Project Accountant Resume Examples for 2024

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Project Accountant

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Experience

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Project Accountant Resume Tips

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Google Docs Template #1

Project Accountant Resume Sample

As the name suggests, as a project accountant you will be responsible for handling and monitoring the finances of a project. You will approve payments, analyze expenses, and ensure that the project progresses as intended and within the allocated budget. Recruiters will want to see a strong educational background in accounting and will be looking to see experience in accounting and more specifically in project accounting. If you have experience doing accounting in the same industry as the recruiting company, all the better. Take a look at this successful resume sample.

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A project accountant resume sample that highlights the applicant’s accounting skills and project experience.

Tips to help you write your Project Accountant resume in 2024

Show a variety of accounting skills in the skills section.

Because you will be in charge of the accounting for a project, you will have a variety of accounting tasks to complete. Show that you are capable of completing all expected tasks by ensuring your skills section lists the various tasks.

Also see: Essential Components of Your Skills Section

Show a variety of accounting skills in the skills section. - Project Accountant Resume

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Indicate the financial size of the projects you have worked on.

Give recruiters an idea of what you are capable of handling by adding figures of the financial size of the projects you have worked with. This applicant had worked on a project worth $22M.

Also see: How to List Projects on a Resume

Indicate the financial size of the projects you have worked on. - Project Accountant Resume

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Project Accountant Resume Tips

As a hiring manager who has recruited project accountants at companies like PwC, Deloitte, and KPMG, I've reviewed hundreds of resumes. The best project accountant resumes effectively highlight the candidate's relevant skills, experience, and accomplishments. In this article, we'll share some tips to help you create a strong project accountant resume that will catch the attention of hiring managers and increase your chances of landing an interview.

Showcase your project accounting experience

Hiring managers want to see that you have experience in project accounting. Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in your resume.

Managed project accounting for 5+ construction projects with budgets ranging from $500K to $2M
Tracked and analyzed project costs, resulting in a 10% reduction in overall project expenses
Prepared monthly project financial reports and presented to senior management and clients

Avoid being too general or vague in describing your experience. Instead of saying:

Responsible for project accounting tasks
Assisted with project financial reporting

Bullet Point Samples for Project Accountant

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Emphasize your knowledge of accounting software

Project accountants need to be proficient in accounting software like QuickBooks, SAP, or Oracle. Highlight your experience with these tools in your resume.

Proficient in QuickBooks, SAP, and Microsoft Dynamics GP
Implemented Oracle NetSuite for project accounting, reducing manual data entry by 50%
Trained 20+ team members on using SAP for project financial tracking and reporting

Don't just list the software without context. Show how you used it to improve processes or achieve results.

Quantify your accomplishments

Whenever possible, use numbers and metrics to quantify your accomplishments. This helps hiring managers understand the impact you made in your previous roles.

Managed project accounting for a $10M construction project, ensuring on-time and under-budget completion
Identified and corrected billing errors, resulting in a $50K revenue recovery for the company
Implemented a new project cost tracking system, reducing month-end closing time by 30%

Avoid using vague or subjective statements like:

Successfully managed project accounting tasks
Helped improve project financial reporting

Highlight your communication and collaboration skills

Project accountants often work closely with project managers, clients, and other stakeholders. Emphasize your communication and collaboration skills in your resume.

Collaborated with project managers to develop and monitor project budgets and forecasts
Regularly communicated project financial status to clients and addressed their concerns
Worked closely with cross-functional teams to ensure accurate and timely project billing and revenue recognition

Don't just say you have good communication skills. Show how you used them to achieve results.

Tailor your resume to the job description

Customize your resume for each job application. Review the job description carefully and highlight the skills and experience that match the requirements.

For example, if the job description emphasizes experience with construction projects, make sure to highlight your relevant experience:

Managed project accounting for 3 large-scale construction projects with budgets over $5M
Collaborated with construction project managers to monitor job costs and prepare financial reports

Avoid using the same generic resume for all applications. Tailoring your resume shows the hiring manager that you have the specific skills and experience they are looking for.

Include relevant certifications and education

If you have relevant certifications or education, make sure to include them in your resume. This can help you stand out from other candidates.

Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Finance
Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance

Only include certifications and education that are relevant to the project accountant role. Avoid listing unrelated or outdated information.

Writing Your Project Accountant Resume: Section By Section

Summary

As a project accountant, you may wonder if including a summary on your resume is necessary. While a summary is optional, it can be a valuable addition, especially if you're a career changer or have extensive experience to highlight. A well-crafted summary provides context and showcases your most relevant skills and achievements, making it easier for hiring managers to quickly grasp your value proposition.

However, it's crucial to avoid using an objective statement, as it shifts the focus away from what you can offer the company and instead centers on your own goals. When writing your summary, ensure that it complements the rest of your resume without repeating information verbatim. Use this opportunity to incorporate relevant keywords and tailor your summary to the project accountant role you're seeking.

