How to Write a Resume for Accounting in 2025
Looking to balance the books on your career? This guide offers accountant resume examples, templates, and tips to help you create an accounting resume that'll get you hired!
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A robust accounting resume is essential to standing out in today’s competitive finance job market. Whether you’re a seasoned CPA or just stepping into the accounting world, this guide will help you build a successful accountant resume that will boost your chances of getting hired.
You’re about to learn how to build a resume that speaks to your strengths, impresses employers, and sets you apart in a competitive field. Get ready to take your career to the next level with an accounting resume that adds up!
Accounting Resume Example
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Explore our complete resume examples selection for tips and resources tailored to every career path.
Job Responsibilities for an Accountant Resume
Accountants handle financial records, prepare reports, and ensure tax compliance. They also analyze economic data to guide strategic decisions and improve efficiency. An accounting resume should show attention to detail, expertise in accounting software, and strong problem-solving skills.
If you’re looking for duties and responsibilities to put on your accounting resume, here’s what most accounting professionals do daily:
- Prepare and maintain financial statements following accounting standards.
- Manage accounts payable and receivable to ensure timely payments and collections.
- Perform monthly and yearly closing activities, including reconciliation of accounts.
- Analyze financial data to identify trends, variances, and opportunities for cost reduction.
- Assist in budgeting and forecasting to support financial planning processes.
- Ensure compliance with tax regulations by preparing and submitting accurate tax filings.
- Conduct internal audits to ensure financial accuracy and adherence to policies.
- Collaborate with management to provide insights and recommendations based on financial analysis.
These duties are not exactly resume-ready, though. To see them reconciled into job-winning material, take a look at this accountant resume example written by our career experts:
Accounting Resume Template for Junior Candidates
Experienced Accountant Resume Sample
Accounting Manager Resume Example
1. Apply the Right Format to Your Accounting Resume
Like tax forms, resumes require organization, each section having a designated purpose. Adhering to an accepted resume format will make your resume easy to navigate for recruiters and boost your chances of making a positive impression.
The most popular and widely used format is the reverse-chronological resume, so we’ll use it in this guide. This is the standard resume structure and will be the best choice for most accountants.
There are two alternatives, however: the functional resume format and the combination resume. These are not as universal—they’re only recommended if you’re changing careers or need to draw attention away from a significant resume gap. They focus on transferable skills instead of work experience, so you may get away with concealing a thing or two at the cost of showcasing your accomplishments.
Let’s get back to writing a reverse-chronological resume. Here are the sections you should include in this order:
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- Resume header with your contact information
- Resume summary paragraph with highlights from your career (resume objective for entry-level candidates)
- Work experience section outlining your best accomplishments in each role
- Education section with details of your most recently completed degree(s)
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- Skills section with a mix of soft and hard skills that make you the perfect fit for the job
- Additional sections for any other relevant information, like your CPA and different certifications, foreign language skills, and so on
Structure is one thing, but appearance also matters—you want your resume to look inviting to read, with a neat font and spacing. Here’s a handy list of formatting tips:
- The best resume fonts don’t draw attention to themselves. Helvetica, Calibri, Arial, or Georgia all fit the bill.
- A font size of 10–12 points offers optimum readability. To make the headings stand out, make them larger (14–16 points).
- White space makes your resume easier to read. Use 1.15-inch line spacing and one-inch resume margins.
- Word Documents don’t always display the same on different devices. Unless the employer asks for a different format, save your resume as a PDF—it’ll keep your layout intact.
Aim for a one-page resume—it’s the ideal length and should be easily achievable if you stick to relevant information. Two-page resumes are a viable option for senior accountants and accounting managers with lots of experience.
What should your resume look like? Here are our best resume templates for accounting professionals to give you some ideas:
This accounting resume template uses two columns, enabling you to create an organized and easy to read document. It highlights your organization skills.
Build my resumeThis accounting resume template puts your professional summary to the left of the page, ensuring recruiters will see it quickly, letting you make a strong first impression.
