In the world of finance, the position of a senior accountant carries a lot of weight and comes with immense responsibility. It is an important and sought after position. According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, the employment of accountants is projected to grow at a rate of 4% from 2022 to 2032. In the US alone, there are about 126,500 openings projected for accountants and auditors each year on average for a decade.To be considered for such a coveted role, your senior accountant resume needs to be flawless. In this guide, we will discover the different ways in which you can aptly highlight your relevant skills and experience to catch the eye of a recruiter.
To demonstrate a good example of what constitutes a good accountant resume, we have the following sample inspired by our very own collection of resume templates.
Understanding a senior accountant’s job description
A senior accountant plays a critical role in any organization’s financial management. Senior Accountants are responsible for a number of tasks and are responsible for supervising a team of junior accountants. Here are some of the key responsibilities of the role.
- Financial Reporting
This includes preparing and reviewing financial statements including balance sheets, income statements and cash flow statements. Ensuring accuracy and compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
- Month-end and year-end closing
Senior accountants are responsible for leading month-end and year-end closing procedures which include journal entries, reconciliations and accruals.
- Budgeting and forecasting
This entails collaborating with other departments to make budgets and financial forecasts. Post monitoring the actual financial performance against the budgets and forecasts, senior accountants are required to provide their recommendations.
- Financial analysis
Conducting in-depth financial analysis to identify trends and opportunities for cost containment and revenue generation is a big part of the job. The results of the analysis are provided to senior management along with recommendations for course correction.
- Financial Compliance
Ensuring compliance with relevant accounting regulations and tax laws is one of the key responsibilities for a senior accountant. This includes, preparing and submitting tax returns and coordinating with external auditors during annual audits.
- General Ledger Maintenance
A senior accountant is required to maintain and reconcile the general ledger accounts. This also includes reviewing and approving journal entries and ensuring the accuracy of financial records.
- Cash Flow Management
This responsibility includes managing cash flows by monitoring inflow and outflow of funds.
- Account Reconciliations
Performing regular account reconciliations including inter-company and bank reconciliations is part of the day to day with this job title.
- Mentorship and training
This part of the job includes providing training ,mentorship guidance and supervision to junior accountants.
- Accounting systems and tools
This entails having the knowledge to utilise accounting software and financial management tools to streamline accounting processes and enhance accuracy and productivity.
Prospects for a senior accountant role
A senior accountant’s growth potential is very promising as they play an integral role in managing the financial and accounting vertical of any organization. Before we dive into the nuances of creating the perfect senior accountant resume sample though, let's explore the key elements that contribute to having a promising career as a senior accountant.
- Consistent Demand
Apart from financial institutions, businesses and companies with fixed assets of any kind require accountants to manage their finances. This reflects a steady demand resulting in a stable job market for senior accountants
- Career Graph
A senior accountant role is ultimately a gateway to more senior positions such as Finance Manager or Director of Finance. After garnering sufficient experience and relevant qualifications, a senior accountant has immense potential to advance their careers
- Competitive Salaries
As per the Bureau of Labour Statistics, the annual median wage of accountants was $78,000 as of May,2022. The lower 10% of this group earned up to $48,560 and the top 10% earned more than $132,690.
- Remote Job Opportunities
After the Covid-19 pandemic, the adoption of remote work in the accounting industries is also common practice. This has removed geographical constraints and increased job opportunities for senior accountants.
Making a senior accountant resume from scratch
Creating a senior accountant resume from scratch can seem like an arduous task but with our step-by-step guide you will be able to curate the perfect professional resume in no time.
Choose an appropriate resume format
A clean and structured layout and design is paramount to get the attention of hiring managers. There are three types of resume layouts-
- Chronological
- Functional
- Hybrid
Chronological is the most common resume format which lists your jobs in reverse chronological order. The functional resume format focusses on your skills rather than the jobs you have held in the past. The hybrid resume format blends the styles of chronological and functional resume format which begins with a strong skills section and ends with all your work experience.
For a senior accountant resume, opt for the tried and tested reverse chronological format for your resume where you list your current job first and your first job last. It should be an accurate reflection of your work history. Also, choose an appropriate resume template that offers a clean design for your senior accountant resume.
Create a header
This is a simple section which just requires you to provide your personal and contact information. This section should include your full name, contact information like your address, phone number and email address and a link to your LinkedIn profile. It is advisable to double check the section and ensure that all your information is correct.
Write an objective statement
Write a short and impactful professional summary that gives a clear overview of your skills, experience and goals as an adept senior accountant. This summary should encapsulate your skills and experience and highlight what you bring to the table. Use strong action words and avoid generic phrases. It is highly recommended to tailor an objective statement to the job description provided by the employer.
Highlight your relevant work experience
In this section, list your prior work experience in reverse chronological order. It is advisable to opt for bullet points to make it easier to read for any hiring manager that might be going through your resume. Include the name of the company, its location, your job title and date of employment. Describe your responsibilities, accomplishments and contribution as per your job title for each company.
Incorporate your achievements
Focus on grabbing the attention of a future employer by enlisting your achievements, backed by tangible examples. Use specific metrics and numbers to demonstrate the positive impact your work has had for a company. For instance, elaborate on how your financial analysis led to cost containment and increased the company’s revenue by x%.
Add your educational qualification
It is extremely important to include your educational background especially if it is relevant to the accounting job you are applying for. A specialized job title of a senior accountant will require to have mandatory degrees in place. It helps the employers to verify that you meet the educational requirements for a senior accountant position. Include your complete education history specifying the bachelor's degree from, university, location and graduate date.
