Accountant CV Example & Template (2026)

Updated May 2026 · 6 min read

An accountant CV should signal accuracy, qualifications, and the financial impact you delivered. State your qualification (ACA/ACCA/CIMA) early and quantify savings and efficiencies.

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Key skills employers look for

Financial reportingManagement accountsTax / VATReconciliationsBudgeting & forecastingExcel / ERP

List the ones that appear in the actual job description first — recruiters and ATS software both scan for an exact match.

ATS keywords to include

Applicant Tracking Systems rank you on keyword overlap with the posting. Common accountant keywords:

ACCAACACIMAreconciliationmonth-endVATforecastingIFRS / GAAP

Example bullet points: weak → strong

✗ "Prepared the monthly accounts."

✓ "Cut month-end close from 10 to 4 days by automating reconciliations, freeing 6 days/month for analysis."

✗ "Handled tax returns."

✓ "Identified £85k in recoverable VAT and R&D relief across two financial years."

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Common mistakes to avoid

Not stating your qualification (ACA/ACCA/CIMA) or progress toward it
Listing tasks without cost savings or efficiency gains
Omitting the ERP/accounting software the job names (Xero, SAP, NetSuite)
Vague "assisted with" lines instead of owned outcomes

Frequently asked questions

Where do I list my ACCA/ACA/CIMA status?

In your summary and a qualifications section near the top — it is a primary ATS keyword and recruiter filter.

Which accounting software should I list?

The ones in the job spec (Xero, QuickBooks, SAP, NetSuite) plus advanced Excel.

How do I quantify accounting impact?

Use time saved at close, cost reductions, recovered tax, and forecast accuracy.