Build my resume2. Place Your Contact Details in a Professional Header
Your resume header is a formality, really—all you need to do here is include:
- Your full name
- Your phone number
- Your email address
- The URL of your LinkedIn profile (optional)
You can add a touch of color to your header to make your resume stand out, and it’s always a good idea to make your name more prominent than the rest of the contact information on your resume.
Pro Tip: If you’re a Certified Public Accountant, add your CPA title after your name in the header, e.g., “Jane Smith, CPA.” The same applies to CMA and other professional accounting certifications.
3. Account for Your Expertise in the Work Experience Section
When adding work experience to your resume, list your jobs, starting with the current or most recent position. For each role, provide:
- Your job title
- The name and location of the company
- Your dates of employment (month and year)
- 3–5 bullet points outlining your accomplishments
Your bullet points need to provide proof of your skills and expertise. Here’s how to make sure they’re impactful and relevant:
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- Focus each bullet point on an achievement. Rather than just stating what you did, point to the positive impact of your actions.
- Start each bullet with an action verb like “delivered” or “improved.” This shows initiative and highlights that you were directly responsible for the positive outcome.
- Include numbers in your achievements to add context. “Improved invoice accuracy” is a rather vague statement, but “Improved invoice accuracy by 20%” shows you’re efficient and goal-oriented.
- Tailor your job descriptions to each job opening. Take note of the duties and skills involved in each job you apply for, and reframe your achievements to reflect those skills.
Look at the accountant resume templates in this guide to see well-written bullet points for accounting roles!
If you’re at the start of your professional journey and lack jobs to list here, don’t worry. You can put volunteer roles or internships on your resume to show your skills and hands-on experience. Failing that, boost your education by placing it first and filling it with relevant bullet points—more on that in the next section of this guide.
Pro Tip: How far back to go on your resume? Ten years is a rule of thumb, but you can go back further if an older job provides insight into additional accomplishments or skills. Just make sure to stick to relevant experience on your resume.
4. Showcase Your Education
Most accounting jobs in the U.S. require a Bachelor’s degree or above, including entry-level positions. Even though it may seem obvious that you have the proper education, you should always mention it in a dedicated section on your resume.
List your degree(s), starting with the most recently completed one, including the following information:
- The level and name of the degree or program, e.g., M.Sc. in Accounting
- The name and location of the college or institution
- Your dates of attendance
There’s no need to list your high school diploma unless you’re applying for an accounting internship and have yet to complete your Bachelor’s degree.
As a student or recent graduate, you should make the most of your education resume section—it’s likely to be your biggest asset. Add bullet points structured in the same way as those listed in the work experience section. Fill them with achievements from:
- Academic studies, like making the Dean’s list or achieving a high GPA
- Extracurricular activities that show relevant skills
- Projects and coursework completed as part of your studies
Focus on highlighting the skills each activity has helped you develop. If you’re applying for an entry-level position, all you need to show is that you have the potential to succeed—employers won’t expect a lot of experience from fresh grads, after all.
5. Add a Balanced Accounting Skills Resume Section
The other sections of your resume already reflect your skill set, but it’s still worth listing your best skills on your resume in a separate section. This allows you to use keywords from the job advertisement. Take note of the skills the employer requires and weave them onto your list to highlight your suitability for the role.
Hard skills will make up most of your list, but remember to include soft skills, like communication and time management. They, too, are essential accounting skills for resumes and beyond. They show you’re a well-rounded professional who can communicate with clients and collaborate with others.
Here’s a list of skills for an accounting resume to give you some ideas:
Accounting Resume Skills
- Financial reporting
- Budgeting
- Tax Preparation
- Microsoft Excel
- QuickBooks
- Analytical skills
- Attention to detail
- Time management
- Communication skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Accounts payable/receivable
- Financial analysis
- SAP ERP
- Teamwork
- General ledger management
6. Round Out Your Accounting Resume with Supplementary Sections
Most of your resume is already in place, but you will still have much relevant information to share with your prospective employer. You can do so in additional resume sections, such as:
- Certifications and courses resume section
- Volunteering resume section
- Foreign language skills resume section
- Awards and publications
- Memberships in professional associations, like AICPA
- Relevant hobbies and interests
If you’re a CPA, add certification details to your resume, including the awarding body and the year you passed your exam. The same goes for any other key milestones, like CMA or CIA. The different sections are optional—only include them if they offer information that will directly support your application.
