How To Write a Senior Accounting Manager Resume
Whether a certified public accountant (CPA) vying for a promotion or a seasoned accounting manager looking to relocate, a strong resume is key to your job search success. Develop your senior accounting manager resume with the same diligence you use when creating financial reports. Consider all your assets — experience, skills like leading teams and projects, and credentials — and gather them in a well-formatted document. Use the guide below to learn how to incorporate the right action verbs and skills and what format to use.
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
1. Create a profile by summarizing your senior accounting manager qualifications
Create a concise statement of why you’re the right professional for the job. Mention how many years of accounting experience you have and what budget, profit margin, or regulatory compliance challenges you’ve helped companies overcome.
For example, you might share your track record of helping organizations cut costs without undermining quality. Or you could point to a credential that gives you a unique insight into accounting workflows.
Senior-Level Profile Example
Senior accountancy manager with over 11 years of experience in the life sciences sector. Confident leader who trains, mentors, and motivates team members to realize their potential. Recent highlights include developing new policies and procedures to reduce discrepancies by 65% and raise productivity by 40% in two years.
Entry-Level Profile Example
Senior accounting manager with more than three years of experience. Skilled at guiding complex projects, empowering team members, and honing department procedures.
2. Add a compelling section featuring your senior accounting manager experience
Share specific results and accomplishments from past jobs, so employers see what you can do for them. For instance, if you developed revenue recognition programs that supported growth, that helps a hiring manager see you engage in big-picture thinking and promote business-critical results. Provide metrics such as increased revenue or profit, decreased costs, or improved accuracy whenever you can.
Senior-Level Professional Experience Example
Senior Accounting Manager
BioNano Genomics, San Diego, CA | September 2011 to present
- Oversee and coach a team of 15 accountants to prepare routine journal entries and review reconciliations
- Help HR interview, select, and onboard new accountant hires
- Coordinate internal audits, and facilitate all requests from external auditors promptly and accurately
- Developed new accounting policies and procedures, reducing discrepancies by 65% and raising productivity by 40% in two years
Entry-Level Professional Experience Example
Senior Accounting Manager
First Alliance Accounting, Louisville, KY | June 2014 to present
- Oversee corporate reporting functions and general ledger month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close processes
- Manage accounts payable (AP) process for three ledgers, and reconcile all intercompany general ledger accounts monthly
- Prepare and file state sales and use tax returns
- Help corporate controller review internal controls for internal and external audit groups
3. Outline your education and senior accounting manager-related certifications
Include relevant degrees and certifications in a simple format on your resume. List any accounting or finance degree you have, but also include any other relevant degrees such as economics or business administration.
When possible, use the certifications section to differentiate your application. For instance, many applicants for a senior accounting position may have a CPA. But highlighting those credentials can set you apart if you’re also a Certified Fraud Examiner or Chartered Financial Analyst.
Education
Template
- [Degree Name]
- [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]
Example
- Bachelor of Business Administration – Accountancy
- University of Louisville, KY | 2014
Certifications
Template
- [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization – optional] | [Completion Year]
Example
- Certified Public Accountant | 2014
4. Include your senior accounting manager-related skills and proficiencies
Include a key skills section where you can list proficiencies that will help you lead an accounting team through audits, year-end reporting, or day-to-day business accounting. Use language that matches the job posting where possible. This section can also be a great place to list various accounting software you know. For more ideas of what to include, see our list of common accounting skills below.
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| AP | Accounts receivable |
| Cost reduction | Data analysis |
| Financial reporting | Forecasting |
| Generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) | General ledger |
| Internal and external audits | Operations management |
| Oracle | Project management |
| QuickBooks | Regulatory compliance |
| Risk management | Task delegation |
| Tax return preparation | Team leadership |
How To Pick the Best Senior Accounting Manager Resume Template
Accounting professionals should choose resume templates that let the details and data speak for themselves. Consider what you like about a good balance sheet template: it’s probably streamlined and easy to scan, allowing you to find critical details after only a few minutes’ perusal.
Select a template with adequate space for your experience, skills, and education. Many hiring managers are looking for senior accounting staff with specific credentials and degrees, and it’s best not to miss out on an opportunity because your Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or CPA certification was buried in a poor resume design.
Senior Accounting Manager Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
Zoey Logan
(123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | 123 Main Street, Miami, FL 12345
Profile
Collaborative Senior Accounting Manager with 5+ years of experience. Lead and coordinate with teams to consistently achieve project goals and deadlines. Master of Business Administration.
Professional Experience
Senior Accounting Manager, ABC Corporation, Miami, FL | September 2017 to Present
- Lead a team of 15 accounting specialists responsible for payroll, financial reports, and accounts receivable
- Analyze and present monthly and quarterly financials to executive team
- Ensure company financials comply with state and federal laws
- Prepare all documentation required for annual external audits
- Present budget forecasts to senior management
- Maintain all accounting ledgers
Highlight:
- Spearheaded a project to analyze company’s financial processes, generating improvements that raised accuracy by 65% and productivity by 43% as the business scaled up
Assistant Accounting Manager, Imagination Retail, Miami, FL | June 2012 to August 2017
- Checked the work of 4 accounting specialists and reported any discrepancies to the senior accounting manager
- Helped create financial reports for senior management
- Performed research on operational data and financial results
Highlight:
- Helped improve accounting procedures and reduce discrepancies by 76% in 2 years
Education
The University of Miami, FL
- Master of Business Administration
- Bachelor of Science in Accounting
Key Skills
- Budgeting & Cost Accounting
- Cost Reduction & Elimination
- Data Gathering & Analysis
- Financial Auditing
- Task Prioritization
- Team Leadership & Motivation
Frequently Asked Questions: Senior Accounting Manager Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for senior accounting manager resumes?-
Strong verbs help show you’re a person of action and can make your resume more engaging. Consider the action verbs below for your senior accounting manager resume:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Analyzed | Audited |
| Budgeted | Collaborated |
| Created | Developed |
| Established | Facilitated |
| Generated | Improved |
| Led | Managed |
| Negotiated | Performed |
| Produced | Provided |
| Reconciled | Reported |
| Supported | Tracked |
How do you align your resume with a senior accounting manager job posting?-
Take time to align your resume with each employer’s needs. Read the job posting closely and note what skills and experience the hiring manager is looking for. If you have matching experience, use similar language to describe it on your resume.
For example, say the employer seeks someone familiar with The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) reports or The Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) compliance. Instead of simply saying you filed financial reports, mention the SEC specifically. Similarly, don’t just cite experience with financial compliance — mention SOX if it applies.
In general, job growth for accountants and auditors is escalating at an average rate compared to other jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Aligning your resume with job postings helps you get noticed among other qualified applicants.
What is the best senior accounting manager resume format?-
Most senior-level accounting professionals should use the combination format. This format provides plenty of room to establish your accounting skills and document your relevant work history.
If you’re seeking a leadership role, use the experience section to document supervisory or project management experience. Pair that with a skills section that details your accounting knowledge, such as what software you’re proficient in or what types of corporate finance projects you’ve worked on.
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