A good staff accountant resume focuses on your relevant skills, like cost reduction, data analysis, or regulatory compliance. Give examples of your past success as a staff accountant or in similar roles, and show your knowledge base by citing any finance training or certificate programs you’ve done. This guide provides expert tips to help you create a results-driven resume showing your best staff accountant qualifications.
Key takeaways:
- Brainstorm details about your work history on a separate document or sheet of paper. Then, identify the most relevant ones to feature in your experience section — this helps you focus your resume so it positions you for the staff accountant role.
- Use bullet points to display your achievements. Start each bullet point with a strong verb like “Created,” “Organized,” or “Enhanced.”
- Spell out the results of your past work as a staff accountant. Describe how your efforts helped the wider organization achieve its goals or raise the bottom line.
Most Popular Staff Accountant Resumes
Staff Accountant Resume Example

Why this staff accountant resume example is strong:
Taylor’s resume emphasizes measurable results and shows a clear progression in roles, which reassures employers about reliability and growth. Including high-value certifications like CPA, CMA, and CIA highlights technical credibility. Learn more about presenting your credentials effectively.
Entry-Level Staff Accountant Resume Example

Why this entry-level staff accountant resume example is strong:
Alex quickly transitions from academic success to practical application in a high-profile firm. Including an internship shows initiative and hands-on experience. Early quantifiable results (reducing errors by 10%) provide evidence of impact. See our tips on early-career resumes.
Junior Staff Accountant Resume Example

Why this junior staff accountant resume example is strong:
Jordan’s resume highlights consistent growth, from clerical support to junior-level accounting responsibilities. The bullet points show tangible contributions, like error reduction. Learn to highlight these kinds of measurable results with resume action words.
Senior Staff Accountant Resume Example

Why this senior staff accountant resume example is strong:
Morgan’s resume demonstrates career progression and leadership while showcasing quantifiable improvements, like a 20% reduction in reporting time. Highlighting mentorship of junior staff adds extra value. For advice on showcasing leadership on your resume, see leadership skills for resume with examples.
Staff Tax Accountant Resume Example

Why this staff tax accountant resume example is strong:
Casey’s resume clearly highlights expertise in tax preparation and process improvement. Quantifying efficiency improvements demonstrates value. For more tips on structuring a tax-focused resume, review resume job description.
Audit Staff Accountant Resume Example

Why this audit staff accountant resume example is strong:
Jamie’s resume is strong because it balances technical skills with demonstrated experience in regulatory compliance and internal controls. Including risk assessment expertise appeals to employers. See how to position similar skills with technical skills in an IT resume.
Bank Staff Accountant Resume Example

Why this bank staff accountant resume example is strong:
Cameron’s resume highlights specialized banking experience and regulatory knowledge, which are essential in this industry. Listing the CBA credential reinforces credibility. For more formatting tips, see best looking resumes.
CPA Staff Accountant Resume Example

Why this CPA staff accountant resume example is strong:
Drew’s resume leverages the CPA credential and quantifiable results like reducing close time by 25%, demonstrating high-impact contributions. Check out how to build a professional resume for tips on presenting certifications.
Hotel Staff Accountant Resume Example

Why this hotel staff accountant resume example is strong:
Riley’s resume emphasizes industry-specific achievements, such as multi-property revenue reconciliation and vendor management. For more resume structuring advice, see how to tailor a resume to job description.
Retail Staff Accountant Resume Example

Why this retail staff accountant resume example is strong:
Pat’s resume is effective because it highlights inventory expertise and quantifiable contributions, like reducing audit adjustments and identifying overbilling. Learn to add similar impact statements by using resume key words.
Nonprofit Staff Accountant Resume Example

Why this nonprofit staff accountant resume example is strong:
Taylor’s resume clearly aligns with nonprofit-specific needs like grant compliance and donor fund management. Specialized credentials like CNAP enhance credibility. For more details on aligning credentials to roles, see resume personal statement examples.
Manufacturing Staff Accountant Resume Example

Why this manufacturing staff accountant resume example is strong:
Alex’s resume shines because it emphasizes industry-specific skills, such as WIP accounting and variance reduction, paired with quantifiable results. For advice on formatting this kind of role-specific resume, see how to make a resume.
Construction Staff Accountant Resume Example

