 23% within the first 8 months.

Introduced a new invoicing system that reduced month-end turnaround time by 15%.

Filed payroll tax and sales tax for over 50 international customers each month.

Led annual budget preparation, performed departmental and account variances, and managed the standard costing globally for 4 sites.

For more sample bullet points and details on how to write effective bullet points, see our articles on resume bullet points , how to quantify your resume and resume accomplishments .

Frequently Asked Questions on Accountant Resumes

What should be in your resume to get a job as an accountant, what resume skills should you include in your accounting resume, what are examples of strong accounting accomplishments i can include on my resume.

• Saving money: Explain how your accounting methods helped reduce accounting error rates and resulted in savings for the organization.
• Revenue: Explain the extent to which your work helped your company generate revenue. List the value of assets you oversaw and the amount of money under your care.
• Regulatory compliance: How did your interpretation of accounting rules help your company stay compliant and save money in fines and fees?
• Vendor and client relations: State the number of individual client accounts that you handled and the period that you retained them. Explain how you assessed vendors and handled their invoices.
• Management: Mention the number of junior accountants that you mentored and how you liaised with senior executives to achieve the company’s vision.

What should a senior accountant include on their resume?

What are examples of strong bullet points i can include on my accounting resume.

Audited departmental acquisition protocols and recovered $10M in overstated expenses. Managed a team of 13 tax specialists, increasing division’s revenue by 15% year-on-year. Implemented simpler journaling systems using Excel for a team of 70+ accounting clerks, reducing closing time by an average of 3 days.

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• Accountant Resume Example
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• Senior Accountant / Accounting Executive Resume Example
• Entry Level Accountant Resume Example
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• Fixed Asset Accountant Resume Example
• Corporate Accountant Resume Example
• Revenue Accountant Resume Example
• Chief Accounting Officer Resume Example
• Director of Accounting Resume Example
• Tips for Accountant Resumes
• Skills and Keywords to Add
• Sample Bullet Points from Top Resumes
• All Resume Examples
• Accountant CV Examples
• Accountant Cover Letter
• Accountant Interview Guide
• Explore Alternative and Similar Careers

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Accountant Resume - Writing Guide & Example for 2024

As an accountant, you’re a trusted individual that requires accuracy at all times.

You’ll be faced with many challenging tasks that you must get right, but perhaps you didn’t expect to face one so soon.

Your resume!

What does a good accountant resume look like, anyway?

With so many individuals competing for the top roles, you can’t leave any questions unanswered. 

But don’t worry, this guide has you covered!

• An example of a finished account resume that works
• How to write an accountant resume that’ll fill up your interview diary
• How to make your accountant resume stand out [with top tips & tricks]

Before we get into the details, here’s an example of a finished accountant resume, created with our very own resume builder :

Looks good, right?! Follow the steps below to create an accountant resume that get results, just like the above example.

Check out these related resume examples if you're on the lookout for a different position in the field:

• Bookkeeper Resume
• Business Analyst Resume
• Financial Analyst Resume
• Bank Teller Resume
• Banking Resume
• Executive Assistant Resume
• Consultant Resume
• Administrative Assistant Resume
• Office Assistant Resume
• Career Change Resume

How to Format an Accountant Resume

Before you can impress the hiring manager with your accounting talents, you need pick the best format.

So which resume format should you choose?

The “ reverse-chronological ” format is the most used, and we understand why. The format is easy to read and allows the hiring manager to immediately see why you’ll make a great accountant. 

The following resume formats can also work:

• Functional Resume – If your accountancy skills are stronger than your on-the-job experience, this resume format is recommended. It’s also ideal if you have gaps in your employment history or have changed career path
• Combination Resume – This format is a hybrid between the “Functional” and “Reverse-Chronological” formats. As such, it values both skills AND work experience. People use a combination resume when they have a lot of experience

Once your format is ready, you need to organize your resume layout .

Use an Accountant Resume Template

As an accountant, you present data in a structured way.

Your resume is no different.

You can try creating your own resume with Word, but you will likely run into a bunch of formatting issues.

This is why we recommend accountants to use a resume template .

What to Include in an Accountant Resume

The main sections in an accountant resume are:

• Work Experience
• Contact Information

Want to go a step further? You can also add these optional sections:

• Awards & Certification

Interests & Hobbies

Read on to learn what to write for each of these sections.

You can learn even more by viewing our guide on What to Put on a Resume .

How to Correctly Display your Contact Information

Just like your client’s accounts, this section just needs to be factually-correct. 

Mistakes in this section can result in the hiring manager not being able to contact you – disaster! 

The contact information section must include:

• Title – Align this to the exact role you’re applying for, which is “Accountant”
• Phone Number – Check this for accuracy
• Email Address – Use a professional email address ([email protected]), not your childhood email ([email protected])
• (Optional) Location - Applying for a job abroad? Mention your location
• Edward Fakester - Accountant. 101-358-6095. [email protected]
• Edward Fakester - Numbers king. 101-358-6095. [email protected]

How to Write an Accountant Resume Summary or Objective

Here’s a fact for you – recruiters only spend a few seconds on each resume !

But should we really be surprised by this?  

Well, not when you consider the competitive nature of the accounting market. 

This means you have to hook the recruiter in just a few seconds.

But how can you do this?

The answer is simple: use an objective or resume summary .

Essentially, these are powerful introductions that are placed on top of your resume.

So, what is the difference between the two sections?

A resume summary is a 2-4 sentence summary of your professional experiences and achievements.

• Accountant with a history of accurately and efficiently supporting accounting activities for a diverse range of clientele. 5+ years of experience in presenting data, analyzing cost control, providing financial reports, and delivering profit and loss statements under time pressures. Achievements include saving Company X $52,000 by fixing a tax reporting error.

On the other hand, a resume objective is a 2-4 sentence snapshot of your professional goals and aspirations.

• Motivated accountancy student looking for a junior accounting job at Company X. Passionate about attention to detail and numbers. Experience balancing the books for local food stalls while at University X. Skilled in MS Office, FreshBooks, QuickBooks, Sage, and Microsoft Dynamics

So, which one is best, summary or objective?

Generally, experienced accounts should go with a summary. An objective is suited to those accounting graduates who lack the industry experience.

How to Make Your Accountant Work Experience Stand Out

An accountant’s job is all about accuracy.

As such, the recruiter needs to know that you can do a perfect job.

The easiest way to do this is to list your work experience.

Here’s the best structure:

• Position name
• Company Name
• Responsibilities & Achievements

DiscoverGrowthDigital

03/2016 - 07/2020

• Corrected account errors, which saved a total of $94,000
• Set-up a digital accountancy system for a 10% efficiency increase
• Processed 230+ Final Account Statements annually
• Complied with company procedures and federal laws

To make your work experience stand out from the crowd, you should focus on your most notable achievements. That way, your value is clear to see.

Instead of saying:

“In charge of accounts”

“Corrected account errors, which saved a total of $94,000”

Simply, the first statement is way too generic. It shows you were in charge of accounts, but it doesn’t show if you were successful or not. 

The second statement shows that you saved the company $94,000. Hard numbers that prove your skills – nothing beats that!

What if You Don’t Have Work Experience?

Finished education and are now looking for your first accounting job?

Or maybe, you’ve learnt accounting from online courses, but have no real experience in the field?

No company wants to hire an inexperienced accountant.

But don’t threat – there are ways to show you have the skills to do a great job.

What really matters here is your accounting portfolio.

If you already have any examples of your accounting skills, feel free to upload them online and link it in your resume (we’re going to explain how in a bit).

If not, it isn’t too late.

Here are a couple of easy ways to build a portfolio (and get paid for it):

• Use a freelance platform, like UpWork, to pick up some gigs
• Offer your accounting knowledge to friends & acquaintances at a reduced price

If you’re a recent graduate, you might want to check out our guide on how to make a student resume !

Use Action Words to Make Your Accountant Resume POP!

…are just some of the words that are repeated in every single resume. 

Do you want to separate your resume from the competition?

Then use some power words to make your achievements stand out:

• Conceptualized
• Spearheaded

How to Correctly List your Education

It’s important for an accountant to have relevant qualifications.

With that said, you can keep your educational section simple.

Simply enter your qualifications in the follow format:

• Degree Type & Major
• University Name
• Years Studied
• GPA, Honours, Relevant Courses.

B.A. in Accounting & Finance

Boston State University

• Relevant Courses: Finance Accounting, Foundations of Microeconomics, Management Accounting, Advanced Taxation, Auditing, International Banking

If you have some questions unanswered, the following information may help you: 

What if I am still in education?

• Regardless of whether you’re a graduate of accountancy or still studying, you should still mention every year of education to date.

Should I include my education before degree level?

• Generally, only include your highest education. So, include your high school education if you don’t have a relevant degree for accountancy.

What wins, education or experience?

• Real accountancy experience trumps education, so work experience goes first on your resume. 

Still not sure? Check out our guide on how to list education on a resume .

Top 25 Skills for an Accountant Resume

You need to do two things when writing a skills section:

• Look at the required skills that are listed in the job description
• Prove you have the skills

It’s as simple as that!

Here are some of the most common accountant skills:

Hard Skills for Accountants:

• Financial Statements
• Asset Management
• State Tax Law
• Tax Compliance
• Corporate Tax
• Account Analysis
• Regulatory Filings
• Revenue Projections
• Account Reconciliation
• Profit and Loss
• Tax Returns
• Payroll Taxes
• General Ledger

Soft Skills for an Accountant:

• Creative Thinking
• Communication
• Time-Management
• Organization
• Generally, only list your best soft skills. You see, every applicant puts a massive list of soft skills that are hard to back-up. Anyone can say they work well in a team, but not many are well-versed in tax compliance.

Here’s a more comprehensive list of 101+ must-have skills this year .

What Else Can You Include in an Accountant Resume?

So, those are the most important sections to put on an accountant resume.

But you can do even more.

Covering the most important sections should get you shortlisted, but adding a few extra sections can get your resume to the top of the pile.

Awards & Certifications

Have you won an award in an accountancy-related field?

Have you completed a course to improve your knowledge?

Whatever it is, make sure to mention it in your resume!

Here’s an example:

Awards & Certificates

• “Financial Accounting Fundamentals” – Coursera Certificate
• “Apprentice of the Year 2016” – LUCA Awards
• “Critical Thinking Masterclass” – MadeUpUniversity

Even though accountants deal with numbers, not words, being able to speak multiple languages is a useful skill to have. As such, list your languages if you have space.

Rank the languages by proficiency:

• Intermediate

Now, you’re likely thinking, “why do I need to tell the recruiter about my book club?”

Well, your personal interests give an idea into the person you are.

Hobbies show that you’ll be a good part of the team, especially if you enjoy social activities. 

Here’s which hobbies & interests you may want to mention.

Include a Cover Letter with Your Resume

Want to separate your application from the competition?

Craft a compelling cover letter!

This personal piece of content shows the company that you want to work for them, which is in direct contrast to other applicants that send dozens of generic resumes.

Here’s how to structure a winning cover letter:

You should complete the following sections:

Personal Contact Information

Your full name, profession, email, phone number, and location

Hiring Manager’s Contact Information

Full name, position, location, and email.

Opening Paragraph

You don’t have long to catch the recruiters attention, so use concise language to mention:

• The accountancy position you’re applying for
• Your experience summary and best achievement to date

Once you’ve captured their interest, you can delve into the following specifics:

• Why you want to be an accountant for the company
• What you know about the company
• How are your accounting skills relevant for the job
• Which similar industries or positions have you worked in before

Closing Paragraph

End the letter in a friendly way, you should:

• Conclude the main points of the letter
• Thank the hiring manager for the opportunity
• Finish with a call to action that allows the conversation to continue. We recommend, “At your earliest opportunity, I’d love to discuss more about how I can help company X”

Formal Salutations

End the letter in a professional manner. Something like, “Kind regards” or “Sincerely.”

For more inspiration, read our step-by-step guide on how to write a cover letter.

Key Takeaways

You’ve just given yourself the best chance of landing that accounting role. 

But before you go, let’s total-up everything you’ve learned:

• Format your accounting resume correctly. Prioritize the reverse-chronological format, and then follow the best practices on content layout
• In your work experience section, highlight your best achievements, rather than your daily responsibilities
• Defeat the competition with a convincing cover letter

Suggested Reading:

• Use Resume Keywords to Land the Job [880+ Keywords]
• 101+ Achievements to List On Your Resume [In 2024]
• What Is Your Greatest Accomplishment? [3 Proven Answers]

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Accountant resume examples & templates

Choosing the right resume format for accounting

Include your contact information, make use of a summary, outline your accounting work experience, include the relevant key skills that make you a great accountant, detail your education & relevant accounting certifications, pick the right resume layout and design for an accountant resume.

Every business needs an accountant, and every accountant resume that’s worthy of a prospective employer’s attention needs to measure up on multiple counts.

Accountants know that attention to detail and careful calculation are requirements for a job well done, but it turns out that applies to resume writing as well. Your resume offers a first impression to the hiring team, so it's important to make it a good one. 

Resume guide for an accounting resume

Resume.io is here to help. Our resume builder and field-tested resume examples for over 500 professions will give you the advantage to stay ahead in your pursuit of a dream accountant job. 

This resume guide and corresponding accountant resume example will cover the following topics:

How to write an accounting resume

• How to choose the right format for an accounting resume
• How to include your contact information
• Using summaries
• Including your accounting experience
• Listing your education and certifications
• Selecting the right resume design/layout
• The job market and outlook for accountants today

Let's jump in.

Before you get started, you need to know what your accountant resume should include. Here are the necessary sections:

• The resume header
• The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
• The employment history section
• The resume skills section
• The education section

Your resume should reflect the unique you bring as an accountant. To start, gather as much information as possible about the company and role to which you're applying. Try to understand the company's needs and plan to showcase how you are exactly the right accountant to solve their problems. 

To do this well, stick to this formula:

• Highlight your accomplishments , not just your job duties. Anyone can list the tasks they were assigned, but showcasing your specific achievements will further prove your value.
• Tailor your resume for each application you submit by adjusting the style and tone to match that of the employer.
• Convey a professional, streamlined image with a resume template that's polished, not stuffy or overly formal.
• Include relevant keywords to make sure the reader or system can understand exactly what you've accomplished.

Optimize for the ATS

An applicant tracking system , or ATS, is a system companies use to collect and manage applications. Advanced applicant tracking systems may use algorithms to assist in screening resumes. They may look for keywords that are aligned with the job description, then pass forward those that rank highest.

For example, an accountant job posting may include the following requirements:  

• “Proficiency in various accounting software."
• "Knowledge of accounting principles and standards."
• "Financial analysis expertise."

Your resume profile summary, when integrating the keywords, could read:  

“Accounting expert with 5 years of experience in both accounting and financial analysis. Fluent in multiple accounting software systems. Deep knowledge of accounting principles and standards, including GAAP." 

Your resume should be straightforward, professional, and easy to understand — the same qualities of a great accountant. 

While there are various resume formats, the best option is the reverse chronological format. This format showcases your most recent experience first then works backwards into your past roles. 

For those who are hoping to make a career transition or otherwise have a unique background, a functional format, which focuses on skills and talents rather than employers, may be useful. In other instances, a hybrid (combination) resume format makes sense in adapting chronological and functional elements.

Spend some time exploring the resume templates in our resume builder and select the format that best suits your situation. There are plenty of versions of each format available as resume examples , as well. 

Be sure to use a clean modern or professional layout for your accountant resume, as this will reflect your professional brand.

The resume header is your opportunity to make it clear whose resume the reader is viewing and how to contact you. It's imperative to make this as easily accessible as possible while ensuring it's presented professionally.

What sort of information should you include?

• Full name & title. List your first and last name as well as the title of the role you are pursuing.
• Professional email address. Use a clean format like [email protected] — not a quirky, unprofessional email address.
• Phone number. List a number where you can be easily contacted. Make sure you have a professional voicemail greeting and your voicemail box isn't full.
• Location . You need only list your city and state . Don’t list street address or zip code, as that's both outdated and unsafe. If you're willing to relocate for work, note "Willing to Relocate" here.
• LinkedIn. If your LinkedIn profile is active and relevant, link to it here.

Don’t include:

• Date of birth: This isn't necessary and could potentially lead to age discrimination .
• Personal details: Leave off any information related to your marital status, social security number, passport number , etc.

James Clark, Accountant

Philadelphia, PA

(267) 216-2188

[email protected]

James Clark

6500 Rossey Street

Philadelphia, PA 19119

United States

Accounting is typically characterized as a technical profession, but that should not stop you from infusing some personality in your accountant resume.  In particular, the summary (sometimes called a profile) of your accountant resume is the place for adding the human dimension. It also gives you a chance to challenge certain stereotypes about financial professionals being dry or uncooperative by nature. 

Think of your accountant resume summary as a story of expertise and character. In fact, this is really the only resume section where you can employ a bit of creativity, since it's relatively freeform while most other resume sections have standard formatting in bullet points. 

Make sure to use energetic language, action verbs, and positive statements. and let some character to shine through. Don't just repeat information from your resume in different words; instead, use this area to provide overarching themes about who you are, how you work, and what you've achieved. 

You can find adaptable accountant resume example summaries below:

Recent accounting graduate with one year of experience in account reconciliations, streamlining accounts, and financial planning. Highly motivated professional with an eagerness to learn and grow in the accounting industry. Comprehensive educational background and understanding of all aspects of accounting and financial planning. 

Certified Public Accountant with five years of experience in account reconciliations, streamlining accounts, and financial planning. Highly motivated professional with a proven track record of delivering accurate reports and high quality service. Possess a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of accounting and financial planning and able to train and mentor teammates in accounting best practices.

Certified Public Accountant and MBA with 10+ years of experience in account reconciliations, streamlining accounts, and financial planning. Strong leader with proven track record of driving teams to delivery accurate reports and high-quality service. Comprehensive expertise in all aspects of accounting and financial planning and able lead effective teams in attaining profit improvement. 

In accordance with a reverse chronological format, list your current or most recent job at the top of this section and work your way back from there. Don't go back more than 10-15 years; while your earlier experience is no doubt valuable, it may not be as relevant as more recent work. Plus, it can invite ageism. 

Only include information that is directly related to the kind of role you're targeting. If you have other experience you'd like to add, consider an "Other Experience" section to capture it. 

Beneath each employer and title heading, detail your contributions and achievements in succinct, specific bullet points. Omit the use of personal pronouns like "I" and "my." Start each bullet point with an action verb that reflects your impacted: managed, budgeted, analyzed, saved, assessed. 

Don't just list your job duties. Instead, demonstrate tangible outcomes. It's best if you can include specific numbers. Without that level of specificity, your resume may seem a bit bland — and who wants to further that accounting stereotype? 

