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Free resume exampleUpdated September 2026

🧾 Accountant resume example

An accountant resume example built to pass applicant tracking systems and read well to a controller or accounting manager. It uses standard section headings, a single column, and the exact GAAP, software, and compliance keywords employers put in accounting job posts. Every bullet pairs an accounting task with a system, a standard, and a measurable result.

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This example contains 44 of 73 ATS keywords employers use for Accountant roles.

Keywords come from the same dictionary the 22skills ATS checker scores against. Matched terms are shown in green.

Example resume

Fictional example. Name, employers and numbers are invented; the structure and keywords are real.

David Kim

Senior Accountant · Corporate Accounting

Charlotte, United States

About

Senior Accountant with 9 years of experience in corporate accounting and public audit, currently leading Month-End Close and Year-End Close for 6 legal entities with $340M in combined revenue. CPA with hands-on SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley) Compliance and Internal Controls experience, and a track record of zero material weaknesses across 3 consecutive audit cycles. Works daily in SAP S/4HANA and Excel (Advanced), and has managed teams of up to 4 staff accountants.

Experience

  • Ashford Industrial Group· Senior AccountantCharlotte, NC2021-05 – Present
    • Lead Month-End Close and Year-End Close for 6 legal entities with $340M in combined revenue, closing the books in 4 business days under GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles).
    • Prepare the monthly balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement in SAP S/4HANA and walk the CFO through variance analysis against budget.
    • Own SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley) Compliance testing for the revenue cycle, documenting Internal Controls and resolving Audit Findings with zero material weaknesses across 3 audit cycles.
    • Manage Accounts Payable (AP) and Accounts Receivable (AR) teams of 4 staff accountants, cutting days sales outstanding 15% through a General Ledger (GL) cleanup project.
    • Coordinate External Audit fieldwork with the outside audit team and prepare Audit Preparation schedules, reducing audit fieldwork time from 6 weeks to 4.
  • Bellmark Manufacturing Co.· Staff AccountantCharlotte, NC2018-07 – 2021-04
    • Recorded Journal Entries and performed Bank Reconciliation for 3 bank accounts monthly, maintaining a 100% reconciliation accuracy rate.
    • Migrated the general ledger from QuickBooks to NetSuite and used Blackline for account reconciliation automation, cutting close time by 2 days.
    • Applied Cost Accounting and Accrual Accounting principles to manufacturing inventory, correcting $180K in prior-period accrual errors.
    • Prepared Corporate Tax workpapers and supported Tax Compliance filings using Excel (Advanced) models, working with outside tax preparers each quarter.
  • Meridian Public Accounting LLP· Staff AuditorCharlotte, NC2016-08 – 2018-06
    • Performed audit fieldwork for manufacturing and retail clients, testing internal controls and documenting findings for the engagement partner.
    • Assisted with SEC Reporting deliverables including 10-K and 10-Q disclosures for 2 publicly traded audit clients.
    • Documented Risk Assessment procedures and COSO Framework control walkthroughs, and drafted client memos on Revenue Recognition (ASC 606) adoption.

Education

  • University of North Carolina at Charlotte· B.S. in AccountingAccounting2012-08 – 2016-05

    Coursework: intermediate accounting, auditing, corporate tax. Treasurer of the Beta Alpha Psi accounting honor society.

Certifications

  • CPA (Certified Public Accountant) · North Carolina State Board of CPA Examiners (2019)
  • CFE (Certified Fraud Examiner) · Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (2022)

Why this example passes the ATS

  • The headline and summary name the role, the CPA credential, and the close scope in the first three lines, which is where recruiters and keyword filters look first.
  • Skills are grouped by category (core accounting, software, tax and audit, compliance) with the exact spelling employers use, such as "General Ledger (GL)" and "SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley) Compliance", so keyword matching works without stuffing.
  • Each bullet follows accounting task + system + number: "closing the books in 4 business days under GAAP". The ATS finds the keyword and the human finds the impact.
  • The certifications section spells out the full name and acronym, for example "CPA (Certified Public Accountant)", so the resume matches ATS searches for either form.
  • Close scope, entity count, and revenue size appear in the first bullet of the current role, which is exactly what a hiring controller checks first.

