Guides

How to Tailor Your Resume for an Accountant Job

A resume written for the specific accountant posting is easier for a recruiter to say yes to than one written for every job. Here's how to tailor yours, honestly.

Words that often show up in Accountant postings

Every posting is different, so start with the one you're applying to. These terms come up a lot for this job; use the ones that are true for you, in the posting's exact wording.

• month-end close
• reconciliations
• GAAP
• accounts payable / receivable
• QuickBooks / NetSuite
• financial statements
• audit support
• Excel

Turn duties into proof

Recruiters skim. A bullet that says what you did, how much, and with what tools is easier to say yes to than a vague duty.

What to put first

Show your close cycle, systems and company size. Add CPA status or progress toward it if you have it. Then reorder the bullets under each job so the ones that match this posting come first.

Don't stretch the truth

Only use a keyword where it's true. If the posting asks for something you don't have, leave it off and mention in your cover letter how you're building it. Claims that fall apart in an interview cost more than a missing keyword.

Interview questions to prepare for

• Walk me through your month-end close.
• Tell me about a reconciliation that didn't tie out.
• How do you explain numbers to someone outside finance?

Answer with a short story: the situation, what you did, and what changed because of it.