As a corporate accounting professional, articulating the complexity of your fiscal management and regulatory compliance experience in a concise yet impactful way is a common resume challenge. Our expert guide will provide you with tailored strategies to distill your extensive expertise into a compelling resume that showcases your value to potential employers.
- Incorporate corporate accounting job advert keywords into key sections of your resume, such as the summary, header, and experience sections;
- Quantify your experience using achievements, certificates, and more in various corporate accounting resume sections;
- Apply practical insights from real-life corporate accounting resume examples to enhance your own profile;
- Choose the most effective corporate accounting resume format to succeed in any evaluation process.
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Designing your corporate accounting resume format to catch recruiters' eyes
Your corporate accounting resume will be assessed on a couple of criteria, one of which is the actual presentation.
Is your resume legible and organized? Does it follow a smooth flow?
Or have you presented recruiters with a chaotic document that includes everything you've ever done in your career?
Unless specified otherwise, there are four best practices to help maintain your resume format consistency.
- The top one third of your corporate accounting resume should definitely include a header, so that recruiters can easily contact you and scan your professional portfolio (or LinkedIn profile).
- Within the experience section, list your most recent (and relevant) role first, followed up with the rest of your career history in a reverse-chronological resume format .
- Always submit your resume as a PDF file to sustain its layout. There are some rare exceptions where companies may ask you to forward your resume in Word or another format.
- If you are applying for a more senior role and have over a decade of applicable work experience (that will impress recruiters), then your corporate accounting resume can be two pages long. Otherwise, your resume shouldn't be longer than a single page.
Remember, resume layouts can vary by country – for example, a Canadian resume format could look different.
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The key to your corporate accounting job-winning resume - present your expertise with these sections:
- A header to make your resume more scannable
- Snapshot of who you are as a professional with your resume soft skills, achievements, and summary or objective
- Job advert keywords in the skills section of your resume
- Resume experience quantifying your past job successes with metrics
- A relevant education, certification, and technical sills section to provide background to your technological/software capabilities
What recruiters want to see on your resume:
- Demonstrated proficiency in financial reporting standards (e.g., GAAP or IFRS) and experience in preparing financial statements and reports.
- Expertise in accounting software and systems, such as SAP, Oracle, or QuickBooks, and advanced Excel skills.
- Strong background in internal controls, compliance, and experience with financial audits and tax preparation.
- Relevant certifications, such as Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Chartered Accountant (CA), highlighting professional credibility and commitment.
- Quantifiable achievements in financial analysis, budget management, cost reduction, and efficiency improvement.
Essential tips for crafting your corporate accounting resume experience section
The experience section is indeed the core of your corporate accounting resume. It's where you present your past and current job roles. But how should you approach this crucial part?
A common error is treating the experience section as merely a list of job duties. Many candidates fall into the trap of detailing what they did without illustrating the impact of their actions.
To effectively write your corporate accounting resume experience section, consider these guidelines:
- Emphasize your achievements, supported by concrete metrics such as percentages, revenue increases, or customer satisfaction rates;
- Avoid using generic buzzwords like communication, hard work, or leadership. Instead, demonstrate how these skills added value in your previous roles;
- Begin each bullet point with a strong action verb, followed by a skill, and then the result of your actions;
- Tailor your resume for each job application by selecting the most relevant experiences, responsibilities, and successes.
We have an array of resume examples that illustrate how to optimally curate your corporate accounting resume experience section.
- Managed a team of 6 accountants responsible for consolidating financial statements for a multinational corporation, increasing reporting accuracy by 25%.
- Spearheaded the implementation of a new ERP software which streamlined accounting processes and cut monthly close cycles by 5 days.
- Collaborated on a cross-departmental project to identify cost-saving opportunities, ultimately reducing operational expenses by 15% without sacrificing quality.
- Designed and executed internal controls over financial reporting, which led to the identification and correction of previously undetected misstatements.
- Played a pivotal role in the due diligence process for two major acquisitions, facilitating seamless financial integration and contributing to a 20% revenue growth post-acquisition.
- Conducted regular training sessions for new accounting software adoption across the department, improving proficiency and productivity by 30%.
- Oversaw the transition to a remote work environment for the accounting department by implementing cloud-based accounting solutions, maintaining 100% compliance with deadlines during the shift.
- Directed the preparation of quarterly and annual tax filings for the corporation, resulting in a 10% decrease in tax liabilities through strategic planning.
- Led a cross-functional team to streamline intercompany accounting processes, shortening the reconciliation period from 15 to 9 business days.
- Coordinated with international subsidiaries to ensure adherence to US GAAP standards, reducing financial reporting errors by over 20% during my tenure.
