When your life is about crunching numbers, it can be difficult to translate those numbers into words that describe the impact your impeccable accounting skills have had on prior employers. Writing descriptively can be a struggle, especially when attempting to combine hard and soft skills into something quantifiable and compelling. Luckily for you, we have an accounting assistant resume sample that shows you exactly how to discuss your experience in a positive light that paints you as a vital team contributor and proactive facilitator to bottom-line growth. We even take it a step further with our resume builder, an essential tool in constructing your resume from bare-bones into fully fleshed out.
Sample Accounting Assistant Resume
QUALIFICATIONS:
More than ten years accounting experience.
Extensive computer experience: Excel, Word, Computerized Accounting.
Strong organizational and interpersonal skills.
Exceptionally organized and resourceful.
Reliable and adaptable; learns new systems quickly.
Able to implement decisions and set effective priorities to achieve both immediate and long-term goals.
EDUCATION and TRAINING:
1997 – 1999 British Columbia Institute of Technology, City, State: Accounting I & II, Financial Accounting I & II, Business Law, Microeconomics.
1984 – 1988 Academy of Economic Studies, City, State – Bachelor Degree, Major in Commerce.
PROFESSIONAL HISTORY:
July 1999 – January 2004
Company: Company Name, City, State
Position: Accounting Assistant
Accomplishments:
Prepared numerous journal entries for two large head office companies.
Reconciled inter-company accounts with each site on a monthly basis.
Prepared and maintained supporting schedules for journal entries back-up, investments, marketable securities, long-term debt and interest calculations .
Extensive work with the Treasury System including integrating all bank transactions into the General Ledger and improving the system by solving certain unusual transactions as they arose.
Reviewed General Ledgers at month-end for accuracy and reasonableness.
Prepared tax installment payments and GST remittances .
Reconciled major bank accounts and Balance Sheet accounts on a monthly basis.
Answered queries from within the accounting group and the tax department about General Ledger transactions and balances.
Prepared and locate information for tax audits as required by the Tax Department .
Prepared General Ledger summary information on an ad-hoc basis and involved in special projects when required.
June 1998 – June 1999
Company: Company Name, City, State
Position: Accounting Assistant
Accomplishments:
Reconciled and analyzed all Balance Sheet Accounts and made adjusting entries as required.
Reconciled Bank Accounts (CDN & US), processed any journals required and cashed cheques.
Issued payments to destination representative as instructed for rent, transportation allowances and non-payroll salaries.
Handled all aspects of co-op advertising invoicing and collection.
Processed special cash receipts for any non-A/R payments received.
Reviewed and processed monthly expense reports – processed journals as required.
Performed any other duties as requested by the Director of Finance or Accounting Manager.
Sept. 1989 – Feb. 1997
Company: Company Name, City, State
Position: Economist – Accounting Department
Accomplishments:
Responsible for customer deposits payable and uncollectible accounts.
Set up all invoices to match purchase orders for payment processing.
Reconciled discrepancies in A/P subsidiary ledger and made proper adjustments.
Responsible for maintaining records of fixed assets and depreciation schedules.
Assisted in preparation of budget and month end reports to headquarter.
Prepared analysis reports for quarterly expenditures requested by the Director of Finance.
COMPUTER KNOWLEDGE:
Operating Systems: Windows 95, 98, 2000, XP Professional.
Word Processor: MS Word
Spreadsheets: MS Excel.
Computerized Accounting: Agresso, Logitours, Lawson.
Looking for Cover Letter ideas? See our sample for Professional Accounting Assistant cover letter.
Why Is This a Good Accounting Assistant Resume Sample?
Assistant roles are often geared for candidates working in a team environment. With that in mind, a good accounting assistant resume needs to show a combination of independence and team collaboration, paired with resourcefulness, flexibility, adaptability, and the ability to rise to a challenge. Our accounting assistant resume sample delivers on these requirements by beginning with a powerful summary statement broken down into a short, incisive list covering critical skills such as computer experience, interpersonal skills, reliability, and prioritization.
This list also includes strategically placed keywords mingled into the summary for easy readability while also improving keyword scoring percentages in automated screeners. In some resume formats, it’s equally effective to include a separate keyword list of core qualifications. No matter how you choose to format it, though, you should always include keywords mined from your target jobs and relevant to your career goals.
The education section of the accounting assistant resume sample provides a short but effective foundational boost that reinforces the weight of your accomplishments and skills by validating them through degree education. It can be effective to list coursework when that coursework doubles as keywords or areas of expertise. Otherwise, the only additional information your education should include is graduation dates, institutions, and additional training courses or certifications.
