Accountant Resume Guide - With Templates, Examples, and Skills
Forensic accounting has been around for decades but has evolved with the progress of the economy, technology, and society. Due to this progression, there has been an increase in fraudulent activities, prompting a demand for forensic accountants.
689-008-134 davidhadley@gmail.com Portland, PA linkedin.com/in/davidhadley
Professional summary
Capable forensic accountant with more than ten years of experience in forensic accounting, including analyzing financial documents and conducting financial investigations, fraud analysis, business valuations, and performing financial and economic analyses. Strong technical abilities with a commitment to accuracy. Proven ability to effectively collaborate with a team. Seeking a forensic accountant position at a top firm like G&A Financial Services.
Work experience
MGK Consulting Senior Forensic Accountant March 2018-Date
Used accounting software to automate document distribution and track financial activities during fraud investigations.
Conducted independent forensic examinations and assisted with federal investigations in case of discrepancies in accounting records.
Managed a team of 6 forensic accountants and trained them on the top forensic accounting techniques.
PKF Associates Forensic Accountant June 2016-December 2017
Evaluated financial records, managed complex projects on time and under budget, and reported to senior management.
Developed client contacts adhering to accounting and auditing principles and increased the company's portfolio by 15%.
Produced financial projections for the company for every year and used the data to suggest ways to improve operations to increase profitability.
Education
Bachelor's Degree in Forensic Accounting University of Wisconsin 2018
They have the interesting job of conducting forensic investigations when there is suspicion of fraud in accounting firms, insurance companies, and banks. With the right forensic accountant resume, you can get a competitive position in a top firm.
Let's help you craft a resume that gets you your dream job. Some of the topics we'll cover include:
How to add your forensic accounting experience to your resume
The right skills for a forensic accountant.
A forensic accountant resume example like no other.
A layout and format that best represents your skills.
Salary and Job Market Information for Forensic Accountants
According to the U.S Bureau of Statistics, the projected growth in the employment of accountants and auditors is 7 percent.
The industries with the highest levels of employment in Accountants and Auditors include:
Accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services
Management of companies and enterprises
Local government, excluding schools and hospitals
State government, excluding schools and hospitals
Real estate
The average salary for a forensic accountant is $72,000. The typical range is between $64,000 and $82,000, depending on your education, skills, and professional experience.
How to Make a Forensic Accountant Resume
Forensic accounting requires excellent analytical and investigative skills. These must be evident on your resume and your expertise in conducting financial investigations and solving any issues relating to fraud in a financial institution.
A professional resume should have all the required information presented correctly. Our resume examples will guide you and help you build a resume that gets the hiring manager's attention.
The structure, layout, and format of your resume impact your resume. Let's look at these three and what you need to know.
Resume Format, Layout, and Structure
The resume format determines which qualifications come first on your resume. Therefore, you need to choose a format that best represents your qualifications. Here are three formats you can choose from.
Reverse-chronological format - This format focuses on your experience, so it's most suitable for candidates who have experience working as forensic accountants.
The functional resume format - This format focuses on your skills and is perfect for candidates who recently graduated or career changers.
Hybrid/combination resume - This format is perfect for candidates with experience and skills in forensic accounting. It blends the best features of the reverse-chronological and functional resume formats.
The layout covers the overall design of the resume, font, font size, and margins. Always ensure that the design of your resume is easy to follow and understand. Fonts like Arial, Calibri, Cambria, Helvetica, and Georgia are the best because they're easy to read. Hiring managers recommend a font size of 10-12pt.
The structure of your forensic accountant resume should have the following sections:
The header section
Resume summary/objective
Work experience
Education section
Skills section
An additional section (Computer skills and certifications, languages, volunteer work, awards/honors, and interests)
The Header Section
The header contains your personal information. These details should be correct so that the recruiter can reach you. The section should have:
Your full name
Job title
Phone number
Professional email address
Location
A link to your LinkedIn profile.
