Accountant resume template: example & tips
Finance leaders and accounting firms want accountants whose numbers they can rely on. On your resume they look for the areas you handle – accounts payable and receivable, reconciliations, month-end close, audits – the software you use and whether you prepare closes independently. A CPA license or progress toward one is a strong signal.
Our pick
Zurich Grid
PremiumATS-safe ✅Why this template
Dates on the left, clean lines – as orderly as a balance sheet; accounting software and close experience stay in view. Single-column and cleanly readable in applicant tracking systems.
Example summary
Your summary sits right below your name. Replace everything in square brackets with your own details.
Accountant with [number] years of experience in [corporate accounting/public accounting] at a [industry] company. Handles month-end close, reconciliations and journal entries under GAAP; skilled in [QuickBooks/NetSuite/SAP] and advanced Excel. [CPA/CPA candidate]; available from [date].
What a strong Accountant resume looks like
Sample bullet points for your experience. Where it says [number], put your own figure – made-up numbers fall apart in the interview.
- Prepared monthly close entries and reconciliations for [number] accounts
- Processed around [number] vendor invoices per month, including approvals and payment runs
- Reduced overdue receivables by [number]% through a structured collections process
- Supported the annual audit as primary contact for [area]
- Automated reconciliation workbooks in Excel, saving [number] hours per close
- Maintained the fixed asset register, including depreciation schedules
- Helped shorten month-end close from [number] to [number] business days
Hard skills
- Month-end and year-end close
- Account reconciliations
- Journal entries and accruals
- Accounts payable and receivable
- GAAP financial statements
- Audit preparation and support
- Accounting software (e.g. QuickBooks, NetSuite, SAP)
- Advanced Excel (pivot tables, XLOOKUP, Power Query)
Soft skills – with proof
- Accuracy and deadline discipline at close
- Persistence with open items
- Confidentiality
- Clear communication with auditors and tax advisors
ATS keywords for Accountant resumes
Terms that come up often in job ads for this role. Only use what is true for you – ideally in the wording of the ad you are applying to.
- Accountant
- Staff Accountant
- Senior Accountant
- GAAP
- Month-End Close
- Account Reconciliation
- Journal Entries
- Accounts Payable
- Accounts Receivable
- QuickBooks
- NetSuite
- Audit
- CPA
- Excel
Tips for your Accountant resume
- Name the areas precisely: AP, AR, general ledger, fixed assets, consolidations. “Accounting” alone says too little about your level.
- Say whether you prepare the close independently or support it. It separates staff from senior roles.
- List software by name – “NetSuite”, “SAP S/4HANA”, “QuickBooks Online”. Job ads filter on these.
- Numbers show impact: days shaved off the close, fewer open items, audit findings avoided.
- Put CPA status up front: licensed, eligible or number of sections passed. Many roles ask about it directly.
Salary
Pay depends on location, employer, experience and certification – a single number says little. For current figures by occupation, see the Occupational Outlook Handbook (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Occupational Outlook Handbook (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)