For example, these bullets could be written by anyone:

• Handled accounting and financial analysis
• Analyzed budgets for the company as needed
• Filed financial reports and records

They're vague and nonspecific, right? Look what happens when you add more context:

• Managed accounting and financial analysis for 100-person organization as sole accountant on staff
• Saved $200k per year through careful budget analysis and uncovering unneeded expenses
• Improved accuracy and timeliness of financial report filing, achieving compliance for the first time

Take a look at the accountant employment history resume sample below:

Accountant at Huntington Associates, Philadelphia  July 2019 - September 2022 

• Oversaw the management of all company accounts.
• Processed staff payroll and other main aspects of financial transactions.
• Managed accounting team of 10 and ensured that all accounting records were complete and accurate.
• Explained financial matters to people outside of the finance department in a comprehensive way.
• Handled sensitive and confidential matters discreetly.
• Working closely with junior staff members while aiding them in the progression of their careers.

Staff Accountant at Dubone Partnership, New York  November 2014 - September 2018  

• Managed accounts by analyzing costs and revenues.
• Projected future trends based on analysis work.
• Managed complex expense reporting.
• Developed strategies for minimizing tax liability.
• Worked closely with auditors during all audit processes.
• Performed financial risk assessments for all future business projects.
• Organized sales and profit reports.
• Prepared, reviewed, and submitted crucial budget plans for company goals.

Accounting Records Manager at Pepsico, New York  October 2013 - October 2014 

• Supervised staff of 12 finance department members.
• Prepared budget and analyzed inventories, cost of goods, and general accounts.
• Served as a liaison between the accounting staff and the external audit staff.

The STAR method is effective for summarizing work experience highlights on your accounting resume. Simply describe: S — the situation; T — task(s); A — actions/strategy; and R — result achieved. Again, numbers and other outcome measurements are ideal.  This resume writing method is also useful to prepare for a job interview, as it helps keep your explanations logical and straightforward.

Accounting focuses on hard skills, and an accounting resume typically reflects that in about 90% of the content. However, you'll want both hard and soft skills to showcase your comprehensive expertise. Hard skills are those that are measurable, like experience with accounting software or particular financial regulations. On the other hand, soft skills are those that pertain more to how you think and work with others, like dependability, strong communication, or complex problem-solving. 

Keep in mind that your accounting resume should be concise and tailored to the specific accounting position you are seeking, so you don't need to include every single skill every time. One of the best tools for being selective about each specific resume skills section is your own master list. Create a separate document with just a bullet point list of your competencies and keep it handy for updating constantly. Then, for each new version of your accountant resume, analyze the job requirements and choose the most appropriate skills for your resume.

Resume.io offers several pre-written key skills to choose from when using the resume builder. You can also write in additional skills. 

Here's what the skills box looks like in our accountant resume template:

• Financial Reporting
• Cross-functional Collaboration

This isn't the only place to include your skills, though. In fact, you should try to weave them throughout your resume to showcase them in action with specific examples and metrics. 

For instance, your work experience could highlight things like:

• Proficiency with accounting software by including the systems you've used at your past jobs. For example, you can note that you worked with Excel for budget management.
• Accounting expertise by displaying your knowledge of principles (like GAAP), tax regulations, and cost analysis techniques.
• Attention to detail by showcasing your experience leading audits, catching errors, and saving the company money.

Look to the job posting for an idea of which skills are most impactful to include. 

Your resume's education section is where you can show the academic achievements that make you a great accountant. Because accounting is typically not a self-taught profession, hiring teams expect you to bring some education and it's important to display it here. Accountants typically have an undergraduate degree in accounting, business, or finance, and may have an advanced degree on top of that.

Assuming you have a bachelor's or master's degree, there's no need to list your high school credentials. Do, however, include certifications or trainings related to accounting. Think about:

• Accounting certifications, particularly if you've earned designation as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Other certifications include Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), and Chartered Institute Management Accountant (CIMA).
• Industry-specific certifications like Certified Bank Auditor (CBA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and Enrolled Agent (EA).
• Professional development, including relevant training courses and memberships in accounting-related professional associations.
• Internships, especially if you're a recent graduate or new to the industry.

Accountants are among the professions prominent in companies like the Big Four. This means high salaries and high competition. To reach a good position and have a great career in such environments, certifications are important. Most top-level professionals in these corporations have CPAs. And if you do as well, make sure to highlight that in your application.

Certified Public Accountant, State of New York, New York City  2023 

Master of Business Administration and Accounting, St. Joseph's College, New York  July  2020

Bachelor of Finance, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia  May 2012 

Appropriate layout, design, and formatting are the foundation for attracting and focusing the recruiter’s attention on your accountant resume. Together, they create the first impression hiring managers will have.  

To convey character and a professional image on your accounting resume, a clean and classical look is your best choice. Accountants are often associated with discipline, dependability, and expertise, so let's visualize that in your resume template . 

Before choosing a template, reflect on what that resume format says about you as a candidate. For most formal accounting positions, you'll want to keep your template fairly simple . However for certain employers, a more creative or modern touch might be effective.

For more ideas, take a look at our field-tested resume templates , where the most tedious formatting and structure tasks are done for you. 

Accountant text-only resume example

Certified Public Accountant with five years of experience in account reconciliations, streamlining accounts, and financial planning. Highly motivated professional with a proven track record of delivering accurate reports and high-quality service. Possess a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of accounting and financial planning. A dedicated leader with the ability to lead effective teams in attaining profit improvement.

Employment history

Accountant job market and outlook

Accounting is a vitally important function that impacts businesses daily. Accountants have traditionally been viewed as keepers of financial records, caretakers of tax-related documents, and — essentially — "the numbers people."

But the core of most accounting roles is much deeper and wider in today’s increasingly dynamic and complex economy. Ask anyone running a business, working in a large corporation, or navigating government interactions how well they could manage without great accounting support. Chances are, they couldn't manage it well. 

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a leading source of occupation-specific market data, combines accountants and auditors in the same information category. This work is carried out in the following forms of employment : accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services; finance and insurance; government; management of companies and enterprises; and self-employed.

The accounting job outlook, which is generally tied closely to the health of the overall economy, is on a stable growth path. The BLS projects 4% increase in jobs for accountants and auditors from 2022-2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations. They anticipate an average of 126,500 accounting and auditing roles to be available per year. 

Accountants earn a higher-than-average income, much like other financial professionals. According to the BLS, the average annual salary for accountants and auditors in 2022 was $86,740. The median income was $78,000, with those in the 75th percentile earning over $100,000 and those in the 90th percentile earning over $130,000.

Looking for some resume inspiration? Check out some related resume examples from the financial industry:

• Finance-director resume example
• Senior-accountant resume example
• Bank-teller resume example
• Loan-officer resume example
• Loan-processor resume example
• Bookkeeper resume example
• Auditing-clerk resume example
• Banker resume example
• Compliance-officer resume example
• Investment-banker resume example
• Financial-analyst resume example
• Financial-advisor resume example

Key takeaways for building an accountant resume

Steady growth in the accountant job market means competition for the best jobs is likely to increase, so you need all the best tools to create an outstanding resume that gives you every advantage over other candidates. Now that you know how to write an excellent accountant resume comprising all the relevant sections, you can make your fit for the role clear to any recruiter or hiring manager. 

Using our online resume builder can make it even easier with a streamlined, organized process — and what accountantaccountant doesn't love that? 

Beautiful ready-to-use resume templates

Jobscan > Resume Examples > Accounting Resume Examples, Skills and Keywords > Accountant Resume Examples, Skills and Keywords

Accountant Resume Examples, Skills and Keywords

When you’re a skilled problem solver who enjoys numbers, an accountant position may be right up your alley. Whether you’re finishing accounting school or are interested in changing careers, the right resume can improve your chances of landing an interview. ‌‌

Jobscan users have been hired by:

Accountant resume sample

‌Successful accountants oversee financial records and report important information to decision-makers in the company. Your role is crucial for setting goals and budgets for each department, plus your job impacts everyone in the company. Being good with numbers will help make you a good accountant, but there are other skills you need as well.

‌‌Most importantly, you need to be organized and trustworthy. People skills are also a must since you will be interacting with people in your company. When building your resume , focus on a mix of hard and soft accountant skills that will communicate your ability to crunch numbers, interact with coworkers, and handle sensitive information.

You should tailor your resume based on the position you’re applying for . If you are applying to be a senior-level accountant or a CPA, you may be required to have a bachelor’s degree and specific certifications. Look through the job description and assess your resume to see how it stacks up. J‌obscan’s accountant resume examples can show you how to optimize your resume for an accountant position.

Orlando, FL 32802 • (555) 555-1234 • [email protected] • linkedin.com/in/adrian-young-cpa

ACCOUNTING & FINANCE PROFESSIONAL

Financially and operationally driven accounting professional with demonstrated expertise managing financial reporting, audit and compliance, AP/AR, GL, and taxation functions for corporate finance entities.

Accounting | Revenue & Profit Growth | Stakeholder & Client Relations | Financial Management | Best Practices & Processes | Financial Governance | Process Improvement | Regulatory Compliance | US GAAP Compliance | SEC Reporting | GL, A/P, & A/R | Audit & Controls | Reconciliation | Variance Analysis | Cash Management | Taxation | SAP | Oracle | QuickBooks | Sage 50 | Xero | Excel | Word | PowerPoint

Perform accounting functions and execute cash management functions, supporting a 15-property REIT portfolio, including A/P, A/R, GL maintenance, reconciliation, audit compliance, variance analysis, and financial reporting. Create financial statements and serve as primary liaison to internal and external auditors charged with ensuring compliance with regulatory guidelines.

• Drive process improvement initiatives; decreased the month-end close time 65% by leading a process redesign; implemented reporting best practices and a new chart of accounts, and deployed procedures in compliance with GAAP, SEC, and corporate guidelines.
• Oversee the fixed asset system, including the maintenance of capital asset records, policies, disposals, and transfers, and the calculation of monthly depreciation values, adhering to capitalization and depreciation policies.
• Collaborate with the audit team to redesign and improve internal control processes, reducing process turnaround time by 60%.
• Deliver accounting and financial reporting presentations, incorporating variance analysis with detailed explanations to senior management, audit committee, and the board of directors to support strategic planning and decision-making.
• Verify real estate taxes are paid in the appropriate period and ensure escrowed funds meet taxation needs.
• Recognized for performance and success, receiving accolades from key leaders for consistently exceeding expectations.

Improved business profitability and grew revenue across a 5+ million square foot office, retail, and specialty real estate facility, leveraging operational procedure and compliance standard expertise. Managed new space, office build out, and interior and exterior improvement projects, enhancing on-time project completion rates by analyzing capital budgets, monthly accruals, closing reports, and variances.

• Administered operating and capital budgets of $15+ million across 5 portfolios, prepared bonus summaries, and created month-end reports and leasing summaries; prepared letters, memos, monthly lease activity reports, and quarterly financial reports.
• Captured $15,000 in annual cost savings by proposing and executing a lighting retrofit initiative across three buildings.
• Reconciled rent accounts, ensuring adherence to lease terms; partnered with brokers, asset managers, and landlords to resolve issues.

Prepared and delivered individual, partnership, trust, estate, and gift tax returns for high-net-worth clientele. Advised clients on business and personal tax matters to mitigate taxation liability while ensuring compliance with all regulatory guidelines.

• Contributed to clients’ IRS and state notices and responded to calculation, tax estimate, and IRA distribution inquiries.
• Assisted in government tax audits, federal disclosures, tax notices, and correspondence; ensured adherence to all tax filing deadlines.

Resume written by Erin Kennedy, CPRW

Why this resume works

Accountant resume skills and keywords

‌Below is a list of hard and soft resume skills you need to have to be an exceptional accountant. Emphasize these and other accountant resume keywords to move your resume past the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) and increase your chances of nailing an interview.

‌Top 30 accountant resume skills

• Microsoft Excel
• ‌Data interpretation
• ‌Financial reporting
• ‌Data visualization
• ‌Business intelligence software
• Cloud-based software
• ‌Quickbooks
• ‌Revenue recognition
• ‌Risk and compliance
• ‌Knowledge of regulations
• ‌Accounts payable
• ‌Accounts receivable
• ‌Tax compliance
• ‌Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
• Detail-oriented
• ‌Discretion
• ‌Critical thinking
• Problem-solving
• ‌Multitasking
• ‌ Communication
• ‌Active learning
• ‌Systems analysis
• ‌Presentation
• ‌Mathematics
• ‌Analytical skills
• ‌Clerical skills

5 accountant resume writing tips

1. Showcase your certifications

‌If you are applying for a senior-level accounting position, you may be required to carry certifications. Many accounting certifications require a lot of preparation, but having one can make you stand out. Make sure your letters are front and center to show the hiring manager that you have what it takes to do the job.

‌‌If you’re applying for a job as a CPA, you will be required to be licensed in your state. Since you’re competing with other licensed professionals, use other certifications and skills to stand out.

2. Highlight your ability to think critically

‌As an accountant, you will be required to take complex information and distill it into information for decision-makers in all departments of your company. For this part of the job, critical thinking skills are necessary . Show off your analytical and critical thinking skills with specific examples from previous jobs.

‌‌Think of times in your previous positions where you demonstrated critical thinking skills and how they benefited your company. Perhaps you found and fixed a formula error that made the numbers more accurate and saved your company money. Make a list of all the times your skills helped your previous employer and put the most relevant examples in your resume under the specific job title.

3. Tailor your relevant keywords

Many hiring managers and recruiters rely on ATS to immediately filter out resumes that don’t fit the job. Before submitting your accountant resume, look closely at the specific job description to tailor your keywords. There may be skills you want to highlight for one company that aren’t necessary for another. Look for words that match your skills and remove those that aren’t relevant. ‌

For instance, if you are skilled at compliance and tax accounting, but the job description doesn’t include those words, remove them from your resume before submitting it.

4. Include actionable language

‌Rather than including general job descriptors for each of your previous positions, use action words to show what you have accomplished. In general, your resume should be short as most employers prefer reading resumes that are one page . Using actionable language can condense your resume while making it easier to read. With this method, it is also more likely to resonate with the hiring manager.

For example, instead of saying “responsible for analyzing accounting reports,” say “Analyzed numbers and wrote accounting reports, contributing to the quarterly marketing budgeting process.” Using actionable language will show the hiring manager what you accomplished regularly.

5. Pick the right resume format

‌Most job candidates use the reverse chronological resume format when applying for jobs. If you have accounting experience under your belt, this format is likely the best because it is expected and easy to read. However, if you’re applying for an entry-level job or if you are changing careers , you may choose to use a functional resume format. This format focuses less on the job title and more on your transferable skills.

‌When applying for an entry-level accounting position, hiring managers may be willing to overlook the lack of formal job experience, but using a functional resume lets you showcase soft skills you’ve developed over time. In this format, you’ll group your past job experience by transferable skill instead of listing it by job title.

‌ If you’re making a career change, you should consider using a hybrid approach. Your previous job titles show dependability and job stability, but the specific job title could get your resume thrown out by the ATS . For this format, include your keywords and skills at the top and follow it with your chronological job history, tailoring your job descriptions to relevant duties that show you are a great accountant.

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10 Accountant Resume Examples That Secured Jobs in 2024

When it comes to landing your dream accounting job, having a well-crafted resume can make all the difference. Your resume is your chance to make a great first impression on potential employers and showcase your skills, achievements, and experience. In this article, we’ll explore ten real-life examples of accountant resumes that secured jobs. By examining successful resumes, you’ll gain insight into strategies for crafting a winning resume that can help you stand out from the competition.

Importance of a well-crafted resume for accountants

The accounting industry is competitive, and hiring managers often receive numerous resumes for every open position. With so many applicants to choose from, having a strong resume is critical for accounting professionals who want to land coveted roles. A well-crafted resume can highlight your strengths, communicate your experience and skills, and demonstrate your potential value to a prospective employer. By showing that you’re not only qualified but also uniquely positioned to deliver value to their organization, you’re more likely to be called in for an interview and ultimately offered the position.

Skills to Include in Your Accountant Resume

As a professional accountant, it is essential to highlight both hard and soft skills in your resume. The hard skills demonstrate your technical abilities, such as software proficiency, accounting principles, and financial statement analysis. Meanwhile, the soft skills demonstrate your interpersonal abilities, such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.

A. Relevant Hard and Soft Skills

Here are some of the most relevant hard and soft skills that you should include in your accountant resume:

Hard Skills:

• Accounting Principles
• Tax Compliance and Regulations
• Financial Statement Analysis
• Bookkeeping
• Software Proficiency (QuickBooks, Microsoft Excel, etc.)
• Accounts Receivable and Payable
• Cost Accounting
• Audit and Risk Assessment
• Budget Planning

Soft Skills:

• Communication
• Attention to Detail
• Time Management
• Problem-Solving
• Adaptability
• Critical Thinking
• Customer Service

B. Examples of How to Incorporate Them into Your Resume

To showcase the above skills on your accountant’s resume, you must tailor your profile summary, work experience, and education section. Below are a few examples of how to incorporate them into your resume:

Profile Summary

• Highly analytical and detail-oriented accountant with expertise in cost accounting, financial analysis, and tax compliance.
• Team-oriented and adaptable professional with excellent communication and problem-solving skills in fast-paced environments.
• Skilled accountant with over five years of experience in bookkeeping, accounts receivable, and payable management, and software proficiency in QuickBooks and MS Excel.

Work Experience

• Introduced cost-saving measures by streamlining accounting processes and identifying accounting errors, resulting in an annual cost reduction of $50,000.
• Managed the timely completion and filing of tax returns and financial statements, ensuring compliance with tax regulations and accounting standards.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop and implement effective financial strategies, resulting in a 10% increase in revenue.
• Bachelor’s in Accounting with a focus on tax compliance and financial reporting.
• Completed courses in cost accounting, auditing, and budget planning, fostering a deeper understanding of accounting principles and practices.
• Participated in extracurricular activities, demonstrating teamwork, leadership, and critical thinking skills.

Incorporating both hard and soft skills in your accountant resume will showcase your capabilities and make you stand out from other applicants. So, be sure to highlight relevant skills and customize your resume accordingly.

Accounting job descriptions and resume targeting

When it comes to creating a winning accountant resume, it’s important to understand the impact that job descriptions can have on your chances of securing a job. In this section, we’ll take a closer look at how to choose the right job for your resume and how to tailor your resume to match the job description.

