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Table of contents

Popular accounting resumes
How to write an accounting resume
Accounting resume examples by experience level
Add a cover letter
Facts about the accounting industry
Key takeaways for your accounting
Commonly asked question about resume writing

Accounting is a field built on precision and analysis. As an accountant, you play an indispensable role in the financial success of organizations across all industries. From managing budgets and tax compliance to providing strategic financial insights, accountants serve as the backbone of business operations.

Whether you’re an aspiring number cruncher or a seasoned finance professional, building a strong resume will help get you started down the path of your dream accounting career. Now, all you need is some accounting resume samples and tips to help you write a resume that puts a spotlight on your talents.

This guide will show you:

Examples of popular accounting resumes.
How to write an accounting resume.
Accounting resumes at different experience levels.
Why cover letters are still important.
Key takeaways as you begin your job search.

Ready to write your resume ASAP? Check out our AI Resume Builder. This tool provides professionally written text suggestions, expert advice and a variety of stylish resume designs to help you hit the ground running with a resume that meets your needs.

Popular accounting resumes

Learning your field and developing your accounting skills is the hard part. Now all you need is to learn how to make a resume that does justice to your technical expertise. Leave that to us!

Here’s a sample accounting resume which has been made in our Resume Builder:

Accounting resume example

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How to write an accounting resume

Looking for the perfect accounting role? Step one is building a resume that represents everything you have to offer. Start by reading the job listing carefully. Your resume should be tailor-made to target the job that you want, so avoid resume filler and stick with keywords that hone in on what your potential employer is looking for. Now that you’ve studied the job listing, you’re ready to get started!

Making the perfect resume begins with understanding what a resume is. From the template and the resume profile to your skills section, a persuasive resume makes the most of every opportunity to play to your strengths and show off your accomplishments.

A great resume outline will always include the following:

Contact info in the header.
A well-written, targeted resume profile.
At least one section — if not more! — for skills.
A reverse-chronological list of work experience.
A full accounting of credentials in an education section.
Optional sections to help you stand out.

Let’s take a closer look at what a resume is made of!

Step 1

Start with your header

Your resume’s job is to land you an interview. That means one of its most important responsibilities is to distribute your contact information.

Compared with your experience and skills, this might not seem as important, but you can’t ever expect to get a call from an employer if they don’t have your number. Here is the information that you should include in the header of your resume:

Name
Phone number
Professional email address
City and state
LinkedIn profile (optional)

For some careers, the resume header incorporates visual design elements to add style or character. Accounting is a relatively conservative profession when compared to something like art or music. So, for accounting professionals, stick to the basics and avoid adding distractions.

Here’s an example of an appropriate accounting resume header:

Writing tip

Read and reread your contact information to ensure accuracy. The last thing you want is a typo that prevents your dream job from calling you in for an interview.

Step 2

Add a professional summary or resume objective

Now that your header is done, it’s time to introduce yourself! Your resume profile is the section where you first get to discuss your qualifications.

There are two kinds of resume profiles. Both provide different advantages for professionals at different stages in their careers.

Job seekers with significant relevant experience should use a professional summary. Professional summaries briefly outline the applicant’s experience and qualifications.
Job seekers who are entry-level or transitioning into a new field should write a resume objective instead. A resume objective focuses on the candidate’s career goals.

Both resume profile types have their own merits, so your job is deciding which one allows you to put your best foot forward.

Writing tip

If you lack experience, focus on your soft skills and goals for the future in your resume objective. Summarize the things you hope to learn and the ways that you intend to contribute to the role.

Professional summary for accounting resume example:

Results-driven and detail-oriented accountant with nine years of experience in financial management, reporting and analysis. Demonstrated expertise in overseeing and optimizing financial processes, ensuring compliance with accounting principles and regulations. Adept at streamlining operations, reducing costs and implementing effective financial strategies to drive profitability. Proven ability to prepare and analyze complex financial statements while providing valuable insights to senior management for informed decision-making. Skilled in leading cross-functional teams and fostering collaborative environments to achieve organizational goals. Seeking to leverage a solid track record of success in a challenging accounting role to deliver exceptional financial outcomes and contribute to the continued growth and success of a progressive organization.

Sample objective for accounting resume example:

Diligent and adaptable accountant with a strong foundation in property management and a recent transition into the accounting field. Leveraging three years of experience in property management. Eager to apply analytical mindset, attention to detail and financial acumen to excel as an accountant. Committed to further developing accounting skills and knowledge. Aiming to contribute effectively to financial analysis, reporting and budget management efforts within a dynamic organization. Motivated learner and team player. Enthusiastic about embracing new challenges and making a meaningful impact on financial operations.

