Financial Accountant Resume examples & templates
Copyable Financial Accountant Resume examples
Ever noticed how companies that seem to have their finances in perfect order always have a rock-solid team of financial accountants behind them? These number-crunching maestros do far more than balance books—they're the backbone of organizational financial health, transforming raw data into strategic insights that guide business decisions. Financial accounting has evolved dramatically in recent years, with the adoption of cloud-based accounting systems jumping from 45% to nearly 78% among mid-sized companies since 2019. The role now blends traditional accounting expertise with tech savvy and business acumen.
Today's financial accountants aren't just reconciling accounts and preparing financial statements; they're often the first to spot business risks, compliance issues, or growth opportunities hiding in the numbers. With regulatory requirements becoming increasingly complex (looking at you, ASC 842 lease accounting standards!), and stakeholders demanding more transparent reporting, financial accountants who can navigate both technical and communication challenges are in high demand. As automation handles more routine tasks, the profession is shifting toward analysis and strategic partnership—creating exciting new paths for those who speak the universal language of finance.
Junior Financial Accountant Resume Example
MARCUS CHEN
Boston, MA | (617) 555-0129 | mchen1997@gmail.com | linkedin.com/in/marcuschen97
Detail-oriented Financial Accountant with 2 years of experience in month-end close processes, financial reporting, and reconciliations. Fast learner who thrives in deadline-driven environments. Proficient in Excel, QuickBooks, and SAP with a knack for process improvement. Earned recognition for reducing month-end close time by 17% through automation of recurring journal entries.
EXPERIENCE
Financial Accountant | Eastern Regional Bank | Boston, MA | June 2022 – Present
- Prepare and review monthly journal entries and account reconciliations for multiple general ledger accounts with 99.6% accuracy
- Assist with month-end and quarter-end close processes, reducing close timeline from 6 days to 5 days
- Analyze and resolve accounting discrepancies for a portfolio of 8 branch locations
- Create and distribute financial reports to management team, highlighting key variances and trends
- Support annual external audit process by preparing requested documentation and responding to auditor inquiries
Accounting Intern | TechVision Partners | Cambridge, MA | January 2022 – May 2022
- Assisted with accounts payable functions including invoice processing and vendor statement reconciliations
- Helped maintain fixed asset records and calculated monthly depreciation schedules
- Performed bank reconciliations for 3 operating accounts with average monthly transactions of 250+
- Created Excel templates that streamlined expense reporting process, saving team ~4 hours weekly
Accounting Assistant (Part-time) | Student Housing Services | Northeastern University | September 2020 – December 2021
- Processed student housing payments and maintained accurate financial records
- Reconciled daily transaction reports and resolved discrepancies
- Assisted with budget tracking for student residential programs
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science in Accounting | Northeastern University | Boston, MA | May 2021
- GPA: 3.7/4.0
- Relevant Coursework: Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Taxation, Auditing, Business Law
- Treasurer, Accounting Student Association (2019-2021)
CERTIFICATIONS
CPA Exam | 2 parts passed (FAR, AUD) | In progress
Excel Expert Certification | Microsoft | March 2022
SKILLS
- Month-end close procedures
- Journal entries & account reconciliations
- Financial statement preparation
- GL accounting
- Software: QuickBooks, SAP, Excel (VLOOKUP, PivotTables, Power Query)
- Data analysis & visualization
- Fixed asset accounting
- Internal controls
- Financial reporting
- Variance analysis
Mid-level Financial Accountant Resume Example
Marcus Bailey
mbailey@emailpro.net | (612) 555-7829 | Minneapolis, MN 55403 | linkedin.com/in/marcusbailey
Detail-oriented Financial Accountant with 5+ years of experience in full-cycle accounting, financial analysis, and reporting. Proven track record of streamlining accounting processes and improving accuracy of financial statements. Effective communicator who translates complex financial information into actionable insights for management teams.
