How To Write a Staff Accountant Resume

You can leverage your reporting and organizational skills to create an excellent staff accountant resume. First, do some research to understand what your target employers want. Then, use that knowledge to create a compelling document that positions your financial skills as valuable resources for a hiring organization.

Our step-by-step guidance will help you create the most critical sections of your resume and includes plenty of examples and templates you can use. It also answers questions such as what action verbs and formats are best for a staff accountant resume.

  • Entry-Level
  • Mid-Career
  • Senior-Level
Resume Callout Image
Build Your Resume
Resume Builder offers free, HR-approved resume templates to help you create a professional resume in minutes.

1. Write a dynamic profile summarizing your staff accountant qualifications

Load this short summary with your most impressive credentials and accomplishments — while also ensuring concise, professional language that sets the tone for the rest of your resume. Consider including must-haves from the employer job posting, such as a CPA certification.

Your profile summary is also a good place to hint at your cultural fit with an organization or soft skills that might make you a stand-out candidate. For example, if you previously led a small accounting team, mentioning your management experience might be a good idea.

Senior-Level Profile Example


Staff Accountant with 15+ years of corporate experience. Ensure utmost accuracy in all financial work. Draw on strong knowledge of accounting software systems including Intuit QuickBooks and Xero. Promptly reconcile accounts and perform payroll functions.

Entry-Level Profile Example


Accounting Professional with 2+ years of experience. Skilled at preparing financial and annual reports for midsize organizations. Equally effective working solo or on a team.

2. Add your staff accountant experience with compelling examples

Format the details under each past job with bullet points to make information easy to read, and pair specific accounting achievements with relevant action verbs and skills to create a cohesive story.

An example could be, “Managed month-end reporting processes and implemented automated reporting to reduce manual labor hours by 10%.” You’re applying for a number-centric job, so whenever possible, include relevant metrics to show how you create value for your employers.

Senior-Level Professional Experience Example


Staff Accountant, Deloitte LLP, Chicago, IL | July 2016 to Present

  • Member of a 12-person team carrying out various finance and accounting functions
  • Manage monthly internal audits for corporate units
  • Help prepare corporate tax documents
  • Reconcile statements and invoices as needed
  • Train and mentor up to 3 junior accountants annually

Entry-Level Professional Experience Example


Junior Accountant, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT | October 2020 to Present

  • One of 3 accountants charged with maintaining accurate financial records and data
  • Provide office assistance as needed to students, faculty, and staff members
  • Process accounts payable and receivable, ensuring accuracy and paying vendors on time

Highlight:

  • Helped raise department’s accuracy rate from 94.2% to 97.6%

3. Include your staff accountant-related education and certifications

Most organizations hiring accounting professionals want someone with a four-year degree or higher and the requisite certifications for the job. Enhance your chances of success in the job hunt by clearly stating your education on your resume.

Accounting, finance, economics, and business degrees are all relevant, but don’t overlook other degrees that may be pertinent. If you previously worked as a health care coder, for example, your associate degree in medical records management might be significant when applying for a staff accounting job in a hospital.

Education

Template

  • [Degree Name]
  • [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]

Example

  • Bachelor of Science in Accounting
  • Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL | 2018

Certifications

Template

  • [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]

Example

  • Certified Chartered Financial Analyst, CFA Institute, 2018

4. List your key staff accountant skills and proficiencies

Including relevant key skills on your resume helps hiring managers see your potential value to their organization. Mention capabilities, including technical account proficiencies and soft skills, in your summary, work experience, and skills sections.

To maximize your chances of passing through applicant tracking systems (ATS)and catching the attention of hiring managers, mention skills you have that employers cite in their job listings. For example, if a business wants a staff accountant with Microsoft Excel analysis skills, call out the program by name in addition to discussing your general spreadsheet skills.

Start with the common skills for staff accountant resumes below.

Key Skills and Proficiencies
Accounts payable Accounts receivable
Budget analysis Complex problem-solving
Cost accounting Cross-functional collaboration
Data analysis Data gathering
Intuit QuickBooks Invoice processing
Microsoft Excel Monthly reconciliations
Payroll administration Process improvement
Reporting and documentation Tax preparation

How To Pick the Best Staff Accountant Resume Template

Choose a template that lets you emphasize financial knowledge and related accomplishments. A template with sections already titled with industry-related terms, such as “accounting software proficiencies,” can be a good choice, especially if you can update it in a program you’re comfortable using. Look for templates that work in Microsoft Word or Google Docs for ease of use.

