If you have always dreamed of a career in accounting and finance, then an accounting clerk position is a great stepping stone to meet your larger career goals. In order to be selected for an accounting clerk position, you will need a well-written and organized resume. An accounting clerk resume needs to convey your aptitude for accounting and finance. In this guide, we will systematically take you through the different steps that you need to implement to draft your accounting clerk resume like a certified professional resume writer.
Accounting Clerk Resume Example
Tips to Write a Compelling Accounting Clerk Resume
A good accounting clerk resume needs to capture your financial and accounting skills and convince a hiring manager that you are the most suitable candidate for the job. To make sure that your resume has a positive impact on a potential employer, you need to focus on choosing the right resume format and maintain an organized structure in your accounting clerk resume. In this section, we will be delving into the nitty gritty of writing an efficient formal and professional accounting clerk resume.
Choose a Suitable Resume Format
If you choose the right format, that is half the battle one. The format of your resume plays a huge part in how pertinent professional image is captured and conveyed to a hiring manager. Let’s take a look at the three main types of resume formats that can be used for your accounting clerk resume.
Chronological Format
The chronological format is designed to highlight your work history. In this format, your work history is presented in a reverse chronological order to showcase your career progression. If you have a strong professional background with no gaps in your employment history then the chronological format is best suited for your accounting clerk resume.
Functional Format
The functional format starts with your skills and achievements and then moves on to your professional history. The purpose of the format is to highlight your skillset over your work experience. This format is perfect for candidates with a non traditional professional background or those who are in the midst of switching careers.
Hybrid Format
The hybrid format incorporates the main elements of both the chronological and functional format. The purpose of this format is to give equal importance to both your skills as well as your professional background. This format is ideal for candidates who are new to the workforce but have some relevant experience as well as skills.
Make a Header
The header is the topmost section of your resume that contains your contact details. Make sure that all the details provided by you are accurate and professional. Include the following information in the header section of your accounting clerk resume.
- Full name
- Job title
- Phone number
- Email address
- LinkedIn profile
Write an Impactful Professional Summary
Writing a strong professional summary can help you leave a lasting impression on hiring managers. The main goal of this section is to position you as the most qualified and suitable person for that particular account clerk position.
Start your summary with a suitable adjective like dedicated, hard working, detail oriented and your job title along with the number of years you have worked as an accounting clerk. Then you need to highlight your accounting skills and write about the relevant experience you have gained. Conclude your summary with a strong closing statement that conveys that you will be a valuable asset for the company.
Make sure that your summary is brief and impactful. It should not be more than 2-4 sentences long.
Elaborate Your Professional History
The work experience section for an accounting role is paramount. Hiring managers will be on the lookout for candidates who have the most relevant accounting experience. Your accounting clerk resume needs to instill confidence in a potential employer that you can be trusted with the day to day financial responsibilities.
It is advisable to list your previous account clerk roles in a reverse chronological order with the most recent position placed first. This helps recruiters get a clear picture of your career timeline. While listing your previous jobs, mention your exact position, name of the company and its location along with the time period you were employed with the organization.
Use bullet points to elaborate on your duties and start each sentence with a suitable action verb like managed, organized, collaborated etc. Avoid the use of long and vague sentences and keep it concise and to the point.
Try to incorporate any notable accomplishments which are aided by specific metrics and examples.
Highlight Relevant Skills
The skills section of your accounting clerk resume should seamlessly align with the exact qualifications that the hiring company is looking for. Before writing this section, we recommend reading the job description carefully and adding only the most relevant accounting clerk skills. Here are some of the essential skills that can be included in your accounting clerk resume.
- Data entry
- Proficiency in accounting software (Quickbooks, Sage business cloud)
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
- Accounts payable
- Accounts receivable
- Generate financial reports
- Generate expense reports
- Maintaining accounting records
- Monthly bank reconciliations
- General ledger accounts
- Tax and audit support
- Strong analytical skills
- Attention to detail
- Time management
- Multitasking
- Problem-solving
- Communication skills
Mention Your Educational Qualifications
The educational requirements for an accounting clerk position include a high school diploma and a relevant certification or an associate’s degree in accounting. Employers will lean more towards candidates who have the necessary qualifications for an accounting clerk role.
Add the following information to complete the education section of your accounting clerk resume.
- Degree earned
- Name of the institution
- Graduation date
- Add Certifications
To be taken seriously as an accounting clerk, you need to have the relevant certifications to prove that. Some of the certification courses you can pursue as an accounting clerk are as follows.
- Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
- Certified Financial Analyst (CFA)
Tailor Your Accounting Clerk Resume
Accounting clerk positions are dynamic and can differ depending on the industry they are working for. It is essential to align your resume with the employer's job requirements. Avoid using a generic accounting clerk resumes during a job search.
Many companies have adopted the use of applicant tracking systems that are designed to filter applicant resumes that are not relevant and lack the important key skills and qualifications for the role. With this automation of the hiring process, it is paramount to keep customizing your resume as per the job that you are applying for.
The most effective way to customize your resume is by reading the job description meticulously and incorporating the keywords and phrases that have been used by the employer. This will ensure your resume doesn't get rejected by the applicant tracking systems and reaches the hands of a recruiter.
A tailored resume is your gateway to getting the job that you are applying for and it is a step that will ensure that you have the best shot at landing the job.
Proofread and Edit
There cannot be enough emphasis put on the importance of proofreading and editing your resume. This practice will go a long way in ensuring that your resume is well formatted and free of any grammatical or spelling errors.
If you would like to dig deeper to enhance your resume, browse through our vast collection of resume examples and templates and kickstart your accounting career in no time!