Why this construction staff accountant resume example is strong:
Jordan’s resume focuses on construction-specific accounting functions like WIP reporting and job cost management, showing tangible cost-saving results. For tips on aligning your resume with niche industries, see job title examples for your resume.
Government Staff Accountant Resume Example

Why this government staff accountant resume example is strong:
Morgan’s resume demonstrates expertise in public sector accounting, emphasizing compliance and audits, two high-value areas for government roles. To make your resume even more compelling, learn how to list volunteer work experience on a resume.
Health Care Staff Accountant Resume Example

Why this health care staff accountant resume example is strong:
Casey’s resume focuses on health care-specific duties, including patient revenue and compliance, which signals immediate readiness for medical finance roles. For additional optimization tips, explore skills to put on your resume.
Education Staff Accountant Resume Example

Why this education staff accountant resume example is strong:
Jamie’s resume demonstrates specialized experience in school and grant accounting, supported by relevant certifications. Including quantifiable district budgets shows the scale of responsibility. Learn to structure similar examples using how to make a resume with no experience.
Real Estate Staff Accountant Resume Example

Why this real estate staff accountant resume example is strong:
Cameron’s resume emphasizes industry-specific experience like tenant billing and property financials, appealing to real estate employers. The quantifiable results show tangible improvements. Learn more about emphasizing results at work experience on a resume.
Insurance Staff Accountant Resume Example

Why this insurance staff accountant resume example is strong:
Drew’s resume clearly aligns with insurance industry needs, highlighting NAIC compliance and zero audit findings. To boost your own resume credibility, explore how to write a convincing resume profile.
Entertainment Staff Accountant Resume Example

Why this entertainment staff accountant resume example is strong:
Riley’s resume showcases niche industry knowledge and includes quantifiable project budgets, helping employers see the scope of responsibilities. For related formatting guidance, see resume outline examples.
International Staff Accountant Resume Example