A. Choosing the right job for your resume

Before you start applying for accounting jobs, it’s important to carefully consider which ones are the best fit for your skills, experience, and career goals. Here are a few tips to help you choose the right job for your resume:

• Consider your skillset: Look for accounting jobs that require skills you can confidently demonstrate on your resume. This will help you stand out to potential employers and increase your chances of being selected for an interview.
• Research the company: Learn as much as possible about the company and its mission before applying for a job. This will help you tailor your resume and cover letter to the company’s specific needs and show that you’re genuinely interested in working there.
• Keep your goals in mind: Think about what you want to achieve in your accounting career and prioritize jobs that align with those goals. Whether you’re looking for a long-term opportunity or a stepping stone to a higher-level job, choose jobs that will help you get closer to your goals.

B. Understanding job descriptions and their impact on resumes

When creating an accounting resume, it’s essential to understand the job description and tailor your resume to match it as closely as possible. Here are a few reasons why:

• Stand out from the competition: By matching the job description closely, you’ll show potential employers that you’re the perfect fit for the job. This can help you stand out from other applicants and increase your chances of being invited for an interview.
• Highlight your strengths: When you tailor your resume to the job description, you can highlight your strengths and show how they match the specific requirements of the job. This will help you make a stronger case for why you’re the best candidate for the position.
• Avoid being disqualified: If you don’t take the time to tailor your resume to the job description, you could be disqualified from the hiring process. Many companies today use software to scan resumes for specific keywords and phrases, and if your resume doesn’t include them, you may not be considered for the job.

Choosing the right accounting job for your resume and tailoring your resume to match the job description are critical steps in securing an accounting job. By doing your research, highlighting your strengths, and carefully matching the job description, you can increase your chances of landing the job of your dreams.

Resume format and design for accountants

When it comes to accounting resumes, selecting an appropriate format is important to ensure that your key qualifications and experiences are clearly communicated to the hiring manager.

Here are a few formats that you might consider:

Chronological Format

This format is probably the most common and straightforward. It starts with your most recent job and works backwards – listing job titles, companies, and a summary of your duties and accomplishments. It is particularly effective if you have a stable work history.

Functional Format

With this format, you do not list your employment history in reverse chronological order, but instead focus on your relevant skills and abilities. This format is useful if you have significant gaps in your employment history or are changing careers.

Combination Format

As the name suggests, this format combines aspects of both chronological and functional formats. It highlights skills and abilities, but also includes a chronological listing of employment history.

Once you have chosen a format, the next step is to focus on design elements that help your resume stand out.

Here are some design elements to consider:

Clear and Consistent Formatting

Use clear and consistent headings, typography, and formatting. This makes your resume easier to read and demonstrates your attention to detail. Aim for a clean and modern look.

Add Some Color

Many accounting resumes can look very similar. Using color in your design can help you stand out, but be sure to use it judiciously. Use color to highlight your headings, borders or other key elements.

Quantify Your Results

Use numbers to show the results of your achievements. This helps hiring managers to see the tangible impact you have had in your previous roles. For example, “Reduced expenses by 15% by implementing new cost-saving measures.”

Your resume should make clear your key qualifications and experiences to the hiring manager, and the design elements of your resume should help it stand out from other applicants. By selecting and implementing an appropriate format along with design elements that enhance the overall visual appeal, you will have a powerful document that showcases your professional brand.

Accountant Resume Example 1: Entry-level Accountant

As an entry-level accountant, gaining experience through internships and part-time jobs is crucial to landing your first full-time position. Your resume must demonstrate your proficiency in particular accounting skills, as well as your ability to learn quickly and contribute to a team.

A. Key Skills and Achievements

The skills and achievements listed on your resume should reflect your understanding of basic accounting principles, including:

• Experience with accounting software such as QuickBooks, Peachtree, or Xero
• Account reconciliation
• Accounts payable and receivable
• General ledger and journal entries
• Financial statement preparation
• Tax preparation
• Audit preparation

Your achievements should focus on your ability to learn quickly and work collaboratively. For example:

• Completed an internship where I reconciled accounts for a small business and created financial statements
• Collaborated with team members on a class project where we analyzed financial statements for a publicly traded company
• Volunteered with a non-profit organization where I assisted in preparing tax returns for low-income families

B. Specific Format and Design Elements Used

When designing your resume, you should focus on these specific elements:

1. Summary Statement

Your summary statement should succinctly communicate your skills, experience, and abilities. For example:

“Detail-oriented and team-focused entry-level accountant with experience in account reconciliation and financial statement preparation. Proficient in accounting software such as QuickBooks and Peachtree.”

2. Education

Since you are an entry-level candidate, your education will be one of your most significant qualifications. List your degree, major, and any relevant coursework or awards. For example:

• Bachelor of Science in Accounting, Anytown University, 2021
• Relevant coursework: Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Tax Accounting
• Dean’s List, Fall 2020

3. Relevant Work and Volunteer Experience

Include any relevant internships, part-time jobs, or volunteer experience related to accounting. Highlight your responsibilities and achievements in each role. For example:

Accounting Intern, ABC Company, Summer 2020

• Reconciled accounts for small business clients
• Created financial statements for clients using QuickBooks
• Assisted with tax preparation for individual clients

Create a separate section for your skills, focusing on those most relevant to an entry-level accounting position. For example:

• Accounting software: QuickBooks, Peachtree, Xero

5. Design Elements

Your resume should be clear, concise, and easy to read. Use bullet points to highlight key information, and choose a professional font such as Arial or Times New Roman. Use bold or italics to draw attention to important words or phrases.

Accountant Resume Example 2: Staff Accountant

If you’re a staff accountant looking for a new job, it’s vital to have a strong resume that highlights your skills and achievements. Here’s an example of a staff accountant resume that landed someone a job.

When writing your resume, it’s important to highlight your notable skills and achievements. For staff accountants, some key skills and achievements to consider including are:

• Proficiency in accounting software (e.g. Quickbooks, Sage)
• Experience with financial reporting and analysis
• Knowledge of tax laws and regulations
• Strong attention to detail
• Ability to communicate effectively with both clients and colleagues
• Experience with audits and reconciliations

Here are some accomplishments that could be included in a staff accountant resume:

• Successfully created financial statements and reports for the entire fiscal year
• Reduced expenses by 8% through analyzing various accounting processes
• Implemented new accounting software, resulting in increased productivity and reduced errors

Formatting and design elements can make a big difference in how your resume is received. Here are some specific format and design elements used in this staff accountant resume example:

1. Clean and Simple Design

The overall design of the resume is clean and simple. It uses professional fonts and formatting to make the information easy to read.

2. Summary Statement

The staff accountant’s summary statement is included at the top of the resume. It highlights the person’s experience and skills and provides a brief overview of their career objectives.

3. Skills Section

The skills section is included on this resume to highlight the staff accountant’s core competencies. This section makes it easy for hiring managers to quickly identify the skills and experience that they are looking for.

4. Work Experience

The work experience section includes the staff accountant’s most recent roles and includes bullet points that highlight their key achievements in those roles.

5. Education

The education section is included at the bottom of the resume, and it includes the staff accountant’s degree and any relevant certifications.

This staff accountant example resume is an excellent example of how to showcase skills and achievements while also using professional formatting and design elements to make the resume easy to read and visually appealing.

Accountant Resume Example 3: Senior Accountant

As a Senior Accountant, it is important to showcase your experience and expertise in handling complex financial transactions for large organizations. Here are some key skills and achievements that highlight the value you can bring to a company:

• Over X years of experience in financial management, accounting, and auditing for large corporations.
• Proven ability to manage financial operations, including budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow management.
• Expertise in analyzing financial statements, identifying trends, and providing recommendations for improvement.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP, SEC regulations, and tax laws.
• Successful track record in managing teams and implementing process improvements to streamline operations.
• Implemented new financial software system resulting in a 30% increase in efficiency.
• Reduced cost of financial reporting by 25% by automating processes.
• Improved accuracy of financial forecasting by 20% through data analysis and process improvements.

To showcase your accomplishments and experience effectively, consider using the following format and design elements:

• Professional Summary:  A brief introduction that highlights your key skills and experience.
• Skills Section:  A list of your key skills, arranged in bullet points for easy readability.
• Experience Section:  A reverse chronological list of your previous roles, including job title, company name, dates of employment, and bullet points describing your accomplishments in each role.
• Education Section:  A list of your relevant degrees and certifications, including the name of the institution and the year of completion.
• Design Elements:  Choose a simple, clean layout with easy-to-read fonts and clear headings. Use bullet points to break up text and draw attention to key points. Include relevant keywords throughout the resume to help it get through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

Remember, the goal of your Senior Accountant resume is to clearly demonstrate how you can bring value to a company through your skills, experience, and accomplishments. Use clear, concise language and include specific details of your achievements to stand out from other applicants. Good luck!

Accountant Resume Example 4: Accounting Manager

When it comes to accounting manager resumes, there are specific skills and achievements that hiring managers look for. Here are some of the key skills and achievements to highlight when crafting an accounting manager resume:

• Financial Analysis:  Ability to interpret and analyze financial statements, identify trends and patterns, and present findings to stakeholders.
• Budgeting and Forecasting:  Ability to develop and manage budgets, forecast future revenue and expenses, and provide recommendations to improve financial performance.
• Leadership and Management:  Ability to lead and motivate a team, delegate tasks effectively, and manage conflicting priorities to deliver results.
• Technical Skills:  Proficiency in accounting software such as QuickBooks, SAP, and Oracle, as well as advanced Excel skills.
• Communication Skills:  Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to explain complex financial information to non-financial stakeholders.
• Regulatory Compliance:  Knowledge of relevant regulatory requirements, such as GAAP and IFRS, and ability to ensure compliance with these regulations.

Some achievements to showcase on an accounting manager resume might include:

• Contributing to improved financial performance by reducing costs, increasing revenue or improving processes.
• Leading successful budgeting and forecasting processes resulting in accurate financial projections.
• Implementing new accounting software or systems resulting in greater efficiency and accuracy.
• Developing and coaching team members resulting in improved team performance and retention.

When designing an accounting manager resume, it’s important to include the following elements:

• Professional Summary: A brief introduction that highlights your relevant skills and experience.
• Skills and Achievements Section: A bullet-point list of your key skills and accomplishments.
• Professional Experience: A chronological list of your previous work experience, including job titles, companies, and dates of employment.
• Education: A list of your education credentials, including degrees earned and relevant coursework.

In terms of formatting, it’s important to keep the resume clean and easy to read. Use consistent font and formatting throughout the document, align text to the left, and use bullet points to highlight key information. Avoid using graphics or images unless they add value to the document.

When it comes to design, there are a few things to keep in mind. Use clear section headings to make it easy for the reader to find relevant information. Use white space and margin spacing to separate sections and make the document easy to scan. When possible, use numbers and data to showcase your achievements and contributions.

A well-designed and thoughtfully crafted accounting manager resume can set you apart from the competition and help you secure your dream job in finance.

Accountant Resume Example 5: Financial Analyst

In today’s competitive job market, crafting a noteworthy accounting resume is vital to securing your dream job. This section will provide insight into a successful financial analyst resume, which will showcase outstanding skills and accomplishments within the profession. The following example provides recruiters with a clear and concise view of your abilities – highlighting key skills and professional achievements.

Key Skills and Achievements

The financial analyst is a coveted position in the accounting field. As a candidate, you need to demonstrate an understanding of several financial concepts such as analysis, forecasting, and budgeting. In addition to specialized financial knowledge, recruiters need to be reassured of your client management, communication, and problem-solving ability. Your resume’s key skills and achievements must effectively highlight you as a proficient candidate.

Key skills and achievements for a financial analyst resume may include:

• Expertise in financial modeling, analysis, and forecasting
• Experience managing complex financial transactions and budgets
• Exceptional proficiency in Excel and financial modeling software
• Communication and interpersonal skills to work cross-functionally across teams
• Experience with SQL, Python, or R
• Knowledge of regulatory compliance and accounting standards

Specific Format and Design Elements Used

When crafting a financial analyst resume, it’s important to ensure it’s visually appealing and easy to follow. You want to make a great first impression with your potential employers. Here are specific format and design elements to ensure your financial analyst resume stands out in the crowd.

• Objective statement

Lead your resume with an objective statement that outlines your experience, skills, and ambitions. This statement should be tailored directly to the job you’re applying for.

• Professional Summary

Follow the objective statement with a professional summary. This should be a brief professional profile that outlines your core competencies, industry experience, and accomplishments.

• Relevant Work History

Highlight relevant work history, including job title, duties, and achievements in bullet point format. It’s essential that you maintain focus on how each role has helped you develop and showcase your skills as a financial analyst.

• Education and Qualifications

Include at least one degree or qualification that highlights your specialized financial skills, such as a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in finance. Highlight any finance-related certifications you hold, such as CFA or CPA.

Use specific language that refers to the skills and qualifications required for the financial analyst position. This will ensure that your resume gets past applicant tracking systems used by some recruiters.

• Simple and Easy to Read

Finally, the financial analyst resume must be simple and easy to read. Maintain a consistent use of font size and font type, and ensure there is enough white space to increase readability.

Crafting an exceptional financial analyst resume is crucial to landing a job in this competitive market. Highlight your financial expertise, technical proficiency, communication, and problem-solving ability.

Accountant Resume Example 6: Tax Accountant

In this example, we are presenting the resume of a tax accountant. A tax accountant is responsible for preparing and filing tax returns for individuals or businesses. As a tax accountant, you need to be knowledgeable about tax laws and regulations and have a keen eye for detail. You must also be able to communicate effectively with clients and colleagues.

Here are the key skills and achievements that this tax accountant has included in their resume:

• Expertise in tax preparation software such as TurboTax and TaxAct.
• In-depth understanding of federal and state tax laws and regulations.
• Proven ability to identify tax-saving opportunities for clients and businesses.
• Knowledge of accounting principles and financial statement analysis.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• CPA certification.

The tax accountant has also included some significant achievements in their resume:

• Prepared and filed over 100 tax returns for individuals and businesses, resulting in a total of $500,000 in tax savings.
• Identified and corrected accounting errors for a client, resulting in a $50,000 refund from the IRS.
• Completed a complex tax audit for a high-net-worth individual, resulting in a favorable outcome for the client.

Including achievements in your resume can help you stand out from other candidates and demonstrate your value to potential employers.

The tax accountant has used a simple and clean design for their resume. They have used bullet points to highlight their key skills and achievements, making it easy for the reader to quickly scan and absorb the information. They have also used bold font and capital letters to emphasize important words and phrases.

One important element to note is that the tax accountant has tailored their resume to the job description. They have included specific keywords from the job posting, such as “tax preparation software,” “federal and state tax laws,” and “financial statement analysis.” This strategy can help your resume pass through automated screening systems and catch the attention of hiring managers.

The tax accountant has also included their CPA certification prominently at the top of the resume, signaling their expertise in the field. They have also included a brief summary of their skills and achievements, giving the reader a quick overview of what they can offer as a candidate.

This tax accountant has created a well-structured, targeted, and visually appealing resume that highlights their key skills, achievements, and expertise. By following these tips, you too can create a winning accountant resume that secures jobs.

Accountant Resume Example 7: Internal Auditor

As an internal auditor, your role is crucial in ensuring the accuracy and integrity of a company’s financial records. Therefore, your resume must highlight your skills and achievements in the profession. Here’s an example of how you can structure your internal auditor resume:

Experience with financial audits  – List the total years of experience that you have with financial audits. Mention the different types of audits that you have conducted – operational, compliance, financial statements, and technology.

Strong analytical skills  – Mention your proficiency in data analysis, identifying errors and discrepancies, and providing recommendations to improve financial processes.

Knowledge of accounting standards  – List the different accounting standards that you are familiar with, such as GAAP, IFRS, or SEC regulations.

Attention to detail  – Demonstrate how you have developed attention to detail in your previous roles and how you have caught errors that are critical to the organization.

Communication skills  – Highlight your ability to articulate complex financial information to both financial and non-financial stakeholders.

Audit software proficiency  – List the different audit software you have worked with, such as ACL, Idea, or CaseWare.

Leadership and team management  – If you have managed a team or led an audit, include this information to showcase your management skills.

Clean and Simple Layout  – Use a clean and simple layout, with a professional font and color scheme. Avoid using too many graphics, as they may distract from the content.

Clear Headings and Bulleted Lists  – Use clear headings to break down sections and make them easy to read. Use bullet points to highlight your key skills and achievements.

Quantify Results  – Whenever possible, quantify the results of your audit work. For example, if you identified $10 million in fraudulent transactions, be sure to mention this in your resume.

Use Action-Oriented Language  – Use action-oriented language to describe your work experience. Start each bullet point with a strong action verb, such as “Conducted,” “Analyzed,” or “Managed.”

Tailor Your Resume to the Job Posting  – Review the job posting carefully and tailor your resume to the specific requirements of the role. Use keywords from the job posting to showcase your skills and experience.

By following these key skills and design elements, you can create a strong internal auditor resume that highlights your skills and achievements and secures that dream job.

Accountant Resume Example 8: Cost Accountant

As a cost accountant, it is important to highlight your financial expertise and analytical skills. Be sure to include the following key skills and achievements on your resume:

• Proficient in financial analysis, budgeting, and cost control.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP and financial reporting standards.
• Experience in inventory management, variance analysis, and determining cost of goods sold (COGS).
• Ability to develop and maintain pricing models to promote profitability.
• Successful track record in establishing and maintaining effective cost accounting systems.
• Skilled in preparing financial statements, such as balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements.

When creating a cost accountant resume, it is important to present your skills and achievements in an organized and visually appealing manner. Here are some format and design elements that can help your resume stand out:

1. Resume Headline

Make sure your headline clearly states your job title and specialization. For example, “Cost Accountant with Expertise in Budgeting and Financial Analysis.”

The summary statement serves as a quick introduction to your skills and experience. Be sure to include your key skills and achievements, and tailor your statement to the job you are applying for.

3. Professional Experience Section

When showcasing your professional experience, be sure to focus on your accomplishments rather than just listing your job duties. Use bullet points to highlight specific achievements related to financial analysis, cost control, and organizational efficiency.

4. Education and Certifications

Include any relevant degrees, certifications, or licenses that demonstrate your financial expertise. Be sure to list them in reverse chronological order, with the most recent first.

5. Visual Elements

Use bold text and bullet points to break up your resume into easy-to-read sections. You can also use simple icons or graphics to add visual interest.

A strong cost accountant resume should highlight your financial expertise, analytical abilities, and track record of success. By using a clear format and design, you can make your resume stand out to potential employers and secure a job in this competitive field.

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Accountant Resume & Writing Guide

Welcome to our comprehensive guide on crafting a powerful accountant resume.

Whether you're an experienced professional looking to advance your career or a recent graduate entering the accounting field, a well-crafted resume is essential for showcasing your skills, qualifications, and accomplishments.

