CPA Resume examples & templates

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Copyable resume examples

Copyable CPA Resume examples

Ever wondered why CPAs are in such high demand? It's not just about crunching numbers—it's about being the financial backbone that businesses rely on when making their most critical decisions. Certified Public Accountants stand at the intersection of business strategy and financial expertise, interpreting the story behind the numbers while ensuring compliance in an increasingly complex regulatory landscape.

The CPA field is evolving rapidly, with technology reshaping traditional roles. While automation handles routine tasks, CPAs are focusing more on advisory services and strategic planning. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, accounting positions are projected to grow by 6.9% through 2029—slightly faster than the average for all occupations. And with only about 658,000 active CPAs in the U.S. (despite millions of accounting graduates), the credential creates a significant competitive advantage. Whether you're drawn to public accounting, corporate finance, government oversight, or forensic investigation, earning those three letters opens doors that simply aren't available to other financial professionals.

Junior CPA Resume Example

Daniel Nguyen

(714) 555-2981 | d.nguyen@email.com | linkedin.com/in/danielnguyen | Irvine, CA 92618

Recent accounting graduate with CPA certification and 1+ year of experience in public accounting. Strong background in tax preparation, audit support, and financial reporting with experience using QuickBooks, Excel, and tax preparation software. Seeking to leverage analytical skills and accounting knowledge to grow as a public accountant.

EXPERIENCE

Staff Accountant | Wilson & Murphy LLP | Irvine, CA | June 2023 – Present

  • Prepare individual and small business tax returns for 45+ clients during busy season, identifying $76,000 in potential deductions
  • Perform monthly bookkeeping for 12 small business clients, reconciling accounts and preparing financial statements
  • Support senior staff on 4 external audit engagements by preparing workpapers and conducting inventory counts
  • Assist with quarterly financial reporting and compliance documentation for clients in retail and service industries

Accounting Intern | Greenfield Accounting Services | Santa Ana, CA | Jan 2023 – May 2023

  • Helped prepare 30+ individual tax returns using UltraTax CS under supervision of senior accountants
  • Reconciled bank statements and credit card transactions for 8 small business clients
  • Created Excel spreadsheets to track client documentation and deadlines during tax season

Accounts Payable Clerk (Part-time) | Westwood Community College | Irvine, CA | Sept 2021 – Dec 2022

  • Processed vendor invoices and expense reports while maintaining filing system for accounting department
  • Reconciled vendor statements and resolved discrepancies with 92% accuracy rate
  • Updated AP aging reports and assisted with month-end close procedures

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science in Accounting | California State University, Fullerton | May 2022

  • GPA: 3.8/4.0
  • Dean’s List: 7 consecutive semesters
  • Vice President, Accounting Society (2021-2022)

CERTIFICATIONS

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) | California Board of Accountancy | March 2023

QuickBooks ProAdvisor Certification | Intuit | July 2023

SKILLS

  • Tax Preparation: Individual and small business returns, tax planning, IRS correspondence
  • Accounting Software: QuickBooks (Desktop & Online), UltraTax CS, CCH Axcess
  • Financial Reporting: GAAP compliance, financial statement preparation, account reconciliation
  • Microsoft Office: Advanced Excel (VLOOKUP, PivotTables, macros), Word, PowerPoint
  • Audit Support: Workpaper preparation, client PBC list management, inventory observation
  • Communication: Client correspondence, technical documentation, team collaboration

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Member, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
Volunteer Tax Preparer, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program (2022 tax season)
Fluent in Vietnamese and English

Mid-level CPA Resume Example

Michael J. Thompson, CPA

mthompson.cpa@email.com | (513) 792-4061 | linkedin.com/in/mjthompsoncpa | Cincinnati, OH

Dedicated financial professional with 6+ years of accounting experience and CPA certification. Strong background in tax preparation, financial reporting, and audit services for small to mid-sized businesses. Known for accuracy, attention to detail, and ability to communicate complex financial concepts to non-financial stakeholders.

EXPERIENCE

Senior Tax Accountant | Daniels & Weber Accounting, Cincinnati, OH | June 2021 – Present

  • Manage tax preparation and planning for a portfolio of 47 small business clients with annual revenues ranging from $500K to $12M
  • Reduced client audit exposure by 31% through improved documentation processes and proactive compliance reviews
  • Lead a team of 3 staff accountants during tax season, providing mentorship and technical guidance
  • Spearheaded implementation of new tax software that cut preparation time by 4.7 hours per complex return
  • Conduct quarterly tax planning meetings with key clients to minimize tax liability and ensure compliance

Staff Accountant | Daniels & Weber Accounting, Cincinnati, OH | August 2019 – May 2021

  • Prepared and reviewed approximately 125 individual and 65 business tax returns annually
  • Performed monthly bookkeeping services for 12 small business clients including reconciliations and financial statement preparation
  • Assisted with audit fieldwork for 8 non-profit clients with annual budgets between $1.5M and $6M
  • Created client-friendly tax guides that received positive feedback from 93% of clients (we still use these today!)