Feature relevant key skills
This section aims to highlight all the necessary skills you require to be eligible for a senior accountant position. Some of the key hard skills and soft skills that you could include in your resume as as follows-
- Proficient in accounting software (ERP)
- Financial analytics
- Financial reporting
- Tax compliance
- Payroll processing
- Budgeting and forecasting
- General ledger
- Organisational Skills
- Detail-oriented approach
- Strategic Thinking
- Strong communication skills
Mention any certifications received
It is always advisable to mention if you have received any extra certifications as that showcases you as a very suitable candidate for the job. Some of the top certifications in accounting include-
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
- Certified Financial Analysis (CFA)
- Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
Proofread meticulously
Scan your resume thoroughly for any typos or grammatical errors. As a senior accountant, you are expected to be accurate and diligent, so ensure that your CV reflects those qualities while ensuring there are no errors whatsoever.
Extra sections to brighten your accountant resume
Apart from the essential sections like contact information, professional summary, prior work experience, education and key skills, there are several additional sections you can add to your senior accountant resume to enhance and highlight your traditional accountant resume.
Professional Associations
If you are a member of an accounting organisation like the American Accounting Association, National Society of Accountants (NSA) or the American Institute of CPAs (ACIPA), it is highly recommended to add a section to highlight your professional affiliations. This can give you a lot of credibility with an employer.
Languages
If you are fluent in more than one language and it is relevant to the job, include a section that lists down all the languages you speak along with your skill level in each one (Fluent or basic)
References
Create a section stating that you can provide references upon request. This is an optional but recommended step. Nothing gives your future employer more assurance than your past employers giving you a glowing recommendation.Do not forget to inform and take the permission of the individuals who are going to act as your references.
Extra curricular interests
This is a completely optional section and only add it if you have space in your resume layout after including all the other important sections. While it may not directly be related to anything to do with accounting, sharing some personal interests can add an interesting layer to your projected personality. It can also act as an ice-breaker during interviews and help you build an instant rapport with your potential employer
Getting your senior accountant resume noticed
Once you are done making your senior accountant resume, the next step is to get it noticed by hiring managers of the prospective companies that you apply to. Here are some tips to ensure your senior accountant resume gets the attention it deserves.
- Understanding the Applicant Tracking System (ATS)
When you apply for a technical role such as this, chances are that your resume will first be scanned by an applicant tracking system (ATS) before they even reach a human. An ATS is a software used to filter out resumes on the basis of keywords, skills, education and other criteria that have been mentioned by the company in the job description section. Resumes that contain few or none of the keywords mentioned will automatically get rejected before a human has a chance to review them.
- Tailoring your senior account resume
Before you decide to apply to a company, it is extremely important to study their job listing carefully and match the language they use in your resume as much as possible. To optimize your resume for keywords, scan the job description for the most essential phrases and keywords like technical skills, certifications etc. Include the same in your resume’s professional summary, skills and work experience section. Make sure to use the exact same words and phrases that have been included in the company job description.
- Opt for an ATS friendly font
A resume font should be legible and professional. Do not choose the fancy and decorative fonts, as they may not be recognised by an ATS software. Some of the best ATS-friendly resume fonts are Calibri, Helvetica, Georgia and Times New Roman. Choose a font size between 10 and 12 for the body and opt for a slightly larger font size for the headings.
Do’s and Don'ts for a senior accountant resume
In a competitive job market, there is no such thing as being “too prepared”. To make a job winning resume, you need to be thorough. Here is a list of do’s and don'ts to keep in mind while making your senior account resume.
Dos- Use clean and professional format
- Include a strong professional summary
- Showcase your work experience
- List your educational background
- Shine a light on your achievements
- List your relevant key skills
- Use action verbs (For eg- Analyze, Audit, Balance, Prepare)
- Include relevant keywords
- Mention your soft skills
- Quantify your accomplishments with tangible examples
- Don't make it too lengthy
- Don't include irrelevant information
- Don't use abbreviations and acronyms
- Don’t avoid proofreading
- Don't provide false information
- Don’t neglect customising your resume
- Don't use an outdated LinkedIn profile
Complement your resume with a cover letter
Including a cover letter with a senior accountant resume can help you stand out from the other candidates. Since a professional resume needs to be concise, adding a cover letter provides the opportunity to describe your professional accomplishments in detail. It is important to ensure that your cover letter differs from your senior accountant resume. Use this section to highlight your distinct credentials, interpersonal skills and career goals. If you need a helping hand with drafting a stellar cover letter, check out our extensive list of cover letter templates and draft one in no time.
Conclusion
In the competitive world of finance and accounting, curating an impressive senior accountant resume is a critical step in advancing your career. It is important to invest your time and effort in making the perfect resume so that you have the best possible chance to get selected by a potential employer. By following the steps provided in our guide, you will be well versed in creating the most professional resume which won't just impress hiring managers but also increase your chances of ranking higher in online job postings. If you can’t make up your mind on the perfect resume format, we have a vast collection of resume templates and samples to choose from. So get the ball rolling on making a job winning resume and start your journey to get your dream job.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What should a senior accountant put on a resume?
Senior accountants should enlist their key skills on their resume. Here is a list of some of the relevant skills required.
- Financial reporting
- Payroll processing
- Tax compliance
- Budgeting and forecasting
- Financial analytical skills
- Audit preparation
- Proficient in accounting software
- Proficient in Microsoft Excel
- Expertise in GAAP knowledge
- Team leadership
- General Ledger analysis
- Accounts reconciliation
What is the ideal length of a senior account resume?
The ideal length of a senior account resume is typically one to two pages. While it is necessary to include all the necessary information, it needs to be concise and to the point.
What is a professional summary for a senior accountant?
In the professional summary section, summarise your most significant skills and achievements, match the job description with the job posting, use keywords effectively. Also convey what value you bring to the company and market yourself as the most suitable candidate for the job.
