Don’t underestimate the value of a resume. It’s the document that gives prospective employers their first impressions of you. Your resume needs to tell employers why you’re best suited for the job at hand, effectively and concisely. If you’re an Accountant, or anyone else in the finance and accounting profession, it needs to really sell your professionalism, precision, technical skills and strong industry relationships.
Here’s how to write a great Accountant resume, and nail that first impression. If you're in finance or accounting but are not an Accountant, you can still use this template to help shape a strong resume.
Accounting and finance resume do's
Do keep it brief. Two or three pages for your accounting resume is ideal.
Acknowledge your academic credentials early. These tend to be more relevant to the accounting and financial sector than other industries.
Do include company names clearly, and spelled correctly. In finance, who you’ve worked for matters.
Do call out memberships with industry-recognised bodies or organisations you’ve worked with.
Do tailor your accounting resume specifically to the company you’re applying with.
Do explain what was required of you in each role, to highlight the skills required and learned.
Do include a targeted objective in a CV for an accountant if you are a graduate or changing careers, using a brief sentence to highlight your key skills and value (e.g., "Detail-oriented graduate seeking to leverage strong analytical skills as a Junior Accountant at [Company Name]").
Do provide detail of your successes. If you reduced costs or increased efficiency, detail how you did it, and by how much.
Do always run a thorough spelling and grammar check before submitting your financial resume.
Accounting and finance resume don'ts
Don’t speak in general terms. Be precise, but succinct.
Don’t think a generic resume will work. You need to tailor your accounting resume for each role, understanding that the organisational structure, culture and duties differ with each position.
Don’t use company-specific language or terminology. Stick to what is known and understood at an industry level.
Don’t bend the truth, even a little bit. Be honest about your work experience and career ambitions in your financial resume.
Don’t use out-dated or unprofessional contact details when writing Accountant resumes.
Accountant resume sample
This accounting resume sample is strong because throughout the document, it’s clear what makes this candidate unique. The certifications section is highlighted prominently, showing their Chartered Accountant (CA) qualification with CA ANZ.
A finance and accounting CV applies general resume-writing good practice: keeping to a concise layout, opening with a pointed professional summary, and detailing the specifics of accomplishments in past roles . It is easy to digest, and tells you a lot about the candidate. The contact details are current, the candidate's New Zealand Permanent Resident work status is clearly defined, and the layout is organised into logical categories like Financial Governance and Compliance.
Crucially, the candidate uses industry-specific metrics to demonstrate their capability. Instead of listing daily tasks, the resume highlights major achievements such as reducing the monthly financial close cycle by half, slashing Days Sales Outstanding (DSO), and securing $150k+ in annual operational cost savings.
Accouning and finance resumes can always be stronger, whether you’re going for your first job, or your tenth. Just be sure to follow the above tips and use the sample resume as a guide and you’ll be on track to success.
Take a look at our resume tips for more advice on how to write a resume.