Junior Accountant | Midwest Financial Partners, Columbus, OH | May 2017 – July 2019

  • Assisted with preparation of individual tax returns and basic business returns under supervision
  • Performed account reconciliations and prepared journal entries for bookkeeping clients
  • Helped develop standardized workpapers that improved team efficiency by 22%
  • Managed accounts payable and receivable processes for 5 small business clients

EDUCATION

Master of Accountancy | Ohio State University, Columbus, OH | 2017
GPA: 3.8/4.0, Dean’s List (5 semesters)

Bachelor of Science in Accounting | Ohio State University, Columbus, OH | 2016
GPA: 3.7/4.0, Accounting Society Vice President

CERTIFICATIONS

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) | Ohio Board of Accountancy | 2018
QuickBooks ProAdvisor Certification | Intuit | 2019 (Renewed 2022)

SKILLS

  • Tax Planning & Compliance (Individual, Partnership, S-Corp, C-Corp)
  • Financial Statement Preparation & Analysis
  • Audit Preparation & Support
  • IRS Representation & Notice Resolution
  • QuickBooks, CCH Axcess, UltraTax CS, Excel (advanced)
  • Client Advisory Services
  • Accounting Systems Implementation
  • Bookkeeping & General Ledger Management
  • Cash Flow Forecasting & Analysis
  • Team Leadership & Mentoring

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) | Member since 2018
Ohio Society of CPAs | Member since 2018

Senior / Experienced CPA Resume Example

MICHAEL J. PETERSON, CPA

Boston, MA | (617) 555-8472 | m.peterson@emailpro.net | linkedin.com/in/michaelpetersonCPA

Detail-oriented CPA with 12+ years of accounting expertise and proven leadership in financial reporting, tax strategy, and audit management. Known for streamlining processes that cut monthly close time by 37% while maintaining impeccable accuracy. Adept at translating complex financial concepts for non-financial stakeholders and building cross-functional relationships that drive business decisions.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

SENIOR FINANCE MANAGER | Wentworth Financial Services | Boston, MA | June 2018 – Present

  • Lead a team of 6 accounting professionals responsible for financial reporting, tax compliance, and audit preparation for a firm with $87M in annual revenue
  • Implemented new accounting software that decreased month-end close from 12 days to 5 days and reduced manual data entry by 63%
  • Redesigned tax strategy resulting in $1.2M in tax savings over 3 years (yeah, the CFO loved that one!)
  • Established comprehensive financial controls that passed 4 consecutive external audits with zero material findings
  • Partner with C-suite executives to develop financial forecasts and cash management strategies during seasonal fluctuations

ACCOUNTING MANAGER | Brightline Manufacturing, Inc. | Cambridge, MA | March 2015 – May 2018

  • Managed monthly close process and prepared GAAP-compliant financial statements for manufacturing company with $42M annual revenue
  • Supervised team of 4 accountants; implemented performance metrics that increased productivity by 23%
  • Spearheaded cost accounting initiative that identified $578K in previously untracked production waste
  • Created streamlined reporting package that reduced executive review time from 3 hours to 45 minutes

SENIOR ACCOUNTANT | Delaney & Partners, LLP | Boston, MA | August 2011 – February 2015

  • Managed audit engagements for 12+ clients with revenues ranging from $5M to $75M across diverse industries
  • Prepared tax returns for S-corps, partnerships, and high-net-worth individuals
  • Trained and mentored 5 junior staff on audit procedures and tax preparation
  • Developed client-specific audit procedures that reduced fieldwork hours by 19% while maintaining quality

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ACCOUNTING | Boston University | Boston, MA | 2011

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION | University of Massachusetts | Amherst, MA | 2009

CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT | Massachusetts License #CP-0072481 | 2012

CERTIFIED MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANT | 2016

TECHNICAL SKILLS

  • ERP Systems: Oracle, SAP, Microsoft Dynamics
  • Advanced Excel (VLOOKUP, pivot tables, macros)
  • QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions
  • Financial modeling & forecasting
  • Tax preparation software (ProSeries, UltraTax)
  • Data visualization (Tableau, Power BI)
  • SOX compliance & internal controls
  • Fixed asset management

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
  • Massachusetts Society of CPAs
  • Institute of Management Accountants

How to Write a CPA Resume

Introduction

Writing a standout CPA resume isn't just about listing your accounting credentials—it's about telling your professional story in a way that makes hiring managers take notice. With accounting firms receiving hundreds of applications for a single position, your resume needs to showcase not just your technical accounting skills, but also your attention to detail (the very quality CPAs are known for!) and your unique value proposition. I've reviewed thousands of accountant resumes over my career, and the difference between getting an interview and being overlooked often comes down to how well you position your expertise.

