Accountant Resume Example

Also called Staff Accountant, Senior Accountant, CPA.

Hiring managers in accounting look for clean closes, clean audits and the size of the books you kept. Show the systems you work in, the standards you apply and where you made the process faster or more accurate.

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What this example does well

  • The CPA license is in the headline and in its own section with the issuing board.
  • Company size in revenue tells the reader how complex the books were.
  • Audit outcomes and a shorter close are the two results controllers value most.

Updated

Jennifer Walsh

Senior Accountant, CPA

Summary

Certified public accountant with seven years of experience in corporate accounting for manufacturing companies with revenue of $150 million to $400 million. Leads the month-end close, prepares consolidated financial statements under US GAAP and cut the close from nine working days to five.

Experience

Senior Accountant, Northstar Components

Jun 2021 – Present Minneapolis, Minnesota

  • Lead the month-end close for three entities with combined revenue of $400 million, cutting it from nine working days to five.
  • Prepare consolidated financial statements and footnotes under US GAAP for the lender and the board.
  • Reconcile 60 balance sheet accounts each month, clearing all unexplained differences before sign-off.
  • Coordinated the annual external audit; the last two audits ended with no adjustments proposed.

Staff Accountant, Lakeland Foods

Aug 2018 – May 2021 Saint Paul, Minnesota

  • Recorded journal entries, accruals and fixed asset additions in NetSuite.
  • Built an Excel model for inventory reserves that the controller adopted for all plants.
  • Prepared sales tax returns for 11 states on time every period.

Education

Master of Accountancy, University of Minnesota

2017 – 2018 Minneapolis, Minnesota

BS Accounting, University of Minnesota

2013 – 2017 Minneapolis, Minnesota

Skills

Month-end close, US GAAP, Account reconciliations, Financial statements, Audit coordination, NetSuite, Advanced Excel, Sales tax

Certifications

  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA) — Minnesota Board of Accountancy
An example: Jennifer Walsh is not a real person, and the details show the kind of thing to write rather than a real career. Shown in the Ledger template. Words that postings for this job often use are marked in yellow.

How do you write a summary for an accountant resume?

Two to four lines at the top that say what you do, for how long, and what you are best at. Here is one for each stage of a career.

  • Entry level

    Accounting graduate with a Master of Accountancy and a busy-season internship at a regional audit firm, where I tested revenue and cash for four clients. Passed two sections of the CPA exam. Precise, comfortable with Excel and eager to learn a company's close from the inside.

  • Experienced

    Accountant with five years of experience in corporate accounting. Prepares journal entries, reconciliations and financial statements, supports the audit and keeps the close on schedule.

  • Senior

    Accounting manager and CPA with fourteen years of experience. Leads a team of six, owns the close and reporting for a $900 million group, implemented a new ERP and has delivered ten years of audits with no material weaknesses.

How to write a resume summary, with more examples

What are good bullet points for an accountant resume?

Each starts with a verb and says what was done. Change the details and numbers to your own; a number you cannot explain in an interview is worse than none.

  1. Closed the books each month for two entities with $200 million in combined revenue.

  2. Reduced the month-end close from eight days to five by automating reconciliations.

  3. Reconciled bank, payroll and intercompany accounts every month.

  4. Prepared financial statements under US GAAP for management and lenders.

  5. Recorded accruals, prepaid expenses and depreciation.

  6. Supported the external audit with complete, well-organized schedules.

  7. Prepared sales and use tax returns for nine states.

  8. Built variance analyses that explained budget differences to department heads.

  9. Documented closing procedures so that anyone on the team could follow them.

  10. Helped move the general ledger to NetSuite with no break in reporting.

Which skills should an accountant put on a resume?

Pick the ones the job posting asks for and that you can back up with an example from your work.

Hard skills

  • General ledger accounting
  • Month-end and year-end close
  • Account reconciliations
  • Financial statement preparation
  • US GAAP or IFRS
  • Audit support
  • Tax filings
  • ERP systems (NetSuite, SAP, Oracle, QuickBooks)
  • Advanced Excel

Soft skills

  • Accuracy
  • Deadline focus
  • Integrity
  • Explaining numbers to non-accountants
  • Organization

Licenses and certifications

  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
  • Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
  • Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)

Which keywords belong on an accountant resume?

The words recruiters and applicant tracking systems search for.

  • month-end close
  • US GAAP
  • reconcile
  • financial statements
  • audit
  • journal entries
  • NetSuite
  • accruals
  • sales tax

Use the ones that are true for you, written the way the posting writes them, and put each where it shows something you did. A list of keywords with nothing behind it helps nobody. To keep them readable by software, choose an ATS-friendly template, and read how applicant tracking systems read a resume.

How do you show accuracy on an accountant resume?

Audit results are the clearest evidence: no adjustments, no findings, no material weaknesses. Clean reconciliations and on-time filings add to it.

Speed with accuracy is even better. A close that became faster without extra errors shows skill and good process design.

How should you list the CPA exam if you have not finished it?

Say exactly where you stand: "CPA candidate, passed FAR and AUD" or "Eligible for CPA licensure, expected 2027". Firms and companies hire candidates at every stage and want to know which one you are at.

Once licensed, add the state board. If you hold licenses in more than one state, list each.

What do finance employers look for in a resume?

  • Accuracy is the job, so show it: clean audits, reconciliations with no unexplained differences, a month-end close that got shorter.
  • State the size of the numbers you worked with, such as ledger volume, revenue covered or the cash you balanced each day.
  • List qualifications with their status. "CPA" and "CPA candidate, two sections passed" are both useful; leaving it vague is not.

All finance and accounting resume examples

Questions about an accountant resume

How long should an accountant resume be?

One page early on, two for senior and management roles.

Should I list accounting software?

Yes. ERP and accounting systems are frequently used as filters, and knowing the employer's system shortens training.

Is public accounting experience worth highlighting?

Yes. Audit or tax work at a firm shows you have seen many sets of books. Mention the kinds of clients and the areas you tested.

Should I include my GPA?

For the first job after graduation, if it is 3.3 or higher. After that, leave it off.

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