4 Accountant Resume Examples & Templates for 2024

An accountant is a financial professional responsible for maintaining and interpreting financial records for businesses or individuals. They prepare financial statements, conduct audits, manage budgets, and ensure compliance with financial regulations. Accountants provide critical insights and recommendations to support decision-making and ensure the financial health of their organization. 

If you want to start doing that for the company of your dreams, you need a flawless accountant resume.

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Accounting Resume Example

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Entry-Level / Junior Accountant Resume Example

An entry-level accountant is a professional who has recently graduated and obtained an accounting degree, ready to embark on a career in finance. They assist in maintaining financial records, preparing reports, and ensuring compliance with financial regulations. Entry-level accountants are eager to apply their academic knowledge to practical scenarios, contributing to the accuracy and efficiency of financial operations. Here’s a sample for an entry-level accountant resume:

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Mid-Level Accountant Resume Example

A mid-level accountant, also known as an experienced accountant, has several years of experience managing financial records, preparing financial statements, and ensuring compliance with regulations. They take on more complex tasks and often provide guidance to junior staff. Mid-level accountants play a crucial role in financial planning and analysis. Here’s a sample for a mid-level accountant resume:

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Experienced / Senior Accountant Resume Example

A senior accountant holds a high-level position within the accounting team, often overseeing financial operations and providing strategic financial guidance. They possess advanced expertise in financial management, regulatory compliance, and team leadership. Senior accountants play a critical role in ensuring the financial health of the organization. Here’s a sample senior accountant resume:

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Resume Templates for Accounting

We’ve analyzed 11 million resumes made in the Zety Resume Builder, and here are the top three templates accountants choose.

Cascade

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A modern resume template with a two-column layout is perfect for every professional who wants to highlight their skills and achievements in the most readable way possible. No wonder why Cascade resume template is a top choice for all accountants.

Concept

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Another modern and simple resume template. You might think it’s similar to the previous one, but this time, it has one column for content and another for dates. Also, the icons used on that resume are significantly bolder. Despite those slight differences, Concept is a very readable and very professional choice for every accountant's resume. As proved by numbers!

Diamond

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How about a creative resume template instead? This one-column resume with a mighty header and diamond-shaped icons can’t go unnoticed. Perfect for professionals who want to stand out more with their resume, which often is a great tactic to secure a job interview!

How to Write an Accountant Resume

1. Choose the Best Format for an Accounting Resume

To be a great accountant, you need to be perfectly organized. Nothing goes over your head because your attention to detail is superb. We’ll talk about great skills for an accountant's resume later. But right from the top, there’s a way to show them while designing your resume!

Here’s how to organize your resume correctly:

• Choose the reverse-chronological resume format. With this resume style, you show exactly your latest achievements, duties, and responsibilities. And that’s what matters most to a hiring manager.
• Add your contact information, including:
• Your name
• Your phone number
• Your email address
• Your LinkedIn profile address
• Build your document from the following resume parts:
• Resume Header (which will include your contact information)
• Summary Statement or Career Objective
• Work Experience Section
• Education Section
• Skills Section
• Additional Sections (Conferences, Extra Training, Volunteering, Certifications, Etc.)
• Use clear resume fonts and mind resume margins to boost the readability of your document. That’s also how you show your attention to detail!
• Aim for a one-page resume. However, if you’ve got years of experience and lots of achievements to show, you can also try to fit them all on a two-page resume.
• Select the right file format to save your accounting resume. See if it’s specified in the job ad. If not, choose a PDF resume format, which keeps the resume formatting unchanged.

Pro Tip: More and more companies are using Application Tracking Systems to pre-check candidates’ resumes before they even land on a recruiter’s desk. Always aim to create an ATS-friendly resume so that your document is also on that pile!

2. Create the Right Accountant Job Description on Your Resume

As an accountant, you’re responsible for helping businesses make critical decisions by tracking, collecting, and correcting their finances. You deal with audits, bank statements, and financial records. Without you, nothing would work properly moneywise. 

That’s a basic resume job description for an accountant. You know it. Your recruiter knows it. But still, you need to put that right on your accountant's resume. The best place to do it? Resume work experience section, obviously.

