Unlock a world of opportunities with a compelling accounting & finance resume! Whether you're a student, intern, or an experienced professional, up your job application game with our comprehensive guide. Dive in to find a wealth of practical examples and in-depth guides tailored for your accounting & finance role.
Julia Belak Certified Professional Résumé Writer Last updated: June 27, 2024 Average: 4.9 ( 122 votes )
Creating the perfect resume for accounting and finance roles is all about going above and beyond qualifications and credentials. Learn how to sell yourself to employers the right way with our in-depth resume guide.
Business Development Executive Resume Sample
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Hired by: AuthenteqAccounting and finance are highly competitive areas where applicants require all sorts of skills and qualifications even to get their foot in the door. Fortunately, if you're entering a profession in this sector, you already have one of the essential skills required to produce a great resume, that being attention to detail.
Now, let's dive right into exploring our handy tips, real-world examples, and compelling templates:
While embarking on your resume crafting journey, an essential first step is choosing the right resume format. There are three main types: reverse chronological, functional, and hybrid. Remember that your choice will vary based on your work experience and career trajectory.
Handy tip: Irrespective of the format, consistency is key. Keep your dates, job titles, company names, etc., parallel throughout for the ease of the reader. And remember, clear, concise, and relevant information is the secret sauce for a standout resume.
Onto the next step, crafting an engaging objective or summary for your accounting & finance resume!
Our AI Resume Writer can generate a great first draft of your resume in seconds. Simply enter your job title and let artificial intelligence find the right words for your resume.
Let's cut to the chase. If you're a seasoned professional with notable accomplishments, go for a resume summary. Conversely, if you're a recent graduate or making a career shift, opt for a resume objective.
A resume summary should demonstrate your proven expertise. It should encapsulate your years of experience, areas of proficiency, key accomplishments and strengths, all within a couple of sentences. Avoid generic descriptions and aim for specifics.
Experienced accountant looking for a senior role.
Why is it weak? This is too vague and doesn't inform the recruiter about your unique skills or accomplishments.
CPA-certified accountant with eight years experience in corporate finance. Expert in budget forecasting, financial reporting, and corporate tax planning. Saved 20% in budget costs for large-scale clients.
Why does it work? Here, you’ve highlighted your credentials, specific skills, and a metrics-backed achievement that adds punch.
A resume objective, on the other hand, outlines your career aspirations and what you aim to bring to the company. Unlike the summary, it focuses on your potential rather than your past.
Looking for an accounting role in a stable company
Why does it fall flat? This statement is lackluster and doesn’t convey any promise to the prospective employer.
Ambitious finance graduate with extensive internship experience in audit and compliance. Seeking an entry-level position to leverage analytical skills and firm grasp of GAAP, aiming to boost efficiency and accuracy in financial operations.
Why is it effective? This statement is compelling, promising potential value to the company with details about skills and specialities.
Remember — quantity matters less than quality and relevance. Make every word count. Next up, highlighting your most desirable accounting & finance skills!
It's easy to break down your experience and suitability for the job into qualifications and certificates. Still, it's just as easy to overlook the fact that the hiring manager will often have to work with you. Furthermore, they might rely on you to interact with clients, represent the company, and otherwise showcase skills that extend beyond competency in finance and accounting.
In accounting and finance, in particular, you're expected to have certain hard skills. It's fair to assume you'd be unable to do the work you list in your previous experience without them. The tiebreaker often comes down to soft skills.
Remember, there's no one-size-fits-all resume. Tailor your CV to each role, highlighting relevant skills and experiences that align with the job description. With the right balance of detailing your qualifications and showcasing your personality, you're well on your way to designing a resume that leaves a lasting impression!
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Hired by: DB SchenkerIf you work in accounting and finance and want to take the next step in your career, your resume must be practical and eye-catching. Your main job is setting yourself apart, so while you want to confirm that you do indeed meet the baseline, you also want to show employers why you stand out from the crowd. And you can do that in a well-written work experience section.
It's not always easy to do this with the typically analytical mind of a finance professional, but don't be afraid to sell yourself to employers as something special, especially when you have the track record and qualifications to prove it!
RBC, Toronto, Canada
Financial Analyst Intern
2017-2021
Why is it ineffective? This work experience section lacks substance. The use of passive language does little to demonstrate the candidate’s active role in the tasks described. The lack of details, absence of quantifiable achievements, and vague descriptions don't paint a clear picture of the applicant's ability or impact. It's essential to provide specific information about tasks handled, skills applied, and results achieved within the role.
RBC, Toronto, Canada
Financial Analyst Intern
2017-2021
Why does it work? The candidate effectively exhibits the scope of their internship role at RBC, detailing their tasks, responsibilities, and achievements. They've quantified their successes, using numbers to illustrate the impact made on key decision-making and revenue generation. On top of that, they've proved collaboration with different departments, which points towards their teamwork skills.