A good header
CORRECT
William Hickman
Forensic Auditor
739-992-111
williamhickman@gmail.com
Green Bay, WI
linkedin.com/in/williamhickman
A bad header
INCORRECT
William Hickman
Forensic Auditor
739-992-111
williamhickman@gmail.com
1878 Lynch Street
House number 88
Green Bay, WI
Date of birth 02/09/1988
linkedin.com/in/williamhickman
📌Always keep the header brief and avoid adding too many personal details.
Photo or No Photo
You may be wondering whether you should add a photo to your resume or not. Hiring managers advise against it, and it's because it could cause discrimination against you. You can only add a photo when the recruiter asks you to add one, and you should ensure it's professional.
Describe Your Experience As a Forensic Accountant
Every job is different, but most hiring managers want to know if you have experience in forensic accounting before giving you the job. In this section, you'll detail your work history, starting with your most recent job.
If you're an entry-level forensic accountant and don't have experience, use this section to detail any experience that taught you transferable skills that will be useful in the new position.
Otherwise, it's always better to stick to the relevant experience. Here's what you'll include in this section:
The name of the workplace
Your job title
The period you've worked at each place.
After adding these details, you'll include three to five job responsibilities to show the hiring manager what you can do. Then, quantify these with figures and facts to show your achievements and the value you could bring to the company.
When listing your job responsibilities, check the job description to help you identify some of the keywords you should have in your resume. Use these keywords to optimize your resume and ensure it gets past applicant tracking systems.
📌Hiring managers use ATS systems to filter out resumes that don't meet the requirements.
Example of an Entry-Level Forensic Accountant
Remotix Consulting
Junior Forensic Accountant
May 2018-July 2020
Processed business transactions in collaboration with the department's accountant and maintained accurate company financial data.
Assisted in conducting an in-depth financial analysis of business records and developed a case analysis strategy.
Collaborated with the senior accountant to conduct forensic research and analyzed the information using criminal investigative tools.
Created financial profiles of clients after closing complex business opportunities.
Example for Experienced Forensic Accountants
Ronalds Associates
Senior Forensic Accountant
February 2012-July 2016
Acted as clients' representative to deal with tax authorities and proceeded to civil litigation when necessary to resolve financial disputes, enhancing client relationships.
Determined the integrity of the company's financial statements by ensuring that all the data recorded was accurate.
Implemented techniques to test the accuracy of complex financial records to provide better findings and address audit results specific to the healthcare industry.
Conducted data analysis to devise strategies to improve operational efficiencies and avoid business interruption to retain clients.
Detail Your Educational Background
Getting a forensic accountant role requires you to have solid educational qualifications. You may be qualified with years of experience, but you'll miss out on the position without the right education.
Each job will be different so use the job description to determine what the hiring manager is looking for. List your educational achievements, starting with the most recent one.
Most jobs in forensic accounting will require a bachelor's degree and some a Master's. If you have a Master's degree, you can leave out your high school diploma.
When you're adding your education, you'll include the name of the degree/diploma, the name of the school, and the year of completion.
Correct example
Bachelor's Degree in Forensic Accounting
University of Illinois
2018
The Best Skills for Your Forensic Accountant Resume
The skills section is not a place for you to add random skills. It's a place that requires strategy because it determines whether or not you get the job.
Most hiring managers use ATS systems to filter out resumes that don't have the required skills. Therefore, you need to ensure that you have the right skills on your resume.
Check the job description and use the exact wording or language as you list your skills. Also, separate your hard and soft skills.
Hard skills are the technical skills that take some time to learn and require training or teaching. On the other hand, soft skills are character traits that complement the hard skills and help you interact with people in the workplace.
Here is a list of skills you should consider for your forensic accountant resume.
Hard skills
Financial modeling
Analyzing financial evidence
Fraud analysis
Financial analysis
Analyzing financial transactions
Client management
Project management
Financial statements
Soft skills
Critical thinking skills
Analytical skills
Communication skills
Interpersonal skills
Problem-solving skills
Decision-making skills
Attention to detail
Team player
How To Write Your Professional Summary
A forensic accountant resume summary introduces your resume and summarizes your top achievements, experience, and skills. This short paragraph at the top of your resume should be engaging to ensure that the recruiter reads the rest of your resume. You can quantify your achievements with a figure or fact that will get the recruiter's attention.
