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If you are seeking an accountant position, you are likely good with numbers and math, but writing a curriculum vitae may be more of a challenge. If you want to make your accountant CV the best it can be, consulting our accountant CV example and the included tips can help you start composing your own. With these resources at your disposal, you have everything you need to create a winning CV.
If you want to explore more examples, check out our CV examples page.
Edit this accountant CV template or explore the rest of our designs on our CV templates page.
Accountant CV example (text version)
Amy Chen
Austin, MN 55912
(555) 555-5555
example@example.com
Summary Statement
- Highly analytical, result-driven accountant skilled at working quickly and accurately under tight deadlines.
- Adept at all functions of accounting, including balancing sheets, processing payments, managing accounts payable and providing executive administrative support.
- Dedicated to providing exemplary work and supporting the overall mission of the department and company.
Core Qualifications
- Intuit QuickBooks specialist
- Tax accounting specialization
- SAP expertise
- Financial statements expertise
- MS Office Suite
- Administrative support
- Budgeting
- Bookkeeping
Education
June 2019
University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN
MBA Accounting & Finance
June 2015
University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN
Bachelor of Science Accounting
Work Experience
November 2019 – Current
CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen) – Austin, MN
Certified Public Accountant
- Generate monthly financial statements for 15 clients with over 10,000 accounts, analyze the variance between actual and forecast and provide improvement plans to reduce operating costs.
- Work with clients and CFOs to resolve problems involving accounting errors, financial trouble or account management.
- Employ assistants and provide directives to maintain functions of the department and ensure tasks such as payroll were managed appropriately.
September 2015 – October 2019
Fibersmith – Blooming Prairie , MN
Accountant Assistant
- Worked under the certified public accountant head of the department to handle tasks such as payroll and accounts receivable.
- Maintained constant contact with clients in order to ensure that their needs were met and their accounts were in satisfactory standing.
- Completed accounting tasks such as contributing to financial reports for 10 clients, calculating payroll for 200 employees and entering financial data.
June 2014 – August 2015
CliftonLarsonAllen LLP – Austin, MN
Accounting Intern
- Kept 200 physical accounting files and digitalized records and organize them for easy retrieval.
- Served accountants and accounting assistants by observing their work, contributing and offering feedback on the processes employed.
- Proposed organizational improvements to the company’s internship program and collaborated with the department to create more effective feedback opportunities.
Research Experience
- Explored and analyzed finances in the corporation system in “The
- Capitalism’s Property” (2021) Advanced Studies Laboratory, North Central University
- Worked and participated in thesis assessment as Research Lead in “The Impact of Money and Properties in the Contemporary Culture” (2020) Accounting Department, North Central University
Relevant Skills
- Proficient in all major accounting software platforms
- Exemplary communication skills in written and spoken form
- Superior ability to handle multiple accounting tasks
- Attention to detail throughout every aspect of work
- Commitment to maintenance of accounting principles
Conference Attendance
- Governmental Accounting and Auditing Conference, Online (2022)
- “Data Privacy and Ethics”, Virtual Conference (2022)
- International Conference on Accounting Studies (ICAS) – New York, United States (2019)
- Accounting & Finance Trade Show (2018)
- Build Back Better Tax Law, National Conference CPA Practitioners (2017)
Certifications
- International Accredited Business Accountant (IABA) – (2019)
- CPA – Certified Public Accountant, License #5555 – (2017)
Languages
- English
Native or Bilingual - Chinese (Mandarin)
Professional Working - French
Limited Working
Hobbies and Interests
I have many hobbies and interests that I enjoy when I am not at work. I volunteer to judge and lead teams for the mathlete competitions at the local high school and I also offer career and college training to seniors about to graduate.
Top 4 characteristics of a best-in-class accountant CV
Professional summary
The professional summary is an “elevator pitch” of your top skills and experience. In two to three sentences, the summary of an accountant CV should include the skills most relevant to the job, your years of experience and any notable work achievements that will impress the recruiter or hiring manager right off the bat.
Skills
Similar to the CV accountant sample featured on this page, list key skills using bullet points. Include a mixture of hard and soft skills that range from the accounting software you know how to use to your excellent time management and organizational skills. Check out our Top Skills article for a comprehensive list of skills to use.
Work history
Every CV for an accountant should have a detailed work history section that lists your experience in reverse-chronological order — meaning that your latest job goes at the top. Include three to five bullet points per job and write major responsibilities and work accomplishments. To learn all of the work history section’s tips and tricks, read our How to Write a Perfect Work Experience article.
Education
Follow the lead of our accountant CV sample to capture your education credentials effectively. As an accountant, you most likely graduated college with a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field, such as business. Write the university’s name and the type of BA you possess. If you graduated more than 10 years ago, you don’t have to include the graduation date.
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Action verbs for your accountant CV
An accountant CV is most substantial when it has action verbs. Keep it professional and portray your qualifications the right way with some of the options below:
- Reported
- Wrote
- Integrated
- Processed
- Compiled
- Expedited
- Enhanced
- Organized
- Increased
- Reviewed
- Filed
- Gathered
- Monitored
- Evaluated
Create the best CV for an accountant using our action verbs and CV maker.