Step 3

Showcase your skills

Your accounting skills are the tools and traits that give you the ability to do your job. You’ve already mastered a range of technical skills and working habits — now, you need to find a way to express that on your resume.

Your skills section should highlight your full spectrum of accounting skills. Resumes exist to show employers what you can do, so your skills section should demonstrate a balanced mix of abilities. This means ensuring you mention both the hard skills that help you navigate financial infrastructure and the soft skills that allow you to communicate with customers, clients and coworkers.

While the difference between hard vs soft skills might seem arbitrary, having a well-rounded resume is essential in any career.

Writing tip

Try to be specific with the skills that you include. Instead of listing generic computer skills on your resume, for example, describe the accounting software that you’ve mastered.

Accounting skills to add to your resume:

Hard Skills

Resourcefulness
Critical thinking
Flexibility
Communication

Soft Skills

Budgeting and forecasting
Financial reporting
Tax compliance
Accounting software including Quickbooks and SAP

Step 4

Fill in your work experience

The work history section of your resume is one of the most vital sections. This is where you get to describe the experiences that have brought you to where you are professionally.

Your accounting roles have come with lots of challenges that have developed you into the skilled and competent accountant that you’ve become. To demonstrate the depth of your expertise, make sure you write a work experience section that does more than list the names and dates of your previous roles.

There are a few things to keep in mind when you write your experience section:

Give life to your accomplishments with numerical data. Instead of saying “minimized client budgets,” say “optimized client budgets to reduce spending by 36%.”
Employ action words to convey the impact of your work. Words like “strategized,” “led” and “assessed” provide a greater sense of impact than overused terms like “responsible for.”
Your work experience should be placed in reverse-chronological order to tell the story of your career’s progression.

Writing tip

Even if your skills section is complete, your work experience section gives you fantastic new opportunities to show off key technical skills.

Sample accounting work experience entry:

General Accountant
Lupine Accounting Firm | Scottsdale, AZ | February 2021 – Present

Conduct financial analysis and prepare accurate financial statements, including balance sheets, income statements and cash flow statements for over 600 client accounts.
Manage budgeting and forecasting processes, identifying cost-saving opportunities and minimizing unnecessary costs by 27%.
Oversee tax compliance activities, preparing and filing tax returns for individuals and businesses in accordance with relevant regulations.
Assist with internal and external audits, ensuring compliance with accounting principles and identifying areas for process improvement.
Utilize accounting software (e.g., QuickBooks, SAP) to streamline financial operations and maintain organized and up-to-date records.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to provide valuable financial insights and support decision-making processes.
Conduct regular reconciliations of accounts, resolving discrepancies and ensuring accurate financial data for reporting purposes.

Step 5

Highlight your education

A career in accounting usually involves a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field. Many accountants pursue a Bachelor of Science in accounting, finance or business administration with a concentration in accounting. Some may go even further and pursue higher level degrees or professional certifications, such as becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

You may list certifications within the education section, but if you have many certifications or would like to list honors and awards, you should give them their own section.

Accounting education entry example:

Education

Bachelor of Science in Finance
The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ | 2018

Certifications

Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Licensed by Arizona State Board of Accountancy, 2019

Writing tip

Recent graduates should include graduation dates and relevant coursework to explain and mitigate their lack of experience. After a few years in the workforce, these details are no longer needed.

Step 6

Consider adding special sections

Special sections can be added to your resume at your discretion. No two resumes should be exactly alike, and if there’s something in your history that your potential employer might want to know, feel free to include it. Here are some examples of special sections that you may want to add:

Volunteer work: Volunteering connects you with your community and demonstrates a strong work ethic. Pay special attention to volunteer work that is relevant to the scope of your career.
Language proficiency: Speaking multiple languages not only connects you with other cultures, it also demonstrates mental agility and acuity.
Hobbies and interests: Hobbies and interests make us who we are. Feel free to include some on your resume so long as they are relevant to your career. Being a big fan of Broadway musicals probably won’t help you much, but belonging to a local chess club might.

Writing tip

Keep it simple. You don’t need special sections. Don’t add them just to add them. The information on your resume should be carefully chosen to support your career.

