CPA Resume Examples
Years of Experience
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
Ariel Schaefer
(123) 456-7899 | [email protected] | Bethesda, MD 20909 | linkedin.com/in/yourname
Profile
Knowledgeable and detail-oriented senior forensic accountant with both Certified Public Accountant and Certified Forensic Accountant designations. Highly skilled at analyzing financial information, creating measurement tools, and maintaining client relationships.
Professional Experience
Senior Forensic Accountant, J.S. Held, Washington, D.C.
March 2019 – Present
[Global consulting firm with 1,000+ employees]
- Oversee and support the work of 7 entry-level forensic accountants
- Serve as a back-up expert witness for fraud cases, appearing in 4 winning cases while supervisor was away
- Audit detailed financial and business data to create a comprehensive analysis that aid in investigations and prosecution
- Employ financial forensic skills to analyze each criminal’s methods of money laundering and movements within an organization
Auditor/Forensic Accounting Associate Trainee, Binder Dijker Otte, Baltimore, MD
June 2017 – February 2019
[Local branch of prestigious professional services network]
- Inspected 250 small businesses’ financial data to identify illegal activity
- Outperformed 95% of other trainees in efficiency and client reviews
- Assisted in fact-finding and provided basic tech support for teams assigned the investigation of potential tax fraud cases.
- Investigated inconsistencies, traced assets, and conducted interviews about records in review
- Worked collaboratively with the legal department to prepare documents for litigation
Skills/Knowledge Areas
- Corporate fraud
- Business valuation
- Investigative accounting
- Detail-oriented
- Benford’s Law
- Data-mining software
Education
Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting
TEMPLE UNIVERSITY Philadelphia, PA, May 2017
Certifications
- Certified Public Accountant, Association of Certified Public Accountants, 2016
- Certified Forensic Examiner, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, 2018
Keegan Chang
(512) 456-7890 | [email protected] | Denver, CO 12456 | linkedin.com/in/yourname
Profile
Motivated internal auditor and licensed CPA with over six years experience working for two well-known technology brands. Graduate of the number one accounting program in the nation and fluent in Portuguese.
Professional Experience
Internal Audit Lead, Hewlett-Packard, Spring, TX
January 2020 – Present
[$30 billion multinational information technology company]
- Remotely supervise up to 35 employees at a time
- Offer weekly Zoom training sessions for new or struggling auditors, leading to a 20% reduction in the auditor turnover rate
- Assist in enterprise risk assessments and conduct process, financial, regulatory and cyber audits
- Delegate and provide guidance for each audit team’s assigned engagements
- Advise company management on necessary improvements based on audit results
- Conduct post-audit evaluations and ensure improvement plans are implemented in an effective manner
Senior Internal Auditor, Hewlett-Packard, Spring, TX
October 2016 – January 2020
- Traveled to over 20 internal office sites to meet with staff and audit operations
- Executed required quarterly and annual SOX 404 assessments of HP’s control environment, ensuring that there were no compliance violations during full 3+ years in this role
- Audited individual departments to make certain they’re within Minimum Internal Control Standard (MICS)
- Performed audit procedures, including defining issues, developing criteria, and substantiate audit conclusions
Internal Audit Associate, Dell Technologies, Round Rock, TX
July 2014 – September 2016
[Leading computer hardware company with 100,000+ employees]
- Served on a team of over 100 auditors tasked with improving Dell’s control environment and identifying and managing business risks
- Named Associate of the Year for the department in 2015 after outperforming 95% of auditors company-wide
- Developed strong skills in project management, controllership, and presentations
- Applied knowledge of Portuguese language to audit performed working with Dell’s Brazil office
- Gained experience in all phases of the audit engagement, including planning, program development, evaluation of controls, report writing, and follow-up
Education
Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS Austin, TX, May 2014
Key Skills/Knowledge Areas
- Critical thinking
- Computer-aided audit tools
- Fluent in Portuguese
- Relationship-building
- SOX compliance
Certifications
- Certified Public Accountant, Association of Certified Public Accountants, 2016
- Certified Internal Auditor, Institute of Internal Auditors, 2018
Flynn Coleman
(123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | Mt. Lebanon, PA 15105 | linkedin.com/in/yourname
Profile
Proven corporate tax manager with three years of leadership experience and 10+ years as a Certified Public Account. Responsible for ensuring accuracy and outstanding customer service for tax planning, preparation, and compliance work completed by 50 staff members. Highly educated with a Master of Taxation from Thomas Jefferson University and sought-after expertise in risk management and emerging tax softwares.