Here’s how to impress a recruiter with your previous work on an accountant’s resume:

• Begin with your newest job title. That’s how you follow the reverse-chronology resume format!
• Add names and dates of your work in the relevant companies.
• Tailor your resume experience section to the job description to show you’re just the right fit for the job they offer.
• Focus on your achievements and not on your responsibilities. Every accountant has similar responsibilities. Job-winning accountants have accomplishments! 
• Add up to six bullet points to showcase your accomplishments.
• Include some resume action words to back up your achievements. 
• Put some numbers on your resume. You work with them, so let them back up your experience by proving the exact achievements.

Need to gain experience? Surely, you've got enough for a solid no-experience resume for an accountant. The best part? 

You can get more fast like this:

• Volunteer.
• Do some freebie work for friends.
• Job shadow.
• Look for freelance accountant jobs online.
• List transferable accounting tasks from non-accountant jobs.

Here are some great resume keywords to get inspired by:

Accountant Keywords for a Resume

• Preparing accurate financial statements.
• Developing and managing financial plans.
• Conducting internal and external audits.
• Ensuring adherence to financial laws and regulations.
• Maintaining and reconciling the general ledger.
• Preparing and filing tax returns.
• Analyzing financial data to support decision-making.
• Managing invoicing and payments.
• Identifying and implementing cost-saving measures.
• Enhancing financial processes for efficiency.
• Using accounting software (e.g., QuickBooks, SAP).

And here are some action verbs to choose from when creating your work experience section:

Accountant Action Verbs

• Analyzed
• Prepared
• Managed
• Reconciled
• Audited
• Reported
• Advised
• Implemented
• Monitored
• Developed
• Streamlined
• Verified
• Forecasted
• Coordinated
• Evaluated

Focus your accounts payable resume on metrics you've improved. Not sure what to cite? See this article on Key Performance Indicators.

3. Highlight Your Education on Your Sample of Accounting Resume

Did you know that undergraduate enrollment in accounting programs has been declining, with a 4.7% decrease from spring 2021 to spring 2022, following a 4.9% decline in the preceding year? That’s enough to make you understand why the education section on your accounting resume should be just like a yearly expenses rapport: flawless. 

So, how to add a degree to your resume? Simply list your:

• College Name and Location
• Years in School
• Degree

Adding a degree to a resume seems like a simple invoicing. But how can you make it even more impressive? That’s a slightly trickier part. You might want to consider if more education-related achievements would wow your future employer. 

These can contain:

• Dean’s list
• Extracurricular activities
• GPA on a resume
• Latin honors
• Relevant coursework
• Studying abroad

Learn how to list your degree on a resume. Read our guide: Major and Minor on Resume.

4. Impress Your Recruiter with Your Accountant Resume Skills

Did you know that according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment growth for accountants will equal 6% in the following couple of years? That means an estimated 82k jobs will be looking for a hire! Who will they choose? The candidates with the most impressive skills correctly presented on their accounting resume samples.

How to create a job-winning accountant resume skills section?

• Make a master list of all your key skills. This is the list you’ll use to pick what skills to put on a resume for an accountant.
• Take another look at the job ad and choose the skills from your list that can be mirrored in the experience and education sections you’ve just created.
• Include your soft skills and your hard skills. Sometimes, great communication skills are more important than memorizing the entire State Tax law. 

Accounting Resume Skills

• Collections
• Financial Statements
• Payroll
• IT Skills
• Asset Management
• Payroll Taxes
• Account Analysis
• Regulatory Filings
• MS Office
• Revenue Projections
• Account Reconciliation
• State Tax Law
• Budgets
• Tax Compliance
• Corporate Tax
• Tax Returns
• General Ledger
• Profit and Loss
• Mathematics
• Quickbooks
• Paychex
• Income Tax
• Invoices
• Communication Skills
• Critical Thinking
• Business Knowledge
• Organization
• Time Management
• Leadership Skills
• Computer Skills
• Detail Oriented
• Attention to Detail

Pro Tip: If you’re writing an entry-level resume, think about including some transferable skills. They are the ones that you transfer from one job to another, and they include communication, decision-making, adaptability, and much more!

5. Show Certifications on Your Accounting Resumes Sample

Learning how to list certifications on a resume can make a huge difference when applying for an accounting position. Some certifications are necessary to take specialized roles in different areas, such as, i.e., financial forensics or fraud examination. In other words, it’s better to have them in your job. And if you have them, it is crucial to show them! 

