Accountant resume example

Key sections to include in a resume

The structure of your resume should be straightforward and concise and include key information about your accounting experience, skills, affiliations, and interests.

Header

Your header is the simplest part of your resume. It should list your name, job title, and contact information. You can also list your LinkedIn profile here if you have one.

Example:

Anna Hughes
Senior Accountant
anna.hughes@gmail.com
(678) 392-8182
Atlanta, GA
LinkedIn.com/in/anna.m.hughes

Objective or summary

Your resume objective or summary statement is an opportunity to help hiring managers understand the value you’ll bring to their company before they read your cover letter.

As the title suggests, your objective or summary should summarize your qualifications and show the company who you are as a professional accountant. In this section of your accounting resume example, you should:

• Highlight your relevant experience
• Describe the position you hope to get
• Share your unique strengths and accomplishments
• Explain how you add value and help companies meet goals

The statement should be no more than a few sentences long and quantify your experience as much as possible.

Example:

Certified Public Accountant with a history of accurately and efficiently supporting accounting activities for businesses in the manufacturing and logistics sectors. 10-plus years of experience presenting data, analyzing cost control, providing financial reports, and delivering profit and loss statements under time constraints. Achievements include saving Atlanta Steel Corp. $375,000 by correcting a tax reporting error.

Work experience

Next, list your work experience in reverse chronological order, with your most recent position first. State the position, the name of the company, the dates you worked there, and your various responsibilities and achievements. Here’s an example accounting resume to help you get started:

Example:

Senior Accountant
Atlanta Steel Corp.
09/2020–Present

• Review and analyze the balance sheet, income statement, cash flow statements, and variance narratives
• Establish new fund distribution rules to define and standardize key metrics and tolerances 
• Monitor the status of transactions and coding structures to ensure alignment with company policy and guidelines

Accountant
404 Logistics
03/2015–08/2020

• Analyzed budgets, financial reports, and projections for accurate reporting of financial standing
• Reviewed accounting structures and procedures on a regular basis to identify areas in need of improvement
• Managed, tracked, and monitored financial updates, watch lists, and insurance files

Skills

If you like, you can add a section to the above accounting resume example to focus on your hard and soft skills.

Example:

• Liability calculation
• Account reconciliation processes
• Growth expansion strategies
• Expense account variance
• Advanced bookkeeping skills
• Familiarity with invoice coding
• Analytic intervention

Make sure each skill listed is specific to the accounting industry. Additionally, try to incorporate some of the same skills-based language from the job description to help you make it past any resume screening software the company uses.

Education and certifications

Your accounting education is key to ensuring that you’re equipped to handle business and personal finances. Obtaining certifications builds trust with employers by showing that your skills are verified and endorsed by a third party. Those that take years to obtain are especially desirable and should be highlighted on your resume.

Example:

Certified Public Accountant (CPA), American Institute of Certified Public Accountants — August 2015
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting
Clark-Atlanta University — Atlanta, Georgia
Graduated May 2013, magna cum laude

Professional memberships

In the accounting industry, professional associations provide continuing education and an opportunity to network with other professionals. Listing these on your accounting resume example shows your commitment to professional development and the profession as a whole. 

Example:

American Accounting Association

• Held the position of Nominations Committee Co-Chair since 2020
• Selected to lead a breakout session at the 2024 Leadership in Accounting Summit on attracting more young professionals to the industry amid the severe CPA shortage

Optional sections

The final option section is where you should place any personal information that may be relevant to the job or interesting to the hiring manager. If you speak a different language, for instance, you can say so in this section, especially if the business you hope to work for serves clients who also speak that language. 

You can also list any hobbies, interests, or volunteer work relevant to the position. For example, you may have volunteer experience providing free accounting services for a nonprofit organization, which sheds light on your good character, sense of integrity, and commitment to service.

Example:

Additional Languages: Fluent in Mandarin (10 years) and currently learning American Sign Language

Community Service: Providing pro bono accounting services to Atlanta-based homeless shelter Safehouse Outreach since August 2021

Tips for writing the role-specific resume

Because accounting roles require many hard skills, a reverse chronological resume format that showcases your concrete work history is ideal, especially if you have several years of experience in the role.

If you’ve just completed your education and lack experience, you might consider using a combination resume format. This type of resume highlights your skills first so you can show hiring managers how you can add value as a member of the company’s financial team.

While using an accounting resume example as a starting point is a good idea, it’s also vital to ensure that you tailor your resume for the role. Accounting involves a lot of very specific skills that are critical to maintaining a company’s financial health and regulatory compliance status.

The hiring manager will want to know that you’re organized and have great customer service skills, but it’s even more important for you to be able to prove that you understand the principles of quantitative methods and analysis. Consequently, hard skills like these should take precedence on your resume.

Similarly, quantifying your achievements is more important in accounting than in other roles (it is a “numbers” job, after all). Here are a few of the ways you can quantify your accomplishments in accounting:

• How much money you’ve saved a business
• What percentage you lowered spending
• How much time you saved on a project
• How many people you supervised
• How many employees you trained

Finally, make sure your certifications, education, and memberships in any professional organizations occupy a prominent place on your resume. Use one of our resume templates to present your information in an effective manner.

As an accountant, it’s important to have proof that others have confirmed your skill set, and your certificates, degrees, and memberships demonstrate this fact. These elements also show businesses that you’re truly committed to your career and want to stay on the cutting edge of what’s happening in the field.

Demonstrate your value with the right accountant resume

Accountants play a critical role in their organizations. Not only do they consult with business leaders about handling company finances, but they also ensure that the business remains compliant to avoid fines, penalties, and reputational damage. 

Because the role demands so many technical skills, resume examples and for accounting like the ones presented here tend to be clear, quantified, and tailored to the industry. Above all, make sure all key sections are present, including the summary, work experience, certifications, and professional memberships.

If you’re ready to land your next (or first) accounting role, start creating your accounting-specific resume today with our easy-to-use resume and cover letter templates and tools.