Accountant Resume Example
Accounting is a precision profession, and your resume should read like it: clean, exact, and quantified. Recruiters look for qualifications (CPA/CA), systems fluency, and measurable financial impact — cost savings, reconciliation accuracy, audit outcomes. The example below leads with credentials and proves value with numbers, which is exactly how a finance hiring manager thinks.
Skip vague claims like "detail-oriented". Everyone in finance says it, and it proves nothing. Show it instead: a clean audit, a faster close, a reconciliation that caught real money.
Accountant resume sample
Sarah Thompson
Senior Accountant, CPA
sarah.t@example.com • +61 400 555 666 • Perth, WA
Summary
CPA-qualified senior accountant with 7 years in financial reporting and month-end close for mid-sized firms. Streamlined the close cycle from 10 to 6 days and saved $120k annually through better cost controls.
Experience
Senior Accountant — Resources Group Pty Ltd
2021 – Present
Perth, WA
- Cut the month-end close from 10 to 6 days by automating reconciliations in Xero.
- Identified and corrected supplier overpayments, recovering $120k in the first year.
- Prepared monthly financial statements and board reporting packs for a $40M business.
Accountant — Accounting Partners
2017 – 2021
Perth, WA
- Managed AP/AR ledgers and BAS/GST lodgements for a portfolio of 25 SME clients.
- Passed 3 consecutive external audits with zero material findings.
Education
B.Com. Accounting — Curtin University
2012 – 2015
Skills
Software: Xero, MYOB, SAP, Excel (advanced)
Expertise: Financial reporting, Month-end close, Reconciliation, GST/BAS
Certifications: CPA
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ATS keywords for a accountant resume
Applicant tracking systems scan for role-specific terms. Work the ones that genuinely apply to you into your resume — naturally, not stuffed:
Tips for a strong accountant resume
- Put your qualification (CPA, CA, or “CPA candidate”) in the header — it's a primary ATS filter in finance roles.
- List accounting software by exact name (Xero, MYOB, SAP, QuickBooks) — postings screen for specific systems.
- Quantify accuracy and efficiency: “reduced month-end close from 10 to 6 days”, “managed a $4M AP ledger”.
- Keep formatting immaculate — a finance resume with typos or misaligned numbers undercuts your whole pitch.
- Match local compliance keywords (GST/BAS in Australia, VAT elsewhere) to the region of the job.
Accountant resume FAQs
Should I list my CPA/CA status if I'm still studying?
Yes — write “CPA candidate (completing 2026)”. It signals commitment and matches the ATS keyword recruiters search for.
What accounting software should I put on my resume?
The ones named in the job ad that you actually know — Xero and MYOB dominate in Australia, SAP and Oracle in larger enterprises.
How technical should the summary be?
Name your specialty (management accounting, tax, audit), your qualification, and one quantified result. Keep it to 2–3 lines.
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