Designations and systems first
Put your designation after your name, for example Jane Smith, CPA, or list your progress honestly: ACCA, 9 of 13 exams passed. Recruiters also filter by software, so name your ERP and tools: SAP, Oracle NetSuite, QuickBooks, Xero, Sage or Dynamics, plus advanced Excel.
Summary example
Five to six sentences, no "I". Mirror the title in the posting.
Staff accountant skilled in month-end close, account reconciliations and financial reporting under IFRS. Background spans manufacturing and professional services companies using SAP and NetSuite. Improves close speed and accuracy through clear checklists, automation in Excel and strong documentation. Works closely with auditors, operations and FP&A to resolve variances quickly. Known for attention to detail and reliable deadlines. Ready to support a growing finance team with accurate, timely reporting.
Bullet points that prove results
- Reduced month-end close from 10 to 6 business days by standardizing reconciliations and automating journal entry templates.
- Reconcile 40+ balance sheet accounts monthly for a $50M revenue entity, resolving variances before review.
- Prepared audit schedules and supported the external audit with no material findings.
- Managed accounts payable for 300 vendors, catching $25K in duplicate invoices in the first quarter.
- Built Excel models for fixed asset depreciation, replacing a manual process that took 2 days a month.
No exact figure? Use honest ranges or check old reviews and reports. ProofFit leaves a placeholder such as [result %] where a real figure belongs, instead of inventing one.
Key skills and keywords
Month-end close · Account reconciliation · General ledger · Journal entries · Financial reporting · IFRS or US GAAP · Accounts payable and receivable · Accruals and prepayments · Audit preparation · Variance analysis · Tax compliance (GST/HST, VAT or sales tax) · ERP (SAP, NetSuite, QuickBooks, Xero) · Advanced Excel (pivot tables, XLOOKUP) · Internal controls
Mistakes that cost interviews
- Listing duties ("responsible for reconciliations") without scale or results.
- Leaving out the size of the entity, the number of accounts or the transaction volume.
- Burying your designation or exam progress at the bottom.
- Using the wrong standard for the market: IFRS in most countries, US GAAP in the United States.
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Check my resume, freeQuestions
Where should I put my CPA or ACCA on my resume?
After your name at the top, and again in the education and certifications section with the year awarded.
How do I write an accountant resume with no experience?
Lead with your degree, exam progress, internships and software skills. Describe coursework projects or volunteer bookkeeping with results.
Should I list Excel skills?
Yes, specifically. Name the functions and tools you use, such as pivot tables, XLOOKUP and Power Query, instead of just Excel.