EXPERIENCE
Senior Financial Accountant – Northstar Healthcare Systems | Minneapolis, MN | February 2021 – Present
- Manage full-cycle accounting operations for a regional healthcare provider with $87M annual revenue
- Reduced month-end close process from 12 to 6 days by implementing new reconciliation procedures and automating repetitive tasks
- Prepare and analyze financial statements, identifying a $342K revenue recognition error that would have impacted quarterly reporting
- Lead a team of 2 junior accountants, providing mentorship and reviewing their work for accuracy
- Partner with IT department to improve ERP system functionality, resulting in 31% fewer manual adjustments
Financial Accountant – Midwest Manufacturing Group | St. Paul, MN | June 2019 – January 2021
- Performed monthly account reconciliations for 40+ GL accounts, ensuring compliance with GAAP standards
- Collaborated with external auditors during annual audits, reducing audit findings by 75% in the second year
- Created and maintained fixed asset schedules and depreciation calculations for $12.4M in company assets
- Assisted with implementation of new accounting software, including data migration and process documentation
Junior Accountant – Parkway Financial Services | Minneapolis, MN | August 2018 – May 2019
- Processed accounts payable transactions, managing vendor relationships and ensuring timely payments
- Assisted with monthly close activities, including journal entries and account reconciliations
- Developed Excel templates that cut reporting time by 4 hours per week (the boss still uses them!)
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science in Accounting – University of Minnesota, Twin Cities | 2018
Minor in Business Information Systems | GPA: 3.7/4.0
CERTIFICATIONS
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) – Licensed in Minnesota | 2020
Advanced Excel Certification – Microsoft Office Specialist | 2019
SKILLS
- Full-cycle accounting
- Financial statement preparation
- Month-end/year-end close processes
- General ledger reconciliation
- Financial analysis & reporting
- ERP systems (NetSuite, Oracle)
- Advanced Excel (VLOOKUP, pivot tables)
- Fixed asset management
- Internal controls & compliance
- Team leadership
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Active member of Minnesota Society of CPAs | Volunteer tax preparer for low-income families | Fluent in Spanish
Senior / Experienced Financial Accountant Resume Example
Melissa J. Thornton
Boston, MA • (617) 555-8421 • mthornton@emailpro.net • linkedin.com/in/melissajthornton
Senior Financial Accountant with 8+ years of progressive experience in complex financial reporting, analysis, and regulatory compliance. Known for streamlining accounting processes that saved previous employer $178K annually through improved efficiency. Adept at managing month-end close processes while mentoring junior staff. CPA with strong technical expertise in US GAAP and SOX compliance.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Beacon Financial Services — Senior Financial Accountant
June 2019 – Present
- Lead month-end close process for 6 business units with combined annual revenue of $87M, reducing close timeline from 12 to 7 days
- Manage preparation of consolidated financial statements and footnote disclosures for quarterly and annual SEC filings
- Implemented new automated reconciliation tool that improved accuracy by 31% and saved 23 staff hours monthly
- Supervise team of 4 staff accountants, providing technical guidance and conducting performance reviews
- Partnered with IT to develop custom reporting dashboard that improved cross-departmental visibility into financial metrics
Preston Partners, LLP — Financial Accountant
August 2016 – May 2019
- Prepared monthly journal entries, account reconciliations, and variance analyses for $45M revenue division
- Collaborated with external auditors to provide supporting documentation, reducing audit findings by 74%
- Managed fixed asset accounting including acquisitions, disposals, and depreciation calculations for assets worth $12.3M
- Identified and resolved $340K of historical account discrepancies through detailed forensic analysis
Northstar Manufacturing, Inc. — Staff Accountant
July 2014 – July 2016
- Assisted with monthly close process, including preparation of journal entries and account reconciliations
- Supported development of cost accounting procedures that improved product margin reporting
- Managed accounts payable function for manufacturing division with 40+ vendors and monthly disbursements of ~$1.2M
- Created Excel macros that automated weekly financial reporting, saving 6+ hours per week
EDUCATION
Boston University, Questrom School of Business
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Accounting Concentration
Graduated May 2014, GPA: 3.8
CERTIFICATIONS
Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Massachusetts, 2016
Microsoft Excel Expert Certification, 2018
TECHNICAL SKILLS
- ERP Systems: SAP, Oracle Financials, NetSuite
- Advanced Excel (VLOOKUP, Pivot Tables, Macros)
- Financial Reporting: Hyperion, Tableau
- Accounting Software: QuickBooks, BlackLine
- Regulatory Frameworks: US GAAP, SOX, SEC reporting
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Active member of Massachusetts Society of CPAs (MSCPA)
Volunteer tax preparer for low-income families (VITA Program, 2017-Present)
Fluent in Spanish
How to Write a Financial Accountant Resume
Introduction
Landing that perfect Financial Accountant position starts with a resume that showcases your accounting expertise, attention to detail, and financial acumen. Your resume isn't just a list of past jobs—it's your marketing document that needs to speak the language of finance while highlighting your specific contributions. I've reviewed thousands of financial accounting resumes over the years, and the difference between getting an interview and being passed over often comes down to how effectively you communicate your value proposition to potential employers.
