Contract Accountant Resume Examples

Creating a standout resume as a contract accountant can feel like balancing your books during tax season—tricky and time-consuming. Many contract accountants find it challenging to showcase their diverse experiences and unique skills in a single, compelling document. With the competition for contract positions being fierce, it’s crucial to craft a resume that effectively highlights your expertise and accomplishments. You might struggle with tailoring your resume for each job, ensuring it's both professional and attention-grabbing. But don't fret; we've got your back. This guide will help you navigate the resume-writing process efficiently, so you can present your best professional self.

Choosing the right resume template is essential. An effective template not only organizes your information neatly but also makes a strong initial impression on potential employers. It sets the stage for your content, guiding the reader's eye to your strengths and qualifications.

To help you even further, we offer more than 700 resume examples that you can use to create a polished resume effortlessly.

Explore our resume samples to supercharge your job search today!

What to focus on when writing your contract accountant resume

A contract accountant resume should highlight your skills, experience, and achievements in financial management and reporting. It must emphasize your ability to handle various accounting tasks, work independently, and manage multiple projects for different clients. Additionally, showcasing your expertise in using relevant accounting software and your ability to adapt quickly to different business environments is crucial.

To boost your resume's impact, consider including:

• Specific financial metrics you've improved
• Certifications relevant to accounting or finance
• Software proficiency (e.g., QuickBooks, SAP)
• Examples of cost-saving initiatives you've led

Must have information on your contract accountant resume

Creating a contract accountant resume requires including key sections to catch the attention of employers. Make sure your resume has the following:

• Contact Information
• Professional Summary
• Core Competencies
• Professional Experience
• Education
• Certifications

Additional sections such as "Technical Skills" and "Professional Memberships" can further enhance your resume. Ensure each section highlights your relevant expertise and experience.

Which resume format to choose

Choosing the right resume format for your contract accountant role is crucial for standing out in your industry. A chronological format is often best because it showcases your experience and career progression clearly. Use modern fonts like Rubik or Montserrat instead of outdated ones like Arial or Times New Roman for a cleaner look. Always save your resume as a PDF to ensure formatting remains consistent when viewed by potential employers. Maintain one-inch margins for a balanced appearance and use clear section headings to make your resume ATS-friendly. Section headings help applicant tracking systems (ATS) scan your resume more effectively, increasing your chances of getting noticed.

A contract accountant resume should have the following sections: Contact Information, Professional Summary, Skills, Work Experience, Education, Certifications, and Software Proficiencies.

Using Resume Mentor's free resume builder takes care of all these details for you effortlessly.

How to write a quantifiable resume experience section

Your resume experience section is crucial for a contract accountant. You need to structure it for clarity and impact. Organize your work history in reverse-chronological order, listing your most recent job first. Go back around 10-15 years, but you can include older roles if they're highly relevant.

Include job titles that accurately reflect your responsibilities. Tailor each job description to match the requirements of the job you're applying for. Use powerful action words like "audited," "analyzed," "implemented," and "reduced" to show your impact.

The first example is poorly written. It lacks specific achievements and relies heavily on vague responsibilities. Phrases like "Handled accounts payable" or "Prepared financial reports" do not provide any measurable impact or detail on your contributions. This makes it difficult for a hiring manager to gauge your effectiveness.

Now, let's look at a strong example. This one focuses on achievements and uses specific data points to demonstrate success.

This well-crafted experience section is impactful because it highlights specific accomplishments with quantifiable results. Each bullet points to a distinct achievement, making it clear what value you brought to each role. This approach ensures that hiring managers see not just what you did, but how well you did it.

Contract accountant resume experience examples

Ready to crunch some numbers and elevate your contracting game? Let's dive into some tailor-made experience sections for contract accountants. Get ready—they're a balance sheet of puns and practicality!

Achievement-focused

This experience section spotlights your amazing achievements throughout your career. Make sure to choose your most significant accomplishments that show your value and potential.

Skills-focused

Highlight the specific skills you bring to the table as a contract accountant. Include both technical and soft skills that make you effective in your role.

Responsibility-focused

Show the key responsibilities you’ve handled in your role. Describe your core duties, emphasizing your role in decision-making and task management.

Project-focused

Overview your involvement in significant projects. Detail the projects you’ve managed or contributed to and the impact of those projects.

Result-focused

Emphasize the results you’ve delivered. Highlight the quantifiable benefits your work has brought to an organization.

Industry-Specific Focus

Tailor your experience to show knowledge of the industry you’ve worked in. Use industry-specific terminology and emphasize relevant experience.

Problem-Solving focused

Focus on your problem-solving capabilities. Describe how you’ve identified issues and the solutions you’ve implemented.

Innovation-focused

Show how you’ve brought new ideas and methods to your work. Focus on your role in driving change and innovation.

Leadership-focused

Highlight your leadership roles and contributions. Focus on your ability to guide teams and manage projects.

Customer-focused

Showcase how you’ve worked effectively with clients. Highlight your customer service skills and your ability to meet client needs.

Growth-focused

Emphasize your focus on driving growth. Discuss initiatives you’ve led or contributed to that have resulted in growth.

Efficiency-focused

Highlight your ability to improve efficiency in accounting processes. Discuss specific steps you’ve taken to streamline operations.

Technology-focused

Show your proficiency with technology in accounting. Share your experience with specific tools and systems you’ve used.

Collaboration-focused

Discuss your ability to work in a team setting. Highlight how you’ve collaborated with colleagues to achieve common goals.