Professional Experience
Senior Corporate Tax Manager, Grant Thornton, Pittsburgh, PA
November 2017 – Present
[Local branch of prestigious accounting and consulting firm with 500+ employees]
- Plan, manage, and execute full-circle tax projects in over 15 industries by providing top-quality tax planning, consultation, and compliance expertise
- Manage the corporate tax team within the tax services department, which includes three managers, six senior associates, 12 junior associates, and four interns
- Conduct primary and secondary review of complicated or complex income tax returns including Corporate, S-Corp., partnership, and individual clients
- Work with a team of experts to evaluate innovative tax software and seamlessly implement selection within the corporate tax office
- Remotely assess employee performance for assignments and year-end reviews
Senior Tax Accountant, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Pittsburgh, PA
September 2011 – November 2015
[Second-largest professional services network in the world and one of the “Big Four” accounting firms]
- Oversaw four staff associates and ensured team completed 350 returns on time
- Made business and process recommendations based on analysis and expertise, leading to $100,000+ in savings on department budget
- Met tight deadlines and completed a challenging C-Corp assignment a week before it was due
- Collaborated effectively with client’s in-house financial and legal teams and external service providers to complete engagements and prepare for upcoming reporting periods
Staff Tax Accountant, PwC, Pittsburgh, PA
June 2009 – August 2011
- Completed corporate federal and state tax returns, estimates, and extensions with a 0% error rate
- Researched complex GAAP and Securities and Exchange Commission reporting issues to ensure proper accounting treatment, with no compliance violations in 2+ years in this role
- Prepared tax returns and related documentation solely for S-Corp clients
- CPA and PwC code of conduct strictly and strived to reflect firm’s values
Education
Master of Science in Taxation
THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY Philadelphia, PA September 2015
Bachelor of Accounting
WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY, Morgantown, WV, September 2009
Key Skills/Knowledge Areas
- Integrity
- Problem-solving
- Microsoft Office
- Interpretation of legal documents
- Coaching junior associates
- ERP software, such as Oracle
- SAP software, such as BusinessObjects XI
- S. GAAP
- QuickBooks
Certifications
- Certified Public Accountant, Association of Certified Public Accountants, 2009
Common Key Skills and Action Verbs for CPA Resumes
The accounting field is growing, but most industry recruiters and many managers rely on Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), a software designed to help hiring managers filter the hundreds, or sometimes, thousands of applicants to a handful of outstanding candidates.
Here’s how an ATS works: The software scans resumes for certain keywords and action verbs. Then the ATS submits any resumes containing the specified keywords and action verbs to the hiring manager for further review. If you want your resume to land in the hands of an actual human being, it’s important to find and incorporate those keywords into your resume. Below are common keywords and action verbs for CPA job postings:
| Key Skills & Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Account reconciliation | Accounting automation |
| Attention to detail | Auditing |
| Business administration | Compliance software |
| Critical thinking | Database reporting |
| Enterprise resource planning | Estate planning |
| Financial reporting | Income tax |
| Problem-solving | Project management |
| Public accounting | Spreadsheet software |
| System analysis | Tax law |
| Taxes | Teamwork |
| Tech-savvy | U.S. generally accepted accounting principles |
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Account | Adjust |
| Allocate | Appraise |
| Audit | Balance |
| Budget | Calculate |
| Create | Credit |
| Deliver | Establish |
| Finance | Forecast |
| Introduce | Manage |
| Pay | Prepare |
| Project | Provide |
| Reconcile | Report |
| Review | Trace |
| Verify | |
Tips for Writing a Better CPA Resume
Quantify your CPA experience
Quantifying your experience as a certified public accountant adds credibility to the skills you include on your resume and provides hiring managers a better understanding of your background.
