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A public accountant is similar to a freelancer or contractor. You do not work as a full-time employee of one company but you instead offer your services to many companies or individuals. You may be preparing their returns, doing a forensic analysis of their books, or even just giving relevant advice.
Your qualifications are of great importance for this title, so ensure they are clearly shown. Above that, individuals and companies will be looking to see the experience you have had doing the kind of tasks they need to be done, so ensure that your experience section reflects all your capabilities.
Huge corporations may need very different accounting services than individuals or small businesses. It is therefore very important to indicate who your clients have been so far so potential clients can get an idea of how much experience you have in the tasks they need to be done.
Metrics are an easy way to quantify your achievements and impress potential clients. So include metrics like how many clients you had, how much much money you saved them, etc.
As a hiring manager who has recruited for top accounting firms like Deloitte, PwC, and KPMG, I've reviewed hundreds of resumes for public accountant positions. In this article, I'll share insider tips on how to create a resume that stands out and gets you hired. The following tips complement the resume examples provided and will help you craft a compelling resume that showcases your skills and experience.
Employers highly value the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification when hiring for public accountant roles. If you have earned your CPA, make sure to prominently feature it on your resume.
Compare these two examples:
The good example not only lists the CPA credential but also provides additional details that demonstrate the candidate's expertise and commitment to the profession. If you have other relevant certifications like Certified Management Accountant (CMA) or Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), include those as well.
A resume summary for a Public Accountant is an optional section that provides a brief overview of your professional experience, skills, and career goals. While a summary is not strictly necessary, it can be beneficial if you have extensive experience in the field or are making a career change. However, avoid using an objective statement, as it is outdated and does not effectively showcase your qualifications.
When crafting your Public Accountant resume summary, focus on highlighting your most relevant skills, experiences, and achievements. Tailor your summary to the specific job you are applying for, incorporating keywords from the job description. Keep your summary concise, limiting it to a single paragraph of no more than 3-4 sentences.
The work experience section is the heart of your public accountant resume. It's where you show hiring managers how you've applied your skills and knowledge to make an impact in previous roles. Use this section to highlight your most relevant and impressive experiences, focusing on accomplishments rather than simply listing responsibilities.
When describing your work experience, use strong, industry-specific action verbs to start each bullet point. This helps highlight your skills and accomplishments in a compelling way. For example:
Avoid starting bullet points with weak or generic phrases like:
Your education section is a key part of your public accountant resume. It shows hiring managers that you have the necessary background and training for the role. In this section, we'll cover what to include and how to format your education section for maximum impact.
As a public accountant, your skills section is one of the most important parts of your resume. It's where you showcase your technical abilities, software proficiencies, and industry knowledge. Hiring managers and recruiters will quickly scan this section to determine if you have the right skills for the job.
In this section, we'll break down the key steps to writing a strong skills section that will catch the attention of employers and help you land your next public accounting role.
Here are examples of popular skills from Public Accountant job descriptions that you can include on your resume.
This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on Public 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.
