Accountant CV Example

Accountant Overview

As the accountant CV example shows, knowledge and understanding of your field is essential to landing the best jobs. On a basic level, accountants are responsible for analyzing financial data and preparing spreadsheets, reports and charts to present to the company or organization. Regular duties include tax preparation, auditing, payroll processing and cost analysis, among other tasks. Accountants are also fundamental in establishing annual budgets and finding new ways to lower expenses. Depending on your title, you may also be included in risk management decisions, as well as business trend analysis. Accountants must be extremely attentive to detail and avoid erroneous financial information. Finally, they must ensure that organizations are within compliance of all legal codes and operating under best practices.

Skills and Knowledge to Include in Your Accountant CV

As was illustrated in our accountant CV example, most accounting positions require a strong basis in mathematics and experience in financial data entry. Additionally, most employers look for a four-year bachelor’s degree or higher when selecting a candidate. Beyond perfunctory duties, you will also be expected to work effectively with others on your team, delegating and assuming roles as needed. In the increasingly digital accounting world, accountants must now be proficient in a variety of software, such as QuickBooks or Sage, as well as a series of tablet and smartphone applications. Job candidates must also have a thorough understanding of local, state and federal tax law, in addition to the financial codes for business operations. Lastly, accountants must regularly engage critical thinking skills and problem solving abilities with a knack for implementing preventative measures.

Tips for Writing an Excellent CV

Before you begin composing your updated CV, take a look at these tips, along with the accountant CV example, and discover how you can increase your potential as a job candidate in accounting:

• List your work experience and education in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent and going backward.
• Incorporate active, stimulating language throughout. Avoid using vague, dull phrases, such as, “worked on,” “responsible for” and “managed.” Instead, use language that leaves an impression, like “coordinated,” “integrated” and “executed,” to garner more attention from hiring managers.
• Always be specific when expounding on your experience and skillset. Be sure to include concrete metrics, such as growth percentages and other quantifiable measures, when describing your previous accomplishments.
• Avoid going too far back in time. Generally, exclude any work experience that is older than 10 years, unless it is your most recent employment. Similarly, mention only your higher-level degrees and omit your GPA.