How to write a resume summary if you are applying for a Project Accountant resume

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1. Highlight your project accounting expertise

When crafting your summary, focus on showcasing your project accounting skills and experience. Highlight your ability to manage financial aspects of projects, such as budgeting, forecasting, and cost control. Emphasize your proficiency in relevant accounting software and your experience collaborating with cross-functional teams.

Avoid generic statements that could apply to any accounting professional, such as:

Experienced accountant with a strong work ethic
Detail-oriented professional with excellent communication skills

Instead, tailor your summary to the project accountant role:

Project accountant with 5+ years of experience managing financial aspects of construction projects, ensuring timely and accurate reporting
Skilled in using Oracle ERP to monitor project budgets, forecast costs, and optimize resource allocation

To ensure your summary resonates with hiring managers, consider using Targeted Resume to check if your resume includes the right skills and keywords for the project accountant role you're pursuing.

2. Quantify your impact and achievements

To make your summary more impactful, include quantifiable achievements that demonstrate your value as a project accountant. Metrics help hiring managers understand the scope and significance of your contributions.

Experienced project accountant skilled in managing project financials and ensuring compliance with accounting standards.

While this summary mentions relevant skills, it lacks specificity and measurable impact. Consider incorporating numbers to strengthen your summary:

Project accountant with 7+ years of experience managing financials for projects worth up to $50M. Implemented cost control measures that reduced project expenses by 15% on average. Ensured 100% compliance with GAAP and company accounting policies.

Remember to focus on achievements that are most relevant to the project accountant role you're targeting. Prioritize metrics that demonstrate your ability to drive cost savings, improve efficiency, and ensure financial accuracy.

Experience

The work experience section is the heart of your project accountant resume. It's where you showcase your relevant skills, accomplishments, and career progression. Hiring managers look closely at this section to determine if you have the right experience for the role. Here are some tips to make your work experience section stand out:

1. Use project accounting keywords

Incorporate project accounting terminology throughout your work experience bullet points. This helps demonstrate your expertise and makes it easy for hiring managers to see you have the relevant skills.

Examples of project accounting keywords to include:

Budget forecasting
Revenue recognition
Resource allocation
Variance analysis
Project profitability

Make sure to use the exact terms from the job description when possible. This will help your resume pass applicant tracking system (ATS) scans. Our Targeted Resume tool scans your resume against a job description and identifies missing keywords to include.

2. Quantify your impact with metrics

Numbers jump off the page and quickly convey the scope of your contributions. Whenever possible, include metrics to quantify your achievements in past roles.

Compare the difference:

Managed project budgets and tracked expenses
Performed revenue recognition and monitored project profitability

Instead, quantify your impact like this:

Managed $3M+ annual project budgets and reduced project costs by 15% through identifying areas of overspend
Performed monthly revenue recognition for projects up to $500K and improved average project profitability by 10%

If you don't have access to exact numbers, estimate or use ranges. Any metrics are better than none. For example: "Managed project budgets exceeding $1M annually."

3. Highlight promotions and career growth

Showing progression and promotions in your work experience is a great way to demonstrate your value to employers. It provides evidence of your strong performance and initiative.

There are a few ways to showcase promotions:

List the company once, with your most recent position. Then indent and list your previous position(s) underneath.
List the company multiple times, with each position as a separate entry. This takes up more space but makes your progression extra clear.

Deloitte
Senior Project Accountant (2019-Present)
Project Accountant (2016-2019)

Clearly label the different positions to highlight your trajectory. Consider bolding the position names to make them pop, since recruiters often scan for this first.

4. Use strong project accounting action verbs

Start each bullet point with an action verb that demonstrates your project accounting skills. This makes your contributions clear and impactful.

Examples of weak, generic verbs:

Responsible for managing project financials
Worked on month-end close and reporting

Instead, use strong project accounting verbs:

Forecasted project revenue and expenses to optimize profitability
Reconciled project accounts and investigated variances for month-end close
Collaborated with project managers to develop budgets and track burn rate

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Use a variety of verbs to showcase the full scope of your contributions. Other strong verbs for project accountants include: analyzed, budgeted, calculated, conducted, documented, managed, oversaw, prepared, projected, reported.

Education

The education section of your project accountant resume should be concise and relevant to the job you're applying for. It's important to highlight your academic achievements and any relevant coursework or certifications that demonstrate your expertise in accounting and project management.

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1. List your highest degree first

Start your education section with your highest degree, such as a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field. Include the name of the institution, the degree earned, and the year of graduation.

Master of Science in Accounting, XYZ University, Graduated 2019
Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance, ABC College, Graduated 2017

If you have multiple degrees, list them in reverse chronological order, with the most recent degree first.

If you have a degree in progress, you can still include it on your resume. Just make sure to indicate the expected graduation date.