Training and Development focused

Highlight your roles and initiatives in training and development. Discuss how you’ve helped develop the skills of others.

Write your contract accountant resume summary section

Writing your resume summary as a contract accountant should focus on highlighting your most relevant skills and experiences. Keep it concise, clear, and powerful. Make sure to align your summary with the job you're applying for.

Describe yourself in a way that captures attention. Words like "detail-oriented," "experienced," and "analytical" can convey a strong sense of professionalism. Including specifics about your accounting skills, software proficiency, and past successes will boost your credibility.

A summary is a brief statement at the beginning of your resume summarizing your career achievements and professional strengths. A resume objective states what you aim to achieve in the job you're applying for. A resume profile is a bit broader, summarizing both your career goals and key qualifications. A summary of qualifications is a bullet-point list of your most relevant skills and experiences.

Here are two examples to illustrate:

This example is bad because it is vague and unprofessional. It doesn't specify "lots of experience," meaning the level and scope of experience are unclear. "Good at QuickBooks" is too informal. The statement "I want a good job" sounds overly needy rather than career-focused.

This example is good because it provides specific details about experience and expertise. "7+ years of experience" gives a clear sense of longevity. Mentioning proficiency in specific software like QuickBooks and SAP enhances credibility. Achievements like leading a $2 million tax saving initiative show concrete results of your work.

Listing your contract accountant skills on your resume

To write the skills section of your contract accountant resume, you should follow a concise and effective format. Skills can be presented as a standalone section or woven into other sections like experience and summary. Consider listing your strengths and soft skills, as these can set you apart. Strengths often include interpersonal abilities and problem-solving, while hard skills are specific, teachable abilities like financial reporting or proficiency in accounting software.

Skills and strengths on your resume can act as keywords that employers or applicant tracking systems (ATS) search for. Your skills section is crucial to conveying your qualifications quickly.

This example is effective because it lists relevant, high-demand skills specific to contract accounting. Each skill is clearly defined without any extraneous information, making it easy for recruiters to identify key qualifications quickly. The skills listed are essential in a contract accounting role, ensuring you're highlighting the most important aspects of your expertise.

Best hard skills to feature on your contract accountant resume

A contract accountant should showcase hard skills that demonstrate technical expertise and the ability to handle specialized accounting tasks. Hard skills should communicate your proficiency with accounting principles, software, and complex financial tasks.

Best soft skills to feature on your contract accountant resume

A contract accountant should also possess strong soft skills that communicate reliability, professionalism, and effective communication. These skills demonstrate your ability to work well with others and adapt to different work environments.

How to include your education on your resume

The education section is a crucial part of your contract accountant resume. It shows your qualifications and can help set you apart from other applicants. Tailor this section to the job you're applying for, omitting any education that doesn't relate to accounting. When listing your degree, start with the most relevant qualification. If your GPA is impressive, you can include it; the same goes for any honors like cum laude.

Here is a poorly written example:

This example is bad because it includes an irrelevant degree in Fine Arts, which does not relate to accounting. Including the location is unnecessary, and it omits key details relevant to the position.

Here is a well-written example:

This example is good because it lists a relevant degree in accounting, highlights notable achievements like cum laude, and includes a strong GPA. It emphasizes qualifications directly related to the position.

How to include contract accountant certificates on your resume

The certificates section is an important part of your resume as a contract accountant. List the name of each certificate you’ve earned. Include the date you received it. Add the issuing organization to give it credibility. You can also place certificates in the header for greater visibility. For example, "CPA - Licensed by AICPA (2018)" immediately showcases your credentials.

A well-organized standalone certificates section can greatly boost your resume’s impact. For example:

This example effectively presents relevant certifications. It shows your expertise with recognized credentials like CPA, CFA, and CMA. The certifying organizations are highly respected in the industry. These details make your qualifications clear and credible. This structured approach can make your resume stand out to potential employers.

Extra sections to include in your contract accountant resume

Looking to stand out in the competitive field of contract accounting? Your resume can be more impactful by including specific sections that highlight your skills, interests, and overall character. Including these will help you look more rounded and capable.

• Language section—Showcase your communication skills by noting any languages you speak fluently. This can set you apart from other candidates and indicate you can work with a diverse client base.

• Hobbies and interests section—Include personal interests to give employers a more complete picture of who you are. This can make you memorable and add a personal touch to your resume.

• Volunteer work section—Mention any volunteer activities to demonstrate your commitment to community and leadership skills. This shows you are proactive and capable of balancing multiple responsibilities.

• Books section—List any accounting or business books that have influenced your professional approach. This shows you are serious about your career and continuously developing your knowledge.

Pair your contract accountant resume with a cover letter

A cover letter is a document that accompanies your resume, providing a brief introduction to who you are and why you are the right fit for the job. It highlights your skills and experiences, giving potential employers a better sense of your personality and goals.

A well-written cover letter can set you apart from other applicants by demonstrating your attention to detail and enthusiasm for the position. It can also help explain gaps in employment or other concerns that might arise from your resume alone.

For a contract accountant, your cover letter should focus on your experience with financial reporting, analysis, and compliance. Emphasize your ability to manage tight deadlines, handle multiple tasks, and work independently. Mention any specific accounting software you are proficient in, such as QuickBooks or SAP, and your success in previous contract roles.

Make your cover letter quickly and easily using Resume Mentor's cover letter builder. The PDF exporting feature ensures that your content and formatting stay intact, protecting your professionalism and attention to detail.