This guide gives a practical bookkeeper resume template with examples and formatting tips you can use to build a clear and job-focused resume.
You will find a ready-to-edit example, instructions for each section, and concrete formatting advice that helps your resume pass applicant tracking systems and appeal to hiring managers.
View and download this professional resume template
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💡 Pro tip: Use this template as a starting point. Customize it with your own experience, skills, and achievements.
Why this template works
This template centers on clarity, consistent formatting, and job-relevant details that matter to employers who hire bookkeepers.
You will show reliable accounting skills, attention to detail, and software experience without unnecessary jargon.
The structure places your most relevant information up front so hiring managers can quickly see you can handle day-to-day bookkeeping responsibilities.
Bookkeeper resume template (fillable example)
Use this template as a starting point and replace bracketed items with your details.
Keep section headings short and consistent, and use bullet points for accomplishments and responsibilities.
Header
Name
City, State, Phone | Email | LinkedIn URL
Professional Summary
Detail-oriented bookkeeper with X years of experience in accounts payable, accounts receivable, reconciliations, and month-end close.
Skilled in [QuickBooks, Xero, Excel] and known for accurate record keeping and timely reporting.
Core Skills
- Accounts payable and receivable, Bank reconciliations, General ledger maintenance
- Payroll processing, Month-end close support, Financial reporting
- Accounting software: QuickBooks, Xero, Excel (pivot tables, formulas)
Professional Experience
Job Title, Employer Name, City, State — Dates
- Managed daily accounts payable and accounts receivable processes while maintaining vendor relationships and ensuring on-time payments.
- Performed monthly bank and ledger reconciliations and corrected discrepancies to maintain accurate financial records.
- Prepared routine financial reports for management and supported external audits by organizing documentation.
Job Title, Employer Name, City, State — Dates
- Processed payroll and maintained payroll records in compliance with company policy and tax regulations.
- Streamlined invoicing and collections processes to improve payment turnaround time.
- Supported month-end close by posting journal entries and reviewing account balances.
How to write each section
Header: Use a professional email and a local phone number.
Include a LinkedIn URL if your profile is up to date and matches the resume.
Professional Summary: Write 2 to 3 lines that focus on your bookkeeping strengths and the software you use most.
Tailor this to the job posting by mirroring key responsibilities listed by the employer.
Core Skills: Use 6 to 10 concise skill phrases that match the job description and your strongest competencies.
Include software names and accounting tasks to help applicant tracking systems identify your fit.
Professional Experience: Lead with your job title and the employer name, then list 3 to 6 bullet points per role.
Start bullets with action verbs, focus on routine bookkeeping tasks and outcomes, and include context such as the size of the books you maintained or the software you used when relevant.
Education and Certifications: List degrees and relevant certifications.
Put bookkeeping certifications or continuing education that relates to accounting processes near the top of this section.
Sample bullet points you can adapt
When you write bullets, begin with an action verb and describe the specific bookkeeping task and the result or purpose.
Below are adaptable examples you can rewrite to match your experience.
- Reconciled daily cash and bank transactions to ensure ledger accuracy and support month-end close procedures.
- Processed vendor invoices and managed accounts payable schedules to maintain positive vendor relationships.
- Generated weekly accounts receivable aging reports and worked with sales to follow up on overdue invoices.
- Prepared monthly financial summaries for management to support decision making and budgeting.
- Maintained payroll records and processed payroll using [software name] while ensuring accurate tax withholdings and filings.
Formatting and ATS tips
Use a clean, single-column layout, standard fonts, and consistent spacing to keep your resume scannable by both humans and applicant tracking systems.
Save and submit your resume as a PDF unless the job posting requests a different format.
Avoid complex visuals, images, or tables that can confuse ATS parsing.
Use standard headings such as Professional Summary, Experience, and Education so the system and hiring manager can find information quickly.
Use keyword phrases from the job posting naturally in your experience and skills sections to increase ATS match rates.
What to include and what to leave out
Include measurable results when you can, such as improved processing speed or audit support, but do not invent numbers.
Focus on bookkeeping tasks, software proficiency, and examples of accuracy and reliability.
Leave out unrelated job duties that do not demonstrate transferable bookkeeping skills, and omit personal details such as marital status or a headshot unless the employer requests them.
How to tailor your resume for each application
Read the job posting and identify 3 to 5 required skills or tasks you can demonstrate from your experience.
Reorder your core skills and adjust 1 to 2 bullets in your most recent role to highlight the responsibilities that best match the posting.
If the job emphasizes a specific software, put that software name in your Professional Summary and Core Skills sections.
Interview-readiness from your resume
Use bullets that prompt concise stories you can share in interviews, such as how you found and fixed a reconciliation discrepancy or how you improved an invoicing cycle.
Prepare brief STAR-style answers that reference the resume bullet, the action you took, and the outcome.
Bring copies of reconciliations, spreadsheet examples, or reports that demonstrate the work you described if asked during interviews.
Best Practices
Keep each section clear and consistent, with 3 to 6 bullet points for recent roles and 6 to 10 core skills.
Use specific bookkeeping terms and the exact software names the employer lists to improve ATS matches.
Limit the resume to one or two pages, focusing on the last 10 to 15 years of relevant experience when possible.
Proofread carefully to remove errors and ensure numbers and dates are accurate and consistent.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Final Thoughts
A focused bookkeeper resume combines clear formatting, job-relevant skills, and concrete examples of everyday accounting work.
You can use the template and sample bullets here as a starting point, then tailor your resume to each job posting and prepare concise stories you can expand on in interviews.
When you keep the document accurate, concise, and aligned with the employer needs, you increase your chances of moving to the next hiring step.