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Cost accountants analyze and assess the costs of producing products or services. They help businesses identify areas where they could become more profitable. In addition to the math and data analysis skills that most accountants need, cost accountants need strong budgeting skills and the ability to communicate effectively with management about their findings. Use your resume to highlight your accounting background and your skills at collaborating with others.
If you’ve advanced from less-senior positions to roles with more responsibility in the past, make sure to point out your promotions on your resume. Starting as an auditor and leveling up to a management accountant position demonstrates your financial acumen and tells recruiters that you are likely to thrive in a potential new role.
When you’re pursuing a job in accounting, use verbs specific to finance (such as “analyzed”, “audited”, and “managed”) throughout your resume to talk about your past accomplishments. These verbs are a great way to showcase your knowledge and experience within the financial industry.
We spoke with hiring managers at companies like Amazon, Deloitte, and Ernst & Young to understand what they look for in Cost Accountant resumes. They consistently mentioned the following tips as being critical to writing a strong resume that will capture their attention.
Hiring managers want to see that you have a strong foundation in cost accounting principles and techniques. Showcase your expertise by including specific examples of how you have applied cost accounting in your previous roles.
Avoid being too general or vague in your descriptions. Instead of simply stating that you have experience with cost accounting, provide concrete examples that demonstrate the impact of your work.
A resume summary for a Cost Accountant position is an optional section that can help provide context and highlight your most relevant skills and experience. While a summary isn't strictly necessary, it can be particularly useful if you're changing careers or have a diverse background that doesn't directly align with the Cost Accountant role. However, it's important to avoid using an objective statement, as these are outdated and often fail to provide value to hiring managers.
When crafting your summary, focus on showcasing your unique value proposition and the specific skills and experience that make you a strong fit for the Cost Accountant position. Keep it concise, limiting it to a single paragraph, and avoid repeating information that's already covered in other sections of your resume.
The work experience section is the heart of your cost accountant resume. It's where you highlight your relevant experience, skills, and achievements to show hiring managers that you're the right person for the job. Here are some key tips to make your work experience section stand out:
When describing your cost accounting experience, use powerful action verbs that showcase your skills and accomplishments. Some examples include:
Avoid using weak or passive verbs like 'helped with', 'assisted in', or 'was responsible for'. These diminish the impact of your achievements.
The education section on a cost accountant resume should provide a clear overview of your academic background and achievements. It's a crucial section that can make a strong impression on potential employers. In this section, we'll guide you through the key steps to craft a compelling education section for your cost accountant resume.
Your skills section is your chance to show the hiring manager that you have the expertise they need. It's important to be strategic and selective when choosing which skills to include. Highlight the skills that are most relevant to the cost accountant role you're targeting.
In this section, we'll cover some key tips for crafting a compelling skills section that will help you stand out from other applicants.
Here are examples of popular skills from Cost Accountant job descriptions that you can include on your resume.
This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on Cost Accountant job descriptions and resumes. The bigger the word, the more frequently it appears on job postings, and the more likely you should include it in your resume.
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