You can put your certification in three places:

• After your name
• In your resume summary or resume objective
• In a special certifications section

What are some good certifications for an accounting resume?

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA®)
• Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA®)
• Certified Bank Auditor (CBA®)
• Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®)
• Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE®)
• Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF®)
• Certified Internal Auditor (CIA®)
• Certified Management Accountant (CMA®)
• Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA®)
• Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP)

Pro Tip: Writing an accounts receivable resume or an accounting assistant resume? In that case, you may need a bookkeeper resume instead.

6. Add Other Sections for an Effective Accountant Resume

Apart from your certifications, you might have something else up your sleeve that can boost your chances of getting that accounting job you’re after. 

Here are some other additional sections to include when creating your own accounting resume sample:

• Conferences you attended. They show that you’re passionate about your job and that you still want to keep learning.
• Hobbies on a resume can be really impressive. And they can help you easily reflect your soft skills.
• Language skills on your resume are always in price. You might need to work in an international environment or with a client who will better understand all the nuances of his finances in his mother tongue which you happen to know! 
• Publications on a resume show that you’re not only a pro. You’re an authority. And there aren’t many things that can top that!
• Volunteer work is just something recruiters love to see. So be sure to include them on your accounting resume!

Pro Tip: Definitely join a professional association if you haven't already. It's worth it for the networking alone. Plus, it looks great on an accounting manager resume or accounting assistant resume.

7. Write a Resume Summary for an Accountant or an Accountant Resume Objective

Do you know how to start your resume? Sure, you already know how to plan it, how to write each section, and what to write to win the job. Now, let’s focus on the beginning.

Writing a summary or objective is a perfect way to start a resume. These short introductory paragraphs can work magic in introducing you as a perfect candidate for the job. 

So what’s the difference? 

• A professional resume summary is for a candidate with more than a year of relevant experience. 
• An objective for a resume is for a candidate if you have little to no experience.

There are two formulas you can follow to write a great resume profile:

• How to write a resume summary for an accountant?

Adjective + Job Title + Years of Experience + Achievements + Skills + What You Want to Do for the Employer 

• How to write an accountant resume objective?

Adjective(s)/Certificate(s) + Your Job Title or Degree + seeking employment as + Position Name at + Company Name + to apply my + Your Relevant Skills + to help + What Do You Want To Help The Company Achieve

Pro Tip: Suffering from writer's block? Save the staff accountant's resume objective or summary for last. Once your resume is finished, the summary will almost write itself.

8. Add a Cover Letter to Your Accounting Resume

Do you need a cover letter? According to 83% of recruiters, you do! So don’t miss an opportunity to express your knack for accounting further in a perfectly written cover letter!

Wondering how to write a cover letter to add to your accounting resume sample? 

Here are some tips to follow:

• Stick to the professional cover letter structure.
• Begin your cover letter strongly to get remembered and to get the reader’s attention.
• Format your cover letter into 3–5 paragraphs. That, with a well-done resume, should do the trick.
• Express why you want to work specifically for the company you apply to. Adding a compliment won’t do much harm!
• Finish your cover letter with enthusiasm and offer an interview date. 
• Send an application follow-up email every week. Do it for a month, but do it only if they don’t respond to your first e-mail.

Get even more information about that additional application document. Read our guide: Accountant Cover Letter.

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

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See more cover letter templates and start writing.

See more resume examples for jobs in finance:

• Accounting Clerk Resume Sample
• Accounts Receivable Resume Sample
• Accounts Payable Resume Sample
• Accounting Manager Resume Sample
• Accounting Assistant Resume Sample
• Accounting Intern Resume Sample
• Certified Public Accountant / CPA Resume Sample
• Staff Accountant Resume Sample
• Senior Accountant Resume Sample
• Best Resume Examples for All Professions

About Zety’s Editorial Process

This article has been reviewed by our editorial team to make sure it follows Zety's editorial guidelines. We’re committed to sharing our expertise and giving you trustworthy career advice tailored to your needs. High-quality content is what brings over 40 million readers to our site every year. But we don't stop there. Our team conducts original research to understand the job market better, and we pride ourselves on being quoted by top universities and prime media outlets from around the world.

Sources

• Blood B., Yong J., Addressing the Decline in the Accounting Talent Pipeline, March 2024
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/accountants-and-auditors.htm
• https://www.humanresourcesonline.net/are-cover-letters-important-83-of-recruiters-say-yes