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Free resume exampleUpdated September 2026

📒 Bookkeeper resume example

A bookkeeper resume example built to pass accounting firm applicant tracking systems and read well to a hiring partner. It names the exact accounting software, close-cycle tasks, and compliance terms employers filter for, and every bullet pairs a task with client count or a dollar result.

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This example contains 32 of 60 ATS keywords employers use for Bookkeeper 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.

Karen Whitfield

Full-Charge Bookkeeper, Small Business Accounting

Tampa, United States

About

Full-charge bookkeeper with 9 years of experience managing the books for small business clients across retail and services. Skilled in Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, and General Ledger Maintenance, with daily use of QuickBooks Online and Xero. QuickBooks ProAdvisor Certification holder known for closing the month on time and keeping records GAAP compliant across a 12-client portfolio.

Experience

  • Coastal Bookkeeping Solutions· Full-Charge BookkeeperTampa, FL2020-03 – Present
    • Manage full-cycle Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, and General Ledger Maintenance for 12 small business clients.
    • Perform monthly Bank Reconciliation and Journal Entries, closing Month-End Close within 3 business days for each client.
    • Prepare Financial Statement Preparation and monthly profit and loss reports in QuickBooks Online for client reviews.
    • Process Payroll Processing and Trial Balance checks for 8 clients, maintaining GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) compliant records.
    • Generate 1099 Filing and Sales Tax Reporting each quarter, keeping IRS Compliance current across all client accounts.
  • Gulfview Accounting Services· BookkeeperTampa, FL2017-06 – 2020-02
    • Reconciled accounts and supported Audit Preparation for annual reviews of a 25-client portfolio.
    • Maintained Internal Controls and reduced reconciliation errors by 30 percent through consistent Bank Reconciliation review.
    • Applied Analytical Skills to identify billing discrepancies, recovering $8,000 in unpaid Accounts Receivable over one year.
  • Sunview Retail Group· Accounting ClerkTampa, FL2015-08 – 2017-05
    • Entered vendor invoices and supported Accounts Payable processing with strong Attention to Detail and Integrity in a retail accounting office.
    • Assisted with Bank Reconciliation and basic bookkeeping tasks using Microsoft Excel spreadsheets.

Education

  • Hillsborough Community College· Associate of Science, AccountingAccounting2013-08 – 2015-05

Certifications

  • QuickBooks ProAdvisor Certification · Intuit (2021)

Why this example passes the ATS

  • Skills are grouped into core bookkeeping, software, reporting, and compliance, matching how accounting firms scan resumes for both technical tasks and standards knowledge.
  • Software is named exactly as employers search for it, including QuickBooks Online, Xero, and Bill.com, rather than a vague "accounting software" line.
  • The QuickBooks ProAdvisor Certification is listed by its full name, which matches how firms search for this specific credential.
  • Bullets state client volume, such as managing the books for 12 small business clients, which shows scope a generic duty list cannot.
  • Compliance terms like GAAP and IRS Compliance sit next to the specific task they apply to, showing the standard is applied, not just known.

Bookkeeper 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 Bookkeeping Skills

9/13
  • Accounts Payable
  • Accounts Receivable
  • General Ledger Maintenance
  • Bank Reconciliation
  • Journal Entries
  • Financial Statement Preparation
  • Payroll Processing
  • Month-End Close
  • Trial Balance
  • Invoice Processing
  • Expense Tracking
  • Chart of Accounts
  • Fixed Asset Management

Accounting Software

5/10
  • QuickBooks
  • QuickBooks Online
  • Xero
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Bill.com
  • Sage 50cloud
  • FreshBooks
  • Wave Accounting
  • NetSuite
  • ADP

Financial Reporting

5/11
  • Profit and Loss Statement
  • Balance Sheet
  • Budgeting
  • 1099 Filing
  • Sales Tax Reporting
  • Cash Flow Statement
  • Financial Analysis
  • Variance Analysis
  • Tax Preparation Support
  • Forecasting
  • Accrual Accounting

Compliance & Standards

5/9
  • GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles)
  • IRS Compliance
  • Audit Preparation
  • Internal Controls
  • Confidentiality
  • Payroll Tax Compliance
  • Data Entry Accuracy
  • Record Retention
  • SOX Compliance Awareness

Certifications

1/7
  • QuickBooks ProAdvisor Certification
  • Xero Advisor Certification
  • Certified Bookkeeper (CB)
  • CPB (Certified Professional Bookkeeper)
  • Notary Public
  • Enrolled Agent (EA)
  • CPA Track

Soft Skills

7/10
  • Attention to Detail
  • Accuracy
  • Organization
  • Time Management
  • Analytical Skills
  • Reliability
  • Integrity
  • Problem Solving
  • Communication Skills
  • Multitasking

How to adapt this example to your own experience

  1. 1Swap in the software your target firm actually uses, such as Sage 50cloud, NetSuite, or FreshBooks, instead of QuickBooks Online and Xero.
  2. 2State how many clients, accounts, or entities you manage, and whether you handle the full cycle or a specific piece of it.
  3. 3List the certifications you actually hold, such as Xero Advisor Certification or Certified Bookkeeper (CB), even if they differ from this example.
  4. 4Keep the current role longest with four to five bullets, and compress an entry-level clerk role to two.
  5. 5Quantify accuracy or time savings wherever you can, such as days to close the books or errors caught in reconciliation.

Questions about the Bookkeeper resume

How long should a bookkeeper resume be?

One page for most candidates, even with many years of experience. Hiring managers scan for software, certifications, and client scope quickly, so keep that information on the first page.

Do I need to name every accounting software I have used?

Name the ones you use daily and are comfortable being tested on, such as QuickBooks or Xero, since firms often filter by a specific platform. Listing every tool you have briefly touched dilutes the ones that matter most.

Is a QuickBooks ProAdvisor Certification required for this job?

It is not always required, but it is a strong signal of platform expertise and appears frequently in job postings. If you do not hold it yet, consider listing it as in progress alongside other certifications you have completed.

Should I include GAAP or IRS Compliance if I am self-taught?

Yes, if you actually apply these standards in your work, regardless of how you learned them. List the specific compliance tasks you perform, such as 1099 filing or sales tax reporting, rather than the word compliance alone.

Next steps for your Bookkeeper resume

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All Bookkeeper ATS keywords

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

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