As you describe your responsibilities and achievements on your resume, include answers to relevant questions, such as:
- How much time did your initiative save your company?
- How much money did your detailed cost analysis save your company?
- How many audits did you perform?
- How many associates did you supervise?
Example #1
Good
Supervised the Global Tax department’s 35 employees, including eight senior associates, 22 staff associates, four interns, and one executive assistant.
Bad
Supervised department employees.
Example #2
Good
Saved clients an average of 30% more on taxes by identifying missed business deductions.
Bad
Saved clients money.
Showcase your accounting education
Go beyond listing basic education information, such as your school name, degree name and graduation year, and add your achievements from that time period.
Example #1
Good
Bachelor of Accounting and Finance – Certified Public Accountant Track
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY Washington, DC May 2015
- Served as a summer undergraduate research fellow in International Tax
- Earned a minor in global economics
- Studied abroad in Switzerland for a semester to study international business and tax law
Bad
Bachelor of Accounting and Finance
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY Washington, DC May 2015
- Kappa Sigma Vice President; Homecoming float winner 2013
- Ballroom Dance Team member
Example #2
Good
Bachelor of Business Administration
TEXAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY Fort Worth, TX May 2019
- Earned an emphasis in forensic/fraud accounting
- Completed senior thesis on preventing wage theft
- Earned a 4.0 in all forensic/fraud and general accounting coursework
Bad
Bachelor of Business Administration
TEXAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY Fort Worth, TX May 2019
- President, Entrepreneurship Club
- Excelled in finance coursework
How to Align Your Resume With the Job Description
Accounting and auditing managers review countless resumes in search of outstanding candidates to fill their department or company needs. To distinguish yourself from the many other qualified applicants, revise your resume so that it mirrors the skills and experience outlined in the job description.
To determine which skills and experience to highlight in your resume, take another look at the job description. Commonly, the key requirements for a position are listed at the beginning of the job description and/or included more than once.
Next, review your resume again. Which skills, qualities, and experiences are noted first or even multiple times? These are the words you want your resume to include. Once you pinpoint these keywords, go through and sprinkle them naturally throughout your resume.
Example Certified Public Account Job Description
KPMG Los Angeles is searching for a full-time senior tax associate to join our collaborative, future-forward environment. The senior tax associate should be a Certified Public Accountant with extensive understanding of corporate tax, specifically pass-through, partnership, or corporation tax. They must also demonstrate a commitment to outstanding client service, and be familiar with cutting-edge tax technology. Previous experience at KMPG or another top-ranking firm is preferred. KPMG offers competitive and comprehensive compensation and benefits packages.
- Provide tax compliance and advisory services to asset management, pass-through, partnership, and corporation clients
- Oversee junior associate and assistants on assigned projects
- Work collaboratively on a multi-disciplinary team
- Build and maintain positive client relationships
Qualifications:
- Bachelor and/or Master of Accounting
- At least two years of experience, preferably at a Big Four (top-ranking) firm
- Certified Public Accountant designation
- Strong knowledge in pass-through, partnership, or corporation tax law
- Exceptional advisory and compliance skills
- History of balancing multiple projects at once
Now, review the words you highlighted from the job description and make sure your resume includes experience and skills that match. Below is an example of how to incorporate these into your CPA resume:
Certified Public Accountant Work Experience Example
Corporate Tax Staff Associate, Ernst & Young
June 2017 – November 2020
- Provided tax compliance and advisory services to pass-through, partnership, and corporation clients at a Big Four accounting firm
- Built effective client relationships, and worked collaboratively with other internal teams to provide first-class services
- Employed cutting-edge tax technologies, such as artificial intelligence
- Supervised seasonal interns, on occasion
Certifications
Certified Public Accountant, Association of Certified Public Accountants, 2018