Top Public Accounting sections that make the best resume
- Header
- Professional summary
- Experience (with numbers & results)
- Relevant skills
- Education
- Certifications
How to write the perfect Public Accounting resume experience section
Perfecting the Experience Section: Public Accounting Resume Checklist:
- Be careful with bullet points: use no more than 4-6 per position;
- Mention only positions that are relevant to the job you’re applying for;
- List your experience in chronological or reverse-chronological order;
- Highlight your results by using numbers – e.g. percentage increase/decrease in an important metric that’s followed by - your hard work;
- Use action words whenever possible… but more on that below.
Need examples? We looked through thousands of Public Accounting resumes and gathered some examples of what the ideal experience section looks like. Check them out below!
- Reviewed and analyzed client financial statements, prepared and filed federal and state tax returns resulting in an average of 10% reduction in clients' tax liabilities
- Managed and trained a team of 3 junior tax associates, resulting in an increase in productivity by 15%
- Developed and implemented new tax planning strategies that resulted in a 20% increase in revenue for the tax department
- Participated in community outreach programs, including volunteering at local tax clinics, resulting in a 25% increase in the firm's public image and positive reputation
- Demonstrated excellent skills in MS Office, including Excel and Word, and provided training to junior tax associates resulting in a 10% increase in their proficiency level
- Reduced monthly close process by 20% by implementing process improvements and automation, resulting in timely and accurate financial reporting.
- Led the implementation of new accounting standards, resulting in a successful transition to ASC 606 revenue recognition standard.
- Developed and maintained relationships with external auditors, resulting in timely and efficient completion of audit procedures.
- Streamlined the stock-based compensation accounting process, resulting in a reduction in errors and improved accuracy.
- Prepared and reviewed quarterly and annual SEC filings (10-Q and 10-K), ensuring compliance with SEC regulations and GAAP accounting standards.
- Coordinated the preparation and review of quarterly and annual SEC filings (10-Q and 10-K), resulting in timely and accurate financial reporting.
- Managed the implementation of new accounting standards (e.g. ASC 842 lease accounting), ensuring compliance with SEC regulations and GAAP accounting standards.
- Developed and maintained relationships with external auditors, resulting in timely and efficient completion of audit procedures.
- Implemented new processes to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the financial reporting function, resulting in a reduction in errors and improved accuracy.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams (e.g. legal, investor relations, FP&A) to ensure consistency and accuracy of financial reporting.
- Managed the monthly close process, ensuring timely and accurate financial reporting.
PRO TIP
Don't make the same mistake everyone else does. What we mean is, don't list your Public Accounting job responsibilities instead of your achievements. Recruiters know what you do. They want to know what kind of difference you can bring to their company. Focus on what you've accomplished.
Action Verbs for your Public Accounting Resume
Recommended reads:
Public Accounting Resume: Crafting a Strong Skills Section
Resume Skills Section Checklist:
- Ensure your hard skills section (including technologies) are exactly matching the job description.
- Don’t simply list your soft skills. Apply the “show, don’t tell” principle - let your job achievements speak for themselves.
- Find a way to showcase your skills beyond the skills section.
- Your resume’s skill section is important to ATS systems - so don’t skip it.
Top skills for your public accounting resume
Auditing
Financial Reporting
Tax Planning
Risk Assessment
GAAP Compliance
Data Analysis
Budgeting
Forecasting
Cost Accounting
Financial Analysis
Attention to Detail
Time Management
Communication
Problem Solving
Collaboration
Leadership
Client Management
Critical Thinking
Adaptability
Integrity
PRO TIP
Avoid getting sidetracked by Applicant tracking software by including a tech skills' section matching the job description and your own qualifications.
Recommended reads:
Public Accounting resume header: tips, red flags, and best practices
Making a strong first impression:
- Keep your summary section short and easy to read; avoid long sentences;
- Highlight your total years of experience in the field;
- Mention 1-2 of your biggest achievements and strengths;
- Add a couple of keywords from the job advert.
Resume summary formula:
PRO TIP
Include a link to your portfolio in your resume header. Most companies will require that you include one in your resume, and even if they don’t, it’s an excellent opportunity to directly show them your proudest projects.
Recommended reads:
Formatting Your Public Accounting Resume
What’s worse than a .docx resume? A resume with a poorly chosen format.
In general, there are three basic resume formats we advise you to stick with:
- Reverse-chronological resume format;
- Functional skills-based resume format;
- Combination (or Hybrid) resume format.
Choosing between them is easy when you’re aware of your applicant profile – it depends on your years of experience, the position you’re applying for, and whether you’re looking for an industry change or not.
The reverse-chronological resume format is just that – all your relevant jobs in reverse-chronological order. It’s great for applicants with lots of experience, no career gaps, and little desire for creativity.
When working with less experienced applicants, we suggest the functional skills-based resume format. It’s great for recent graduates or people with large career gaps. Functional skills-based resumes focus on your personality, the skills you have, your interests, and your education. Ultimately, the idea is to show you’re the perfect fit without putting too much emphasis on your work experience (or lack thereof).
If you’re in the middle or are generally looking to make your resume feel more modern and personal, go for the combination or hybrid resume format. It offers the best of both worlds by combining sections focused on experience and work-related skills and at the same time keeping space for projects, awards, certifications, or even creative sections like ‘my typical day’ and ‘my words to live by’.
Here are more resume tips regarding your layout and style:
- Clear and legible 12p resume font size;
- Use 10’’ resume margins - that’s default for a great resume design;
- Use a one-page template resume length if you’ve got less than 10 years of experience; otherwise, opt for a two-page resume;
- Save your resume as PDF before sending it to the recruiter.
To take it a step further, check out how your resume can stand out without leaning too much on the creative side.
