Accounting Assistant Resume Examples & Job Description

What to Highlight in an Accounting Assistant Resume

Accounting assistants are responsible for several elements of a financial team’s accounting procedures. 

If you have recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, then you may be looking to get started on your job application process. If so, you are in the right place! A perfect resume isn’t always easy to master, but there are formats, techniques, and ways to simplify the process.

Common accounting assistant job requirements that you should look to include on your resume are: 

• Knowledge of bookkeeping 
• Data entry experience
• Previous experience as an administrative assistant
• Experience with expense reports
• Accounting software experience 
• Knowledge of financial statements and financial reports

Structure of an Accounting Assistant Resume

The first step to creating a professional resume is to decide on a structure. You can choose any of the following three resume formats to guarantee a slick presentation. The format you choose will depend on your specific skills and experiences.

• Functional: Homes in on the specific skills and qualifications for the relevant job role, with job experience taking up a smaller section of your resume. This format is best for job seekers who don’t have much experience.
• Chronological: Work history takes center stage, with your most recent position features at the top of your resume, and the skills section is briefer. This format works best for those who are experienced in accounting work.
• Combination: Work experience and skills are featured equally, making this format a good choice if you’re changing careers or have a few years of experience. 

You will always need to add the following elements to your resume, regardless of structure:

• Contact information
• Personal statement
• Skills section
• Work experience
• Education 

Header

In your resume’s first section, use a simple header that includes contact information that recruiters will need. This includes:

• Your full name
• Email address
• Contact number
• Location (city, state)

You can also include your professional portfolio links. 

Resume summary or  objective

A resume summary allows you to quickly grab the attention of hiring managers by giving a quick overview of your best skills, career achievements and certifications.

A resume objective will focus more on your career goals and objectives, plus the top skills you have.

Skills

For an accounting assistant job, your resume will need to include all the essential skills recruiters will be looking out for. You don’t need years of accounting experience to stand out, and interpersonal or soft skills can put you in the driver’s seat. For example:

• Problem-solving
• Technical skills (soft skills)
• Knowledge of specific software (eg., Microsoft Office, Quickbooks)
• Bookkeeping
• Detail-oriented
• Written and verbal communication skills
• Working with budgets

Work history

Even if you choose to use a functional resume structure, you will still need to include information about your work history. Always state your most recent work experience first, and try to pick out the most relevant skills that apply to the job you want.

For example, a soft skill you might gain from working in a store is customer service. This skill is still relevant to being an accounting assistant and would be worth noting in your resume.

Education

Whether you recently left high school or have a degree in financial accounting, your education can be relevant to the job role you’re applying for. 

Over 50% of accounting assistants have studied a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, making it a desirable asset amongst recruiters. However, if you don’t have a college degree, you can still apply to entry-level accounting assistant positions.

The education section of your resume should be brief, noting your highest accreditation, the name of the school and institution, and location.

Do's and Don'ts for an Accounting Assistant Resume

Do’s:

• Use bullet points to list skills and qualifications. This ensures applicant tracking systems (ATS) can pick up all your relevant information easily.  
• Refer to accounting assistant job descriptions to make sure you answer as many of the job’s requirements (e.g., skills and experiences) as possible. 
• Use our resume builder and accounting assistant resume samples to devise an easy-to-follow resume structure.

Dont’s:

• Use the same resume for every application; change it up to ensure you hit the unique requirements of each job you apply for.
• Include irrelevant information on previous work experiences. Focus on achievements and responsibilities that feature important skills.
• Write lengthy paragraphs for each section; this will make your resume harder to read, for both human recruiters and ATS systems.