Accounting Resume: Examples for an Accountant [+Template]

There are about 1.397 million accounting jobs. Job growth is at around 11% per year. You've hit the jackpot! Why even worry about your accounting resume?

Right? If only. You know all too well there are too many bad accountant jobs out there. If you want high pay, a great work environment, and benefits, you’ll need an accounting resume that’ll tip the odds in your favor.

This guide will show you:

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

Here's a sample resume for an accounting position made using our resume builder.

Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you’ll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.

Use this resume template

Sample resume made with our builder—See more resume examples here.

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
• Banking Resume Sample
• Bank Teller Resume Sample
• Bookkeeper Resume Sample
• Budget Analyst Resume Sample
• Business Resume Sample
• Business Analyst Resume Sample
• Entry Level Business Analyst Resume Sample
• Office Clerk Resume Sample
• Certified Public Accountant / CPA Resume Sample
• Consultant Resume Sample
• Controller Resume Sample
• Internal Auditor Resume Sample
• Finance Resume Sample
• Tax Accountant Resume Sample
• Tax Preparer Resume Sample
• Tax Intern Resume Sample
• Financial Analyst Resume Sample
• Data Analyst Resume Sample
• Data Entry Resume Sample
• Personal Banker Resume Sample
• Investment Banking Resume Sample
• Medical Billing Resume Sample
• Actuary Resume Sample
• Private Equity Resume Sample
• Insurance Sales Agent Resume Sample
• Loan Processor Resume Sample
• Staff Accountant Resume Sample
• Business Administration Resume Sample
• Senior Accountant Resume Sample
• Best Resume Examples for All Professions

Here's how to write an accounting resume:

1

Choose the Best Format for an Accounting Resume

What trait defines a great accountant? They see the details like no-one else.

Your professional accountant resume must shout that from the rooftops.

So, use the chronological resume format. It gets your ducks in a row and shows your most recent wins first.

That's crucial, since most resumes get only seven seconds with the hiring manager.

Accountants also need great presentation skills.

Show yours with the best resume fonts, big headings, and plenty of white space.

Last, save it as a PDF unless the job offer says not to. A public accounting resume in Word format can devalue in transit. If it's hard to read, the hiring manager will award that juicy job to someone else.

Pro Tip: Not a layouts whiz? Put a shout-out on Facebook for help with your accountant resume. You're probably one degree of separation from someone who can give expert design tips.

Want to do due diligence on all the format options for a tax accountant resume? See our guide: 3 Resume Formats: How to Choose the Best One [Examples]

Oh no.

The hiring manager just clicked delete.

Your great accounting resume is gone forever.

But there's a clear path to a brighter outcome, where you make six figures and get buckets of free time.

How can you make that outcome a reality?

With a resume for accountants that grabs the manager's attention like a fat tax break.

That starts with a resume summary or a resume objective.

Use a resume summary if you've got spreadsheets full of experience. A summary shows the best of it in capsule form.

Use a resume objective if the ink on your CPA exam still smudges. It will show your drive and passion when you lack experience.

The bottom line for either? Stuff them with accomplishments.

The senior accounting resume examples below show how.

Accounant Resume Summary Example

That's not as bad as an audit letter, but remember, you need to stand out.

This senior accountant resume summary does just that:

That's better than a tax-free gift.

But what if your experience is more like a new account? If that's you, see the entry-level accountant resume examples below.

Entry-Level Accounting Resume Objective Example

That's as generic as an uncompleted balance statement.

But with a few details, suddenly you've got a junior accountant resume objective like this:

Show me the money, right? That entry-level accounting resume objective will earn a treasure-trove of interviews.

Where can you get that kind of experience when you're still as green as U.S. currency?

I'll show expert tips for that, up next.

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.

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

Need to write an accountant resume summary or objective that stands out like Olympic gold? Want help summarizing your accounts payable resume? See our guides: How To Write A Resume Summary: 21 Best Examples You Will See and +20 Resume Objective Examples - Use Them on Your Resume (Tips)

Picture a CEO.