Example of A Forensic Accountant With Experience
CORRECT
Motivated and multi-skilled forensic accountant with nine years of experience in forensic accounting. Well-versed in accounting and auditing principles, taxation policies, and income tax procedures. Highly organized and skilled at conducting forensic examinations, analyzing bank statements and complex financial records, and managing multiple projects. Extensive knowledge of California state, federal, and GAAP standards.
💡The example summarizes the candidate's experience and skills, allowing the recruiter to know what they're good at.
Incorrect example
INCORRECT
Skilled forensic accountant with many years of experience. Expert in forensic investigations and the use of criminal investigation tools.
💡The example above fails to go into detail and show the recruiter specific achievements that make the candidate unique for the position.
Professional Objective(And How To Use It)
Candidates who don't have much experience use a professional objective to introduce their resumes. It works the same way as a professional summary, so you shouldn't use both. It summarizes your career goals and how they align with the company goals. It also allows you to express your interest in the position.
Example Of A Forensic Accountant Without Experience
CORRECT
Recent forensic accounting graduate looking for an opportunity at a top firm like Crowe Consulting to advance my career. In-depth knowledge of all matters relating to forensic investigations and financial and economic analyses. Proven leadership and analytical skills.
💡This example shows the candidate's interest in the position and briefly explains the areas they are well-versed in. This gives the recruiter an idea of what they can do at the company.
Additional Sections for Your Resume
The additional section is a vital one that carries your extra qualifications. This section helps you highlight the achievements and skills you don't want the recruiter to miss. It also sets you apart from the other candidates and can be the reason you get a position over your competitor.
With the right resume templates, it's easy for you to incorporate this section into your resume. Let's look at some of these sections.
Computer Skills and Certifications
Forensic accountants should possess certain computer skills to help them use specialized software to analyze information. These skills should have a separate section because it's so easy for them to get lost in the general skills section.
Your certifications should be under this section and not the education section. This ensures that the recruiter doesn't miss them. Here are some certifications that will look good on your forensic accountant resume.
Certified Forensic Examiner
Certified Forensic Financial Analyst
Certified Public Accountant
Languages
Language skills help you stand out and should have a separate section. Bilingual candidates get priority as most hiring managers prefer candidates with these skills. Use the official language reference as follows:
Germany's Goethe-Zertifikat (70%) or higher is required.
IELTS - English (a minimum score of 6.5 is required)
SIELE for Spanish
Interests
The interests you add to your resume can make a difference and help you get the position. Always research the company to find out more about their culture before including this section. This ensures that you don't ruin your chances of getting the job by adding interests that don't align with their culture.
Tips to Boost Your Forensic Accountant Resume
Add the right keywords and action verbs to optimize your resume and ensure it gets past the ATS systems.
Proofread your work to avoid grammatical and spelling mistakes.
Prioritize the relevant experience related to the job you're applying for.
Tailor your resume to match the job you're applying for.
Check the job description and use the same wording/language when listing your duties and responsibilities.
Your resume should be one page long.
Key Takeaways: Writing a Resume for Forensic Accountants
Proofread the information on the header section to ensure the details are accurate.
The resume summary/objective must be engaging to get the recruiter to read the rest of your resume.
Choose a format that best represents your qualifications and a layout that's easy to read and understand.
Use the education section to add your educational qualifications.
Quantify your results with figures and facts to show the value you'll bring to the company.
List your skills using bullet points to ensure the recruiter doesn't miss them.
Accompany Your Resume with a Cover letter
The cover letter describes your qualifications in-depth and allows you to showcase your writing skills and inject some personality. This is a great way to set yourself apart by giving the recruiter more information on who you are. You should always compliment your resume with a cover letter unless the hiring manager asks you not to send one. Check out our cover letter examples that will help you craft your own.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which top companies are hiring tax accountants?
According to Glassdoor, the companies hiring tax accountants include:
EY
PwC
KPMG
Deloitte
Crowe
RSM
What are some of the forensic accounting careers available?
CORRECT
INCORRECT
