Accountant Resume Examples & Templates

The best accountant resume format depends on your years of experience and the skills you want to highlight. 

If you have a few years of experience, use a combination resume format, which gives equal emphasis to your skills and previous roles. 

For an experienced accountant resume, follow a chronological format, which features a comprehensive work experience section. 

If you’re a first-time job seeker, use a functional resume format, which lets you highlight your skills and even break them into subcategories (such as professional skills and soft skills).

For more details on choosing a professional resume format for an accountant, visit our resume formats page.

Buff up your professional accountant resume by gaining and featuring the following skills:

• Broaden your skills with financial analysis workshops, bookkeeping courses and other accounting courses which will help you stay ahead in the game.
• Acquire a relevant degree in management.
• Gain certifications in areas of expertise, such as becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).
• Look for more opportunities to display your management and organizational abilities in successful projects.

Instead of just listing your job duties, focus on your accomplishments and the impact you made in your previous roles. Highlight any cost savings, process improvements or successful projects you were involved in.

Using a sample accountant resume is a great way to gain inspiration. You can see what skills are featured on different professional levels, get an idea of how to write your work experience and how the resume is formatted. Reviewing an accountant resume example before writing your resume is a great way to get rid of writer’s block.

Sample resumes for accountants are also helpful for seeing real-world examples for specialized roles. For instance, staff accountant resume examples are helpful for junior professionals looking for ideas of what to include on an entry-level accounting resume. 

An accountant resume should typically be one or two pages long. It’s important to keep in mind that hiring managers and recruiters usually have a lot of resumes to review, so keeping your resume concise and to the point can help ensure that it gets noticed. 

In general, a one-page resume is ideal for entry-level or junior accounting positions, while a two-page resume may be more appropriate for more senior or experienced candidates.

However, it’s important to prioritize quality over quantity – regardless of the length of your resume, make sure that it highlights your relevant skills, experience and qualifications for the job.

It’s also a good idea to tailor your resume to the specific job you’re applying for, focusing on the most important and relevant information. This can help you stand out from other applicants and increase your chances of getting an interview. Check out our guide on how to write a resume for additional tips from career experts.

Adding computer skills to an accounting resume is important because technology is playing an increasingly important role in the field. 

Consider creating a separate section on your resume to highlight your computer skills. This can include software programs you are proficient in such as Excel, QuickBooks and other accounting software.

When listing your computer skills, be specific about your level of proficiency. For example, you can say that you are “proficient in Excel for financial analysis and modeling” or “advanced in using QuickBooks for bookkeeping and financial reporting.”

By highlighting your computer skills on your accountant resume, you can demonstrate your ability to use technology to perform accounting tasks and stay up to date with new developments in the field. Explore our accountant sample resumes for real-world examples.

An accountant resume should be detailed enough to showcase your qualifications, skills and experience but concise enough to keep the hiring manager engaged. Generally, a well-written accountant resume should be between one to two pages in length. 

When it comes to detailing your experience, focus on the most relevant and impressive achievements. Use bullet points to break up the content and make it easy to read. You should describe your responsibilities and accomplishments in each role, highlighting how your skills and expertise contributed to the success of the company or organization you worked for.

It’s also important to tailor your resume to the job you’re applying for. This means highlighting the skills and experience that are most relevant to the position you’re seeking. Be sure to review the job description carefully and use the same keywords and phrases in your resume.

To write a resume for a staff accountant role, start with a concise resume summary that highlights your experience, skills and career goals. 

In the skills section, include a mix of technical accounting skills (e.g., financial analysis, budgeting, tax preparation) and soft skills (e.g., attention to detail, problem-solving, time management). 

Include your educational background, such as your degree in accounting or finance, along with the name of the institution and graduation year. If you have any relevant certifications, such as CPA or CMA, be sure to highlight those as well.

Remember to proofread your resume for errors or typos before submitting it. You can use our ATS resume checker to scan your resume for common errors. We recommend taking a look at sample resumes for accountants for additional inspiration.