Skills for your accountant CV
Review the job description carefully and highlight key skills on your accountant CV. Some related skills include:
- Tax accounting specialization
- SAP expertise
- Invoice coding familiarity
- Communication skills
- Excellent managerial techniques
- ERP (enterprise resource planning) software
- Organization skills
- Time management skills
- Multitasking
- Data trending knowledge
- Ability to work under pressure
- Corporate tax planning knowledge
- Calculating liabilities
- ATX total accounting office proficiency
- Advanced bookkeeping skills
Certifications to include in your accountant CV
While accountants don’t need to be certified to work in accounting, many choose to become Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) to enhance their job opportunities or gain more clients. This certification provides an advantage in the job market because it shows a higher level of expertise.
Becoming a CPA takes time, and the requirements vary by state. Generally, all states require CPA candidates to complete 150 hours of university coursework to be licensed and pass a national exam divided into four parts. CPAs must also continue taking education courses, such as ethics, to maintain their license.
In addition to the CPA certification, you may study and include the following in your accountant CV:
- Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA)
- Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
- Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM)
- Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
- Certified in Control Self-Assessment (CCSA)
- Certified Government Auditing Professional (CGAP)
- Certified Financial Services Auditor (CFSA)
- Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA)
Pair your CV with a matching cover letter
Accountant CV FAQ
What does an accountant do?
An accountant, generally speaking, is responsible for handling much of an organization’s financial details and tasks. They may create a budget or design a quarterly forecast with a company’s chief financial officer. Daily tasks include managing accounts receivable, completing payroll, and bookkeeping to track the company’s expenses and payments.
Special accounting programs may assist in such tasks, and accountants must be proficient in such platforms. If you are wondering how to include all of these qualifications in your CV, consulting our accountant CV example can give you an idea of where to start and how to make yours the best it can be.
What to include in an accountant CV?
An accountant CV should include the major CV sections: a header with your updated contact information, the professional summary, the work history section, the skills section and the education section.
The best way to determine how to fill each section is by reading the job description and reviewing what the employer has listed as the most important requirements. Match the ones that apply to you and include them in your CV. If you’re unsure where to start, take a look at our qualified accountant CV example and our CV writing guide for inspiration.
What’s the best accountant CV format?
The best accountant CV format is the one that works with your years of experience and skills. If you’re an accountant with more than 10 years of experience, you might want to use a CV format that places your work experience directly below the professional summary. Mid-level candidates should use a combination CV, where the work experience and skills take equal emphasis, while accountants with no experience are better suited for the functional CV, as it focuses on skills.
What are some tips for creating a great accountant CV?
Not all CVs are created equal, and if you want yours to stand out, consulting our example above is a great place to start. You might want some more guidance on making your accountant CV great, and the following tips offer precisely that:
- Do include details on your current accounting licensing and certification as well as the dates of validity.
- Don’t focus on generalities when you can be specific in naming the size of the companies you’ve worked for and the exact nature of your work.
- Do highlight complementary skills, such as managerial experience, that may put you above competitors for a job.
- Don’t describe job duties without offering the qualification and context of your accomplishments.
- Do focus on your attention to detail and development of skills throughout your prior work history.
- Don’t cite facts and figures that are not directly relevant to your position’s role in a company’s overall performance.
Do’s and don’ts for your accounting CV
- Use measurable achievements to describe your accounting skills and experience.
- Use action words to make an impact on your accountant CV.
- Tailor your CV to your target accountant job.
- Use keywords from the job description throughout your accountant CV.
- Format your accountant CV so that it is easy to read by ATS software and human eyes.
- Lie about your accounting experience and skills.
- Boast about your “incomparable” accounting abilities.
- Include irrelevant personal information such as your ethnicity and age.
- Add skills and experience that do not pertain to accounting.
- Forget to proofread. An accounting CV with errors is unprofessional.
Top 4 tips for interviews for an accountant job
Learn more about the company.
First things first: Look up the company and learn more about them. Read the information written on their website, research their history and explore their social media profiles, if they have any. Doing your homework will help you get a glimpse of the company culture and help you decide if this is the type of company you want to work at — it’s not just about you being a good fit for them, it’s also about them being a good fit for you.
Practice at home.
Most job interviews have questions in common, regardless of the industry. Even if this isn’t your first rodeo, write down potential questions you think the employer might ask and practice your answers at home. Not only will it help ease the nerves, but you’ll have a chance to appear more confident during the interview.
Some common questions include:
- “How do you determine priorities in scheduling your time?”
- “How would you describe your leadership skills?”
- “What motivates you to do a good job?”
Be proactive and ask questions.
A great way to show interest in the job opportunity is to ask questions at the end of the interview. Instead of blanking out when the hiring manager asks you if you have any questions, make a list of questions that will help you understand the position and the company better, such as:
- Are there any concerns about my qualifications for this role?
- What are this team’s biggest strengths and biggest challenges?
- Is the work environment more collaborative or independent?
Talk to your references ahead of time.
There’s a high chance that if the recruiter or hiring manager is ready to extend an offer, they’ll ask you for your professional references.
Create a separate document with three to five references that can speak to your abilities as an accountant. Choose them wisely, write their updated contact information and most importantly, talk to them before including them as references. The last thing you want is for the recruiter to call an unsuspecting reference who will have no idea what to say.
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Accountant CV Example
Kellie is a Certified Professional Resume Writer with extensive experience in digital media. She is passionate about helping job seekers navigate their careers. She earned a B.A. in English and writing from Temple University.
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