Her name is Michelle.

She's got a skyline view and 300+ accountant resumes to dig through.

What will make your accounts payable resume leap off the page like it's wrapped in $100 bills?

Experience.

But there's a science for how to show experience on a resume for an accountant.

First, read the job ad carefully. Highlight any qualities it's looking for.

Second, dredge your past for accomplishments that prove those qualities.

Third, cast them in bullet points, with your last job first.

The staff accountant resume examples below will illustrate.

Accountant Job Description for a Resume

Wow. The CEO just dropped her copy of Profit First right in her Buddha bowl. She can't wait to schedule the interview.

But whatever you do, don't make this financial resumes mistake:

That's like saying, "I took the CPA exam." Okay, but did you pass?

Where are the metrics? What company goals did you help meet?

Writing your first resume with no experience to draw from? The next two staff accounting resume examples light the way.

How to Write a Resume for Accounting with No Experience

Don't have experience? I can almost guarantee you've got enough for a solid entry-level accounting resume.

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.

We're not talking about a year of work. Just one or two days can be enough to give a junior accounts receivable resume a solid footing.

The two accounting assistant resume examples below show how.

Entry-Level Accounting Resume Samples [No Experience]

That's like an overdrawn account.

To land superior interviews, your accounting assistant resume sample needs details:

That's no run-of-the-mill resume for accounting. That entry-level applicant might have the skills to take down Al Capone.

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

Don't let the hiring manager write you off. Sweeten your tax accountant resume with action words. See our guide: +80 Examples of Resume Action Words for Every Profession

Good news!

The CEO just called. She wants to interview you.

What made up her mind? The education section in your accountant resume.

Is that even possible?

It is, if you pack your education section with details that match the job.

Start with:

• College Name and Location
• Years in School
• Degree

Then add academic achievements that fit the job like debits to credits.

The staff accounting resume examples below paint the picture.

Accounting Resume Examples [Education]

Both these sample accounting resume sections target the same job. It requires a knowledge of business accounting and leadership potential.

Those are Deloitte-level accounting resume keywords. Plus, they fit the job offer.

That's not the case with the next of our staff accountant resume examples.

That's more generic than a QuickBooks template, and it won't work half as well.

But add those details back, and you're on track for a career with PwC again.

Academic achievements matter even more in an accounting student resume.

Pro Tip: Learn as much as possible about the hiring manager or CEO. That'll help you pick accomplishments that match. A little research now can pay off like Apple stock from 1980.

Should you list your school name first, or your degree? Can you leave off your GPA? Find these and other answers for your cost accountant resume. See our guides: How to Put Your Education on a Resume [Tips & Examples], GPA on Resume and How to list major and minor on Resume

Remember our CEO, Michelle?

If you convince her that you've got the skills she needs, you're on your way to being fully vested.

So, how do you convince her?

First, know what skills she needs. (She put them in the job ad.)

Second, prove your skills. That means showing how you've used them for maximum return.

The two accounting resume examples below disclose the right and wrong. They're for a job offer that values Accounting IT Skills, Account Reconciliation, and Account Analysis.

That's the accounting resume equivalent of a junk bond fund.

What's wrong with listing all your skills? It's too hard for Michelle to find the ones she needs. Your interview will evaporate like an abused discretionary fund.

So, focus on the one shown in the job description. Then prove you are the Warren Buffett of those qualities.

Those aren't just accounting resume skills. That's Arthur Blank before he hit it big.

Need an accountant skills list to get started? Use the ones below. They make great resume keywords, too:

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
• Critical Thinking
• Business Knowledge
• Organization
• Time Management
• Leadership Skills
• Detail Oriented
• Attention to Detail

Follow the path above, and your resume for accountants will put you on the EY track.

Don't skimp on your IT skills list. Computer skills on resumes are increasingly important for accountants.