Now let’s look at the work history section, the real heart of the resume. Reverse chronological order makes up this section so employers can benefit from the most recent, relevant experience first. Older experience can have merit in showing career progression and a lifelong history of accomplishments, but your most recent role directly illustrates where you are in your career and who you are as a professional. Our accounting assistant resume sample uses action-oriented language to give this section a dynamic boost while mixing a combination of day-to-day job functions and quantifiable accomplishments.
Why You Need a Strong Accounting Assistant Resume
Did you know the average hiring manager only spends six to 10 seconds scanning your resume before deciding if she or he wants to read it in-depth? That’s why your resume needs to captivate from the very start, grabbing the employer’s attention and never letting go. The key is ensuring pivotal details jump out at readers on a rapid scan, enough to tell them you have the essential skills and they should read more to gain deeper insight into who you are as a professional.
In our accounting assistant resume sample, we accomplish this by dividing the resume into neatly compartmentalized sections and minimizing each one to short, efficient statements that get right to the point with only the most pivotal details. Everything should be easy to read and comprehend without struggling to absorb overly complex sentences. This way you’ll pass that six-second scan and impress hiring managers.
Costly Accounting Assistant Resume Mistakes To Avoid
Although you love your job, there’s no shame in admitting accounting can be redundant, repeatedly performing the same processes and tasks. It can be tempting to list each function at every job so employers know you performed specific tasks in certain roles, but doing this can make your resume read like a redundant laundry list. Instead of taking that route, combine similar tasks into blanket statements and avoid repeating yourself; instead, focus on higher-level overviews of your duties, and only call out a few specifics that speak to your strengths and the requirements of your target jobs. Check the accounting assistant resume sample for examples.
Don’t forget to proofread, as well. Take time away from your resume before coming back to look at it with fresh eyes. We have a habit of filling in what we meant to write rather than what’s actually there, but with distance, the resume looks like a new document you can easily scan for anything that shouldn’t be there.
Accounting Resume Questions
What should go in the experience section of your accounting resume?
Your experience section likely acts as the largest part of your resume. You need to go over the most relevant positions you have held to show hiring managers you have the knowledge and skills needed to succeed. Look at the accounting resume sample to see a successful experience section and use these tips for more help.
You should always include the title of your position, the name of the company, and your employment dates. You should go over your duties and accomplishments by creating a bulleted list for each position. don’t forget to use this section to show your soft skills in action.What’s the best format for a resume: PDF, MS Word, or txt?
Chances are you’re going to send your resume to employers through email or other online methods. Before you hit send, you need to be sure you’re using the best format. A PDF file keeps your document looking neat, but it might not be the most computer-friendly. If the company uses an applicant tracking system to help sort through resumes by screening for keywords, your PDF document might not make it to the hiring manager.
Txt, on the other hand, does not keep the design and layout of a document. This can lead to a hard-to-read resume. For many people, the best option is MS Word. This format type works well with ATS and retains the layout you painstakingly created. See our accounting resume sample for ideas about formatting.What should you include about your accomplishments on your accounting resume?
Your accomplishments should make up the bulk of your experience section. Rather than making a list of your daily assignments, you should show employers what you were able to achieve. Whenever possible, you should use statistics and other numbers to discuss your accomplishments. The accounting resume sample showcases how you can also point out the specific benefits your actions had on the company to better illuminate your achievements.
What’s the best way to include digital skills on an accounting resume?
Digital skills play an important role in accounting, which is why the author of the accounting resume sample created a special computer knowledge section. With skills, you have two options. You can either create a universal skills section to house all of your relevant knowledge, or you can create subcategories to further emphasize your important abilities. If you have significant digital savvy, it may be best to create a separate section or subsection.
How do you make an accounting resume?
No matter how many times you’ve written a resume, the process is still challenging. As you sit down to create an accounting resume, you can get a lot of help by reviewing the accounting resume sample, turning to a resume builder for experienced and quick advice, and using the following tips.
Look over the job description to find out what’s important to the hiring manager. Try to incorporate the key phrases from the description in your skills and experiences sections. Make sure you put your most important information on the top third of your document. This usually includes your contact information, summary statement, and skills. Use a consistent format that incorporates short paragraphs, bulleted lists, headers, and simple fonts.
Conclusion
Go from crunching numbers to slinging ink by transforming your resume using the guidelines set out in our accounting assistant resume sample. In no time, you’ll be ready to present your expertise in a clear, engaging fashion that impresses hiring managers and clearly depicts the accomplishments that make you a worthy hire.