Test Post Example

Writing an accounting resume can feel like balancing your debits and credits—one small mistake and things might not add up. As an accountant, you know precision and attention to detail are essential. Yet, translating your numbers skills into an engaging and error-free resume can be tricky. Employers want to see more than just your proficiency in financial statements; they want to know about your analytical skills, software expertise, and accomplishments. Many accountants struggle to highlight these aspects effectively, leading to missed job opportunities. That's where this guide steps in, offering clear steps and actionable tips to help you build a standout resume that won't get lost in the financial shuffle.

Using the right resume template is crucial for showcasing your skills and experience in an organized manner.

We have more than 700 resume examples that you can use to write a resume.

What to focus on when writing your accounting resume

Your accounting resume should quickly and clearly convey your skills, experience, and value to the recruiter. It needs to show your proficiency with accounting software, attention to detail, and understanding of financial regulations. To boost its impact, consider including:

• Specific achievements like reducing costs or streamlining processes
• Certifications such as CPA or CMA
• Familiarity with financial software (e.g., QuickBooks, Excel)
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills and teamwork

This can help you stand out in a competitive job market and demonstrate why you're the ideal candidate.

Must have information on your accounting resume

Creating an effective accounting resume involves including key sections that highlight your skills and experience. These must-have resume sections include:

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

Additional sections like "Technical Skills" or "Professional Affiliations" can also be beneficial. Including these sections ensures your resume stands out in an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) and appeals to hiring managers.

Which resume format to choose

When crafting an accounting resume, the best format is the reverse-chronological format, as it shows your career progression and recent experience first. Opt for modern fonts like Rubik and Montserrat to stand out over the common Arial and Times New Roman. Always save your resume as a PDF to ensure that your formatting stays intact. Stick to 1-inch margins on all sides to keep your resume clean and easy to read. Use clear section headings like "Experience," "Education," and "Skills" to help Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) understand your resume.

An accounting resume should include key sections to showcase your qualifications:

• Contact Information
• Professional Summary
• Work Experience
• Education
• Skills
• Certifications/Licenses
• Professional Affiliations

Resume Mentor's free resume builder takes care of all these details, ensuring you have a professional, ATS-friendly resume.

How to write a quantifiable resume experience section

Crafting the experience section in your accounting resume is key to making your achievements shine. You should list your job roles in reverse-chronological order, starting with your most recent position. This approach allows potential employers to see your most relevant experience first. As a rule of thumb, include experience from the past 10-15 years.

Only list job titles that are pertinent to accounting or demonstrate transferable skills. Each entry should focus on quantifiable achievements rather than just listing duties. Tailoring your resume to fit the job you're applying for is vital; incorporate action words like "managed," "led," "implemented," and "improved” to emphasize your accomplishments.

Ensure that each bullet point highlights a specific result or achievement. Numbers are your friends here; they give credibility to your claims. This might seem like a lot to remember, so let's look at some examples.

The first example is clearly problematic. It mentions responsibilities in vague terms like “responsible for daily accounting tasks” and “worked on multiple projects." These statements do not provide a clear picture of skills or accomplishments and lack any quantifiable results.

Here is an outstanding example:

This example stands out because it highlights specific achievements with quantifiable results. Each bullet point showcases the positive impact you had on previous employers with easy-to-understand numbers, such as improving reporting accuracy by 25% or managing a team to increase productivity by 40%.

The second example communicates your value effectively and provides a clear understanding of your contributions in past roles. This approach transforms your experience section from a list of tasks into a showcase of your success and potential as an accounting professional.

Accounting resume experience examples

Welcome to the resume wonderland! Here are some top-notch accounting resume experience examples to help you ace the game. Get ready to balance your skills and experiences better than a ledger!

Achievement-focused

An achievement-focused resume stands out by highlighting accomplishments and unique contributions. Emphasize awards, recognitions, and specific goals you’ve met.

Skills-focused

Focus on your key skills and how they've contributed to your success in various roles. Highlight your expertise and areas where you excel.

Responsibility-focused

Showcase your responsibilities to demonstrate the scope and depth of your role. Detail what you were in charge of and the impact it had.

Project-focused

Describe key projects you’ve worked on and your role in their success. Highlight the project's objectives and outcomes.

Result-focused

Show results that speak volumes about your contributions. Detail measurable outcomes and the value you added to the organization.

Industry-Specific Focus

Tailor your experience to the specific industry you’re in. Showcase how your expertise aligns with industry requirements.

Problem-Solving focused

Highlight your problem-solving skills by detailing instances where you identified and resolved issues. Focus on the process and results.

Innovation-focused

Show your knack for innovation by detailing initiatives you’ve introduced or improvements you’ve made. Emphasize creativity and forward-thinking.

Leadership-focused

Showcase your leadership skills by detailing your roles and achievements in leading teams or projects. Focus on how you motivated and guided others.

Customer-focused

Highlight your commitment to customer satisfaction through examples of how you maintained or improved client relations.

Growth-focused

Focus on experiences that emphasize your contribution to the company’s growth. Highlight specific strategies or actions you took.

Efficiency-focused

Show how your contributions led to increased efficiency within the company. Emphasize process improvements and time-saving initiatives.

Technology-focused

Detail your experience with technology and how it has improved accounting processes or outcomes. Focus on specific tools and software.

Collaboration-focused

Emphasize your ability to work well with others. Showcase projects and tasks where effective collaboration was key to success.

Training and Development focused

Highlight your efforts in training and development. Showcase how you’ve contributed to upskilling your team or colleagues.

