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An experienced accountant, sometimes called a senior accountant, is a professional who has worked successfully in the field for many years (at least 5). Your tasks may be the same as more junior accountants but you may be tasked with the most important and central accounting functions. This position requires accuracy, interpersonal skills, and a strong accounting skill set. Here is a successful resume sample.
Start your resume strong by including the accounting functions you are particularly skilled at, and include a key achievement that shows the outcome of your skills. Starting your resume off strong will help your resume look more impressive overall.
Metrics jump out among the text in a resume and are an easy way to impress recruiters. A great accountant will work to maintain the financial health of the company, increase efficiencies, and reduce costs. If you have done any of the 3, include metrics to prove them.
As a hiring manager who has recruited accountants at top companies like PwC, Deloitte, and KPMG, I've seen hundreds of resumes. The best ones always stand out by highlighting the right skills and experiences. Here are some tips to help your accountant resume rise to the top of the pile:
Employers highly value accounting certifications like CPA, CMA, or CIA. Make sure to prominently feature them on your resume. For example:
If you are still pursuing a certification, mention your progress and expected completion date:
Currently preparing for the CIA exam, having passed 2 out of 3 parts. Expect to be fully certified by Q3 2023.
Your resume summary is a bite-sized overview of your professional experience, skills, and career goals. While a summary is optional, it can be a powerful way to provide context for your career journey, especially if you're an experienced accountant looking to transition into a new role or industry. Avoid using an objective statement, as it focuses on what you want rather than what you can offer an employer.
When crafting your summary, focus on your most relevant qualifications and achievements. Highlight your expertise in financial reporting, tax preparation, or auditing, and showcase any specialized knowledge or certifications. Remember, your summary should complement the rest of your resume, not repeat it verbatim.
The work experience section is the core of your resume as an experienced accountant. It's where you show hiring managers how you've applied your accounting skills to make an impact throughout your career.
In this section, we'll break down the key steps to follow to write an effective work experience section step-by-step, with plenty of examples of what to do (and what to avoid).
When describing your accounting experience, choose powerful action verbs that highlight your skills and accomplishments:
Avoid generic, overused verbs that don't convey impact:
The education section of your experienced accountant resume should be concise yet informative. It's an opportunity to showcase your relevant academic background and certifications that qualify you for the role. Follow these tips to make the most of this section.
Your skills section is one of the most important parts of your resume as an experienced accountant. It's where you showcase your technical proficiencies, industry knowledge, and specialized expertise. Hiring managers and recruiters often scan this section first to quickly assess if you have the right skills for the job.
Here are some key tips to help you write a strong skills section that will get you noticed:
Here are examples of popular skills from Experienced Accountant job descriptions that you can include on your resume.
This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on Experienced 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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Thank you for the checklist! I realized I was making so many mistakes on my resume that I've now fixed. I'm much more confident in my resume now.
