Accounting Manager Resume Examples & Guide (20+ Tips)

Implementing accounting principles. Overseeing reports. Providing audit information. Reporting to higher management. Monitoring tax regulations.

You handle it all. On top of those tasks, you also manage a team of accountants. You provide support when needed and try to solve the office drama without collateral damage.

To sum it up: It’s a lot.

If the idea of work-life balance lives rent- and tax-free in your head, maybe it’s time to make it a reality. There are other companies out there, offering better work conditions, freshly-ground coffee, and paid holiday.

Dust your application. Get that accounting manager resume up to date.

This guide will show you: 

• An accounting manager resume example better than 9 out of 10 other resumes.
• How to write an accounting manager resume that will land you more interviews.
• Tips and examples of how to put skills and achievements on an accounting manager resume.
• How to describe your experience on a resume for an accounting manager to get any job you want.

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Targeting other jobs in the finance sector. Take a look at these dedicated guides:

• Accountant Resume
• Senior Accountant Resume
• Accounting Clerk Resume
• Accounts Receivable Resume
• Accounts Payable Resume
• Actuary Resume
• Bank Teller Resume
• Bookkeeper Resume
• Business Resume
• Business Analyst Resume
• Consultant Resume
• Financial Analyst Resume
• Data Analyst Resume
• Data Entry Resume
• Personal Banker Resume
• Accounting Resume
• Entry-Level Accounting Resume
• Staff Accountant Resume
• Private Equity Resume
• Medical Billing Resume
• Professional Resume Examples for All Jobs

Accounting Manager Resume Sample

Here’s how to write a resume that proves you’re a vital asset:

1. Choose the Best Format for Your Accounting Manager Resume

To manage all things finance and all things team—you need a great plan for the game.

Your accounting manager resume needs good planning, too. Keep it in an orderly fashion by formatting it the proper way.

Here’s a winner strategy to getting the resume format right:

• Put your contact info in a resume heading.
• Use resume sections that are easy to navigate.
• Choose the best resume format. Chronological resumes usually work best.
• Select resume fonts wisely. Stick to the classics.
• Leave white space in between the lines. Don’t overload your resume with too much information.
• Send your resume in PDF. Unless the job offer states differently.

2. Write a Compelling Accounting Manager Resume Objective or Summary

On the last day of the tax season every second counts.

Well—

According to our HR statistics report, seconds can also decide if you get hired or not.

Impress the recruiters right off the bat with a catchy professional profile.

It’s a short introduction that tops your resume. It can be either a resume profile or resume objective.

Here’s the difference between the two:

Write a resume summary if you have plenty of professional experience. It’s the best way to show the crème de la crème of your career.

If you never worked as an accounting manager before, choose a resume objective. It promotes the skills you’ve earned so far and proves your motivation.

Pro Tip: Quantifiable achievements on a resume can really make a change. Use $ and % where possible to boost your chances of winning an interview.

3. Create the Perfect Accounting Manager Job Description for a Resume

Whether doing small business reports or leading large corporate operations—

How you describe your work experience on a resume matters.

Let your accounting manager job description demonstrate your value.

Here’s how to achieve this:

• Place your current or most recent job first and follow up with previous positions.
• For each job entry add a job title, company name, location, and dates worked.
• Describe your responsibilities on a bullet point list (6-7 bullets long).
• Start each bullet point entry with a resume action word.
• Remember about tailoring your resume to the job offer.

Pro Tip: If you don’t have accounting management experience, don’t worry. Think of relevant management-related duties from your past and list them in your resume work experience section.

When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional resume template here for free.

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When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.

4. Make Your Accounting Manager Resume Education Section Great

You’re targeting a managerial position.

So—

Your resume education section needs to impress.

You’re going to be a mentor and a coach. Prove that you’re well-educated for this role.

How?

• If you’re in accounting business for more than 5 years, stick to listing your degree, school name and location, plus a graduation year.
• If you’re less experienced, list academic achievements that show both accounting and management skills.

Pro Tip: Accounting managers need to follow business trends and ever changing finanse regulations. Consider joining one of the accounting associations, such as The Institute of Management Accountants or American Association of Finance and Accounting, to show the recruiter that you want to stay up-to-date.

5. Highlight Your Accounting Manager Skills

To head an accounting department you need a spreadsheet full of skills.

Soft skills, hard skills, and technical skills—you have to show more than the ability to depreciate fixed assets.

There’s a way to keep your key skills balanced:

• First, prepare a master list of all your job skills.
• Then, revisit the job ad to see what skills are mentioned there.
• Look at your list again and pick out the skills mentioned in the job description.
• Now, choose the ones you excel at and use them for your resume skills list.

Accounting Manager Key Skills

• Budget development
• Budget tracking
• Revenue projections
• Account reconciliation
• Corporate tax
• GAAP
• SFAS rules
• Project management
• Organization
• Multitasking
• Adaptability
• Persuasion
• Strong work ethic
• Profit and loss
• Mathematics
• Attention to detail
• Coaching
• Business knowledge
• Negotiations

• Analytical skills
• Teamwork Skills
• Critical thinking
• Decision making
• Leadership
• Problem solving
• Time management

Pro Tip: Taking care of financial systems and operations is one thing. Taking care of people is another. Make sure to include some interpersonal skills on your accounting manager resume.

6. Add Other Sections to Your Accounting Manager Resume

To get you that dream job, your resume needs to show that you’re more than just a number cruncher.

It has to shout you’re unique.

Additional resume sections will help you show that:

• Certifications: from CPA through CFA to CMA, there’s a long list of accounting certifications to list on your resume. Make them prominent in a separate resume section.

• Language skills: always an asset, especially if you target a managerial position in an international corporation.
• Achievements and awards: saved big bucks for the company or got a Manager of the Year title? Show these off.
• Hobbies and interests: these may be a nice change of pace in the formal world of finance.

7. Attach an Accounting Manager Cover Letter

Don’t ask yourself a question—do I need a cover letter.

Write one instead!

It turns out that about 50% of recruiters expect your application to include a cover letter.

And if you target a managerial position you need to stand out from the crowd.

Follow these tips and get your cover letter ready:

• Choose the proper cover letter format.
• Set the right tone in your cover letter intro.
• Make an offer and address your future employer’s needs.
• Include a call to action in your cover letter conclusion.

Pro Tip: Double your chances to land this new job and follow up on your job application. This will show the recruiter that you really care.

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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So, that’s it—

That’s a first-rate accounting manager resume example.

How did you like this accounting manager resume example? I’d love to hear from you, leave your comment below!