Pro Tip: How long should a resume be for accounting? One page? Two? That depends on how experienced you are. For highly skilled applicants, a longer resume is actually better.

Want to turn your tax accounting resume skills section into a going concern? See our guide: +30 Best Examples of What Skills to Put on a Resume (Proven Tips)

Picture an airplane without wings or an engine.

That's the same as an accountant who's not certified.

Of course you've got your CPA license. But show it right, or that busy executive may miss it and move on.

Put your certification in three places:

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

This accounting resume example shows how:

The CPA license is gold on an accountant resume. You can also put it in your job titles.

Certifications look even better on accounting intern resumes.

Other certifications on public accounting resumes? CFA, EA, CIA, CFE, and CISA. Whatever certifications you have, make sure they're relevant to the job opening.

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

Need more help with certifications on a resume for accounting? See our guide: How to List Certifications on a Resume: Guide (+20 Examples)

How unique are you?

To really stand out, your accounting resume must show you're more than just a great bean counter.

It has to show you've got six hands and a calculator in each one.

Sound impossible? It's easy. Just add some well-trimmed "other" sections to your resume.

The two staff accountant resume examples below show how.

Accounting Resume Examples [Other Sections]

That applicant sounds intense. I'm not sure if she's a great accountant, though.

But what about this next accounting manager resume example:

That's as solid as a Swiss Bank. If you can show engagement like that in your accounting resume, you're halfway to getting hired.

"Other" sections are especially helpful with accounting assistant resumes.

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.

Drawing a blank for what "other" sections to include in your accounts payable resume? This guide enumerates the options: Resume Sections to Include on Your Resume: Guide (+20 Examples)

Why do experts say you don't need a cover letter?

Because most applicants write this kind of accounting cover letter:

"Dear hiring manager. I'm a good CPA. Please read my accounting resume."

So, don't write that cover letter.

Instead, make it personal, passionate, and persuasive.

First, use the hiring manager's name.

Next, show you understand her challenge.

Third, prove how you can fill the bill.

This shortened accountant cover letter example demonstrates:

Accounting Cover Letter Example

Close your cover letter with a request: "Could we discuss furthering Sachs' cloud accounts reconciliation excellence?" works great.

Pro Tip: Don't be afraid to follow up. Don't push, but after a few days, an email nudge can put you top-of-mind. That gives your accounts receivable resume another shot at glory.

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:

Create my cover letter now

See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Need the full transaction processing for writing a great accounting cover letter? See our article, Cover Letter for Accounting Positions (Samples) and our general guide, How To Write A Cover Letter in 8 Simple Steps (+12 Examples)

Contact info on a resume for accounting is so simple, yet potentially so devastating.

Of course you'll list:

• Full Name
• Updated Phone Number
• Professional Email Address

Like so:

Sarah Feng, CPA, CMA, [email protected], 252-623-0300

But don't forget to add your LinkedIn profile.

LinkedIn has become crucial resume contact info. According to HR statistics, a whopping 87% of all recruiters hire from LinkedIn.

Plus, your profile can show you're more than just a lot of rows and columns.

Pro Tip: Want to get 11x more views to your LinkedIn profile? Want to know how adding accounting executive resume keywords can get more interviews? See our guide to LinkedIn profile optimization.

Need the fine details to make the best accounting resume you can? See our guide: How to Make a Resume: A Step-by-Step Guide (+30 Examples)

This guide shows the nuts and bolts of making a great resume for accounting. Remember these key strategies:

• Read the job offer carefully. Highlight the qualities you see. Then, prove you have them in your accounting resume bullet points.
• Don't fudge your education section. A key detail in it can be the one thing the hiring manager remembers about a staff accountant resume.
• Add "other" sections to report on the breadth of your accounting resume skills. Include professional associations, volunteer work, and publications.

Do you have questions on how to write a great resume for accounting? Not sure how to describe your accounting skills or achievements? Give us a shout in the comments! Let's generate some interest.