Bookkeeper Resume Example and QuickBooks Skills

Small business owners and accounting firms hire bookkeepers they can trust with the money. They want to see that invoices go out on time, bills are paid correctly, accounts reconcile every month and the books are in order when the CPA asks for them. Your resume should show the volume you handle, the software you use and how you keep errors out.

This example is for a full-charge bookkeeper with eight years of experience, first at a bookkeeping firm serving many small clients and now in-house at a building supply company. If you work for several clients, describe the number and types of businesses you support instead of one employer's figures.

Use This Example Browse Templates

Recommended resume format for a bookkeeper

Reverse-chronological, one page. One page is enough for most bookkeepers. State the size of the business or the number of clients and your software early, then give each role a few bullets on accuracy, speed and clean-up work. The work experience guide shows how to turn routine tasks into results.

Bookkeeper resume example

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

Preview of the bookkeeper example in the Minimal template.

Bookkeeper resume text

Gloria Esposito
Full-Charge Bookkeeper
gloria.esposito@example.com | (555) 032-7159 | Sacramento, CA | linkedin.com/in/gloria-esposito-example

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Full-charge bookkeeper with 8 years of experience keeping the books for small businesses in construction, retail and professional services. Handles payables, receivables, payroll, sales tax filings and monthly bank and credit card reconciliations in QuickBooks Online. Delivers clean month-end reports and organized year-end files for outside CPAs.

SKILLS
Bookkeeping: Accounts payable, Accounts receivable, Bank reconciliations, Payroll processing, Sales tax filings, Month-end close
Software: QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, Gusto, Expensify, Microsoft Excel

WORK EXPERIENCE
Full-Charge Bookkeeper | Apr 2021 – Present
Delta Valley Building Supply | Sacramento, CA
- Manage the full bookkeeping cycle for a $14 million supply company, from vendor bills and customer invoices to the monthly close.
- Process biweekly payroll for 46 employees in Gusto, including job-cost coding for crews working on customer sites.
- Reduced receivables more than 60 days past due from $310,000 to $95,000 by sending statements on a fixed schedule and calling slow-paying contractors.
- Reconcile 5 bank accounts and 3 credit cards each month and finish the close by the 8th business day.

Bookkeeper | Aug 2018 – Mar 2021
Capitol Ledger Bookkeeping | Roseville, CA
- Kept the books for 18 small business clients, including restaurants, dental offices and contractors.
- Cleaned up 2 years of uncategorized transactions for a new client in 6 weeks so the CPA could file overdue tax returns.
- Prepared quarterly sales tax returns and year-end 1099 files for clients, filing every return by its due date.

EDUCATION
Associate of Science in Accounting | May 2018
American River College | Sacramento, CA

CERTIFICATIONS
QuickBooks Online Certification | May 2023
Intuit

Start from this example in the builder, then replace the details with your own. It opens as a new resume saved on your device.

Use This Example

Bookkeeper resume summary examples

Say what kind of bookkeeping you do (full-charge, payables, payroll or multi-client), the industries you know and your main software. Owners and hiring accountants are looking for someone they can hand the books to with confidence.

Full-charge bookkeeperFull-charge bookkeeper with 8 years of experience handling payables, receivables, payroll and month-end reconciliations for small businesses in QuickBooks Online.
Multi-client bookkeeperBookkeeper at an accounting firm managing the books for 18 small business clients, with a focus on clean-up projects, sales tax filings and organized year-end files for CPAs.
Accounts payable focusAccounts payable bookkeeper processing about 600 vendor invoices a month, with strong invoice matching, vendor statement reconciliation and payment run experience.
Entry-levelAccounting certificate graduate with office administration experience and hands-on QuickBooks practice. Comfortable with data entry, invoicing and bank reconciliations and ready to support a small business owner.

More ideas: resume summary examples.

Skills for a bookkeeper resume

Bookkeeping postings usually name the accounting software and the parts of the cycle you will own. List your software by name and version (Online or Desktop) and include the tasks you can handle without supervision.