Accountant ATS keywords in this example

Grouped the way the checker groups them. Green terms appear in the example above; grey ones are in the dictionary but not used here.

Core Accounting Skills

15/15
  • GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles)
  • Financial Reporting
  • Accounts Payable (AP)
  • Accounts Receivable (AR)
  • General Ledger (GL)
  • Bank Reconciliation
  • Journal Entries
  • Month-End Close
  • Year-End Close
  • Balance Sheet
  • Income Statement
  • Cash Flow Statement
  • Variance Analysis
  • Cost Accounting
  • Accrual Accounting

Accounting Software

8/15
  • QuickBooks
  • QuickBooks Online
  • SAP
  • SAP S/4HANA
  • NetSuite
  • Blackline
  • Excel (Advanced)
  • Power BI
  • Oracle Financials
  • Microsoft Dynamics 365
  • Sage Intacct
  • Xero
  • Concur
  • Workday Finance
  • Hyperion

Certifications & Credentials

2/8
  • CPA (Certified Public Accountant)
  • CFE (Certified Fraud Examiner)
  • CMA (Certified Management Accountant)
  • CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst)
  • EA (Enrolled Agent)
  • CGMA (Chartered Global Management Accountant)
  • CIA (Certified Internal Auditor)
  • CISA

Tax & Audit

8/15
  • Tax Compliance
  • Corporate Tax
  • External Audit
  • Internal Audit
  • Audit Preparation
  • Internal Controls
  • Risk Assessment
  • Audit Findings
  • Tax Preparation
  • Federal Tax
  • State & Local Tax (SALT)
  • Tax Planning
  • ASC 740
  • Financial Statement Audit
  • PCAOB Standards

Compliance & Regulatory

8/11
  • SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley) Compliance
  • IFRS
  • SEC Reporting
  • 10-K
  • 10-Q
  • COSO Framework
  • Revenue Recognition (ASC 606)
  • Regulatory Filings
  • AML Compliance
  • Lease Accounting (ASC 842)
  • Policy Development

Soft Skills & Leadership

3/9
  • Attention to Detail
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Process Improvement
  • Problem Solving
  • Cross-functional Collaboration
  • Financial Storytelling
  • Stakeholder Communication
  • Team Supervision
  • Deadline Management

How to adapt this example to your own experience

  1. 1Replace the ERP or accounting software with the ones named in the job description, keeping the same grouped skills layout. Aim for 15 to 22 skills, not 40.
  2. 2Keep the most recent role longest, with 4-5 bullets, and shorten earlier roles to 3-4 bullets.
  3. 3State your close scope: number of entities, revenue size, and days to close. This single data point tells a hiring manager your level in seconds.
  4. 4List your CPA or other credential with its full name plus acronym, and only include certifications you actually hold or are actively sitting for.
  5. 5Include the compliance standards relevant to the job posting (SOX, GAAP, IFRS, ASC 606) even if they only applied to part of your role.

Questions about the Accountant resume

What keywords should an accountant resume include for ATS?

Name your accounting software by exact product name (QuickBooks, SAP, NetSuite), your close process (month-end close, year-end close), and your compliance exposure (GAAP, SOX, IFRS). These are the terms accounting ATS platforms filter on most often.

Do I need the CPA to get past an accountant ATS screen?

Not always, but many senior accounting and controller postings filter for it. If you have passed the exam or hold an active license, list "CPA (Certified Public Accountant)" with the issuing state board. If you are a candidate, say so explicitly rather than omitting it.

How do I show close process experience without company financial details?

Use scope and speed instead of dollar figures if confidentiality is a concern: number of entities closed, days to close, or percentage reduction in close time. These numbers demonstrate seniority without disclosing sensitive data.

Is this resume format safe for ATS platforms like Workday and iCIMS?

Yes. It is a single column with standard headings (Experience, Education, Skills, Certifications), plain text bullets, and consistent dates, which is what parsers in Workday, iCIMS, Greenhouse, and Taleo read reliably. Export it as a text-based PDF or DOCX, never as an image.

Next steps for your Accountant resume

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All Accountant ATS keywords

The full dictionary by category, with tips on where to place each term.

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