How to write an accounting resume if you have little to no experience

Diving into accounting with little experience can feel like a tall order. But worry not — even an elephant learned to balance on a ball! Here’s how you can create a standout resume.

First, start with a clear and engaging objective statement. Describe who you are and what job you’re aiming for. Highlight your enthusiasm and willingness to learn.

Next, focus on your education. Mention any relevant courses, certifications, or degrees. If you've done any projects, research, or volunteer work related to accounting, list those too.

Include any skills you have, even if they aren’t directly related to accounting. Think about teamwork, problem-solving, or computer skills. Employers love versatile candidates.

Don’t forget to add any internships, part-time jobs, or even summer gigs. Think about how these jobs required skills like detail orientation or working with numbers. These qualities are vital for an accountant.

Lastly, make sure your resume looks neat and professional. Use bullet points to make reading easier and keep it all to one page. Remember, sometimes it’s the little things that make the biggest impact!

Write your accounting resume summary section

When writing your resume summary section for an accounting job, make sure it highlights your key skills and experiences. A resume summary should be concise, engaging, and immediately show the value you bring to a potential employer.

To effectively describe yourself in a resume summary, briefly mention your experience, key skills, and achievements. Focus on what makes you unique and why you are an excellent fit for the job. Avoid general or vague statements that do not provide any specific value.

A resume summary is different from a resume objective, profile, or a summary of qualifications. A summary provides a brief overview of your professional background and key achievements. An objective states your career goals and how they align with the company’s needs. A resume profile is more of a detailed paragraph similar to a summary but usually focuses on your professional personality and working style. A summary of qualifications lists your top skills and accomplishments in bullet points.

Example 1:

This example is bad because it is too vague and lacks specific achievements or skills. "A few years" does not give a clear idea of your experience level. "Very good with numbers and spreadsheets" is a general statement and doesn't provide any specifics. It also lacks any mention of notable accomplishments.

Example 2:

This example is good because it provides specific information about your experience and skills. Mentioning "5 years of experience" gives a clear idea of how experienced you are. Highlighting specific skills like "managing financial records," "preparing reports," and "leading audit processes" shows exactly what you are capable of. Mentioning tools like "QuickBooks and Excel" adds to your credibility and shows that you have hands-on experience with industry-standard tools.

Listing your accounting skills on your resume

When writing your skills section for an accounting resume, it's important to present a balance of strengths, soft skills, and hard skills. You can create a standalone skills section or incorporate these skills into your experience or summary sections. Strengths and soft skills refer to interpersonal abilities like communication and teamwork. Hard skills are specific technical abilities like accounting software proficiency.

Skills and strengths also function as resume keywords that help your resume pass through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Including relevant keywords can make your resume more likely to be noticed by hiring managers.

Here’s an example of a standalone skills section in JSON format:

This section is good because it clearly lists relevant accounting skills without unnecessary words. It keeps the resume easy to read and helps meet ATS requirements.

Best hard skills to feature on your accounting resume

Hard skills are specific technical skills needed for a job. For accountants, these skills show your ability to handle the technical tasks of the job.

Best soft skills to feature on your accounting resume

Soft skills are interpersonal or people skills. For accountants, these skills show your ability to work well with others and manage tasks effectively.

How to include your education on your resume

The education section is an important part of your accounting resume. It should be tailored to the job you are applying for, focusing on relevant education and eliminating any irrelevant educational experiences. When listing your degree on your resume, include the full title of your degree, the institution, and the dates attended. If your GPA is strong and relevant to the position, include it to showcase your academic performance. Remember to also list any honors, such as cum laude, to highlight your achievements.

Here's a bad example of an education section:

This example is bad because the BA in Music is irrelevant to an accounting position and the low GPA doesn’t add value. The section also lacks focus on accounting-related coursework or achievements.

Here's a good example of an education section:

This example is good because it focuses on relevant education. The GPA is strong and highlighted, and the “cum laude” distinction showcases achievement. This education section is tailored to an accounting position, making it a valuable part of the resume.

How to include accounting certificates on your resume

For an accounting resume, including a certificates section is essential. Certificates can also be included in the header for quick visibility. For example, "Certified Public Accountant (CPA) since 2020" adds impact right at the top.

List the name of each certificate. Include the date it was obtained. Add the issuing organization. Make sure the certificates are relevant to the job you are applying for. Use bullet points for clarity and ease of reading.

The example is good because it details the certificate's title and issuing organization. It is relevant to the accounting field, enhancing the resume's value. This section can help you stand out to recruiters.

Extra sections to include in an accounting resume

Adding extra sections to your accounting resume can set you apart from other candidates. These additional sections provide deeper insights into your skills, interests, and experiences.

• Language proficiency section — highlight any languages you speak fluently along with your proficiency level. This shows your ability to work with diverse clients and teams.

• Hobbies and interests section — share hobbies that reflect skills relevant to accounting. This can make you seem more well-rounded and personable.

• Volunteer work section — mention volunteer activities where you've used or developed accounting skills. It demonstrates your commitment to the community and can provide additional experience.

• Books section — list books related to accounting or finance that you've read. This shows your dedication to staying informed and continuing your education.

Pair your accounting resume with a cover letter

A cover letter is a brief document you send with your resume to highlight your skills and experiences. It provides a chance to directly address the hiring manager and explain why you are the best fit for the position.

For an accounting job, your cover letter should emphasize your attention to detail, analytical skills, and your proficiency with accounting software. It should also showcase any relevant experience, like preparing financial statements or managing budgets, to demonstrate your expertise.

Create your cover letter with Resume Mentor's cover letter builder for an easy and efficient process. Exporting to PDF ensures your content and formatting remain intact and protected.