2. Include relevant coursework and certifications

If you're a recent graduate or have completed coursework that's directly relevant to project accounting, consider including it in your education section. This can help demonstrate your knowledge and skills to potential employers.

Examples of relevant coursework for project accountants:

Cost Accounting
Financial Reporting
Project Management
Budgeting and Forecasting

Additionally, if you have any professional certifications, such as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Project Management Professional (PMP), include them in this section or in a separate 'Certifications' section.

Only include coursework if it's directly relevant to the project accountant role. Avoid listing general education courses or electives that don't showcase your accounting and project management skills.

3. Keep it concise for experienced professionals

If you have several years of experience as a project accountant, your education section should be brief and to the point. Include only your highest degree and any relevant certifications.

MBA, Finance Concentration, University of XYZ
B.S., Accounting, ABC University
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

Avoid listing graduation dates if you have more than 10 years of experience, as it can potentially lead to age discrimination.

Master of Business Administration, XYZ University, Graduated 1995
Bachelor of Science in Accounting, ABC College, Graduated 1992

If you have a mix of relevant and outdated degrees or certifications, only include those that are most pertinent to your current career goals as a project accountant.

Skills

Your skills section is one of the most important parts of your project accountant resume. It's where you showcase your technical abilities, software proficiencies, and industry knowledge. Hiring managers and recruiters scan this section to quickly assess if you have the right skills for the job.

Here are some tips to help you write a strong skills section that will get you noticed:

How To Write Your Skills Section - Project Accountant Roles

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1. Tailor your skills to the job description

When applying for a project accountant role, it's crucial to align your skills with what the employer is looking for. Review the job description carefully and identify the key skills and qualifications they require. Then, make sure to include those skills in your resume, using the same language and terminology where possible.

For example, if the job description mentions proficiency in Microsoft Dynamics GP, your skills section might look like this:

Microsoft Dynamics GP (Advanced)
SAP (Intermediate)
QuickBooks (Expert)

By tailoring your skills to the job, you increase your chances of getting past Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that scan resumes for relevant keywords.

To ensure your resume is optimized for ATS, try using Resume Worded's Targeted Resume tool. It analyzes your resume against a specific job description and provides feedback on which skills and keywords you may be missing.

2. Focus on hard skills and technical proficiencies

As a project accountant, employers are primarily interested in your technical skills and software proficiencies. Avoid listing soft skills like "communication" or "teamwork" in your skills section, as these are better demonstrated through your work experience and achievements.

Instead, focus on hard skills that are specific to your industry and role, such as:

Financial reporting
Budgeting and forecasting
Cost accounting
Variance analysis
ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle)

By highlighting your technical expertise, you show employers that you have the necessary skills to excel in the role.

When listing your skills, consider including proficiency levels (e.g., beginner, intermediate, advanced) to give employers a better sense of your abilities. Just be honest and realistic in your assessments.

3. Group your skills into categories

To make your skills section more readable and impactful, consider grouping your skills into categories. This helps employers quickly scan your resume and understand the breadth of your expertise.

For example, you might organize your skills like this:

Accounting: Financial reporting, Budgeting, Cost accounting, Variance analysis
Software: Microsoft Dynamics GP, SAP, QuickBooks, Oracle
Certifications: CPA, CMA

By categorizing your skills, you make it easier for hiring managers to see how your abilities align with their needs.

Be strategic in which skills you choose to include. Focus on those that are most relevant to the job and showcase your unique value proposition. Quality over quantity!

4. Avoid outdated or irrelevant skills

When crafting your skills section, it's important to avoid listing outdated or irrelevant skills. While you may have extensive experience with certain software or techniques, if they are no longer used in the industry, it's best to leave them off your resume.

For example, instead of listing an outdated accounting software like this:

Peachtree Accounting (Expert)

Focus on current, industry-standard tools:

QuickBooks (Advanced)
Xero (Intermediate)

By showcasing your proficiency with modern tools and techniques, you demonstrate to employers that your skills are up-to-date and relevant to their needs.

If you're unsure which skills are most important for a project accountant role, take a look at several job descriptions in your target industry. Look for common themes and frequently mentioned skills, and prioritize those in your resume. You can also use Resume Worded's Score My Resume tool to get instant feedback on your skills section and other key criteria hiring managers care about.

Skills For Project Accountant Resumes

Here are examples of popular skills from Project Accountant job descriptions that you can include on your resume.

Finance
Financial Statements
Accounts Payable
Account Reconciliation
Bank Reconciliation
Accounting
Payroll
Accruals
Journal Entries
Accounts Payable & Receivable

Match Your Resume To These Skills

Skills Word Cloud For Project Accountant Resumes

This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on Project 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.

Top Project Accountant Skills and Keywords to Include On Your Resume

For more skills, visit Project Accountant Skills & Keywords.

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