When it comes to nailing the work experience section of your finance resume, think of it as your stage. It's where you reveal your career story, your wins, and the value you bring to the table. Make sure your story is compelling and focused, with number-backed triumphs and showcases of great teamwork.
Avoid bland phrases and generic duties. Instead, pack your story with action and let your achievements take the spotlight.
Speaking of making your qualifications stand out, that's the next most important tip for anyone in accounting and finance roles. In this industry, it's easy to assume you've got the basics covered. If you need a particular certificate to operate legally or to work with financial products, everyone will believe that you've got them or you wouldn't be applying in the first place.
They'll qualify you for the job, but they won't necessarily land it on your behalf. Think about what sets you apart from everyone else, and that could catch the eye of a potential employer. Then, make sure there's no chance at all they could miss it on your resume because you've made it the highest priority.
This might include:
Think about which of your qualifications will matter the most in a competitive sense, and draw as much attention to them as possible.
BASc, Colorado State University, USA
Bachelor of Applied Science
2013-2016
So, you've nailed the basics on your resume — the resume or objective, skills, work experience, and education sections are on point. But here's the thing: you're not just a summation of your work history. It's the extra elements that help you stand out and illustrate the fuller picture of who you are.
Think about it: does a past experience showcase your leadership, attention to detail, or teamwork skills? If yes, it might be worth including. Here are three extra sections to consider:
Volunteering
Treasurer, Local Animal Shelter, Toronto, Canada, 2018-2021
Certifications
Languages
Remember, there’s a fine line between padding your resume and enhancing it. Every section you add should have a purpose and resonate with the job description. Keep it relevant, engaging, and authentic. Next, let's steer clear of those common resume pitfalls.
Creating your resume is just the first step; a significant part of the battle involves avoiding the common mistakes that can diminish your chances. Here are those pitfalls and how to steer clear of them:
Navigating around these common pitfalls puts you one step ahead in the application process. But a resume isn’t all you’ll need. Next, let's unravel the difference between a resume and a cover letter.
When applying for roles in finance, you'll likely produce two critical documents: the resume and the cover letter. But these two aren’t interchangeable; in fact, they serve distinct purposes.
A resume is a concise overview of your career trajectory, spanning education, work experience, skills, and relevant extras. It’s like a cinema trailer, providing a glimpse into the wide-ranging aspects of your professional life.
On the other hand, a cover letter is more like a deep dive into specific parts of your career that align well with the job description. It's your chance to tell a compelling story about why you're the ideal fit for the role and how your experiences and skills directly serve the company's objectives. It's less about ticking boxes and more about painting a cohesive, engaging narrative.
In short, the resume is your highlight reel, while the cover letter brings colour, context and depth to your application. Together, they make a powerful duo in your job-hunting toolkit.
Taking a deep dive into the accounting and finance job domain requires a glance at the potential returns and growth prospects these roles promise. Let's tap into some critical data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
According to the BLS, accountants enjoyed cushy average salaries of nearly $78,000 a year as of May 2022. This underlines the high regard businesses have for accountancy roles.
Shifting our gaze to the future, prospects appear sunny. Job opportunities for accountants and auditors are projected to grow by 4% from 2022 to 2032, mirroring the average growth across all occupations.
Each year is likely to surface approximately 126,500 fresh job openings for accountants and auditors, considering both new roles and vacancies arising from retirees or exiters.
All in all, with solid earnings and a steady job growth forecast, the road ahead in accounting and finance is paved with promising opportunities. So gear up and set your career wheels in motion!
Landing your dream role in accounting & finance requires more than just updating your resume — it involves knowing where to look. Here's a rundown of useful platforms and resources to help you scout for the right opportunities.
Ultimately, the key is to incorporate both online and offline job search strategies in your search. Time to kickstart your hunt and land that dream accounting or finance role!
Unless you have a lengthy career spanning many different roles and achievements, aim to keep your resume to one page. If necessary, two pages are acceptable, but try to keep everything concise and relevant.
While it's not necessary to elaborate on employment gaps in your resume, be prepared to discuss them candidly in an interview. Unemployment periods can also be constructively presented if you undertook training, freelance projects, or volunteer work during that time.
It’s no longer necessary to include the statement “References available upon request” on your resume. Employers know that you'll provide references if requested. Instead, prepare a separate document listing your references and their contact information, and submit it when it's asked for.
Highlight any transferable skills from your previous roles in the summary or objective, and detail related responsibilities or accomplishments in the work experience section. Be sure to showcase any relevant training or certification you've pursued to facilitate the career shift.
Networking is invaluable. Connect with peers, professionals and instructors in the field. Attend industry-specific events and webinars. Engage on social media platforms, especially LinkedIn, showcasing your knowledge and zeal for the finance and accounting field. Proactive efforts like these can open doors to unadvertised job opportunities.