On this page, we provide expert resume examples, tips, sample resumes, and proven strategies to help you create a standout accountant resume that grabs the attention of hiring managers and lands you the job interviews you deserve.

What you can read in this article

Accountant Resume Samples

Or download these examples in PDF at the bottom of this page for free. (You can also click the button to use the resume builder for $2,95 )

Accounting Intern

Entry Level

Supportive role providing assistance with various accounting tasks and gaining practical experience in a professional accounting environment.

• Assisted with data entry tasks, including accounts payable and accounts receivable.
• Conducted bank and account reconciliations to ensure accurate financial records.
• Assisted in preparing financial reports and statements.
• Participated in team meetings and training sessions to enhance knowledge and skills.
• Supported the accounting team with administrative tasks, such as filing and organizing documents.

Years in: Job: 1 year (as an intern) Field: 1 years

Accounting Assistant

Junior Level

Supporting role responsible for performing accounting tasks and providing administrative support to the accounting department.

• Managed accounts payable and accounts receivable processes.
• Assisted in the preparation of financial statements and reports.
• Conducted bank reconciliations and resolved any discrepancies.
• Assisted with payroll processing and employee expense reimbursements.
• Provided general administrative support to the accounting team.

Years in: Job: 2 year Field: 3 years

Experienced

Experienced accountant with a strong track record in financial operations, analysis, and compliance. Skilled in preparing financial statements, conducting reconciliations, and providing valuable insights. Collaborative team player with a keen eye for detail and a focus on delivering accurate results to support business decision-making.

• Prepared accurate journal entries, performed account reconciliations, and ensured data integrity.
• Assisted in financial statement preparation, maintaining compliance with accounting standards.
• Conducted detailed financial analysis, including variance analysis and trend identification.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to streamline processes and improve efficiency.

Years in: Job: 4 year Field: 6 years

Staff Accountant

Medior Level

Responsible for various accounting duties, including financial analysis, reconciliations, and supporting month-end close processes.

• Prepared journal entries and performed account reconciliations.
• Conducted variance analysis and provided insights on financial performance.
• Assisted with budgeting and forecasting processes.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to gather financial data and support decision-making.

Senior Accountant

Download this resume in PDF

Responsible for overseeing accounting processes, managing financial operations, and providing guidance to junior accounting staff.

• Managed month-end and year-end closing processes.
• Prepared complex financial statements and reports.
• Conducted financial analysis and provided insights for decision-making.
• Assisted in budgeting and forecasting processes.
• Reviewed and approved journal entries and account reconciliations.
• Provided mentorship and guidance to junior accounting team members.

Years in: Job: 6 year Field: 10 years

Accounting Manager

Senior Level

Leadership role overseeing the accounting department, ensuring accurate financial reporting, and providing strategic guidance.

• Managed all accounting operations, including financial reporting and budgeting.
• Developed and implemented accounting policies and procedures.
• Oversaw month-end and year-end closing processes.
• Conducted financial analysis and provided recommendations to improve financial performance.
• Collaborated with executive management on strategic financial decisions.
• Led and supervised a team of accountants and finance professionals.

Years in: Job: 8 year Field: 15 years

Forensic Accountant

Specialized role involving the investigation and analysis of financial data for legal purposes, such as fraud investigations, litigation support, and dispute resolution.

• Conducted forensic audits to detect and investigate financial irregularities and fraudulent activities. (8 years in this job)
• Analyzed financial documents, including bank statements, invoices, and contracts, to uncover evidence of financial misconduct.
• Prepared detailed reports and documentation of findings to support legal proceedings.
• Provided expert testimony and collaborated with legal teams during litigation or arbitration processes.
• Assisted in the development of fraud prevention and detection measures for organizations.

Years in: Job: 8 year Field: 10 years

Financial Controller

Leadership role responsible for overseeing all aspects of financial management, including financial reporting, budgeting, and financial analysis.

• Managed the financial reporting process, ensuring accurate and timely preparation of financial statements. (6 years in this job)
• Developed and monitored key financial metrics and KPIs to assess the company's financial performance.
• Led the budgeting and forecasting processes, collaborating with department heads to align financial goals.
• Implemented internal controls and procedures to ensure compliance with accounting standards and regulations.
• Provided financial insights and recommendations to the executive team to support strategic decision-making.

Years in: Job: 6 year Field: 12 years

Tax Accountant

Intermediate

Specialized role focused on tax compliance, planning, and advisory services for individuals and businesses.

• Prepared and filed tax returns for individuals, partnerships, corporations, and trusts, ensuring compliance with tax laws and regulations. (3 years in this job)
• Conducted tax research to stay updated on changes in tax legislation and identify tax-saving opportunities.
• Assisted clients in tax planning strategies to minimize tax liabilities and maximize deductions.
• Represented clients during tax audits and communicated with tax authorities to resolve any issues.
• Provided guidance and advice on tax-related matters, including estate planning and international taxation.

Years in: Job: 3 year Field: 5 years

Audit Manager

Leadership role overseeing the audit process and ensuring compliance with accounting standards and regulations.

• ffective and efficient audits. (7 years in this job)
• Developed audit plans and procedures to assess the effectiveness of internal controls and identify areas of risk.
• Conducted complex financial audits, including reviewing financial statements and supporting documentation.
• Provided recommendations to improve internal controls and operational efficiency based on audit findings.
• Interacted with clients' management and executives to communicate audit results and provide insights for improvement.

Years in: Job: 7 year Field: 15 years

The Accountant Resume Guide

Key highlights for accountants.

As an accountant, it's crucial to emphasize certain aspects of your experience and skills to effectively showcase your suitability for prospective employers and recruiters. Here are the key highlights to include in your resume:

• Scope of Accounting Role : Highlight the scope of your accounting role, demonstrating your understanding of the organizational and management structure of businesses. If you've worked in a small business, emphasize your ability to handle complete financial jurisdiction, reporting directly to the business owner. Conversely, if you have experience in a Fortune 500 company, showcase your ability to work within a larger financial team responsible for specific divisions' financial record keeping.
• Technological Proficiency : Today's accountants need to be technologically adept, capable of utilizing various software tools and accounting packages. Include specific examples of software proficiency, such as MS Excel, Sage, SAP, QuickBooks, AccPac, and FreshBooks. Additionally, highlight your familiarity with customer relationship management (CRM) systems like Oracle, inventory management applications such as InventPro, warehousing and distribution tools like OrderHive, and even sales applications like Salesforce.
• Taxation Expertise (For Certified Public Accountants) : If you are a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), emphasize your proficiency in tax calculations, reporting, and federal tax return submissions. Discuss your experience in handling these functions either within the company or in collaboration with CPA firms, where you provided financial services to clients, including corporations, governments, and individuals.
• Risk Management and Financial Analysis : Illustrate your ability to contribute to risk management efforts by analyzing current costs, revenues, and financial commitments to predict future obligations and protect cash flow reserves. Highlight your experience in approving budgets and expenses, showcasing your capability to handle varying scales of financial responsibilities, ranging from thousands to hundreds of millions per month, based on the size and turnover of the organizations you've worked with.

By highlighting these key aspects of your experience and skills, you can effectively demonstrate your value as an accountant and increase your chances of securing desired opportunities in the competitive job market.

Resume Structure and Format

Choosing the right resume format:.

The first step in creating an effective accountant resume is choosing the appropriate resume format. There are three common formats to consider: chronological, functional, and combination.

• Chronological Format : This format emphasizes your work history and lists your experiences in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent position. It is ideal for candidates with a solid work history and consistent career progression.
• Functional Format : The functional format focuses on your skills and abilities rather than your work history. It is suitable for individuals who are transitioning careers, have gaps in employment, or have diverse skill sets.
• Combination Format : As the name suggests, the combination format combines elements of both chronological and functional formats. It allows you to highlight both your work experience and relevant skills, making it suitable for accountants with a well-rounded background.

When choosing the right format, consider your unique circumstances, career goals, and the requirements of the job you are applying for.

The Career Summary

Hiring managers have large numbers of hundreds of resumes to screen and limited time to read them all in detail. Keep your career summary concise and to the point. Put the most relevant information first to capture their attention while they’re quickly scanning your resume.

Start your career summary with your years of experience in the industry and the main duties you performed. When deciding what duties to add, use the job description as your guide. For instance, if the job you are applying to highlights experience in intercompany reconciliations or investment analysis use those same words and phrases. The more your resume resonates with the job description of keywords, the better fit you will seem.

Next, add a line that showcases any outstanding qualities that will add value to the company. A hiring manager would be interested to know if you have “strong mathematical skills, meticulous financial recording capabilities, and excellent troubleshooting abilities.” It’s important to note that these qualities should be proven with examples in the professional experience section to re-enforce your message. Finally, end your objective with your educational degrees/diplomas and any certified courses or professional memberships you may have that are pertinent to the job.

Accountant Summary Example 1 “ Experienced Certified Public Accountant with 7+ years of experience in financial reporting, reconciliations and P&L statements. Holds an MBA plus a Business Valuations Certificate. Proven track record in financial system overhaul resulting in improvements of up to 30% in terms of processing speed and accuracy. “

Accountant Summary Example 2 “ Dependable and meticulous accounting with experience in corporate and intercompany accounting functions. Strong competencies in strategic revenue planning and budgetary targets for all company facilities and affiliates. Holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting Sciences and a GRP (Global Risk Professional) qualification. “

Work Experience

The work experience section is a crucial component of your accountant resume. It provides evidence of your skills, knowledge, and achievements in previous roles. When listing your work experience, include the following details for each position:

• Job title : Clearly state your job title, highlighting your level of responsibility and expertise.
• Company name : Provide the name of the company or organization you worked for.
• Dates of employment : Include the start and end dates of your employment.
• Location : Specify the location of the company.
• Job responsibilities : Detail your key responsibilities and duties in bullet point format. Focus on your accomplishments and quantify them with specific examples, such as cost savings, revenue growth, or process improvements. Use action verbs to make your statements more impactful.

Senior Accountant, XYZ Company  | City, State (January 2018 – Present) 

• Managed financial operations for a portfolio of clients, overseeing month-end close processes, financial statement preparation, and general ledger reconciliations.
• Implemented cost-saving measures resulting in a 20% reduction in annual expenses.
• Developed and implemented standardized accounting procedures, resulting in improved accuracy and efficiency.
• Led a team of three junior accountants, providing guidance and training on financial reporting and analysis.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to streamline budgeting and forecasting processes, resulting in more accurate projections.

Job Descriptions & Responsibilities

An employer would expect to see the following proven foundational duties and skill sets within an applicant’s resume, depending on educational level and career stage.

An Accountant I at an entry-career stage (3-5 years experience) may:

• Assist with monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements, general ledger, balance sheet reconciliations, journal entries, fixed assets, and P&L reporting
• Calculate variances between actual results and budget forecasts.
• Reconciliations of main bank account and international subsidiary accounts
• Prepare documents for annual tax returns
• Work with external auditors during the audit review and compile all the necessary documentation required during the investigation
• Responsible for accounts payable and accounts receivable statements

An Accountant II at the mid-career stage (5-8 years experience) may

• Prepare journal entries, reconciliations, and trend analyzes during month end
• Manage revenue, accounts payable, accounts receivable and expense accrual accounts
• Liaise with operations, production, and marketing department to validate the correctness of financial information and review financial data reports
• Assist with migration of the balance sheet from Oracle to SAP
• Responsible for cash disbursement
• Engage with the internal audit team to complete documentation for SOX and Basel II

An Accountant III at an experienced/advanced stage (8-15 years experience) may:

• Oversee all financial reporting and accounting functions.
• Manage a team of 4 accounting clerks during the reconciliation of bank accounts, analysis of periodic financials, and preparation of budgets.
• Compile financial statements and submit to Financial Director
• Reconcile T&E, Amex, Petty Cash, and Prepaid accounts
• Verify all payments against invoices and accounts receivable reports
• Update budgetary schedules and expense reports every 30 days
• Responsible for the payroll function of 1500 employees

Education and Certifications:

In this section, include your educational background and any relevant certifications you have obtained. Include the following information:

• Degree : Specify the degree(s) you have earned, such as Bachelor of Science in Accounting.
• Institution : Mention the name of the university or educational institution where you completed your studies.
• Graduation Date : Include the month and year of your graduation.

If you have earned any certifications, such as Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), or Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), list them along with the issuing authority and the year of certification.

Bachelor of Science in Accounting XYZ University Graduated: May 2017

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) State Board of Accountancy Certification Date: July 2018

Examples for more than five years’ experience:

2016 – Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Association for Investment Management & Research (AIMR), Tampa, FL

2015 – Masters in Business Administration, Boston University, Boston, MA

If you have less than five years’ experience, you may also add your majors, minors, GPA scores and accolades, and honors awards:

2019 – Current Certified Chartered Accountant, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Online 2016 – 2018 Associate’s Degree in Applied Accounting Science, University of Detroit, MA GPA: 3.8 Majors: Financial Management, Accounting Minors: Information Science, Accounting, Economics Accolades: Deans Honors List

2013 – Certificate in Accounting Fundamentals, Merrick Business School, Baltimore, MD

Skills Section

Accountants require a diverse set of skills to excel in their roles. In the skills section of your resume, highlight the technical and soft skills that are relevant to the accounting profession. Some essential skills to include are:

• Financial analysis and reporting
• Budgeting and forecasting
• Auditing and compliance
• Tax preparation and planning
• Proficiency in accounting software (e.g., QuickBooks, SAP, Excel)
• Attention to detail and accuracy
• Analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Communication and interpersonal skills
• Time management and organizational skills

Use bullet points to list your skills, making it easy for recruiters to scan and identify your key strengths.

Soft Skill Examples

Qualifications & Certifications associated with Accountants

Action Verbs for your Accountant Resume

Tailoring Your Resume

Analyzing job descriptions:.

To make your resume stand out, carefully analyze job descriptions and identify the key skills and qualifications employers are seeking. Tailor your resume to match these requirements, highlighting the skills and experiences that align with the job posting.

Customizing for Each Application:

While it may be tempting to use a generic resume for multiple job applications, customizing your resume for each position is essential. Adjust your professional summary, skills section, and work experience to align with the specific job requirements, using keywords and phrases from the job description. This customization shows employers that you have taken the time to understand their needs and increases your chances of getting noticed.

Formatting and Design

Readability and organization.

A well-structured and organized resume is essential for readability. Use clear headings, bullet points, and subheadings to create sections that are easy to navigate. Maintain consistent formatting throughout your resume to ensure a professional and polished appearance.

Font and Font Size

Choose a clean and professional font that is easy to read, such as Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. Keep the font size between 10 and 12 points for the body text, ensuring readability while conserving space.

Length and Page Margins

Ideally, keep your accountant resume to one or two pages in length. Be concise and focus on the most relevant information. Use appropriate margins (typically 1 inch) to maintain a balanced layout and maximize the use of space.

Proofreading and Finalizing

Grammar and spelling.

Before submitting your resume, thoroughly proofread it for grammar and spelling errors. Use spell-check tools, but also carefully review your content to ensure accuracy. Grammatical mistakes can create a negative impression, so take the time to edit and refine your resume.

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3 Staff Accountant Resume Examples That Work in 2024

Staff Accountant Resume

Modern staff accountant resume, professional staff accountant resume.

• Staff Accountant Resume Writing 101

You’ve done it all: balance sheets, ledgers, and account reconciliation. You can gather information for an audit with finesse and have no problem staying on top of taxes or maintaining organized paper trails.

But you may still have questions about your resume. How do you demonstrate that you can support other employees while highlighting your technical skills? How long should it be, and how do you write a resume for an accountant role anyway?

No problem: We’ve helped plenty of accountants balance things out! Our three staff accountant resume examples and cover letter writing tips will help you get started.

or download as PDF

Related resume examples

• Forensic accountant
• Management accountant
• Senior accountant

What Matters Most: Your Skills Section & Work History

Your work experience section is the key place for your greatest accomplishments to shine. Recruiters should be able to see how your work history got you to your current level of qualification at a glance.

This section should also show off the skills you’ve developed along the way and how closely they fit with the particular job role you’re applying for. Your skills list should be well-rounded and fit the accountant job listing like a puzzle piece!

Take a look at these examples of relevant skills for inspiration. Avoid generic abilities like “documenting” or “team player” and pick industry-specific, applicable skills instead, like the ones below.

9 top staff accountant skills

• Sage Intacct
• Accounts Payable
• Ledger Reconciliation

Sample staff accountant work experience bullet points

When recruiters read through your work experience, they want to see what you’ve done and how it left a lasting impact. You’re excellent at reconciling accounts and transactions—but specify your error reduction rates with clear percentages.

Quantifiable data like efficiency improvement rates and company savings in dollar amounts are perfect metrics to prove your merit. Don’t just say you’re great: Show evidence of your excellence!

Your work experience should also show a growth trend, so make sure your bullet points get more advanced with each new job role. Mention evolving percentages alongside other measurable examples of your increasing impact.

Here are a few samples:

• Collaborated with sales team on B2B sales tracking, utilizing data to increase business development by 58%
• Used Xero to evaluate and optimize accounting systems, cutting manual data entry down to 87 hours per week
• Created accurate reporting infrastructure, helping the company skyrocket growth from $1M to $3.2M in annual revenue.
• Ensured accurate data entry of accounts payable and timely processing of accounts payable checks by implementing a QA system, reducing errors by 36%
• Improved MS Excel logs to streamline documentation for coworkers, increasing employee satisfaction rates by 19%

Top 5 Tips for Your Staff Accountant Resume

• Avoid vague, generic terms like “teamwork” and “working with accounts.” They just don’t pack the same punch that specific examples do. Talk about what your team accomplished and the types and quantities of accounts you worked with.
• Metrics can be anything from customer satisfaction percentages to dollar amounts you’ve saved the company. Error reduction rates show off your accounting accuracy, too!
• Many assume ownership goes with senior or lead roles, but staff accountants also fit the bill. Your resume should show your ability to manage and own a complete progression of tasks, from tidying ledgers and coding invoices to assessing your entire accounting system.
• Think of your professional resume template as an “outfit” like the one you’ll wear to your interview! Make sure no colors or fonts clash. The layout should spotlight your greatest staff accounting strengths. Use a template that wouldn’t look out of place on your desk.
• While your work history and metrics are extremely important, never forget the final resume review . Your resume must reflect how accurate your data entry and reconciliation work is.

How To Write a Staff Accountant Resume

No one knows the value of clear data better than you, and recruiters will expect that same meticulous approach from your resume. To start off on the right foot, pick a clean and elegant resume template that lets you focus on your accounting skills and is fairly frills-free. Don’t use too many different colors and fonts—they’ll pull attention away from what truly matters, which is your background in balancing the books and knowledge of a company’s financials.