Core bookkeeping

Accounts payable
Accounts receivable
General ledger entries
Bank and credit card reconciliations
Month-end close
Job costing

Payroll and tax

Payroll processing
Payroll tax deposits
Sales tax returns
1099 preparation
Year-end files for the CPA

Software

QuickBooks Online
QuickBooks Desktop
Xero
Gusto
ADP
Microsoft Excel

Working style

Accuracy
Confidentiality
Deadline management
Clear communication with owners

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

Bookkeeper experience bullet point examples

Bookkeeping bullets should show volume, accuracy and timeliness: how many invoices, accounts or employees you handled, how quickly you closed the month and what you cleaned up or collected.

Processed about 450 vendor invoices a month with a two-step approval, ending the duplicate payments found in the prior year.
Set up class tracking in QuickBooks so the owner could see profit by location for the first time.
Collected $48,000 in past-due receivables within 90 days by keeping a weekly follow-up list.
Moved a client from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online, including a chart of accounts clean-up and staff training.
Prepared monthly profit and loss statements and balance sheets for owners within 10 days of month end.
Reviewed a year of credit card statements line by line, recovering $3,200 in duplicate charges and missed refunds.

Education section guidance

Bookkeepers come from many paths: an associate degree or certificate in accounting, a business degree, or on-the-job experience that grew out of an office role. List your highest level of education and any accounting coursework.

If you have no formal accounting education, a course in your accounting software and a clear list of the tasks you have handled will carry more weight than a long education section.

Certifications and licenses for a bookkeeper resume

Certification is optional for bookkeepers. Software certifications show you can work in the system an employer uses, and professional bookkeeping credentials can help freelancers show a recognized standard. Each has its own requirements, so check with the issuing organization before you list one as in progress.

QuickBooks Online Certification, through the Intuit ProAdvisor program
Certified Bookkeeper (CB), from the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers
Certified Public Bookkeeper (CPB), from the National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers
Xero Advisor Certification, for bookkeepers who work in Xero

Common bookkeeper resume mistakes

Listing software without tasks. "QuickBooks" alone does not show what you can do in it. Mention the payroll, reconciliations, job costing or reports you handle there.
Hiding the volume. Give numbers: invoices per month, employees on payroll, accounts reconciled or clients served.
Using an accountant title for bookkeeping work. If your work is bookkeeping, use that title. "Accountant" often suggests a degree or license, and reviewers notice the difference.
Leaving out clean-up projects. Catch-up and clean-up work shows judgment and speed. Describe the backlog, how long it took and what it made possible.

ATS tips for a bookkeeper resume

Use the title from the posting, such as "Bookkeeper", "Full-Charge Bookkeeper" or "Accounting Clerk", when it matches your work.
Write "accounts payable" and "accounts receivable" in full at least once before using AP and AR.
Name your software and version, such as "QuickBooks Online" or "QuickBooks Desktop", rather than "accounting software".
Put each certification name and issuer as plain text in a Certifications section.
Use a single-column template so the file reads correctly on job boards and when opened as an email attachment.

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

Helpful resume guides

Bookkeeper resume FAQ

What is the difference between a bookkeeper and an accountant?

A bookkeeper records transactions, pays bills, invoices customers, runs payroll and reconciles accounts. An accountant usually reviews that work, prepares financial statements and tax returns and gives advice. Many bookkeepers work closely with an outside CPA.

What does full-charge bookkeeper mean?

It usually means you handle the whole bookkeeping cycle through the month-end close, not only payables or receivables. Use the title only if it matches your work.

Do I need a degree to work as a bookkeeper?

Many bookkeeping jobs do not require a degree, although some employers prefer accounting coursework. Check each posting; software skills, accuracy and relevant experience usually carry the most weight.

How do I describe freelance bookkeeping on a resume?

List your business as the employer, give the number and types of clients and describe your results. Do not name clients who have not agreed to it.

Bookkeeper Resume Example