Accounting Manager Resume Sample + Guide

Are you an account manager looking for new opportunities to further your career? Well, you will need a good resume and an effective cover letter to improve your chances.

So, in today’s article, we’re going to discuss how to write an accounting manager resume that works. We will also look into accounting manager resume examples and offer tips on how to best structure your application.

What do accounting managers do?

One of the key responsibilities of an accounting manager is to oversee the preparation of business activity reports, make financial predictions, and plan annual budgets. An accounting manager will also need to establish and enforce suitable accounting methods, policies, and principles.

Accounting managers can be employed in private businesses, private companies, and government organizations. There are also different names to the profession. Accounting managers can be called:

• Private accountants
• Corporate accountants
• Managerial accountants
• Industrial accountants

As of October 2022, the average salary for an accounting manager in the United States is around $117,149, according to Salary.com. The average salary range for professionals in this field is estimated to be from $91,889 to $145,008. Naturally, in each specific case, the salary depends on your qualifications, experience, additional skills, and more.

What are the skills required for an accounting manager?

There are several skills you will need as an account manager — and these are also the skills that you should try to emphasize in your application.

First and foremost, a good accounting manager must possess excellent analytical skills. They must be capable of interpreting financial data and making accurate recommendations based on their findings.

The responsibilities of accounting managers differ based on the industries they are employed in. For instance, forensic accountants investigate financial fraud while public accountants manage budgets and tax returns.

Depending on the niche you prefer to work in, you might need to obtain proper certification, education, and a specific skillset. However, in addition to accounting skills, accounting managers also need to be good leaders, communicators, and administrators.

If you already have what it takes, the next thing you need is a good resume and cover letter.

How to write an accounting manager resume

There are several essential components to any resume. Most resumes will include a header, professional profile, experience, education, and references. However, the first place you will need to start with is choosing a resume format. There are three main resume formats: chronological format, skill-based format, and combination format.

• In a chronological format, you list your professional experience in reverse chronological order, starting from the latest position. This format is suited for those who have substantial work experience. It gives them a chance to elaborate on their accomplishments in previously held positions and draw the hiring manager's attention to their expertise.
• In a skill-based format (also known as a functional resume), your resume is centered around your skillset and professional qualifications. It’s best suited for those who don’t yet have much professional experience — but do possess the needed personal qualities and skills needed for the job. Functional resumes are also a better choice for professions that require specific hard skills in industries like IT, medicine, science, etc.
• A combination format (also known as a hybrid resume), on the other hand, brings both of the above formats together and uses different elements from each of them.

Learn more about different ways to organize your resume in this article — Top Resume Formats: Tips and Examples of 3 Common Resumes.

Below, you will see one of our accounting manager resume samples. It’s written using a combination format.

Now, let’s explore how to write a similar resume to make sure your job hunt is successful.

Name and contact info

No matter what format you choose, your resume should start with your name and contact details. Here’s what you should include:

• Your full name and professional credentials
• The most reliable way to get in touch with you: email, phone, etc.
• A link to your professional social media or portfolio

Professional Profile

This is where you should give the gist of who you are professionally: mention your key skillset and areas of expertise.

Professional Designations

In this section, mention any titles, awards, and certifications you may have received that showcase your level of professional fitness. Try to keep this section of your resume as specific as possible. Moreover, highlight key designations that you believe to be of most importance in the job you are applying for.

Areas of Expertise

This section is dedicated to your professional competence. Here, you will need to include the aspects of your profession that you are most skilled at — and offer proof: achievements in previously held positions, certification, and more.

Professional Experience

This is where you list your relevant experience — typically, in reverse chronological order. Mention your position, the company you worked for, and your most notable accomplishments. If needed, you can also elaborate on your responsibilities in each of the positions held. This will illustrate your ability to handle different work situations, work as part of a team, highlight your leadership skills, and more.

Education

Here, include your highest degrees and educational background. Focus on the education and certificates that are most relevant to the job you are applying for. If you have received any additional professional certification, have attended conferences and other events in your field, this would be a good place to add this information.

Extra tips for writing a resume

There are several things to keep in mind when writing your resume:

• First, try to keep your resume short. Hiring managers tend to be quite busy and may not have the time to go over lengthy applications. Make their job easier by using a clean format for your resume. Have a clear structure, highlight the most important information, and keep your resume to one page.
• Be as specific as you can. One way to keep your resume concise is to avoid any generalities or vague information. When describing your skills, achievements, and responsibilities, only mention key facts, numbers, certification, references, etc. Highlight the most important information via bullet points or by using a bold font.
• Make your resume ATS-friendly. A lot of large companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (or ATS) to sort through the many applications they receive. Applicant Tracking Systems scan resumes based on the job requirements outlined by HR professionals. If very few matches between the job description and the resume are found, such a resume may be discarded and not even make it to the hiring manager’s desk. To make sure your resume is ATS-friendly, try to use the same basic keywords as used in the job description.
• Add references. References can be a powerful factor and a great way for hiring managers to evaluate your potential. Ask your previous employers to write reference letters and mention in your resume that you have them available upon request. If you don’t yet have any work experience, you can include references from your professors at the university or internship supervisors.
• Be strategic. Your resume shouldn’t be a collection of all your work history and include all and everything that you have experienced in your career. Go over the job description you are responding to one more time and pick out the most important requirements. Go on to customize your resume based on these requirements: highlight your most relevant skills and experience and remove anything that doesn’t add any value to your application.
• Add a powerful cover letter. To complete your application, you will need a strong cover letter that explains why you are the best person for the job. You will need to explain the motivation behind your application and highlight your most valued skills and expertise. Learn how to write a good cover letter in our Accounting Manager Cover Letter Sample + Guide.

We hope that you have found some useful tips above — and that you are now more confident about drafting your application. However, we have more advice to share — learn more about how to write a resume.

HR practitioner

Kristina Phelps

Kristina Phelps is an HR specialist who loves sharing her experience. Her two biggest passions are helping people find a perfect workplace and writing about all things HR. Kristina grew up in Boston, MA. She likes big dogs and long walks. She also helps animal shelters find new owners for cats and dogs.