Depending on the role, each job description might call for a slightly different skill set. To make a great first impression, update your resume to match each job description as closely as possible. For instance, if there’s a lot of emphasis on using SAP for financial reporting, put it at the top of your list of skills.

Working in accounting is a very down-to-earth kind of job. As such, it’s easy to make your work sound less impactful than it is by filling your work experience section with things like “handled invoicing.” Try to focus on your greatest achievements instead; for example, you could say that you “reconciled $4M in accounts payable and receivable using NetSuite, resulting in a 10% faster month-end close.”

Before you deem your resume to be perfect and send it off to do its job, give yourself a little break. The same way you’d look over an important financial report two or three times before handing it in, walk away from your resume for a couple of hours, and then come back and proofread it to perfection. Don’t forget to use active voice throughout the resume, too.

Add an objective only if it adds value to your resume as you break into a new role or switch careers! Every last bit of space on the page is valuable—including white space to let things breathe. An objective statement worth including provides a fresh, appealing snapshot of precisely what you offer as a staff accountant for a particular company . See what we mean?

Experienced and versatile staff accountant actively working toward completion of CPA exams (2/4 completed). Looking to double down on my experience with tax accounting and contribute to the established accounting culture at Cordia Resources.

Yes, you’ll want to customize your resume for each specific job listing on your radar. But don’t worry, it doesn’t eat up much time: Check the job description for keywords and details that match your skill set, such as ledger reconciliation or proficiency using Sage Intacct, and tweak your emphasis accordingly!

You need your resume to stand out from your competitors! That means you can’t use generic or basic terms in your resume: Specify what makes you unique as a staff accountant, like your unusual aptitude toward smoothing out invoicing systems or tax reports.

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10+ Accountant Resume Samples That’ll Make Your Application Count

• Martin Poduska , 
• Updated September 8, 2023 7 min read

If you're an accountant who wants to land a job, there are several simple rules to follow when it comes to writing a resume. In this article, you'll find the perfect accountant resume samples that will serve as an inspiration for you, so you can learn from the best.

Remember, on average, your resume has only 6 seconds to leave a lasting impression. A well-written and visually pleasing resume ensures your professional qualities get the attention they deserve. 

And in the end, it may be the resume that gets you the dream accountant job. 

Table of Contents

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• What is expected of an accountant's resume: the basics

1. Student Accountant Resume Sample

2. accounting specialist resume example, 3. entry-level accountant resume sample, 4. senior accounting manager resume example, 5. senior accountant resume example, 6. mid-level accountant resume example, 7. tax accountant resume sample, 8. financial accountant resume example, 9. accounting manager resume sample, 10. senior accountant resume example, 11. db schenker accountant resume example, 12. accounting auditor resume sample, 13. financial auditor resume example, what is expected of an accountant's resume: the basics.

As an accountant, what you want to do first and foremost, is to stand out while communicating dependability and attention to detail. For this reason, flashy resume templates are a big no-go in the world of accounting resumes. 

Each of the accountant resume samples below uses a minimalistic template that implies these qualities. 

The language has to follow the same principle as the design. It needs to be precise, straight to the point, and contain all the important keywords.

How you structure the information in your CV is equally important. 

For this reason, in designing these accountant resume samples we’ve paid most attention to their structure and formatting. Each of the individual sections is divided into bullet points, which facilitates easy reading. You want to do the same. 

But enough words! Learn what you can from these 10 accountant resume samples !

Numbers don't lie.

Scan your resume for issues and find out your resume score. Learn how to improve it.

This resume sample exemplifies what an accounting student resume should look like. 

At this point in your career, you probably don’t have much experience to show. For this reason, the education and skills sections dominate this resume. Each of these two sections is quite extensive in this accountant resume sample and describes in detail what skills did the candidate acquire and how.

Finally, when you cannot depend on previous experience, related extracurricular activities can help support your candidacy too.

Student Accountant Resume Sample

This resume was written by our experienced resume writers specifically for this profession.

When you’re applying for an accounting specialist position, you need a very strong resume. Once you’ve acquired two or more years of professional experience , the only remaining challenge is to articulate it well on a resume.

Notice how this resume opens with a professional summary . By doing this, it allows hiring managers to immediately find what they want to see.

In this resume sample, we’ve put the education section right after the profile. Although it’s not a big mistake, you might want to consider putting it below your work history section. After all, two years into your career education becomes less relevant.

Accounting Specialist Resume Example

This graduate accountant resume sample is razor-sharp in its focus. Naturally, education comes first — straight out of college , your degree is still your strongest asset. 

Since this particular candidate did multiple internships during his studies, the rest of the resume simply lists the experience he acquired during that time. And does it in an easy-to-read and structured manner.

Entry-level Accountant Resume Sample

As a seasoned professional, you could easily write a resume more packed with relevant information than this one. Despite that, we wanted to show that sometimes it’s equally useful to let your resume breathe a little. 

This resume doesn’t overwhelm hiring managers with walls of text but makes great use of white space and straight-to-the-point bullet points. Something to keep in mind while writing your own resume. You don’t always need to include every piece of information to make a lasting impression.

Senior Accounting Manager Resume Example

This accountant resume sample packs a lot of information on a single page. If you’ve ever felt like you can’t possibly make your resume shorter, this sample proves you wrong. 

Note the use of past tense in the first two bullet point sections as compared to the last section’s simple list of responsibilities. The lesson is clear — what you did is always more impressive than what you were supposed to do.

Senior Accountant Resume Example

This accountant resume sample is designed to do a lot with little . In spite of the candidate’s limited experience, the resume succeeds in making it look more robust than it actually is. 

One of the reasons behind this is a smart choice of a resume template — it makes the space reserved for text more conflated. Another reason is its use of strong visual elements, such as charts and sliders. It’s a great example of how the content of your resume has to go in hand with its form.

Mid-Level Accountant Resume Example

When applying for a job as a CPA tax analyst, you need a very strong resume. The resume below has an air of steadfast responsibility about it. 

The template design is very formal and doesn’t seek to impress in anything but its minimalism. Similarly, you’d be hard-pressed to find anything irrelevant on this resume. Instead, this accountant resume sample packs an impressive number of keywords to ensure that it gets through any ATS.

Tax Accountant Resume Sample

A pretty standard mid-level accountant resume sample. The opening career summary outlines the candidate’s strongest qualities while remaining concise.

If you want to improve on it, structure your summary using bullet points to make it easier to read. Second, notice the use of past tense in each of the subsections. Such use of language has a much greater impact on the reader than a simple list of responsibilities . 

Finally, even if keywords are missing in the main body of the resume, the strengths section makes up for it.

Financial Accountant Resume Example

In many ways, the resume below is a great example of how not to do it . Although it belongs to a candidate who held multiple managerial positions, it hardly ever presents any quantifiable accomplishments. Numbers are impactful and you should never pass on an opportunity to present your experiences by using them.

Otherwise, this resume sample is clear and well-structured. The use of a two-column template design allows it to pack a lot of information on a single page.

Accounting Manager Resume Sample

An accountant resume like the one below impresses with the candidate’s sheer wealth of experience and skills. Remember, it’s all about those first 6 seconds.

This accountant resume example catches the recruiters’ attention by making it visually apparent that this candidate’s experience is extensive . The takeaway is clear — once you’ve become a seasoned professional, even a wall of text on your resume doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad thing.

This resume stands out from the crowd. It was provided by one of the Kickresume clients who, also thanks to this resume, managed to land a job at DB Schenker as an accountant. 

It's easy to see why. Even though Emma used one of the most basic (and free!) templates, when it comes to applying for an accountant job, this isn't a problem. Simplicity is the vibe that you want to go for. Moreover , this resume has the perfect length. It's no longer the rule that a resume should be only a page long. One to two pages are ideal.

DB Schenker Accountant Resume Example

This resume sample was contributed by a real person who got hired with Kickresume’s help.

This resume template allows the CV to have a clear structure and while it has a little color, it creates a highly professional and sleek impression.

What we can learn from this accountant resume sample is that sticking to rules will get you far. This resume has all the predictable parts that it needs , including the accountant resume profile. 

Work experience is placed first (as it should be), which is then followed by the education and skills sections. The resume of this type is welcomed by hiring managers as it is familiar and well-structured  — and therefore easy to read.

Accounting Auditor Resume Sample

This template is a little too colorful for an average accountant's resume. However, the overall impression remains professional and highly structured. 

Moreover, this accountant resume sample is the perfect example of how extra sections on your resume can enhance the quality of the whole CV. If you have a volunteering experience or a special certificate, make sure that you always include it.

Financial Auditor Resume Example

Finally, if you feel like you still need more advice, check out our ultimate resume guide . Or even better, get your own resume analyzed and see what you can improve!

Get a resume that really counts.

Impress HR managers with a stunning template.

Martin Poduska is a resume expert and career advice writer at Kickresume. He leads Kickresume’s team of writers and is the main person responsible for upholding the standards of expertise and quality on the blog. In addition to having written nearly 100 in-depth, painstakingly researched resume advice articles, as chief editor he has also edited and revised every single article on this blog. Tens of thousands of job seekers read Martin’s resume advice every month. Martin holds a degree in English from the University of St Andrews and a degree in Comparative Literature from the University of Amsterdam.

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Accounting Specialist Resume Examples

Are you an Accounting Specialist looking for a new job? Then you know that having an effective resume is essential for getting your dream job. A good resume will show potential employers that you have the skills and qualifications needed for the position. Writing a great accounting specialist resume can be challenging, but with the right guidance and a few helpful examples, it can be easier than you think. In this blog post, we will provide you with a comprehensive guide to resume writing along with some examples to help you create a resume that will stand out to potential employers.

If you didn’t find what you were looking for, be sure to check out our complete library of resume examples .

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Accounting Specialist

123 Main Street | Anytown, USA 99999 | Phone: (123) 456-7890 | Email: [email protected]

Dedicated Accounting Specialist with 10+ years of experience in financial analysis, accounting operations and procedures, and strategic planning. Proven ability to accurately and efficiently manage financial accounts, processes and reports. Possesses a CPA designation and a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting.

Core Skills :

• Financial Analysis
• Accounting Operations & Procedures
• Strategic Planning
• Account Reconciliation
• General Ledger & Accounts Receivable
• Tax Compliance
• Financial Reporting & Auditing
• Budgeting & Forecasting

Professional Experience :

Accounting Specialist, ABC Corporation – Houston, TX

September 2017 – Present

• Perform day-to-day accounting operations, such as accounts receivable, accounts payable, and payroll processing.
• Develop and implement efficient accounting processes and procedures.
• Conduct monthly and quarterly close processes.
• Perform reconciliations of bank accounts, revenue and expenses.
• Prepare financial statements and reports for management.
• Review and approve invoices and payments.
• Assist with budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow management.

Accounting Analyst, XYZ Corporation – Dallas, TX

August 2013 – August 2017

• Performed in-depth analysis of financial statements and generated reports for management.
• Assisted with developing and implementing accounting policies, procedures and internal controls.
• Conducted financial and tax compliance audits.
• Prepared and submitted monthly, quarterly, and annual tax returns.
• Monitored and reconciled accounts receivable and accounts payable.
• Developed and maintained budgeting and

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Accounting Specialist Resume with No Experience

Resume Recent graduate of the accounting program at University of Maryland with a passion for problem-solving, data analysis, and financial planning. Seeking an entry-level position as an Accounting Specialist to use my knowledge of financial systems and accounting principles to contribute to a successful organization.

• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills
• Knowledge of accounting software and financial systems
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Detail-oriented and highly organized

Responsibilities

• Assist with the preparation of financial statements and reports in accordance with company accounting policies
• Reconcile financial data to ensure accuracy and completeness
• Maintain accurate records of financial transactions
• Create monthly, quarterly, and annual reports to managers and stakeholders
• Assist with accounts payable and accounts receivable duties
• Generate and update daily, weekly, and monthly reports
• Research and resolve accounting discrepancies and issues

Experience 0 Years

Level Junior

Education Bachelor’s

Accounting Specialist Resume with 2 Years of Experience

Highly organized and detail-oriented Accounting Specialist with two years of experience in bookkeeping, financial analysis and reporting. Skilled in the use of accounting software, financial forecasting and reconciliation. Deep understanding of the principles of accounting and their application to the development of financial plans. Demonstrated ability to work closely with clients to ensure accurate and timely financials.

• Accounting Software – QuickBooks, Excel, MS Office
• Financial Analysis – Analyzing financial data, creating financial reports
• Bookkeeping – Recording financial transactions, reconciling accounts
• Tax Preparation – Preparation of tax returns and related documents
• General Ledger – Recording and tracking of general ledger accounts
• Budgeting – Development and management of budgets
• Financial Reporting – Preparation of financial statements and reports

Responsibilities :

• Performed daily bookkeeping tasks including accounts payable and receivable, bank reconciliation and general ledger entries.
• Managed financial accounts to ensure accuracy and timely payment of invoices and expenses.
• Developed financial reports that provide timely and accurate information on the financial status of the business.
• Assisted in the preparation of monthly, quarterly and annual financial statements.
• Analyzed financial data and identified areas of improvement to maximize profits.
• Assisted in the preparation of tax returns and other related documents.
• Collaborated with clients to ensure their financial information is accurate and up to date.
• Implemented internal controls to ensure the accuracy of financial data.

Experience 2+ Years

Accounting Specialist Resume with 5 Years of Experience

Highly experienced Accounting Specialist with over 5 years of experience in finance, accounting, financial reporting, budgeting and forecasting. Extensive knowledge of accounting software, GAAP principles and regulatory compliance requirements. Adept at developing and implementing procedures and processes in order to improve accuracy and efficiency. Excellent organizational, communication and problem-solving skills.

Accounting software GAAP principles Financial reporting Budgeting Forecasting Financial analysis Regulatory compliance Data entry VAT/Tax regulations MS Office

• Preparing accurate financial documents and reports including monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements.
• Ensuring compliance with all applicable GAAP principles and regulatory requirements.
• Analyzing the financial data and provide insights for process improvement.
• Assisting in the preparation of budgets and forecasting.
• Maintaining records of all financial transactions and ensuring accuracy.
• Reconciling accounts to ensure accuracy of financial statements.
• Tracking and resolving discrepancies in financial documents.
• Providing administrative support to the accounting team.
• Developing and maintaining effective relationships with customers and vendors.
• Coordinating with auditing firms for annual audits.

Experience 5+ Years

Level Senior

Accounting Specialist Resume with 7 Years of Experience

Highly organized Accounting Specialist with 7+ years of experience in financial record-keeping, bookkeeping, budgeting, and other accounting duties. Proven ability to work independently, as well as collaboratively with team members. Adept at utilizing technology to streamline processes, reduce errors, and ensure accuracy.

• Financial Record-Keeping
• Bookkeeping
• Financial Reporting
• Tax Preparation
• Reconciliation
• Problem-Solving
• Time Management
• Attention to Detail
• Managed day-to-day accounting operations, including A/P, A/R, payroll, general ledger entries, and reconciliations.
• Maintained and balanced the general ledger, prepared monthly financial statements, and generated various reports.
• Performed detailed audits and reconciliations of accounts, bank statements, and other records.
• Reviewed and verified invoices and check requests for accuracy and completeness.
• Prepared and filed monthly, quarterly, and annual tax returns and payments.
• Monitored and managed budgeting process and financial analysis.
• Assisted in the development and implementation of financial policies and procedures.
• Responded to accounting inquiries from clients and other stakeholders.
• Collaborated with other departments to ensure accuracy and timeliness of data.
• Developed strategies to improve efficiency and reduce errors in accounting processes.

Experience 7+ Years

Accounting Specialist Resume with 10 Years of Experience

Highly experienced Accounting Specialist with over 10 years of experience in providing financial analysis, bookkeeping and reporting services. Proven ability to develop and interpret financial statements, manage budgeting, payroll, accounts receivable and accounts payable processes. Possesses strong organizational, problem-solving and communication skills.

• Financial Accounting
• Accounts Receivable
• Accounts Payable
• General Ledger
• Microsoft Office
• Internal Controls
• Managed the timely processing of invoices, accounts receivable, accounts payable and general ledgers.
• Reconciled bank accounts and ensured that all transactions were properly entered into the system.
• Assisted in the preparation of financial statements and reports, including income statements, cash flow statements and balance sheets.
• Carried out weekly payroll duties, including processing checks, benefits and deductions.
• Coordinated with internal and external auditors to ensure accuracy and completion of financial reports.
• Ensured compliance with all accounting regulations and legislation.
• Prepared and filed monthly and quarterly tax returns.
• Monitored budget and expenses to ensure adherence to company budget targets.

Experience 10+ Years

Level Senior Manager

Education Master’s

Accounting Specialist Resume with 15 Years of Experience

Highly motivated and experienced accounting specialist with 15 years of experience in accounting and finance. Adept at handling a variety of accounting tasks such as preparing financial statements, performing bookkeeping activities, and reconciling accounts. Possess excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as the ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

• Microsoft Excel
• GAAP Principles
• Preparing financial statements and reports, such as income statements, balance sheets, and statements of cash flows.
• Performing bookkeeping activities, such as recording transactions, reconciling accounts, and creating journal entries.
• Reconciling accounts and preparing audit schedules.
• Assisting with tax preparation, including preparing tax returns and calculating estimated tax liabilities.
• Creating budgets and forecasting financial results.
• Performing data entry and creating spreadsheets in Microsoft Excel.
• Using QuickBooks and other accounting software to maintain financial records.
• Applying GAAP principles to ensure accuracy in financial reporting.
• Assisting with internal and external audits.

Experience 15+ Years

Level Director

In addition to this, be sure to check out our resume templates , resume formats ,  cover letter examples ,  job description , and  career advice  pages for more helpful tips and advice.

What should be included in a Accounting Specialist resume?

As an Accounting Specialist, your resume should include a summary of your qualifications, education, and relevant experience.

Your summary should include any experience with accounting systems and software, as well as any experience with bookkeeping, payroll, tax preparation, financial auditing, and financial reporting. Additionally, highlight any certifications and qualifications that you have, such as a CPA or other accounting degree.

In the work experience section, include any jobs or internships that you have held in accounting. Describe your job duties in detail, such as financial statement preparation, managing accounts receivable and accounts payable, and completing month-end closeouts.

In your education section, include any degrees related to accounting and finance, such as a Bachelor’s or Master’s in Business Administration with a concentration in accounting. Be sure to include any certifications and qualifications related to your field, such as Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), or Certified Financial Planner (CFP).

