If you're a Senior Accountant preparing a resume that gets interviews, this guide gives a focused, practical template and concrete advice to help your application rise above automated filters and hiring managers' expectations.

Key Elements to Include in a Senior Accountant Resume

A strong Senior Accountant resume balances clear contact details, a concise professional summary, measurable work history that demonstrates technical and leadership impact, solid education and certifications, and a targeted skills section aligned to the job description.

The components below cover the must-have resume facts and how to present them so recruiters quickly see your value, technical competence, and readiness for senior responsibilities.

Contact Information

Include full name, phone number, professional email, LinkedIn URL, and city/state. Ensure your email is professional and your LinkedIn headline matches your target title.

Professional Summary That Stands Out

Write 2–3 sentences that summarize your experience level, core accounting strengths, and a quantified achievement or focus area. Tailor this to the role by referencing industry, ERP systems, or team size when relevant.

Work History Highlights

List roles in reverse-chronological order with company name, location, job title, and dates. Use 3–6 bullets per role focusing on accomplishments with metrics (e.g., reduced close time by X days, managed $Y in budgets, led Z-person team).

Education Background

Include degree(s), institution(s), graduation year (optional for experienced candidates), and relevant honors or coursework. Note ongoing education like continuing professional development that demonstrates up-to-date skills.

Key Skills to Showcase

Present a concise, scannable skills list grouped by technical accounting (GAAP, IFRS), systems (NetSuite, Oracle, QuickBooks), and soft skills (leadership, cross-functional collaboration). Match keywords from the job posting to pass ATS screening.

Senior Accountant Resume Template Example

Below is a realistic, professional, web-friendly resume template structured for Senior Accountant jobseekers to adapt and use when applying to mid-to-senior level roles.

Contact Information Basics

[Name]

[Phone Number]

[Email]

[LinkedIn]

[City, State]

Professional Summary That Stands Out

Senior Accountant with 8+ years of experience in corporate accounting and financial reporting, skilled in month-end close, financial statement preparation, and process improvement.

Proven track record of reducing close cycle by 30% and improving forecasting accuracy through automation and cross-functional collaboration. Experienced with ERP implementations and supervising small accounting teams.

Work History Highlights

Senior Accountant — Acme Corporation, City, State — 2019–Present

- Managed month-end close for a $120M revenue division, reducing close time from 10 to 7 days through process standardization and reconciliations automation.

- Prepared consolidated GAAP financial statements and presented monthly variance analysis to senior leadership, supporting strategic decisions that improved margins by 2%.

- Led a 3-person accounting team, oversaw account reconciliations, and mentored junior staff on best practices and SOX-compliant controls.

Staff Accountant — Beta Industries, City, State — 2015–2019

- Performed account reconciliations, managed fixed assets schedule, and supported annual external audits with zero significant adjustments reported.

- Implemented Excel-based templates that improved reporting efficiency and reduced errors during financial close processes.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Accounting — State University — 2014

Relevant coursework: Advanced Financial Accounting, Auditing, Taxation

Key Skills

- Financial Reporting & Analysis

- Month-End Close & Reconciliations

- GAAP & SOX Compliance

- ERP Systems: NetSuite, Oracle, QuickBooks

- Advanced Excel: Power Query, PivotTables

- Team Leadership & Process Improvement

Certifications

- CPA (Certified Public Accountant) — Active

- Certificate in IFRS (if applicable)

- Continuing Professional Education: X hours/year in accounting and tax updates

Tips for Writing Senior Accountant Resume

• Lead with quantifiable achievements: Emphasize metrics such as reduced close time, audit findings eliminated, or budgets managed to demonstrate impact.
• Mirror job posting keywords: Use exact terminology from the listing (e.g., "GAAP," "SOX," "ERP") to pass Applicant Tracking Systems.
• Keep formatting clear and scannable: Use consistent bullet points, short sentences, and a single readable font so hiring managers can skim easily.
• Highlight systems and technical skills near the top: Recruiters often screen for specific ERPs or Excel capabilities—make these obvious.
• Customize your summary and top bullets per application: Spend time tailoring the first 6 lines of your resume for the role to increase interview invites.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How long should a Senior Accountant resume be?  
  One page is preferred for up to 10 years of experience; two pages are acceptable for extensive leadership experience or multiple relevant roles.
• Should I include a photo or personal details like age?  
  Do not include a photo, age, marital status, or other personal data. Focus on professional contact details and qualifications.
• How do I show promotions or progressive responsibility?  
  List the company once and show each title with dates; use bullets to highlight increasing scope, team size managed, or complex projects led.
• Is it necessary to include certifications like CPA on the resume?  
  Yes, place active certifications prominently near the top or in a dedicated section; they are crucial credentials for accounting roles.
• What format passes ATS and appeals to hiring managers?  
  A simple, clean chronological format with clear section headers, keyword-rich bullets, and standard fonts works best for both ATS and humans.

Conclusion

Use the template and elements above to build a Senior Accountant resume that communicates measurable impact, technical competence, and leadership readiness.

Start by tailoring the professional summary and top bullets to the specific role, add quantifiable achievements, and ensure your skills and certifications match the job posting to improve your chances of landing interviews.