Resume Structure and Format

The format of your CPA resume should reflect the precision expected in your work. Here's what works best:

  • Length: Keep it to 1-2 pages max—one page for those with under 5 years of experience, two pages for senior professionals
  • Font: Stick with clean, professional fonts like Calibri, Arial, or Garaday at 10-12pt size
  • Margins: 0.75-1 inch all around (not the default 1.25 inches that Word uses)
  • File format: Save as PDF to preserve formatting (unless specifically requested otherwise)
  • Section order: Summary, Experience, Certifications, Education, Skills (adjust based on your strongest qualifications)
Remember: Accounting firms value organization and precision. If your resume is cluttered or contains formatting inconsistencies, it sends a red flag about your attention to detail—a critical trait for CPAs.

Profile/Summary Section

Start with a punchy 3-4 line summary that positions you accurately. This isn't where you state what you want—it's where you tell employers what you bring to the table. For CPAs, emphasize your specialization, years of experience, and 1-2 standout achievements.

Example: "CPA with 6+ years specializing in tax planning for high-net-worth individuals and small businesses. Saved clients an average of $17,852 in tax liability through strategic planning. Proficient in ProSeries, QuickBooks, and CCH Axcess Tax."

Professional Experience

This is where most CPAs drop the ball. Don't just list job duties—showcase your impact. Each bullet should follow this rough formula: Action verb + What you did + Measurable result.

  • Weak: "Prepared tax returns for clients."
  • Strong: "Prepared 175+ complex individual and small business tax returns annually, identifying an average of $8,240 in deductions overlooked by previous preparers."

Focus on numbers wherever possible. Tax savings, audit findings, process improvements with time/cost reductions, client portfolio size—these metrics make your contributions concrete.

Education and Certifications

For CPAs, your credentials often carry significant weight. Feature your CPA license prominently, including your license number and state. List relevant certifications like CMA, CIA, or specialized training in chronological order with dates. For education, include your degree, university, graduation year, and GPA if over 3.5.

Keywords and ATS Tips

Many accounting firms use Applicant Tracking Systems to filter resumes before human eyes ever see them. To pass this digital gatekeeper:

  • Incorporate key terms from the job posting (tax compliance, GAAP, financial reporting, etc.)
  • List software proficiencies (QuickBooks, SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Excel)
  • Mention specific accounting methodologies relevant to the role
  • Avoid images, headers/footers, and tables that might confuse ATS systems

Industry-specific Terms

Sprinkle your resume with accounting terminology that signals you speak the language. Terms like ASC 606, FASB, SOX compliance, reconciliations, audit preparation, or tax mitigation demonstrate your technical knowledge. Just be ready to discuss any term you include during interviews!

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing solely on responsibilities rather than achievements
  • Using generic phrases like "detail-oriented" without backing them up
  • Failing to quantify your impact with specific numbers
  • Neglecting to customize for each application (yes, it's tedious but worth it)
  • Typos or calculation errors—these are deadly for accounting professionals

Before/After Example

Before: "Responsible for monthly close process and financial reporting."

After: "Streamlined month-end close process from 8 days to 4.5 days by implementing automated reconciliation tools and redesigning the review workflow, while maintaining 99.7% accuracy in financial reporting."

See the difference? The second version doesn't just tell what you did—it shows how well you did it and the value you brought. That's what gets CPAs interviews.

Soft skills for your CPA resume

  • Cross-functional collaboration – ability to work effectively with non-finance colleagues to explain financial implications of business decisions
  • Client relationship management – maintaining trust while delivering sometimes uncomfortable financial realities
  • Technical translation skills – explaining complex accounting principles to non-CPAs in accessible language
  • Time pressure resilience – maintaining accuracy and attention to detail during tax season or audit deadlines
  • Process improvement vision – identifying inefficiencies in existing financial workflows and implementing practical solutions
  • Ethical judgment – navigating gray areas while upholding professional standards (even when it’s not the popular choice)

Hard skills for your CPA resume

  • Advanced Excel modeling (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, Power Query)
  • GAAP financial statement preparation and analysis
  • Tax planning for S-Corps and LLCs (Sections 199A and 1202)
  • QuickBooks Enterprise and NetSuite implementation
  • Fixed asset management and depreciation schedules
  • Proficient in CCH Axcess Tax and ProSystem fx software
  • Experience with ASC 842 lease accounting standards
  • SOX 404 compliance testing and documentation
  • SAP BPC budgeting and forecasting