7. Complete Your Resume with a Resume Summary or Objective
Your accounting resume will be ready once you have taken one more step. We’ve left the introductory paragraph for last, and the time has come to summarize your best accomplishments in a professional resume summary or objective.
If you have work experience, use your resume summary to reiterate your biggest successes. Read your resume and highlight 3–4 of your best accomplishments, then work them into your summary, along with a few critical skills. Add an offer to dedicate your expertise towards helping the new employer achieve a goal, and you’ll be looking at a winning resume introduction!
Here’s an accountant resume summary example:
Detail-oriented and results-driven accountant with over 5 years of experience managing financial records, preparing reports, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. Reduced month-end closing times by 30% and identified cost-saving opportunities that lowered operational expenses by 15%. Successfully managed budgets exceeding $2 million and improved financial accuracy by 25% through diligent audits. Excited to bring expertise to Blue Horizon Financial with a commitment to optimizing financial performance and driving sustainable growth.
If you lack the experience to write a summary like this, write a resume objective instead. Rely on internship, volunteering, and academic achievements to show you have what it takes, as in this example:
Detail-oriented and highly motivated accounting graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and hands-on experience through a comprehensive internship at AccuBooks. Played a crucial role in reducing financial discrepancies by 10% through meticulous reconciliations and increased departmental budget efficiency by 15% with detailed financial reporting. Proficient in QuickBooks, Excel, and data analysis, with a strong foundation in economic forecasting and compliance. Eager to join Blue Horizon Financial as an entry-level accountant, leveraging my skills to enhance financial accuracy and support the company’s strategic growth.
Pro Tip: Proofread your resume several times before you submit it. Attention to detail is among the most essential traits for an accountant, so typos or errors on your resume would make a terrible impression.
8. Supplement Your Resume with an Accounting Cover Letter
Even when a cover letter is not explicitly required, writing one is always a good idea. Getting hired is all about standing out during the application process, and a well-written accounting cover letter can do just that. Writing a cover letter is easier than it seems, too. Start with a couple of crucial achievements to catch the reader’s eye, then go into more detail about your successes—focus on proving you have what it takes to hit the ground running in the new role. Use the job advertisement to guide your choices. Here’s an example of an engaging accounting cover letter:
Build my cover letterAccountant Resume Dos and Don’ts
- Tailor your resume to each role by highlighting the skills and experiences that match the job description. This shows employers that you're a perfect fit for their needs and increases your chances of getting noticed.
- Use strong action words to highlight your achievements and demonstrate your contributions. Action words make your experience sound more dynamic and impactful.
- Keep formatting clean and straightforward, with clear headings and no images. This will make your document easy to read and ensure that your resume will pass ATS checks. ATS is software that scans incoming applications used by most large companies.
- Include unnecessary personal details like age, marital status, or a photo. This information isn’t irrelevant in accounting roles and can lead to unconscious bias. Stick to professional information that shows your qualifications and experience.
- Use generic descriptions—be specific about your skills and accomplishments.
- Overload your resume with irrelevant information, like unrelated jobs from 15+ years ago, lengthy descriptions, or interests unrelated to accounting. This can distract from your qualifications and make your resume harder to read.
Looking for other resume guides and examples? Here’s a list of related articles written by our career experts:
Sources
- Accountants and Auditors, Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, accessed October 1, 2024, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/accountants-and-auditors.htm
- 10 Best Accounting Skills, Ottawa University, accessed October 1, 2024, https://www.ottawa.edu/online-and-evening/blog/july-2021/10-best-accounting-skills
- 20 Qualities & Traits That Make a Good Accountant, Wilmington College, accessed September 30, 2024, https://www.wilmington.edu/news/20-qualities-traits-that-make-a-good-accountant