- Managed quarterly budget forecasting and variance analysis reports for executive management, identifying key areas for cost reduction that saved the company $1.5 million annually.
- Developed a financial modeling tool that accurately predicted cash flow scenarios, improving the company's strategic planning and investment decisions.
- Initiated the adoption of lean accounting methodologies within the department, which decreased financial reporting lead time by 40%.
- Acted as the primary liaison between the accounting department and IT to develop a custom financial reporting system, enhancing data integrity and retrieval speed.
- Conducted comprehensive audits of existing contracts which led to the renegotiation of terms, ultimately saving the company over $900,000.
- Reviewed and approved all journal entries and reconciliations prepared by the accounting staff, improving overall monthly reporting accuracy.
- Implemented a cost allocation system for shared services that led to a more equitable distribution of costs and increased departmental accountability.
- Negotiated with software vendors to upgrade the company's financial analytics platforms, which enhanced decision-making capabilities and saved $200,000 a year in licensing fees.
- Prepared consolidated financial statements in compliance with both local and international standards, enhancing the credibility of financial reports with stakeholders.
- Completed a thorough analysis of expense categories, identifying trends and recommending budget adjustments that increased EBITDA margins by 3 percentage points.
- Assisted with the automation of the fixed asset accounting process, reducing the time needed for asset tracking and depreciation calculations by 25%.
- Leveraged deep corporate accounting expertise to guide and mentor a dynamic team of 8 junior accountants, elevating the team's collective skillset and efficiency.
- Enhanced inter-departmental collaboration by coordinating monthly financial review meetings, which improved overall organizational understanding of the fiscal performance.
- Developed a comprehensive internal audit program that significantly strengthened the company's financial controls and regulatory compliance posture.
Quantifying impact on your resume
- Highlight precise budget management experiences, showcasing your ability to control and allocate financial resources effectively.
- Document any cost-reduction initiatives you’ve led or contributed to, illustrating your direct impact on improving profits and efficiency.
- Include quantifiable achievements in financial reporting, such as implementing reports that improved financial transparency.
- Specify the scale of financial statements you have prepared, to demonstrate your capability in handling complex accounting tasks.
- Detail your experience in tax preparation, compliance, and savings, showing your expertise in tax-related financial responsibilities.
- Mention any financial analysis projects, including the use of key ratios and metrics that have informed business decisions.
- Enumerate any software and accounting systems you are proficient in, which are crucial for efficiency and data accuracy.
- Describe the volume and variety of transactions or accounts you’ve managed, reflecting your adaptability and capacity to manage workload.
Action verbs for your corporate accounting resume
What if my corporate accounting experience doesn't match the requirements?
You've just graduated from college and may have no real world job experience . What should you include within your resume then?
Instead of making up information or adding irrelevant past jobs (e.g. your on-campus work during freshman year), you can:
- Shift the focus from your professional experience to your community impact with your volunteer work. This would showcase numerous soft skills you've built over time (e.g. interpersonal communication);
- Highlight the projects you've completed, as part of your coursework, or, on your own. Thus, you will align your technical background with recruiters' requirements;
- Consider spotlighting your transferrable skills. Or, what lessons and talents your current professional and personal experience has taught you and how they could benefit your potential employers;
- Even if you've had a few months of internship experience, that is relevant for the role, make sure to include this. Recruiters do care about the years of experience you happen to have, but, at the end of the day, your profile would also be assessed based on role alignment.
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How to showcase hard skills and soft skills on your resume
Reading between the lines of your dream job, you find recruiters are looking for candidates who have specific software or hardware knowledge, and personal skills.
Any technology you're adept at shows your hard skills. This particular skill set answers initial job requirements, hinting at how much time your potential employers would have to invest in training you. Showcase you have the relevant technical background in your communicate, solve problems, and adapt to new environments. Basically, your interpersonal communication skills that show recruiters if you'd fit into the team and company culture. You could use the achievements section to tie in your greatest wins with relevant soft skills.
It's also a good idea to add some of your hard and soft skills across different resume sections (e.g. summary/objective, experience, etc.) to match the job requirements and pass the initial screening process. Remember to always check your skill spelling and ensure that you've copy-pasted the name of the desired skills from the job advert as is.
Top skills for your corporate accounting resume:
Financial Reporting
General Ledger Accounting
Tax Compliance
Auditing Software (e.g., ACL, IDEA)
ERP Systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle)
Excel (Advanced Functions and Macros)
Financial Analysis Tools
Budgeting and Forecasting Software
Accounts Payable/Receivable Management
Accounting Standards (GAAP/IFRS)
Attention to Detail
Analytical Thinking
Problem-Solving
Time Management
Communication Skills
Team Collaboration
Adaptability
Ethical Judgment
Leadership Skills
Critical Thinking
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Listing your relevant degrees or certificates on your corporate accounting resume is a win-win situation. Not only does it hint at your technical capabilities in the industry, but an array of soft skills, like perseverance, adaptability, and motivation.