Finally, list any awards and honors that you have received, such as scholarships or professional recognition. This section is a great way to showcase your achievements and demonstrate to potential employers your commitment and aptitude for accounting.

By including these key sections in your Accounting Specialist resume, you will create a comprehensive, accurate representation of your experience and qualifications and stand out from the competition.

What is a good summary for a Accounting Specialist resume?

A good summary for an Accounting Specialist resume should highlight your core competencies in managing financial accounts and creating financial reports. The summary should also emphasize any specialized knowledge and experience you have in fields such as accounts receivable, accounts payable, budgeting, and financial analysis. Most importantly, the summary should demonstrate an individual’s ability to assess business needs and make financial decisions accordingly. This summary should be tailored to the specific job opening you are applying for and should include accomplishments, skills, and qualifications that make you the best candidate for the position. This summary should also demonstrate your commitment to accuracy and efficiency in the financial processes and procedures of an organization.

What is a good objective for a Accounting Specialist resume?

When applying for a position as an Accounting Specialist, it is important to have a well-crafted resume that conveys your qualifications and experience. An effective objective statement should clearly communicate your career goals and the skills and experience you bring to the role.

A good objective for an Accounting Specialist resume might be:

“Seeking a position as an Accounting Specialist utilizing my 5+ years of experience managing financial accounts, preparing taxes, and developing strategies to reduce costs. My strong analytical skills and dedication to accuracy will be a valuable asset to the team.”

By including information about your experience and qualifications, you can demonstrate to potential employers why you are the best candidate for the job. It is also important to highlight your ability to work in a team environment, as many Accounting Specialists work with a variety of people to achieve their goals.

Additionally, it is important to emphasize any relevant certifications or training you may have that demonstrate your commitment to excellence in the field. This can also help you stand out from other applicants and make you an attractive candidate for the position.

By crafting an effective objective statement, you can make sure that your resume stands out from the crowd and communicates why you are the best candidate for the job. With the right objective statement and the right qualifications, you can be sure that you will be considered for the Accounting Specialist role.

How do you list Accounting Specialist skills on a resume?

If you are looking to apply for a job as an Accounting Specialist, it is important to include relevant skills on your resume. A well-written resume should capture an employer’s attention and make it easier for them to consider you for the job.

When listing Accounting Specialist skills on your resume, be sure to include not only your technical skills, but also your soft skills. Some of the important technical skills you should list include:

• Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
• Proficient in QuickBooks, Excel, and other financial software
• Experience with tax preparation
• Ability to reconcile accounts and prepare financial statements
• Knowledge of accounting standards
• Ability to analyze financial data and make forecasting decisions

In addition to technical skills, employers also look for Accounting Specialists with the following soft skills:

• Attention to detail
• Strong organizational skills
• Ability to meet deadlines
• Good communication skills
• Analytical and problem-solving skills
• Flexibility and adaptability

By including a comprehensive list of relevant Accounting Specialist skills on your resume, you can increase your chances of landing the job. Be sure to highlight your skills and qualifications in a clear and concise manner to help employers understand your capabilities.

What skills should I put on my resume for Accounting Specialist?

When listing skills on your resume for any accounting specialist position, it is important to highlight both technical and interpersonal skills. Technical accounting skills are essential, as they demonstrate your proficiency in the financial field. On the other hand, interpersonal skills are necessary for any accounting specialist as they communicate effectively with other departments and clients.

The following is a list of some of the most in-demand skills for accounting specialists:

• Financial Analysis: This skill involves the ability to interpret financial data and make meaningful conclusions.
• Bookkeeping: This skill encompasses a variety of topics such as recordkeeping, data entry, and account reconciliation.
• Tax Preparation: Being able to accurately prepare a variety of tax forms is an invaluable skill for any accounting specialist.
• Auditing: Auditing involves reviewing financial records in order to ensure accuracy and compliance with legal regulations.
• Spreadsheet Software: Spreadsheet software such as Excel is essential for any accounting specialist as it allows them to efficiently manage and analyze data.
• Accounting Software: Having experience with a wide variety of accounting software is a major plus for anyone looking to enter the accounting field.
• Cost Accounting: Cost accounting involves analyzing costs and making decisions based on financial data.
• Accounts Receivable/Payable: This skill involves managing and tracking payments to and from customers and vendors.
• Interpersonal Skills: Interpersonal skills such as communication, problem-solving, and customer service are essential for any accounting specialist.

By emphasizing these skills on your resume, you can demonstrate your qualifications and make yourself an attractive job candidate.

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An Accountant’s Guide to Writing the Perfect Resume (Plus an Example!)

Several years ago, I landed a human resources and recruiting job at an accounting firm. I didn’t know much about the industry at the time. Okay fine, I didn’t know anything. I really liked all the people I met during the interview process and figured learning to recruit accountants wouldn’t be too hard. If I’m being honest, I thought it would actually be kind of boring.

But I was quickly proven wrong!

I was fascinated by the work my new co-workers were involved with, the candidates I had the chance to interview, and the accounting space as a whole. I became intimately familiar with the rigors of the CPA exam, the intricacies of a well-executed audit, and the intrigue of forensic accounting (I even got to work with a former FBI agent). It was one of the best, most interesting jobs I’ve ever had.

Accounting is so much more than moving numbers around a ledger. It involves analysis, critical thinking, and precision. Some accountants also need to have solid presentation or customer service skills, while others might need to be skilled researchers, investigators, or creative thinkers. As an accountant, you can specialize in a variety of skills (audit, tax, accounts receivable, business, or forensic accounting—just to name a few) and work in virtually any industry. (Show me a company that doesn’t need some form of accounting services. I’ll wait.) So there are countless directions that you can take your career. I don’t know about you, but I find that incredibly exciting!

But in such a wide-open, varied field, it’s important to know how to present yourself as the right candidate for a specific accounting position. That’s where your resume comes in.

Here’s how to write a compelling accountant resume that’ll help you get wherever you want to go next.

Feature Your Education and Certifications

The accounting world is massive, and there are certifications and licenses for virtually every specialty within the industry. The most common license is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), but in addition to CPAs, there are Chartered Financial Analysts (CFAs), Certified Internal Auditors (CIAs), Certified Management Accountants (CMAs), and many, many more!

Continuing education is highly valued within the accounting world. Accountants are expected to stay on top of trends, best practices, and laws that govern their work. In fact, most certifying organizations require licensees to take a certain number of approved continuing education courses in order to stay current. So showcasing your training, education, and certifications (even if they’re still in progress) will likely impress recruiters.

While all CPAs are accountants, not all accountants are CPAs. So if you’re just starting out in the accounting space or if you’re still in the process of studying or testing for your license, don’t worry—you can still find a great accounting position.

If you’re an entry-level job seeker or an experienced professional looking to make a career pivot, you might want to include your education at the top of your resume—before your professional experience. Here’s what it might look like:

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS

Candidate | Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

• Passed FAR, AUD, & REG
• Sitting for BEC January 2020
• Completed 150 continuing education credits

Bachelor of Science in Accounting | Ohio State University | Columbus, OH | June 2019

For experienced accountants, I recommend adding your title next to your name at the top (for example, D’Vonne Hawkins, CPA , as seen in the example below) and placing your full education section at the bottom.

Add (or Subtract!) Relevant Keywords as Needed

Recruiters can receive hundreds of applications for their job postings, so they often rely on applicant tracking systems (ATS) to make the initial screening process easier. The ATS will scan your resume in search of keywords that match the corresponding job description. So if you’ve applied for a position as an auditor, the ATS will probably be looking for terms like “compliance” or “regulations” among several others. If your resume hasn’t been keyword optimized, the ATS might screen your application out before a recruiter ever lays eyes on it.

Tailoring your resume to reflect the content of each job posting you apply to will help you to avoid this fate. But here’s a shortcut: If you have experience performing a specific job duty mentioned in a job posting, then it belongs on your resume. Easy enough, right?

There is a seemingly endless array of specialties within the accounting industry, so keywords that are incredibly relevant to auditing might not be important to tax (and vice versa). But these commonly used terms should help get you started:

• Accounting Systems
• Accounts Payable
• Accounts Receivable
• Cash Flow Analysis
• Cost Accounting
• Credit/Debt Management
• Estate Planning
• Financial Accounting
• Financial Compliance
• Financial Reporting
• Income Tax Planning
• Internal Controls
• Management Accounting
• Payroll Management
• Profit and Loss
• Reconciliation
• Remittances
• Regulations
• Revenue Forecasting
• Tax Schedules

Be Specific About Your Experience (and Showcase Those Numbers!)

Because you’ll find accounting jobs across a wide variety of industries and specialties, it’s especially important for you to be specific about your work history. Recruiters are on the lookout for candidates with applicable, transferable experience—so the more details you can provide about the types of projects or initiatives you’ve worked on, the types of companies you’ve worked with, and the outcome of your work, the better!

For example, rather than blandly stating that you audited client accounts, you might say that you partnered with midsize businesses in the construction space to audit employee benefit plans, resulting in the identification of 300+ deficiencies.

Notice how the more detailed bullet point provides the reader with information about the type of client (midsize companies in the construction space), the type of audit (employee benefits), and the results of the work (identified 300+ deficiencies). That’s much more helpful and interesting to read, isn’t it? Writing noteworthy bullet points like this is easier than you might think, too. Just use this simple formula:

• Compelling verb + description of work + outcome (if applicable)

As an accountant, you know how valuable numbers, metrics, and percentages can be—especially when you’re trying to convey important information. The same will be true for numbers on your resume. They can help to paint a fuller picture of your experience and expertise. A tax accountant who’s prepared 100+ returns sounds more credible than a tax accountant who has simply prepared returns, right?

So do your best to assign a value to as many job duties and achievements on your resume as possible. This could be the number of clients you’ve worked with, the size of a budget, or cost savings, just to name a few. You’ll find a fantastic guide for quantifying your experience here .

I’d also encourage you to ask yourself probing questions about your experience as you’re drafting your resume with queries like: What types of accounts did I work on? How much money did I save the client? What was the purpose of this work? How many errors did I discover? How much money was I able to recover? This will make it so much easier to quantify your past job duties.

Sum It All Up With a Summary

If you’re well established in the accounting field of your choice and aren’t making any major career shifts, you can probably skip the summary. But if you’re new to the accounting world or trying to break into a new specialty, a well-written summary can help to bridge the gap between your past experience and what you’re hoping to do in the future.

Here’s what it might look like:

Detailed, analytical, and deadline-oriented accounting professional with three years of experience in accounts receivable, bookkeeping, and compliance. A CPA candidate, eager to blend hands-on experience with continuing education studies in an entry-level auditor role.

Notice how the summary plays up the candidate’s desirable traits and transferable experience, addresses steps they’ve taken toward their next career move, and explicitly states their goal. The more you can spell these things out for a recruiter (and make their jobs easier) the better!

Comply With Generally Accepted Resume Writing Principles

Just as you follow the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) at work, you should follow these Generally Accepted Resume Writing Principles when looking for work. (I know, GARWP isn’t quite as catchy as GAAP, but you get the idea.) Here’s what you’ll want to keep in mind as you write:

Choose the correct resume layout (and keep it concise). Tailoring your resume (and only featuring your most relevant experience) should help you to keep your resume to a single, easy-to-read page, while the right resume format will showcase your accomplishments in the best way possible. Generally, the recruiter-preferred chronological layout is best for detailing your relevant work history. But if you’re making a massive career change, you might want to check out some alternative options that allow you to feature your transferable experience more prominently.

Don’t get too fancy. It can be tempting to use a resume template with all the bells and whistles like fun fonts, punchy colors, or cool graphics—understandably, they’re so pretty! But while these creative elements certainly make a resume stand out, they’re probably not the best fit for an accounting job search. For starters, applicant tracking systems tend to have a harder time spotting keywords when you use a complicated layout, so sticking with a more straightforward design is almost always the way to go. Additionally, your design aesthetic probably won’t be very relevant to the types of roles you’re interested in. Recruiters in the accounting space will be way more interested in the content of your resume than the design.

But do make each section stand out. Recruiters spend huge swaths of time looking at a lot of different resumes, so the easier yours is to read , the more likely they are to move it to the next step. Why? Because if they can use your section headers to quickly zero in on your relevant education, technical skills, and work history, they’ll be able to more efficiently determine whether or not your experience is a match for their current opening. Check out the below example to see this in action!

Highlight your technical skills. Most accounting professionals will need to have a high level of proficiency, training, or even a certification in Microsoft Excel (think VLOOKUP, pivot tables, and formulas). Depending on your specialty, you may also need experience with additional accounting software like NetSuite, QuickBooks, or Workday (just to name a few). So be sure to take a look at the skills requirements of every job you apply for—and remember, if you have experience with a technology that’s listed, it belongs on your resume.

Proofread! Accountants are known for being precise, detail-oriented, and meticulous, so it would be extra embarrassing to submit a resume that wasn’t totally error free. So perform a self-audit or ask someone you trust to give your resume a final look before you submit a new application.

An Example That Really Adds Up

While the specific job duties included in the below resume might not apply to the type of accounting you specialize in, the formatting, layout, and language should still serve as a helpful model of what a standout accountant’s resume should include. As you read through the below example, pay close attention to the construction of the bullet points, easy-to-spot education and certifications, scannable sections, and quantified achievements.

You’ll also notice that this candidate has condensed their audit experience into a smaller section because while it’s still somewhat recent (within the last ten years), it’s not entirely relevant to what they want to do next. This is a great way to free up a little extra space and keep your resume to a single page.

Download a sample accounting resume

Accounting is an exciting, diverse industry bursting with variety and opportunity. Think of your resume as a tool to help you access those opportunities and ultimately achieve your career goals. Featuring your most relevant experience using compelling, specific bullet points, highlighting your education, and tailoring your resume to reflect the job for which you’re applying will help you to create an accounting resume that’s even greater than the sum of its parts.

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• Resume and Cover Letter
• Accountant Job Description:...

Accountant Job Description: All Key Roles & Duties

6 min read · Updated on April 24, 2024

Use this accountant job description to design a job-winning resume.

Accountants help organizations make critical financial decisions and corrections. They do this in a variety of ways, including research, audits, and data input, reporting, analysis, and tracking. Accountants can be responsible for tax reporting and filing, reconciling balance sheets, helping with departmental and organizational budgets, financial forecasting, communicating findings with stakeholders, and more. An accountant job description will include this type of information, tailored specifically to the type of accounting position listed.

Why refer to an accountant job description?

If you're an Accountant looking to land your next job and need to update your resume , one of the best resources you can turn to is an accountant job description. By reviewing job description examples, you can identify what technical and soft skills , credentials, and work experience matter most to an employer in your target field. In this post, we share an example of an accountant job description summary, followed by responsibilities, requirements, and skills.

Accountant job description example

Accountant Job Description

Prepare balance sheets, profit and loss statements, and other financial reports. Accountant duties and responsibilities also include analyzing trends, costs, revenues, financial commitments, and obligations incurred to predict future revenues and expenses. 

Reports organization's finances to management and offers suggestions about resource utilization, tax strategies, and assumptions underlying budget forecasts.

Accounting candidates must be familiar with standard concepts, practices, and procedures within the [ field of focus ]. Astute at relying on experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Performs a variety of additional tasks as assigned. A certain degree of creativity and latitude is required. 

Works under general supervision. This position will report to [title of supervisor or manager].

Requires a bachelor's degree in accounting or a similar area of specialty and two to four years of experience in the field or in a related area. An associate's degree in accounting might be acceptable.

Accountant responsibilities

Below the general job description summary, like the example above, you'll typically see a list of responsibilities, requirements, and necessary skills, as outlined in this section and the next two. 

Here are some of the accountant job description responsibilities you might find listed:

Prepare asset, liability, and capital account entries by compiling and analyzing account information

Document financial transactions by entering account information

Recommend financial actions by analyzing accounting options

Summarize current financial status by collecting information; preparing balance sheet, profit and loss statement, and other reports

Substantiate financial transactions by auditing documents

Maintain accounting controls by preparing and recommending policies and procedures

Guide accounting clerical staff by coordinating activities and answering questions

Reconcile financial discrepancies by collecting and analyzing account information

Secure financial information by completing database backups

Verify, allocate, post, and reconcile transactions

Produce error-free accounting reports and present their results

Analyze financial information and summarize financial status

Provide technical support and advice on management

Review and recommend modifications to accounting systems and generally accepted accounting procedures

Participate in financial standards setting and forecast process

Provide input into department's goal-setting process

Prepare financial statements and produce budget according to schedule

Direct internal and external audits to ensure compliance

Plan, assign, and review staff's work

Support month-end and year-end close process

Develop and document business processes and accounting policies to maintain and strengthen internal controls

Communicate effectively with clients

Contribute to a strong client relationship through positive interactions with client personnel

Communicate with Manager and/or Director on work status and client issues that arise

Accountant requirements

These are just a few of the job requirements you may see in an accountant job description:

Thorough knowledge of basic accounting procedures and principles, including the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)

Awareness of business trends

Experience with creating financial statements

Experience with general ledger functions and the month-end/year-end close process

Excellent accounting software user and administration skills

Accuracy and attention to detail

Aptitude for numbers and quantitative skills

Bachelor's Degree or Master's Degree in appropriate field of study or equivalent work experience

Intermediate understanding of accounting and reporting standards, gaining experience in researching as it relates to accounting issues

Experience with accounting software is a plus

Accountant skills & proficiencies

There are several hard and soft skills that are possibilities for an accountant job description. Hard skills are measurable talents learned through training and education. Soft skills are people skills that are generally acquired through experience and are difficult to measure. 

Below, we break them down by category, though you'll typically find necessary hard and soft skills listed together in the job description. 

Hard skills for an accountant job description

Corporate Finance

Reporting Skills

Reporting Research Results

Financial Data Entry Management

Scheduling and Monitoring

Problem Analysis and Problem-Solving Skills

Active Learning

Clerical Knowledge

Proficiency in Microsoft Office

Risk Analysis

Tax Returns

Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

Accounting Software

General Ledger Functions 

Balance Sheets

Data Analysis

Bookkeeping

Sarbanes-Oxley Act

Financial Audits

Certified Management Accountant (CMA)

Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)

Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)

 Soft skills for an accountant job description

Attention to Detail

Deadline-Oriented

Confidentiality

Time Management

Organizational Skills

Communication Skills

Professionalism

Interpersonal Skills

Analytical Thinking

Self-started

Independent Worker

Creativity 

Tailor your resume

Referring to accountant job descriptions for resume development is a smart move to get your creative juices flowing. By reviewing the job descriptions, you can assess and make a list of what skills and experience you have that align with them. From there, you can incorporate them into your resume . 