Now that you’ve written a persuasive resume, it’s time to choose an accounting resume template. Our library of resume templates includes a variety of designs and styles, from creative templates that are eye-catching and bold to simple templates that are straightforward and easy to scan. Most accounting professionals will be best served by something basic and professional.

For people who want immediate access to an accounting resume template, there are free downloadable options for Microsoft Word and Google Docs.

Accounting resume examples by experience level

The way you organize your resume is an important decision. Different resume formats highlight different strengths, so it’s important to organize your resume in a way that benefits your experience level.

There are three resume formats, and each one is for applicants at different career stages:

Entry-level job seekers should use a functional resume format. This format focuses more on skills than experience.
Midcareer job seekers would be served best by a combination resume format. This format balances experience and skills.
Senior job seekers would benefit from a chronological resume format. This format lets experience take center stage.

Let’s review a visual example of each format.

Functional resume format: Entry-level accounting resume example

Functional resume entry level example accountant

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What makes this a great accounting resume sample?

It’s functional
This candidate has less experience, so using the functional format which focuses on skills rather than experience is a good call.
It uses numbers
Even though this candidate has less experience, adding numerical data shows that the experience that he does have has had a concrete impact on past roles.
It’s easy to read
A resume should be easy to quickly scan and understand at a glance. This resume uses an intuitive layout that’s easy to follow.

Combination resume format: Midcareer accounting resume example

Combination resume mid career example accountant

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What makes this a great accounting resume sample?

It uses a professional summary
While this candidate isn’t exactly senior level, he has enough experience that it makes sense to focus on career accomplishments in his resume profile.
It uses active language
Using terms like “conducted” and “developed” gives this resume a sense of action.
It keeps it simple
With so many interesting template options available, it can be easy to miss the forest for the trees. This resume sticks to the basics with a stylishly simple template that showcases experience rather than visual appeal.

Chronological resume format: Experienced accounting resume example

Chronological resume experienced example accountant

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What makes this a great accounting resume sample?

It’s chronological
This candidate has a lot of experience, so going with a chronological format makes the most sense for her resume.
It lists certifications
Certifications are important for many accounting roles and it makes sense for a senior level accountant to place them within their own section so that they’re plainly visible and easy to find.
It’s specific
Instead of saying “accounting software,” this applicant names the specific software that she uses. It pays to be specific!

Add a cover letter

Create your cover letter

You may wonder what the next step is after writing your accounting resume. Don’t send in your application just yet! To have the best chance of landing the job, you need a top-notch cover letter.

Your cover letter is your opportunity to communicate with your prospective employer directly. Explain why your experience and skills make you the perfect candidate. To learn how to write a cover letter that gets you the interview, take a look at our library of cover letter examples and our guide on proper cover letter formatting.

Dreading the cover letter writing process? It doesn’t have to be hard! Try our Cover Letter Builder to create a strong cover letter in just minutes — without the stress. This tool provides professionally written text based on your information that you can edit as needed.

Next, let’s take a close look at the career prospects of the accounting industry.

Facts about the accounting industry

Your resume is finished and it’s time to start working toward advancing your accounting career. Let’s take a look at what that might look like!

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, accountants and auditors held nearly 1.5 million jobs in 2021. This number is expected to grow by 6% over the next decade.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the median salary for accountants and auditors in 2021 was $77,250.
Among the highest paying accounting careers are careers in accounting management, economists and financial executives.

Key takeaways for your accounting

Make sure your information is accurate

It never hurts to double check! Providing up-to-date and accurate contact information is one of your resume’s most important functions.
Tailor to each job posting

Avoid repetitive resume filler. Choose keywords from the job listing to build a resume that is customized to earn you the position.
Use numerical data

Don’t just tell, show! Prospective employers will have a much better idea of what you can do when you use numbers to demonstrate your impact.
Describe your projects

Whether you summarize them under work experience or give them their own section, your projects are important achievements that deserve plenty of attention.
Add special sections

You shouldn’t use special sections unless they are accurate and relevant, but if they are, they can be a great way to express your unique career path and personal values.
Proofread carefully

Mistakes are only human, but a resume that’s riddled with typos doesn’t feel as professional. Show employers your attention to detail by proofreading thoroughly.
Go the extra mile

A fantastic cover letter is the cherry on top of your accounting resume. Use the cover letter as your opportunity to really sell the qualifications on your resume.

Commonly asked question about resume writing

Last Updated: February 19, 2024

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Hailey Brophy is an experienced writer with a diverse career in digital publication. She is passionate about using her unique skills and experiences to help job seekers find the information that they need to succeed.