Accountant Resume Example

Accounting employers read resumes for reliability. They want to see that you close the books on time, keep reconciliations clean, support audits without surprises and understand the systems their team uses.

This example is written for a staff accountant with four years of experience in corporate accounting who has recently earned a CPA license. Public accounting candidates can use the same structure and focus on client types, engagements and audit or tax areas.

Recommended resume format for an accountant

Reverse-chronological, one page. A traditional, single-column format suits accounting well. Put your CPA or other license in the header and in a Certifications section. The resume format guide explains why reverse-chronological is the best fit for most finance roles.

Accountant resume example

This example is fictional: the name, employers and numbers are invented to show structure and wording. It uses the ATS Classic template, one of the ATS-friendly designs. Replace every detail with your own, truthful information.

Rachel Nguyen, CPA
Staff Accountant
rachel.nguyen@example.com | (555) 017-5502 | Charlotte, NC | linkedin.com/in/rachel-nguyen-example

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Certified Public Accountant with 4 years of corporate accounting experience in month-end close, account reconciliations, fixed assets and audit support. Skilled in NetSuite and advanced Excel, with a focus on accurate reporting and simplifying manual processes.

WORK EXPERIENCE
Staff Accountant | Feb 2021 – Present
Carolina Medical Supply | Charlotte, NC
- Own 40 balance sheet reconciliations each month for a $180 million distribution company, with zero audit adjustments in the last two years.
- Helped shorten the month-end close from 10 to 6 business days by building standardized journal entry templates and a close checklist.
- Prepared fixed asset schedules and depreciation for 1,200 assets across 5 locations.
- Served as the main contact for external auditors on cash, prepaid expenses and accrued liabilities.

Accounting Associate | Jun 2019 – Jan 2021
Piedmont Property Management | Charlotte, NC
- Processed accounts payable for 35 residential properties, averaging 600 invoices per month.
- Reconciled bank accounts and tenant deposits, resolving a backlog of 90 unmatched items within one quarter.
- Created an Excel macro that cut monthly owner-report preparation time by 8 hours.

EDUCATION
Master of Accountancy | May 2019
University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Charlotte, NC

Bachelor of Science in Accounting | May 2018
University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Charlotte, NC

SKILLS
Accounting: Month-end close, Account reconciliation, Journal entries, Accruals, Fixed assets, GAAP
Systems: NetSuite, QuickBooks, Excel (pivot tables, XLOOKUP, macros), BlackLine

CERTIFICATIONS
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) | Aug 2023
North Carolina State Board of CPA Examiners

Accountant resume summary examples

Include your credential, your area of accounting (general ledger, AP/AR, tax, audit), the systems you know and one strength that makes you dependable. Keep it to three lines.

• Staff accountantCPA with 4 years of corporate accounting experience in month-end close, reconciliations and audit support. Skilled in NetSuite and Excel, with a track record of clean audits and faster closes.
• Senior accountantSenior accountant with 8 years of experience in multi-entity consolidations, revenue recognition (ASC 606) and SEC reporting. Led the close for 6 subsidiaries and trained a team of 4 staff accountants.
• Tax accountantTax accountant with 5 years in public accounting preparing individual, partnership and corporate returns. Manages a portfolio of 120 clients each season with a focus on accuracy and clear communication.
• Entry-level accountantAccounting graduate with an audit internship at a regional CPA firm. Comfortable with reconciliations, QuickBooks and Excel, and on track to meet CPA education requirements.

More ideas: resume summary examples.

Skills for an accountant resume

Separate technical accounting knowledge from systems. Employers often filter for specific ERP or accounting software, so name the tools you have used in real work.

Technical accounting

• GAAP
• Month-end close
• Reconciliations
• Accruals and prepaids
• Revenue recognition (ASC 606)
• Consolidations

Specialty areas

• Accounts payable
• Accounts receivable
• Payroll accounting
• Fixed assets
• Tax preparation
• Audit support

Software

• QuickBooks
• NetSuite
• SAP
• Oracle
• Sage Intacct
• Excel

See the resume skills guide for how to choose and present skills.

Accountant experience bullet point examples

Accounting bullets should show volume, accuracy and deadlines. Numbers of accounts, entities or transactions, days saved in the close and audit outcomes all demonstrate reliability.

• Prepared consolidated financial statements for 3 entities each quarter, delivered to leadership 2 days ahead of the deadline.
• Identified $42,000 in duplicate vendor payments through a review of AP history and recovered the funds.
• Implemented BlackLine for reconciliations, reducing manual work by an estimated 20 hours per month.
• Prepared audit schedules for revenue and receivables, with no findings in two consecutive annual audits.
• Built a cash forecast model in Excel that improved the accuracy of 13-week projections.
• Documented 25 accounting procedures to support internal controls testing.

Education section guidance

List your accounting degree and any graduate degree that helped you meet CPA education requirements. Include your graduation year.

If you are still completing credit hours for CPA eligibility, you can note "CPA candidate" in your summary with the expected exam or license date.

Certifications and licenses for an accountant resume

A CPA license is the most recognized accounting credential in the United States. Other certifications suit management accounting, internal audit or specific countries.

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
• Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
• Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
• Enrolled Agent (EA) for tax professionals
• Chartered accountancy qualifications such as ACCA, CA or CPA Canada outside the United States

Common accountant resume mistakes

• Typos and inconsistent numbers. Accounting is detail work. A single error on your resume undermines your credibility; proofread twice.
• Listing routine tasks only. Everyone reconciles accounts. Show volume, accuracy and improvements you made.
• Overstating credentials. Do not write CPA unless you are licensed. Use "CPA candidate" or list passed exam sections accurately.
• Leaving out systems. Employers often filter by ERP experience. Name the software you have used.

ATS tips for an accountant resume

• Write "Certified Public Accountant (CPA)" in full at least once.
• Include ERP and software names exactly as the posting lists them.
• Use a single-column template with standard headings.
• List accounting standards such as "GAAP" or "IFRS" as plain text.
• Avoid tables for your skills or dates; some systems read them out of order.

Check your draft with the free ATS Resume Checker, which shows your resume completeness and the plain text an applicant tracking system reads.

Related resume examples

• Financial Analyst Resume Example
• Bookkeeper Resume Example
• Business Analyst Resume Example
• Data Analyst Resume Example

Helpful resume guides

• Resume Format
• Education Section
• Resume Mistakes to Avoid
• ATS Resume Guide

Accountant resume FAQ