Tips to Writing a CV for Accounting & Finance Job Applications

Accounting & finance jobs are competitive, so you need a strong resume to land an interview. These tips can help you get yours past an applicant tracking system (ATS) and into the hands of a hiring manager.

The employment history section of your resume is where you show off the achievements that set you apart from other accountants and financial analysts. Start by listing your most recent positions in reverse chronological order, then enumerate your accomplishments using bullets, and of course you also want to learn about Accounting Sectors TaxBite Help as this is a great service for accounting.

No Second Chance for First Impression

Your CV, or resume, is most likely the first thing your possible employers will see, so make it count. Of course that your knowledge, skills and experience will be the ultimate thing that will get you the job, but don’t forget that there are many skilled finance professionals out there and that everything counts.

Your accountant CV should be packed with important information, but it should also be aesthetically appealing. That will be the first impression your future employer will have of you. 

Don’t just type your resume, make it beautiful! Try designing it in Canva or some other design app. If you do not believe in your designing abilities, have your friends give you their opinion, you might be surprised how well you did it.

If you don’t have time or affinities to make your design, you can find some online. Check out what’s out there. Did you know that there are websites, like Resume Viking, specialized in resume templates? Pick one that you feel really represents you and start writing.

Highlights of Relevant Experience

When writing your finance and accounting CV, you should emphasize relevant experience that proves that you have the skills and qualifications needed to succeed in this career. For instance, if you’re applying for a financial auditor position at a large corporation, it might be necessary to highlight your experience with financial auditing, bank reconciliation, or tax preparation software.

You should also make sure that you focus on professional accomplishments rather than responsibilities when listing your work experience. This will ensure that you get hired.

Include a short summary of your work history, which is often recommended for senior accountants with extensive industry experience. These summaries provide recruiters with a concise overview of your best accomplishments, which helps them quickly determine your suitability for the job.

The summary of your career history is the section of your resume that recruiters read most closely, so it’s important to get it right. Using reverse chronological order, you’ll create bulleted items that describe tangible outcomes, not just responsibilities.

For example, if you worked as an accounts receivable clerk for a major retailer, you’ll include this example: Managed a £1,500,000 annual corporate budget, reducing 10% of costs in four years.

You’ll also want to include any other relevant qualifications you have, such as CPA certifications and continuing education courses. Generally, these should be listed in a separate section from your degrees and professional qualifications. You should also list your name, phone number and email address. These details are important to recruiters, who will need to be able to contact you in case they have questions or would like more information.

Education & Professional Qualifications

Having the right education and professional qualifications is essential for writing an accounting resume that will get you hired. These include an undergraduate degree, a graduate degree, and relevant certifications.

An accountant’s job requires a solid understanding of the laws, regulations, and processes that govern financial management. A bachelor’s degree is a great starting point for the career, but a master’s or doctorate can help you move up the ladder and become a senior-level accounting professional.

The accounting field is a fast-growing one with opportunities for entry-level positions as well as senior roles in finance and auditing. The American Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment of accountants is expected to grow by 16 percent through 2024.

Employers expect candidates to have a thorough knowledge of accounting rules and regulations, as well as taxation law and the ability to stay up-to-date on changes in those areas. Accountants need to be able to quickly and accurately interpret complex information, distill it into useful information for their employers, and take action based on that information.

You can highlight these skills in your accounting resume with examples from your previous jobs. You can also mention how your analytical and critical thinking skills helped your employer in the workplace.

A good way to do this is by showing how you made a profit or saved the company money with your work. For example, if you were responsible for saving Company X £52,000 by identifying and fixing a tax reporting error, use that as an example of how your skills can help the company grow.

To make sure your accounting resume gets read, be sure to include the keywords from the job description in your summary and objective sections. These are the key words that applicant tracking systems (ATS) look for in a candidate’s resume.

Core Technical Skills and Knowledge

There are a number of core technical skills that accountants and finance professionals must have. These include knowledge of financial principles and statements, data analysis, and the ability to prepare accurate accounting reports.

These skills can help you gain employment in a wide variety of accounting and finance positions including bookkeeping, tax preparation, and investment banking. They may also be required for upper-level positions in the field.

Regardless of your career path in accounting and finance, these skills are essential for success. They will enable you to perform your duties with ease and accuracy, and they will also ensure that your clients have a seamless experience when working with you.

Another essential skill that accountants and finance professionals need is the ability to work with financial software programs. For example, QuickBooks is a popular financial management tool that can assist you with accounting tasks like invoicing and billing.

Many businesses use Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software to manage all of their budgetary, purchasing, and other accounting needs. Knowing how to navigate ERP software can help you stand out from the crowd and remain competitive as businesses move toward accounting automation.

There are a number of other soft skills that employers look for in finance and accounting professionals. These include strong business awareness, knowledge of financial management strategies and standards, and a sense of professionalism and collaboration.

Soft Skills & Personal Traits

A resume is often the first thing recruiters see, so it’s important to make a good impression. This means highlighting your technical skills and relevant experience, as well as demonstrating how you can fit into the accounting & finance company culture.

Soft skills are interpersonal abilities that can help you communicate effectively with co-workers, managers, clients and other stakeholders. They include traits such as teamwork, problem-solving, organization and communication.

While most job applicants list technical skills on their resumes, many employers also look for candidates who demonstrate a variety of interpersonal qualities. These traits include being dependable, curious, positive, flexible and effective communicators, for example.

It’s important to note that soft skills are not innate, so you need to invest time and energy into developing them if you want to stand out in your field. This includes taking up skill-building hobbies and activities, completing a training course or continuing to improve your professional skills on the job.

You might also consider asking current or past colleagues to evaluate your soft skills and offer feedback. This can be a great way to determine whether your strengths are transferable or whether you need to work on areas of weakness.

For example, if you have poor communication skills, you may need to take up a leadership training course or start to focus on improving your interaction with team members.

You can also include your personal interests and hobbies in the body of your resume if you have space, especially if they relate to the accounting & finance industry or the role you’re applying for. These hobbies show you are a person who enjoys social activities and can be a valuable asset to any team.

Other Relevant Information

Your resume isn’t just about your education and professional qualifications – it also needs to be tailored to the specific job you’re applying for. Having a resume that focuses on your strengths and what the company is looking for will be a huge advantage when you’re trying to land an accounting & finance job.

The first thing you’ll want to do is read the job description carefully. This will help you to tailor your accountant resume skills and experience section to the specific requirements of the employer.

This will help to ensure that you are not wasting your time applying for jobs that you can’t realistically get, and it’ll also make sure that you are highlighting the skills and experience that are most relevant to the role. For example, if the job requires you to prepare financial statements that are compliant with the law, be sure to include this as part of your skills list.

Similarly, if the employer is looking for someone who can handle data queries and management, be sure to include this on your skills list. Be sure to include any relevant certifications that you have.

As an accountant, you need to be able to manage cash flow and make budgetary decisions. Your skills in this area can be demonstrated by your previous work experience.

If you’ve been in the financial sector for any length of time, you probably have a wide range of accounting skills that you’ve gained through your career. These can include knowledge of general ledger (GL) accounting, balance sheets, accounts payable/receivable, and accounting software.

You can easily demonstrate your abilities in this area by describing your past accounting experience with a variety of different companies. For instance, if you have worked in several different positions where you were responsible for balancing payments and verifying receipts against bills, this could be a great way to show your attention to detail.

BONUS TIP: Leverage the power of Linkedin for your job applications….