Accounting resumes should be straightforward and professional. Avoid design templates that add unnecessary flourishes or make use of too many fonts. Instead, look for options that have plenty of white space and consistent use of fonts.

Staff Accountant Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples

  • Example #1
  • Example #2
  • Example #3

Paul Hamlin
(584) 304-0185 | [email protected] | Montgomery, AL 58395

Profile

Dedicated Staff Accountant with 4+ years of corporate experience. Focused on helping find new ways to streamline and improve accounting procedures.

Key Skills

  • Account Reconciliation
  • Accounts Receivable
  • Advanced Mathematics
  • Financial Report Preparation
  • Internal Audits
  • Intuit QuickBooks
  • Invoice Processing
  • Sage Business Cloud Accounting

Professional Experience

Staff Accountant, Bell Media, Montgomery, AL | October 2018 to Present

  • Create financial plans and forecasts as member of a 3-person accounting team
  • Perform internal and external audits regularly
  • Reconcile monthly totals for review by senior managers

Highlight:

  • Co-launched NetSuite accounting software and helped train colleagues on effective use of the new system

Accounting Intern, H&R Block, Montgomery, AL | January 2017 to April 2017

  • Helped prepare tax returns for individual clients and small businesses
  • Completed 110+ returns during 3-month tax season
  • Praised by business franchise owner for high efficiency and service quality

Education & Credentials

Bachelor of Science (BS) – Accounting, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL | May 2018

CPA | December 2018

Frequently Asked Questions: Staff Accountant Resume Examples and Advice

What are common action verbs for staff accountant resumes?-

Action verbs support a more dynamic, powerful resume. They convey you’re someone who takes a proactive approach to your work and drives value for your employer. Pair accounting-related verbs with accomplishments to demonstrate what you can do for an organization.

For example, you might write that you “analyzed budget numbers and implemented solutions to reduce spending by 10%” or “prepared invoices to ensure timely payment and capture 90% of early payment discounts.”

Start with some of the common accountant resume verbs below, but incorporate your own to create a unique, compelling document.

Action Verbs
Analyzed Audited
Balanced Budgeted
Compiled Documented
Facilitated Generated
Managed Monitored
Prepared Processed
Provided Reconciled
Reviewed Solved
Streamlined Supported
Validated Verified
How do you align your resume with a staff accountant job posting?-

Aligning your resume with an employer job posting requires the same approach you might take to balancing the books. First, consider the debits on one side — in this scenario, those are the needs and wants of the employer, as expressed in the job description.

Balance those debits with credits from your side that meet the employer’s needs, such as your skills, experience, and knowledge. The best way to achieve this balance and capture employer interest is to reflect the hiring organization’s language. If they want someone with “monthly reconciliation” expertise, use that term in your professional experience section to describe a past accomplishment.

Employment opportunities for accountants are expected to grow at an average pace through 2032, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. When you align your resume to each job posting, you increase your chances of success as an applicant.

What is the best staff accountant resume format?-

A combination resume format lets you list key skills, such as QuickBooks or budget forecasting while backing up those claims in a well-rounded professional experience section.

This format works well for those in highly technical or professional fields like accounting because it simplifies resume reviews for employers. A hiring manager can review your skills list to see if you included proficiencies they consider must-haves. Then, they can read more about how you leverage those skills to bring value to an organization by supporting financial processes.

Craft your perfect resume in minutes

Get 2x more interviews with Resume Builder. Access Pro Plan features for a limited time!

dimand icon
Expert Advice
Include a cover letter with your staff accountant resume

Include a cover letter with your application to better connect with potential employers. Check out our accountant cover letter examples for some ideas on how to create this critical document. You can use your cover letter to ensure hiring managers note your impressive accounting certifications or relevant accomplishments. Also, you can describe how your mission and values align with those of the hiring organization.

Jacob Meade headshot

Jacob Meade

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW, ACRW)

Jacob Meade is a resume writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience. His writing method centers on understanding and then expressing each person’s unique work history and strengths toward their career goal. Jacob has enjoyed working with jobseekers of all ages and career levels, finding that a clear and focused resume can help people from any walk of life. He is an Academy Certified Resume Writer (ACRW) with the Resume Writing Academy, and a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches.

Sidebar image
Create your resume in minutes. Try for free.