Resume Structure and Format
Keep your resume clean and organized—just like a well-maintained general ledger! Financial professionals are expected to be detail-oriented and precise, so your resume should reflect these qualities.
- Stick to 1-2 pages (one page for junior roles, two pages acceptable for those with 7+ years of experience)
- Use a conservative, professional font like Calibri or Arial in 10-12pt size
- Include clear section headings with consistent formatting
- Incorporate white space to make the document readable
- Save as a PDF to preserve formatting (unless specifically asked for a Word doc)
Profile/Summary Section
Your professional summary should be 3-5 lines that pack a punch. Think of it as your "elevator pitch" that gives hiring managers an immediate sense of your accounting expertise and career trajectory.
Pro Tip: Tailor your summary for each job application. A resume for a manufacturing company should emphasize different skills than one for a financial services firm. This small tweak—which takes about 4 minutes—can dramatically increase your interview chances.
Include your years of experience, industry specializations, key technical skills, and 1-2 standout achievements. For example: "Financial Accountant with 6 years of experience in manufacturing environments. Proficient in SAP and month-end close processes with proven success reducing close timeline from 8 days to 4.5 days while improving accuracy by 17%."
Professional Experience
This is where you'll spend most of your resume real estate. For each position:
- Include company name, your title, and dates (month/year)
- Add a brief one-line description of the company if not well-known
- Focus on accomplishments rather than duties (the "so what" factor)
- Quantify results whenever possible (reduced, improved, streamlined)
- Emphasize month-end close process improvements, reconciliation accuracy, audit preparation, and compliance wins
Strong bullet example: "Redesigned accounts payable workflow that cut processing time by 36% while catching $43,791 in duplicate payments during first quarter after implementation."
Education and Certifications
For Financial Accountants, credentials matter. List your:
- Degree(s) with institution name, location, graduation year, and major
- Professional certifications (CPA, CMA, CIMA) with dates obtained
- Relevant continuing education or specialized training
- Software proficiencies (QuickBooks, SAP, Oracle, Excel, etc.)
If you're a recent graduate, this section can appear before your work experience. Mid-career professionals should place education after work history.
Keywords and ATS Tips
Most companies use Applicant Tracking Systems to filter resumes before human eyes ever see them. To get past these digital gatekeepers:
- Study the job description and mirror key terminology
- Include specific accounting software mentioned in the posting
- Mention industry regulations you're familiar with (GAAP, IFRS, SOX)
- Avoid unusual section headings that ATS systems might not recognize
Industry-specific Terms
Pepper your resume with relevant accounting terminology that shows you speak the language:
- Month-end/quarter-end/year-end close procedures
- Balance sheet reconciliations
- Fixed asset management
- General ledger maintenance
- Financial statement preparation
- Variance analysis
- Journal entry preparation
- Accruals and deferrals
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Listing job duties without results (what did your work actually accomplish?)
- Typos or calculation errors (fatal in a finance role!)
- Vague descriptions that could apply to any accountant
- Outdated skills or software versions
- Including personal information like marital status or hobbies
Before/After Example
Before: "Responsible for month-end close and reconciliations."
After: "Led 5-day month-end close process for manufacturing division ($27M annual revenue), managing 3 staff accountants and reconciling 47 GL accounts with 99.7% accuracy rate."
The difference? The second version shows scale, leadership, and measurable performance—exactly what hiring managers are looking for in their next Financial Accountant.
Related Resume Examples
Soft skills for your Financial Accountant resume
- Cross-functional collaboration – able to work with stakeholders across finance, operations, and executive teams to solve complex accounting issues
- Detail-oriented communication – can translate technical accounting concepts for non-financial colleagues without talking down to them
- Deadline management – proven track record of meeting month-end close targets even during system transitions
- Team mentorship – regularly guides junior staff through complex reconciliations while maintaining productivity
- Process improvement mindset – spots inefficiencies in reporting workflows and suggests practical fixes
- Adaptive problem-solving – quickly adjusts to changing regulatory requirements and new accounting standards
Hard skills for your Financial Accountant resume
- Advanced Excel (macros, VLOOKUP, pivot tables, data modeling)
- ERP systems (Oracle Financials, SAP, NetSuite)
- Cost accounting and variance analysis
- Month-end close procedures and financial statement preparation
- Fixed asset management and depreciation calculation
- Tax compliance and reporting (corporate income, sales tax)
- Financial control implementation (SOX 404, COSO framework)
- Data visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI)
- SQL for financial database queries and reporting