Accountant Resume: Free Example (2026)

Start your resume with a clear header that includes your name, professional title, city and state, phone number, and a professional email address.
Keep the header concise so hiring managers can identify you quickly and so applicant tracking systems can parse your contact details without errors.

Write a professional summary of two to three sentences that highlights your core accounting strengths and the value you bring.
Use specific role titles and accounting keywords from the job posting, and avoid vague phrases that do not describe your actual experience.

List your work experience in reverse chronological order with each job entry including your job title, employer, location, and dates of employment.
For each role, provide two to four achievement-focused lines that start with an action verb and explain the result you produced for the team or company.

When you write achievement lines, use measurable outcomes when possible or include clear context with placeholders if you prefer to replace them with exact figures later.
Example phrasing you can adapt includes "Prepared monthly financial statements, improving accuracy of account reconciliations by [X] percent" and "Implemented a new invoice process that reduced vendor payment errors by [describe result].

" Avoid listing only responsibilities that repeat the job title or basic duties without showing impact.
Instead, show how your actions improved processes, supported audits, or contributed to closing cycles by linking the task to an outcome.

Place your highest degree first, including degree name, school, and graduation year when recent or relevant.
Include certifications such as CPA, CMA, or other licenses, listing the credential, granting body, and year earned to make credentials easily scannable.

If you are early in your career, add relevant coursework, honors, or academic projects that show practical accounting skills.
If you have completing or in-progress certifications, list them with expected completion dates so recruiters know you are investing in professional development.

Group skills into categories such as Technical Accounting, Software and Tools, and Analytical Skills so readers can scan for the qualifications they care about.
Include software like Excel, QuickBooks, NetSuite, SAP, or other systems you use, and be specific about advanced features such as pivot tables, macros, or financial reporting modules.

Prioritize skills that match the job posting and be honest about your level of experience with each tool.
If you have advanced spreadsheet or data analysis experience, describe it in the work experience section with an example of how you used that skill to support decisions or reporting.

Use a simple, readable font and a clean layout with consistent spacing so both humans and resume parsers can read your resume.
Keep section headings clear, avoid graphics and unusual characters, and use standard section names like Work Experience, Education, and Skills so applicant tracking systems can categorize your content correctly.

Limit your resume to one page if you have less than 10 years of relevant experience, and use two pages only when you have extensive relevant work history or certifications.
Make sure bullet points are concise and start with strong action verbs so hiring managers can scan accomplishments quickly.

Save and submit your resume as a PDF when the job posting allows it, and as a Word document if specifically requested by the employer.
Before applying, run your resume through a parser or an ATS checker to spot any formatting issues that could prevent key sections from being read.

Sample summary you can adapt: "Detail-oriented accountant with experience in month-end close, account reconciliation, and variance analysis.
Known for improving reporting processes and supporting external audits with accurate, timely financial statements.

" Replace any bracketed items with your specific numbers or project names to show concrete impact.
Sample achievement lines you can adapt for work experience: "Managed month-end close activities and reconciliations for [business unit], reducing reconciliation time through standardized templates and checklists" and "Led preparation of schedules for external auditors, supporting a smooth audit with complete documentation and timely responses.

" Use short, action-focused lines rather than long paragraphs so recruiters can scan your impact quickly.
If you include a technical project, describe the problem, the action you took, and the result in one to two sentences.

For example, "Automated intercompany elimination entries using Excel macros to reduce manual entry and decrease month-end close time; documented the process for team use.