The basics of your corporate accounting resume certifications and education sections
Improve the education and certification sections of your corporate accounting resume by:
- Dedicating more prominent space to certificates that are more recent and have helped you update your skill set
- Keeping all the information you list to the basics: certificate/degree name, institution, and graduation dates
- Writing supplementary information in the details of your certification or education section, only if you lack experience or want to show further skill alignment
- Including your credential or license number, only if the information is valid to your application or certification
Within corporate accounting job adverts, relevant education, and certification are always listed within the key prerequisite for the role.
Ensure you meet all job requirements with some of the leading certificates in the industry:
The top 5 certifications for your corporate accounting resume:
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA) - American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
- Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) - Association of International Certified Professional Accountants
- Certified Management Accountant (CMA) - Institute of Management Accountants (IMA)
- Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) - CFA Institute
- Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) - The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA)
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The more trusted the organization you've attained your certificate (or degree) from, the more credible your skill set would be.
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Practical guide to your corporate accounting resume summary or objective
First off, should you include a summary or objective on your corporate accounting resume?
We definitely recommend you choose the:
- Resume summary to match job requirements with most noteworthy accomplishments.
- Resume objective as a snapshot of career dreams
Both the resume summary and objective should set expectations for recruiters as to what your career highlights are.
These introductory paragraphs (that are no more than five sentences long) should help you answer why you're the best candidate for the job.
Industry-wide best practices pinpoint that the corporate accounting resume summaries and objectives follow the structures of these samples:
Resume summaries for a corporate accounting job
- Seasoned corporate accountant with over 12 years of experience in managing complex accounting systems within multinational corporations. Proficient in financial reporting, tax compliance, and budget management, instrumental in saving ABC Corp over $5M through strategic tax planning and process optimization. Adept at implementing robust financial controls that enhance transparency and accountability.
- Dedicated accounting professional transitioning from a 10-year career in financial consultancy to corporate accounting, bringing a wealth of expertise in risk analysis, investment strategy, and asset management. Eager to apply strategic fiscal knowledge to streamline corporate accounting procedures, enhancing the financial wellbeing and performance of a dynamic organization.
- Highly analytical former data analyst making the strategic career progression into corporate accounting after completing a rigorous Master's in Accounting program. Comes equipped with an exceptional foundation in statistical modeling, budget forecasting, and data-driven decision-making, aiming to leverage robust quantitative skills to elevate financial accuracy and integrity within a leading-edge company.
- Accomplished accounting executive with 15 years at the helm of finance departments for Fortune 500 companies, proficient in handling international finance operations, merger and acquisition integration, and strategic planning. Recognized for leading a finance team that delivered a record-breaking 20% increase in operational efficiency for XYZ Inc. through the adoption of advanced accounting software and systems.
- As a recent honors graduate in finance, I am eager to apply my academic background, which includes notable internships at top-tier accounting firms, and in-depth knowledge of current accounting software to support financial reporting and analysis tasks. Keen to grow within a company committed to fiscal responsibility and operational excellence.
- With a fresh Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and a passion for financial precision, I am motivated to employ my understanding of accounting principles and eagerness to develop hands-on experience. Enthusiastically awaiting the opportunity to contribute to the financial health and strategic goals of a visionary corporation through meticulous record-keeping and analysis.
Other corporate accounting resume sections to support your expertise and skills
Recruiters are always on the lookout for that corporate accounting candidate who brings about even more value to the role.
This can be either via their personality or additional accreditations they have across the industry.
Add to your resume any of the four sections that fit your profile:
- Projects for your most impressive, cutting-edge work;
- Awards or recognitions that matter the most;
- Publications further building up your professional portfolio and accreditations;
- Hobbies and interests to feature the literature you read, how you spend your time outside of work, and other personality traits you deem may help you stand out .
Key takeaways
At the end of our guide, we'd like to remind you to:
- Invest in a simple, modern resume design that is ATS friendly and keeps your experience organized and legible;
- Avoid just listing your responsibilities in your experience section, but rather focus on quantifiable achievements;
- Always select resume sections that are relevant to the role and can answer job requirements. Sometimes your volunteering experience could bring more value than irrelevant work experience;
- Balance your technical background with your personality traits across various sections of your resume to hint at how much time employers would have to invest in training you and if your profile would be a good cultural fit to the organization;
- Include your academic background (in the form of your relevant higher education degrees and certifications) to show recruiters that you have the technical basics of the industry covered.