Of course, you'll want to tweak your resume for each job you apply to. The good news is that you won't need to start from scratch if you have a strong initial version to work with. In that case, making minor updates to align with each job you apply to will be easy to do. 

Your resume aligned with the job description wins interviews

Use the example description and lists above to guide you in developing a resume to stand out and land interviews! 

Is your resume appropriately tailored to the accountant job description for the job you're applying to? Why not submit it for a free resume review to find out?

Recommended reading:

How to Use Action Verbs in a Resume

Whether or Not to Use a One-Page Resume

How to List Multiple Positions at One Company on Resume

Related Articles:

7 Signs Your Resume is Making You Look Old

Why a Simple Resume Layout is a Successful Resume

Software Developer Top Needed Skills

See how your resume stacks up.

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Top 17 Accountant Resume Objective Examples

Updated July 6, 2023 14 min read

A resume objective is a short statement that appears at the top of your resume and outlines your career goals. When writing an objective for an accountant position, you should focus on highlighting your skills and qualifications that are relevant to the job. Make sure to include specific details about the position you are applying for, such as data analysis, budgeting, or financial reporting. Additionally, it’s important to showcase how your experience can add value to the company you’re applying for. For example: “Experienced accountant with 10+ years of experience in financial analysis and budgeting looking to leverage expertise to help ABC Company meet its financial goals." Or "Detail-oriented CPA seeking a challenging accounting role at ABC Company where my skills in tax preparation and financial reporting can contribute to success."

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Top 17 Accountant Resume Objective Samples

• To obtain an accounting position with a reputable firm where I can utilize my expertise in financial analysis and reporting.
• To secure a challenging accounting position with a dynamic organization that will allow me to utilize my knowledge and skills in the field of accounting.
• Seeking an opportunity to work as an accountant in a fast-paced environment that encourages professional growth.
• To work as an accountant for a well-established company, utilizing my excellent analytical and problem solving skills.
• Seeking an entry-level accounting role to gain experience and develop my skills in the field of finance.
• To become a part of a company’s accounting team and contribute to its success through accurate financial reporting and analysis.
• To acquire an accounting position with ample opportunities for career advancement.
• Looking for an opportunity to join an established firm as an accountant and apply my knowledge of financial principles, practices, and procedures.
• Seeking a challenging yet rewarding position as an accountant where I can use my strong organizational skills to ensure accuracy of financial records.
• Aiming to leverage my expertise in bookkeeping, auditing, budgeting, forecasting, taxation, payroll processing, accounts receivable/payable management, and cost control systems into the role of accountant at your organization.
• Motivated individual seeking to join a team of professionals as an accountant while utilizing my education in finance and economics.
• Applying for the position of Accountant with XYZ Company where I can apply my knowledge of GAAP standards and financial regulations while providing quality service to clients.
• Looking for the opportunity to join your team as an Accountant where I can use my experience with QuickBooks software suite along with other related software packages to enhance operations efficiency within your organization.
• Aspiring to secure the role of Accountant at ABC Company that will enable me to draw upon my knowledge in preparing financial statements and reports along with analyzing data for decision making purposes.
• Eagerly seeking employment as Accountant at XYZ Organization where I can put forth all efforts towards achieving organizational goals by utilizing my expertise in managing accounts receivable/payable processes effectively.
• Seeking employment within your esteemed organization as Accountant wherein I can apply my proficiency in developing budgets & forecasts along with ensuring compliance with applicable laws & regulations pertaining to finances & taxes.
• Desire a challenging position as Accountant at ABC Corporation where I can make use of my strong background in preparing balance sheets & income statements along with handling audits & tax returns efficiently

How to Write an Accountant Resume Objective

An accountant resume objective is a short statement that outlines an individual’s professional goals. It serves as an introduction to the rest of the resume, providing a snapshot of one’s qualifications and experiences. In order to write an effective accountant resume objective, there are several key components to consider.

First, it is important to consider the desired job title and position when crafting a resume objective. This should be used as a guide for what skills and experience should be highlighted in the objective statement. For example, if applying for a position as an accounts payable specialist, one might include language such as “seeking an accounts payable specialist position where my expertise in finance and accounting can be utilized to streamline processes.”

Second, it is important to include relevant keywords related to the desired job role in the resume objective. Many employers utilize automated applicant tracking systems (ATS) which scan resumes for certain words or phrases that match the job description they are looking for. Therefore, including keywords such as “accounting software” or “financial analysis” can help increase visibility of your application within these ATS programs.

Finally, it is important to keep the resume objective concise yet impactful. While one should strive to provide detailed information about their qualifications and experiences, doing so within two or three sentences will ensure that recruiters do not lose interest due to excessive wordiness. Additionally, using action verbs such as “managed” or “analyzed” can help emphasize accomplishments and draw attention from employers more quickly than other forms of language.

By following these tips when writing an accountant resume objective, individuals can create a succinct yet powerful introduction that will effectively communicate their qualifications and goals in a way that resonates with recruiters and hiring managers alike.

Related : What does an Accountant do?

Key Skills to Highlight in Your Accountant Resume Objective

When applying for an accountant position, it's essential to craft a compelling resume objective that not only outlines your career goals but also emphasizes the key skills you bring to the table. These skills can range from technical expertise in accounting software to soft skills like communication and problem-solving. Highlighting these abilities at the very beginning of your resume can grab the attention of hiring managers and set you apart from other candidates. This section will delve into the most important skills to feature in your accountant resume objective.

1. QuickBooks proficiency

QuickBooks proficiency is an essential skill for an accountant's resume objective because it demonstrates the candidate's ability to manage and organize financial data efficiently. QuickBooks is a widely used accounting software, and being proficient in it means the accountant can handle tasks like payroll, billing, invoicing, and generating reports with ease. This skill also shows that the candidate is familiar with modern accounting tools and can adapt to different software environments, thus increasing their efficiency and productivity.

2. Excel mastery

An accountant needs to have a mastery of Excel because it is a powerful tool for managing and interpreting financial data. This skill is critical for tasks such as creating financial reports, budgeting, forecasting, auditing, and analyzing complex numerical data. By including this skill in a resume objective, it demonstrates proficiency in handling large datasets and complex calculations which are essential for the role. It also shows potential employers that the candidate has the technical skills needed to perform the job efficiently.

3. Financial analysis

Financial analysis is a critical skill for an accountant as it involves interpreting financial data to help companies make business decisions, forecast future financial performance, and assess potential risks. This skill demonstrates the ability to not only handle numbers but also use them to provide valuable insights for a company's growth and stability. Including this on a resume objective shows prospective employers that you have the capability to contribute significantly to their financial management and decision-making processes.

4. Tax preparation

Tax preparation is a crucial skill for an accountant as it involves understanding and applying current tax laws, preparing tax returns, and ensuring compliance with payment, reporting, or other tax requirements. This skill demonstrates the accountant's ability to handle financial data accurately, reduce tax liability, and avoid potential tax-related issues. Including this skill in a resume objective shows potential employers that the candidate has the necessary expertise to manage their company's finances effectively.

5. Budgeting expertise

Budgeting expertise is a crucial skill for an accountant as it demonstrates the ability to plan, organize, and manage financial resources effectively. This skill is essential in helping businesses control their cash flow, reduce unnecessary expenses, and increase profits. Including budgeting expertise in a resume objective shows potential employers that the candidate can contribute to the financial stability and growth of their company.

6. Payroll management

Payroll management is a crucial skill for an accountant as it involves the ability to accurately calculate employee compensation, deductions, and benefits. This skill is necessary for a resume objective because it showcases the applicant's proficiency in managing complex financial tasks, ensuring compliance with tax laws and regulations, and maintaining accurate financial records. It also demonstrates strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and the ability to handle sensitive information confidentially.

7. Auditing abilities

An accountant's main role is to ensure the accuracy of financial operations within a business. This includes auditing, which involves reviewing and assessing financial records to ensure compliance with laws and regulations, as well as detecting and preventing fraud or mismanagement. Including auditing abilities in a resume objective shows potential employers that you have the necessary skills to accurately evaluate their company's financial records, making you a valuable asset to their team.

8. Xero competency

Xero competency is needed in an accountant's resume objective because it demonstrates the candidate's ability to use this popular accounting software. Xero is used by many businesses to manage their finances, including invoicing, bank reconciliation, bookkeeping, and more. Therefore, proficiency in Xero can make an accountant more efficient and effective in their role. It also shows potential employers that the candidate is up-to-date with current financial technology and tools, which can be a valuable asset for the company.

9. Financial reporting

Financial reporting is a crucial skill for an accountant as it involves the preparation and presentation of a company's financial health. It includes creating balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements. These reports are vital for decision-making processes within the organization and are often required by law. Therefore, having this skill can demonstrate to potential employers that the candidate is capable of handling these responsibilities effectively. It also shows their ability to analyze and interpret complex financial data, which is essential in strategic planning and business development.

10. Cost accounting

An accountant needs to have a skill in cost accounting because it is essential for determining the costs of a company's products and services. This includes understanding all the costs involved in producing or delivering the company's goods, from raw materials to labor to overhead. This skill is crucial for making informed financial decisions, setting prices, and measuring profitability. Including this skill in a resume objective shows potential employers that the candidate has the ability to manage and control costs effectively, which can contribute significantly to a company's financial health and success.

In conclusion, it's essential to strategically highlight your key skills in your accountant resume objective. This not only showcases your proficiency and expertise but also aligns your abilities with the job requirements. The objective should be concise, compelling, and tailored to each specific role you apply for. Remember, this section is a snapshot of your professional self; make it count by emphasizing the unique blend of skills that sets you apart from other candidates.

Related : Accountant Skills: Definition and Examples

Common Mistakes When Writing an Accountant Resume Objective

When writing an accountant resume objective, it is important to be concise and direct while also conveying the necessary information. Unfortunately, many job seekers make several common mistakes that can cost them a potential job opportunity. These mistakes should be avoided when crafting a resume objective for an accounting position.

One of the most common errors made when writing an accountant resume objective is failing to include specific information about the company or position. A generic statement such as “seeking a challenging accounting position” does not demonstrate any knowledge of the company or their needs, and will not stand out from other applicants with similar objectives. It is important to research the organization and tailor your objective to reflect what you know about their goals and values. This will demonstrate that you are well-informed and interested in the company’s success.

Another mistake commonly made by job seekers is including too much information in their accountant resume objective. An effective resume objective should only be two or three sentences long, so including irrelevant details such as hobbies or personal interests may take away from its impact. The focus should remain on relevant experience and qualifications that relate to the desired position, as this demonstrates knowledge of the field and shows employers why you are a good fit for the role.

Finally, some applicants fail to use action verbs when writing their accountant resume objectives. Action verbs such as “manage”, “analyze”, or “coordinate” are essential for demonstrating your abilities in a succinct way. Using strong language also conveys enthusiasm for the job which can help make your application stand out from others with similar qualifications.

In conclusion, there are several common mistakes that should be avoided when writing an accountant resume objective. Failing to include specific details about the company or position, adding too much irrelevant information, and not using action verbs can all detract from its overall effectiveness. By researching the organization beforehand, keeping it concise yet informative, and using strong language throughout your statement, you can create an effective accountant resume objective that stands out from other applicants and increases your chances of being considered for the role.

Related : Accountant Resume Examples

A right resume objective for an accountant should focus on the skills, experiences, and qualifications that make them well-suited for the role, whereas a wrong resume objective would be a generic statement about wanting to secure employment.

Editorial staff

Brenna Goyette

Brenna is a certified professional resume writer, career expert, and the content manager of the ResumeCat team. She has a background in corporate recruiting and human resources and has been writing resumes for over 10 years. Brenna has experience in recruiting for tech, finance, and marketing roles and has a passion for helping people find their dream jobs. She creates expert resources to help job seekers write the best resumes and cover letters, land the job, and succeed in the workplace.

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Accounting Skills to List on Your Resume

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If you’re working toward a degree in accounting, the next thing on your mind should be preparing your accounting resume for a job in the field. One of the most important areas of your accounting resume is the skills section. Highlighting your qualifications makes it much faster for employers to see if you have the skills required for the position. 

Because many of today’s hiring managers use automated applicant tracking systems to scan candidate resumes for keywords, you can also leverage the skills in your resume to stand out in online searches. But before we dive into what accounting skills list to put on your resume, let’s first define the different categories of accounting jobs. 

What Types of Accountants are There?

There are three main types of accountants; tax accountants, auditors, and industry accountants. Each of these different types of accounting careers has very different job responsibilities and different skills that are needed to succeed. 

Here’s a breakdown: 

Tax accountants are just what it sounds like—accountants who prepare and file taxes. They specialize in the laws, rules, and regulations for the preparation and calculation of federal, state, and local taxes. Some of the skills needed to be a tax accountant include:

• Knowledge of accounting and bookkeeping procedures
• Familiarity with accounting software packages
• Computer literacy (MS Excel in particular)

Audit accountants perform audits on companies, internally or externally, to ensure that proper financial and accounting practices are being performed and that the financial statements of an organization are correct. Some of the skills needed to be an audit accountant include:

• Risk and compliance expertise 
• Spreadsheet proficiency 

Industry accountants work in public or private sectors for individual companies handling their overall finances and budgets. Some of the skills needed to be an industry accountant include:

• Solid communication  
• Business knowledge
• Budget management

What are Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills?

There is a distinct difference between hard skills and soft skills in the workforce. Hard skills are the specific tasks and abilities you need to be able to do to perform your job functions and perform them well. These translate to the tasks you’ll need to be able to do day in and day out. Hard skills for accountants could include specific software knowledge or expertise in areas of law or business. 

On the other hand, soft skills are those you might not learn in your courses, but they’re just as important in helping you succeed in your role. A list of soft skills might include qualities like being an: excellent communicator, detail oriented, a problem solver, or a multitasker. 

What Hard Skills are Important in Accounting?

When it comes to accounting, most of the hard skills you need to know come from earning a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Organizations will often require them. For basic bookkeeper positions you can likely get by without higher education, but for accounting and business positions the additional knowledge you get from a degree is vital to your success. 

Performing accounts payable and receivable functions. This is an industry accounting function that boils down to writing checks and managing the budgets for your vendors. It means working with department heads to understand what the vendors do, establishing budgets with departments, and working directly with the vendors to send them their checks when they submit invoices. Having skill in accounts payable and receivable is extremely relevant for those in industry accounting and is great to list on your resume. 

Managing vendor accounts. Accounting departments in industry accounting are often responsible for managing all the vendor accounts they must pay. This means loading them into whatever software system you use, making sure they’ve delivered their goods or services, and more. On your resume, it’s smart to indicate direct experience working with vendor contracts, tax documentation, and invoices. All of these elements are used by accounting departments every day—especially in industry accounting.

Forecasting budgets. Some people in industry accounting are responsible for working on budgets with departments and executives. They will help analyze the previous year and forecast how budgets will need to be handled the next year. They are responsible for helping distribute money to different departments, doing reimbursements when needed, and ensuring that everything is done with proper documentation and correct financial practices. You can use your resume to demonstrate that you have experience making budgets and understand the financial practices to keep a budget on track.

Handling payroll. Everyone loves to get paid, and those in industry accounting are the ones to thank. Accountants are in charge of making sure that everyone in your organization gets paid, from helping to set budgets to signing the actual checks. They are responsible for the deadlines and working with direct deposits, bonuses, and more. Listing on your accounting resume that you have payroll experience is sure to go a long way when applying for industry accounting jobs. 

Working with bankers, insurers, and solicitors. All the different kinds of accountants work with bankers, insurers, and solicitors as part of their job. It’s the job of accountants to get information and work with these other professionals to understand how an organization’s finances work. They communicate with these other professionals to get answers to questions, manage the organization’s accounts, protect assets, and keep an eye on the overall financial situation of their organization. Listing on your accounting resume that you have worked with these kinds of professionals demonstrates that you’re prepared to handle whatever a new employer can throw at you.

Understanding financial reporting (GAAP). Audit accountants utilize GAAP or Generally Accepted Accounting Principles as they run their audits on companies. Internal auditors run audits on their own organization’s finances, while external auditors run audits on other organizations’ finances. Accountants need to have an understanding of financial reporting in order to read a company’s financial statements and ensure that everything is being done legally and correctly. Organizations that aren’t running their finances correctly according to these standards could be committing fraud, so it’s vital for accountants in industry and audit accounting to understand what the proper procedures are.

Tax understanding. Tax accountants need to have an understanding of how the tax code works, and how it applies to individuals and businesses. They also need to know how to stay up to date on changes to tax codes and understand how these changes impact individuals and businesses. If you’re hoping to be a tax accountant, it’s smart to list the kinds of taxes you’ve done on your accounting resume so you can demonstrate your understanding of tax laws and codes to potential employers or clients.

What Soft Skills are Important in Accounting?

Soft skills are the more general skills you need in any kind of job. While they’re not directly tied to accounting, they are vital for success in the accounting industry as well as in most other professions. These soft skills are the basic skills everyone needs to communicate, interact, and perform well inside their job functions. Accountants are no exception; they need soft skills to be successful in their unique jobs and organizations. 

Written and verbal communication skills. Accountants need to be able to communicate well within their teams and with the various other departments or organizations that they work with on a regular basis. This can include connecting with audit clients, tax clients, executives and managers in their organizations, vendors, and more. Accountants need to be able to articulate themselves well as they explain what they need from clients or coworkers, communicate news to vendors and clients, and work with everyone in their organization on financial matters. Listing your communication skills on your accounting resume will help demonstrate to employers that you understand how you’ll need to work with others as an accountant.

Customer service. Accountants are in the middle of customer service as they deal with clients and vendors. They need to understand how to interact with customers and clients in a polite, professional way. Good customer service will keep clients coming and will show vendors and contractors that yours is a professional organization. If you can list customer service experience and skills on your accounting resume, it’s sure to go a long way to help you land your dream accounting job.

Business knowledge. The fundamentals of business, from finances to marketing, strategy, and law, are all vital for your career success. You need to be able to demonstrate business prowess so you can work in any industry or organization, big or small. Listing the courses you’ve taken in business and the experience you’ve had working in business can demonstrate to potential employers that you have the fundamental knowledge you need to be successful. Accountants need a general business knowledge to be able to work well within any organization and be prepared with best practices for their company.

Critical thinking. Critical thinking is vital for anyone in the workforce. You need to be able to think for yourself, analyze situations, and look at all the angles before you make a decision. This is all part of critical thinking. Employers will appreciate seeing this on your resume because it will demonstrate to them that you’re aware of the vital elements of success in the workplace and that you know how to think in a way that lets you contribute. Accountants need critical thinking as they work to solve problems every day. 