Why this international staff accountant resume example is strong:
Pat’s resume is compelling because it demonstrates expertise in multinational accounting, IFRS and GAAP compliance, and foreign currency management. Quantifiable achievements like reducing FX losses by 10% highlight real impact. Learn how to showcase global experience with a transferable skills resume.
Staff Accountant Text-Only Resume Examples and Templates
How To Write a Staff Accountant Resume
Using a template can help you write an effective staff accountant resume. Your staff accountant resume should usually include these sections:
- Contact information
- Profile
- Key skills
- Professional experience
- Education and certifications
Before starting work on your resume, jot down your preferences for your target job duties, industry, or company size. These notes will help you consider and emphasize your best career details as you develop each section.
1. Share your contact information
Give your full name, phone number, email address, location, and links to any online professional profiles. Ensure your contact information is current so employers can reach you for an interview.
Example
Your Name
(123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | City, State Abbreviation Zip Code | LinkedIn
2. Write a brief summary of your staff accountant qualifications
Impress hiring managers at the top of your resume by giving the three to five primary reasons you can excel as their next staff accountant. These key selling points may include your:
- Years of related work experience
- Main strengths or specialties in accounting
- Work style or approach (efficient, diligent, collaborative…)
- College degree(s) or certifications in your field
Example
Staff accountant with a strong education and experience in top accounting firms such as Ernst & Young and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Skilled at maintaining financial reports, preparing budgets, and conducting financial analysis and audits.
3. Outline your staff accountant experience in a compelling list
View the experience section as a chance to give examples of your work and success in roles similar to the staff accountant position you’re after. For each job in your recent work history, brainstorm your duties and achievements on a separate document or sheet of paper. Then, choose the most relevant details to feature as bullet points in this section.
Example
Senior Staff Accountant, Ernst & Young (EY), Philadelphia, PA | January 2021 to present
- Prepare and present detailed monthly financial reports on business performance, financial trends, and forecasts
- Help develop and implement annual budgets, closely monitoring performance against budget and providing variance analysis to facilitate decision-making
- Perform comprehensive financial analysis and audits, pinpointing areas of improvement and ensuring compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and other financial regulations
Resume writer’s tip: Quantify your experience
Use relevant performance data and metrics to show the results you’ve achieved as a staff accountant when possible. Hard numbers put your work in context and give recruiters a better sense of your impact.
Do
- "Conduct regular internal audits to find and rectify discrepancies, resulting in a 15% decrease in financial inconsistencies"
Don’t
- "Conduct regular internal audits to find and rectify discrepancies, resulting in a decrease in financial inconsistencies"
Resume writer’s tip: Tailor your resume to each application
For each job posting you respond to, note any details given about the hiring organization’s size, industry, customer base, or products and services. How do these areas compare to your recent experience? You can make a stronger first impression on the hiring manager by citing these similarities in your profile.
For instance, say the company is in manufacturing. You could enhance your profile by changing your first line from “Accountant with seven years of experience” to “Accountant with seven years of experience, including three years in the manufacturing sector.”
What if you don’t have experience as a staff accountant?
As long as the job posting doesn’t strictly require it, you don’t need direct work experience to write an effective resume. The trick is focusing on your transferable skills, which can come from various areas such as your recent jobs, internships, volunteer positions, or college courses. By detailing these areas in full on your resume, you can ensure it helps you get interviews for your target accounting job.
4. List any education and certifications relevant to staff accountant
With the education and certifications sections, you can show you have strong finance and accounting knowledge. Cite any credentials you’ve earned that speak to your abilities as a staff accountant. The following templates help you organize this information on your resume (note, years are optional).
Education
Template:
[Degree Name], [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]
[Relevant coursework or honors]
Example:
Master of Science in Accounting, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA | 2017
Certifications
Template:
[Certification Name], [Awarding Organization] | [Completion Year]
Example:
Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Institute of Internal Auditors
5. List key staff accountant skills and proficiencies
A separate skills section lets you quickly display how you can add value to an organization. Below, you’ll find some key terms and skills to consider for this section:
Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
---|---|
Budget preparation | Business data gathering and analysis |
Cost reduction and elimination | Cross-functional collaboration |
Financial analysis and reporting | GAAP |
Internal and external audits | Junior staff leadership |
Regulatory compliance | Tax codes and regulations |
Tax preparation |
Resume writer’s tip: Use common action verbs
One of the best ways to enhance your resume is by starting each bullet point with a strong action verb. Dynamic verbs help you keep the hiring manager’s attention and show the varied nature of your experience. The following list can help you find a good mix of action verbs for your staff accountant resume:
Action Verbs | |
---|---|
Advised | Clarified |
Created | Decreased |
Enhanced | Fostered |
Generated | Grew |
Improved | Increased |
Introduced | Lowered |
Pinpointed | Prevented |
Ranked | Reduced |
Reported | Saved |
Streamlined | Updated |
Won |
How To Pick the Best Staff Accountant Resume Template
A resume is a simple tool for professional communication and should be formatted accordingly. Choose a clear and straightforward template, and avoid any template with elaborate graphics or various colors and font styles. A simple resume design helps a hiring manager scan for relevant information. It also helps you tailor the document to each job application and update your work history.
Frequently Asked Questions: Staff Accountant Resume Examples and Advice
First, look closely at the job post text and note any repeated or emphasized words. Compare these phrases to the language you're using in your resume, particularly the profile and key skills sections. Then, seek ways to align your resume language with the job posting while not copying phrases or misstating your background.
For example, if the organization seeks someone collaborative, call out that aspect of your experience in your profile. Or say the company has many non-English speaking customers. Cite your foreign language skills in your profile and as a separate section farther down the document. With adjustments like these, you can make your resume more relevant to each opportunity.
The key difference between a Staff Accountant CV and a Staff Accountant resume example is the level of detail. A CV is typically more comprehensive, listing all relevant experience and achievements, whereas a resume example is more concise, focusing only on the most relevant information for a particular job. The CV can also include academic background and research work, while a resume is usually more focused on professional experience and key accomplishments.
Most staff accountants should use the combination (or hybrid) format. True to its name, this format combines two important features of other resume formats: the chronological format's experience section and the functional format's profile section. (The resume examples on this page all use combination format.)
A combination resume offers the best of both worlds by fusing these features. The experience section lets you outline your recent work history - essential information for most employers. At the same time, the profile section enables you to display your career highlights at the top, regardless if they're from that work history or another part of your background.
As a result, you can present yourself clearly and strategically. This format gives hiring managers the best view of your experience and relevant strengths so they can decide whether to call you for an interview.
Include a cover letter with your resume
A good cover letter can enhance your job application. To write a standout letter, get specific. Tell the hiring manager why you’re interested in their organization and the staff accountant role they hope to fill.
Check Out Related Examples
Resume Templates offers free, HR approved resume templates to help you create a professional resume in minutes. Choose from several template options and even pre-populate a resume from your profile.