Leadership. You don’t have to be a manager to demonstrate leadership. Every organization needs employees who demonstrate leadership, and putting leadership abilities on your resume is sure to impress potential employers. Be prepared to give examples of how you’ve been a leader and how it’s helped you be more prepared. Accountants need leadership abilities as they work with clients, move to management, and contribute in a professional way to their organization. 

What Technological Skills Do Accountants Need?

Beyond the hard and soft skills that accountants need, there are technical elements and accomplishments that are required for accountants to be successful. There are specific software systems that most accountants have to use at one time or another, and knowledge in these areas is key to landing a job. Listing these on your resume will help you demonstrate that you’re prepared for job responsibilities. 

Microsoft Excel. Most of an accountant’s work will be done in spreadsheets, which are created in Excel. Most accountants will have hundreds of Excel spreadsheets that keep all their work. Accountants need to have more than a basic knowledge of Excel; they need to be able to use functions and formulas, creating detailed spreadsheets that look great, and are easy to understand and read. Listing that you are fluent in Excel on your resume will help potential employers see that you’re prepared for the demands of an accounting job. 

Data analysis software. Many organizations utilize data analytic software to help look at their budget and finances. Accountants need to understand how to use these kinds of software systems in order to succeed. Listing data analysis software on your resume will show to potential employers that you’re prepared to handle the different software systems they utilize. 

Quickbooks . Quickbooks is a common payroll and accounting software that most accountants use. It helps small and medium businesses with payroll functions, invoicing, vendors, and more. Putting Quickbooks on your resume will demonstrate to all potential employers that you know the very basic, vital software involved with accounting. This is particularly important for industry accountants who are working on billing and payments in their organization. 

CRM systems. Vendors and clients are often housed in CRM systems and accountants need to be able to work within these systems to handle payments and billing. CRM systems are also used to house customers and budget information. Accountants who list CRM system experience on their resume are demonstrating to employers that they are prepared to work with the various software systems that may be involved in their day-to-day responsibilities. 

Messaging and video conferencing . Nearly every organization utilizes team messaging and conferencing to talk to clients and other workers around the world. Being technologically proficient enough to be part of messaging systems and calls is vital for an ever-growing, technological workforce. Showing your ability to work within these kinds of technologies shows potential employers you’re prepared to work with coworkers and clients anywhere, anytime. 

Once you’re on the path to get your accounting degree, it’s vital to know how to prepare your resume to land a job once you graduate. These hard and soft skills are vital to helping you find success in your dream accounting job.

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1 vacancy in the following location:

• Washington, DC

Telework eligible

Yes—as determined by the agency policy.

Travel Required

25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Relocation expenses reimbursed

Appointment type, work schedule.

Competitive

Promotion potential

Job family (series).

• 0510 Accounting

Supervisory status

Security clearance, position sensitivity and risk.

High Risk (HR)

Trust determination process

• Suitability/Fitness

Financial disclosure

Bargaining unit status, announcement number.

ITBF-24-AOD-12508933-NBU

Control number

This job is open to.

Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.

• Oversees the daily operation of the units, ensures that agency policies and priorities are being followed; develops performance standards; and evaluates work performance of subordinates.
• Gives advice, counsel, and instruction to employees on both work and administrative matters.
• Apprise and advise VA Administrations and Staff Offices and senior-level officials on the efficacy of the administration and implementation of budget and financial management plans and policies of OIT's budget
• Provide expert advice on issues associated with operational budgeting, finance, auditing, and forecasting activities.
• Resolve highly sensitive and complex budgetary issues having an organizational cross-cutting effect on enterprise-wide programs.
• Review, analyze, revise, and recommends approval, disapproval, or modification of budget requests and justifications.
• Represent the ITBF organization and participate in interagency committees, task groups, and OI&T meetings.

Requirements

Conditions of employment.

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
• Subject to a background/suitability investigation
• May serve a probationary period
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• A complete application package; Resume, Transcripts, etc
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

• Twenty-four semester hours in accounting or auditing courses of appropriate type and quality. This can include up to 6 hours of business law;
• A certificate as Certified Public Accountant or a Certified Internal Auditor, obtained through written examination; or
• Completion of the requirements for a degree that included substantial course work in accounting or auditing, e.g., 15 semester hours, but that does not fully satisfy the 24-semester-hour requirement of paragraph A, provided that (a) the applicant has successfully worked at the full-performance level in accounting, auditing, or a related field, e.g., valuation engineering or financial institution examining; (b) a panel of at least two higher level professional accountants or auditors has determined that the applicant has demonstrated a good knowledge of accounting and of related and underlying fields that equals in breadth, depth, currency, and level of advancement that which is normally associated with successful completion of the 4-year course of study described in paragraph A; and (c) except for literal nonconformance to the requirement of 24 semester hours in accounting, the applicant's education, training, and experience fully meet the specified requirements.
• Demonstrated ability and experience in accounting, budget execution, financial and management analysis, and systems development, and not less than 6 years practical experience in financial management at large government entities (as required by Public Law 101-576, Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990).
• In-depth knowledge of and experience with governmental budgeting; financial and cost accounting; federal financial reporting concepts and principles; performance measurement; risk management and internal control; and federal financial accountability processes.
• Demonstrated leadership in the design, implementation, integration, operation and evaluation of financial management systems in large government entities, and in the use of automated tools to disseminate and receive information.

Please see "Qualifications Section" for information regarding the education requirements for this position

Additional information

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information. VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/ . Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits .

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

1. Accountability Holds self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results. Determines objectives, sets priorities, and delegates work. Accepts responsibility for mistakes. Complies with established control systems and rules. 2. Administration and Management Knowledge of planning, coordination, and execution of business functions, resource allocation, and production. 3. Financial Analysis Knowledge of the principles, methods, and techniques of financial analysis, forecasting, and modeling to interpret quantitative and qualitative data; includes data modeling, earned value management, and evaluating key financial indicators, trends, and historical data. 4. Financial Management Understands the organization's financial processes. Prepares, justifies, and administers the program budget. Oversees procurement and contracting to achieve desired results. Monitors expenditures and uses cost-benefit thinking to set priorities. 5. Analysis and Problem Solving Applies the process of discovery that involves the diagnosis of a problem or issue, identification and gathering of relevant information, formulation and evaluation of alternative solutions or courses of action, and selection or recommendation of the preferred solution or course of action.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

All applicants are encouraged to apply online. 1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. 2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login , select the Application Status link and then select the M ore Information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application , log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete. WE DO NOT ACCEPT HARD-COPY OR E-MAIL APPLICATION PACKAGES.

Agency contact information

After the vacancy announcement closes, applicants are evaluated to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email.

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

• Criminal history inquiries
• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
• Financial suitability
• New employee probationary period
• Privacy Act
• Reasonable accommodation policy
• Selective Service
• Signature and false statements
• Social security number request

Required Documents

How to apply, fair & transparent.

This job originated on www.usajobs.gov . For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/805271600 . Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.

Learn more about

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology

OUR MISSION: - "To fulfill President Lincoln's promise to care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors". How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate care to Veterans? The Office of Information and Technology (OIT) thrives on diversity. We recruit, develop, and sustain a 16,000+ team of employees and contractors who use their talents and backgrounds to deliver technologies and services that improve the Veteran experience. With Fortune 500 executives, lifelong public servants, government leaders, and service members transitioning out of the military - we have built a team whose primary motivation is to serve. That motivation drives us to identify improvement areas, become change agents, and transform OIT into a lean, agile, Veteran-focused enterprise. OIT Mission: The mission of the Office of Information and Technology (OIT) is to collaborate with our business partners to create the best experience for all Veterans. OIT Vision: To become a world-class organization that provides a seamless, unified Veteran experience through the delivery of state-of-the-art technology.

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at Deputy Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

http://www.vacareers.va.gov/./

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An official website of the United States government

Student Trainee (Accounting & Budget)

This position is in NASA's Pathways Intern Employment Program (IEP) which provides students with opportunities to explore NASA careers and gain meaningful developmental work experience. To learn more about NASA's Pathways Program, click here: NASA Pathways Internship Program Please read the entire announcement before applying.

• Accepting applications

Open & closing dates

08/14/2024 to 08/21/2024

$16.95 - $43.08 per hour

Pay scale & grade

Few vacancies in the following locations:

• Huntsville, AL
• Kennedy Space Center, FL
• Greenbelt, MD
• Stennis Space Center, MS
• Show more locations (3)
• Cleveland, OH
• Houston, TX
• Hampton County, VA

Telework eligible

Yes—as determined by the agency policy.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Relocation expenses reimbursed

Appointment type.

Internships

Work schedule

Multiple Schedules

Promotion potential

Job family (series).

• 0599 Financial Management Student Trainee

Supervisory status

Security clearance.

Not Required

Position sensitivity and risk

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Trust determination process

• Suitability/Fitness

Financial disclosure

Bargaining unit status, announcement number.

NSSC-24-PW-12485807-KA

Control number

This job is open to.

Current students enrolled in accredited educational institutions from high school to graduate level. Includes internships, pathways and other student programs.

• This vacancy is open to students pursuing Accounting, Business Administration, Finance, Management, or Public Administration majors.
• Serving as a Student Trainee works under the guidance of accounting, budget, or administrative professionals in routine and progressively responsible duties directly related to the individual's academic studies and occupational career goals.
• Specific duties will be dependent upon the assigned occupational specialty in preparation for more difficult tasks as a professional trainee after graduation.
• Disciplines include, but are not limited to Financial and Administration, Accounting, Auditing, and Budget Analysis.
• Foster a culture of engagement, diversity, inclusiveness, excellence and innovation. Champion NASA's commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility to create an environment that promotes a commitment to safety, integrity, and teamwork.

Requirements

Conditions of employment.

• This position is open to U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
• At the time you apply for this announcement, you must be a degree or certificate seeking student who is enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an accredited educational institution on at least a half time basis as defined by the institution.
• At the time you apply for this announcement, you must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.9 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent).
• The expected start date is January 13, 2025.
• You must be able to work a minimum of 480 hours after your start date and before you complete your academic program requirements.
• Applicants must have a graduation date on or after April 04, 2025.
• If you are selected, you must maintain your enrollment at your current educational institution during periods you are not working at NASA. You must also maintain a GPA of at least 2.9 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent).
• If you are selected, you will be required to sign a Pathways Participant Agreement which outlines the conditions of employment.
• If you are selected, you will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation or higher level clearance. The level of investigation/clearance may differ and be required based on the duties/location-NASA Center requirements.
• Financial Disclosure, Drug Testing, and/or the Risk Designation for this position may differ and be required based on the duty location/NASA Center requirements.
• Salary Range reflects the lowest and highest salary for the advertised duty locations. Actual salary will be dependent on the NASA duty location for which you are selected.
• Rotational assignments are at management's discretion.
• You will be able to apply for a maximum of 4 duty locations.
• After submitting your application via USAJOBS, you may be notified via email to take additional USA Hire assessments online. Please refer to the "How to Apply" section for important information.
• If you are selected, you must be at least 16 years old at the time of your start date.
• All Pathways interns are expected to report onsite at the time of hire for their first rotation and must work a total of 14 weeks onsite before becoming eligible for remote opportunities.

Qualifications

• For GS-4: Completed at least 30 semester credit hours or at least 45 quarter hours in a certificate program, associate's or bachelor's degree program.
• For GS-5: Completed at least 60 semester credit hours or at least 90 quarter hours in a certificate program or bachelor's degree program.
• For GS-6: Completed 90 or more semester credit hours or 135 or more quarter hours in a certificate program or bachelor's degree program.
• For GS-7: Accepted into a master's or juris doctor program OR in the first year of a master's or juris doctor program.
• For GS-9: Completed 1 academic year* of a master's or juris foctor program OR accepted into a doctorate program OR in the first year of a doctorate program.
• Business Administration
• Public Administration

Additional information

• Successfully completed an academic course of study with a grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.9 (on a 4.0 scale);
• Complete a minimum of 480 hours of work experience before completing degree requirements;
• Meet the qualification requirements for the position to which they are converted (including any required coursework); and
• Maintain acceptable performance.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits .

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

• Accountability
• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Decision Making
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Self-Management (Achievement)
• Stress Tolerance
• Best Qualified Category - Applicants who demonstrate a superior level of all evaluation criteria.
• Highly Qualified Category - Applicants who demonstrate a satisfactory level of the evaluation criteria.
• Qualified Category - Applicants who demonstrate the basic qualifications, with general knowledge, skills, and abilities.

As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.

• Your resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed.
• College Transcript or Acceptance Letter (please see below for more information)
• Veterans' preference documentation, if applicable : If you are a veteran and you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a DD214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty, which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions. For spouses claiming derived veterans' preference, proof of marriage is also required. For more information on veterans' preference and possible other supporting documents that you may have to submit, please visit FedshireVets
• Classified or government sensitive information.
• Social Security Number (SSN)
• Photos of yourself
• Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc.
• Encrypted and digitally signed documents.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

• To begin the application process, you will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application process. Once logged in to your account, click the Apply Online button.
• Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. We strongly encourage you to utilize the USAJOBS resume builder when creating your resume. Using the resume builder will help you ensure your resume includes important information related to your qualifications and eligibility for this position. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. During the application process you can review, edit, delete and update your information. We'll automatically save your progress as you go, so you won't lose any changes. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
• After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the 'Include Personal Information' section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process. You will be taken to the vacancy questionnaire which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify all required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
• Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.
• If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice.
• Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials.
• Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended.
• Set aside at least 3 hours to take the USA Hire assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link.
• Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete as assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused.

Agency contact information

NASA's online application process provides step by step guidance to ensure you provide all needed information. If you are unable to apply online, please contact [email protected] for assistance. Be advised - application materials faxed, emailed, and/or mailed to NASA - Agency Wide will not be accepted for this announcement. Once you submit your application package, you will receive an acknowledgement email and be provided regular status updates through USAJOBS. To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account: https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login. All of your applications will appear on the Welcome page. The application record in your USAJOBS account provides an Additional Application Information page that provides information regarding the documentation you submitted and any correspondence we have sent related to this application, including the invitation to take the USA Hire assessment. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/ . If you are found qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration. Whether or not you are contacted for an interview depends upon the location of the position and the judgment of the hiring manager. If you are selected, you will be notified by phone or email with a tentative job offer. If you fail to meet the conditions of employment or any other pre-employment requirements, such as missing a scheduled appointment, we may rescind a tentative job offer. An official, written job offer will be issued once all requirements have been verified.

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

• Criminal history inquiries
• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
• Financial suitability
• New employee probationary period
• Privacy Act
• Reasonable accommodation policy
• Selective Service
• Signature and false statements
• Social security number request

Required Documents

How to apply, fair & transparent.

This job originated on www.usajobs.gov . For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/804515400 . Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.

Learn more about

National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Agency Wide

It's never too early to get started! At NASA, you have the opportunity to work and explore careers while still in school. The Pathways Program provides current students with paid work experience, dynamic career development program, and offer the chance for permanent employment at the agency.

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Agency Wide, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

https://www.nasa.gov/careers/pathways-program/

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Accounts Payable Accountant (Remote)

The Accounts Payable Accountant will primarily focus on managing ongoing accounting processes, including vendor contract (purchase order) and invoice maintenance, employee expense reimbursements and credit card management. In addition, the Accounts Payable Accountant will manage internal and external communications...

Background on NASWA

The National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) is the national organization representing all 50 state workforce agencies, D.C. and U.S. territories. These agencies deliver training, employment, career, and business services, in addition to administering the unemployment insurance (UI), veteran reemployment, and labor market information programs. NASWA provides policy expertise, shares promising state practices, and promotes state innovation and leadership in workforce development.

Brief Overview of Position

The Accounts Payable Accountant will primarily focus on managing ongoing accounting processes, including vendor contract (purchase order) and invoice maintenance, employee expense reimbursements and credit card management. In addition, the Accounts Payable Accountant will manage internal and external communications with stakeholders regarding all payables activity within the organization. The Accounts Payable Accountant will be responsible for accounts payable ledger maintenance and analysis to ensure accuracy and completeness of financial records. The ideal candidate will possess strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to handle multiple priorities to meet key deadlines each month.

The Accounts Payable Accountant will report to the Controller and will work collaboratively with the Staff Accountants. The candidate must have the ability to develop collaborative partnerships with all stakeholders within and outside of NASWA.

Candidates must also be comfortable working on and with virtual teams.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Manage vendor contracts and accounts payable invoices and related workflows.
• Maintain prepaid and accrued expense records.
• Manage employee expense reimbursement schedules for all staff.
• Review and process or import credit card activity for meeting expenses, IT purchases, staff travel and related expenses.
• Reconcile credit card statements to Sage Intacct monthly.
• Process and validate shared cost allocations on monthly basis.
• Assess project budgets in real time to prevent overspend in purchasing cycle.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to coordinate payment of bills and to communicate the status of payments.
• Initiate and maintain correspondence through e-mails, phone, and meetings with personnel regarding all payables activity.
• Generate and manage vendor 1099 reporting on annual basis.
• Provide technical assistance or arrange assistance for project/program managers in areas including Sage Intacct vendor invoices, expense reports, and credit card activity.
• Provide financial information regarding invoicing, payment, and reimbursement schedules, when requested, by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing account information and trends.
• Assist in annual audit.
• Perform any other duties assigned that support the mission and strategic initiatives of the organization.

Competencies

• Demonstrated ability to work within a cloud-based ERP ecosystem (Sage Intacct, online banking, and credit card portals).
• General understanding of standard accounting processes, including accounts payable, bank reconciliations, and credit card reconciliations.
• Proficiency in Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office suite (Excel and Outlook, in particular).
• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously while working toward achieving required outcomes.
• Proven successful ability to build and maintain relationships with stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Effective communication, presentation, facilitation, and listening skills.
• Demonstrable organizational skills, including attention to detail and multi- tasking skills.
• Effective time and task management skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of company and client information.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or 3+ years of accounting or bookkeeping experience
• Sage Intacct and/or Ramp experience is a plus, but not required

Job Details

• Location:  Remote / U.S. Based
• Reports To:  NASWA’s Controller
• Salary Range:  $55,000 - $70,000 commensurate with experience
• Benefits:  NASWA offers competitive benefits including a generous health care package, generous 401(k) contribution, educational assistance, generous time off, and other great options.
• Travel:  5% travel required within the U.S. required for NASWA meetings and conferences

How to Apply: Submit cover letter and  resume to   [email protected]   no later than August 30, 2024.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Naswa is an equal-opportunity employer. naswa does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, military status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, genetic information, disability, matriculation, political affiliation or any other characteristic protected by federal or district of columbia law. our non-discrimination policy applies to all facets of employment, including recruiting, hiring, employment, promotion, demotion, dismissal, compensation, and training opportunities., naswa affiliates.