The Latest Bookkeeper Resume Templates & Examples That Get You Hired This Year

Bookkeepers are responsible for recording and maintaining financial transactions for businesses or individuals. They may work independently or as part of an accounting team. Bookkeepers are different from accounting clerks, who usually perform more routine tasks such as data entry, invoicing, and payroll processing. Bookkeepers, on the other hand, are expected to have more analytical skills, knowledge of accounting principles, and ability to prepare financial reports.

If you are looking for a bookkeeper position, you need to have a resume that showcases your skills, experience, and achievements in this field. A bookkeeper's resume should highlight your attention to detail, accuracy, and proficiency in using various accounting software and tools. In this article, we will guide you through the steps of writing a bookkeeper resume, as well as tips for effectively optimizing your resume during the application process.

How to Write a Bookkeeper Resume?

In this section, we will cover the main components of a bookkeeper's resume and explain what information you should write for each section.

Contact Info

The contact info section is where you provide your personal details, such as your full name, professional email address, and an updated phone number. This section is important because it allows potential employers to reach out to you for interviews or further inquiries. You should also include relevant social media profiles, such as LinkedIn, to showcase your professional online presence and network. Make sure that the information you provide is accurate, up-to-date, and easily accessible.

Career Objectives

The career objectives section is where you state your professional goals and aspirations, and how they align with the position you are applying for. This section is optional, but it can help you capture the hiring manager's attention and show them why you are a good fit for the role. A good career objective should be concise, specific, and tailored to the job description. It should also highlight your skills, experience, and value proposition.

Resume Summary / Resume Headlines

When writing, a resume summary or resume headline is a brief statement that summarizes your main qualifications and achievements as a bookkeeper. It is usually placed at the top of your resume, below your contact info, and serves as an introduction to your resume. A resume summary or headline should be catchy, relevant, and impactful, and should highlight your most impressive or unique selling points.

Example of resume summary and headline (1) for bookkeepers:

Work Experience

The work experience section is where you list your previous or current jobs related to bookkeeping and describe your responsibilities and achievements in each role. This section is the most important part of your resume, as it demonstrates your relevant skills and experience and shows how you have contributed to the success of your previous employers or clients. To write an effective work experience section, you should:

• Provide a chronological list of your work history, starting with the most recent position. If you lack experience, consider using the functional resume format to highlight your skills instead of your work history.
• Focus on roles directly related to bookkeeping, and emphasize your responsibilities and achievements that match the job requirements. If you have other unrelated jobs, you can either omit them or briefly mention them without going into detail.
• Use bullet points to highlight your key contributions in each role, and start each bullet point with an action verb that showcases your skills and abilities. For example, use verbs like “recorded,” “reconciled,” “prepared,” “analyzed,” “maintained”, etc.
• Tailor your resume to the specific role and company you are applying for, and use keywords and phrases from the job description to show that you are a suitable candidate.
• Quantify your results and achievements whenever possible, using numbers, percentages, or dollar amounts. This will help you to show the impact and value of your work and make your resume more impressive and credible.

Work experience example:

Skills

The skills section is where you list the relevant hard and soft skills that make you a qualified bookkeeper when writing a resume. This section is also important, as it shows your potential employers or clients what you can do and how you can add value to their organization. 

Example of hard and soft skills for bookkeepers

To write an effective skills section, you should:

• Include both hard skills and soft skills that are relevant to bookkeeping. Hard skills are technical or specialized skills that are related to your field, such as accounting software, accounting principles, financial reporting, etc. Soft skills are interpersonal or transferable skills that are related to your personality, such as communication, organization, problem-solving, etc.
• Prioritize the most important and relevant skills that match the job requirements, and avoid listing too many or irrelevant skills that may dilute your resume.
• Use bullet points to list your skills, and group them into categories for better readability and organization. For example, you can group your skills into “Accounting Software”, “Accounting Skills”, and “Soft Skills”.
• Provide evidence or examples of your skills in your work experience section, and quantify them if possible. This will help you to demonstrate your proficiency and level of expertise in each skill.

How to list your skills on a resume effectively?

• Research the job description and the company, and identify the skills that they are looking for in a bookkeeper. Use relevant keywords and phrases from the job description to align your skills with their requirements.
• Assess your own skills and abilities, and be honest and realistic about your level of proficiency. Do not exaggerate or lie about your skills, as this may backfire during the interview or the job performance.
• Customize your skills section for each job application, and highlight the skills that are most relevant and important for the specific role and company. Do not use a generic or one-size-fits-all skills

Education

The main purpose of education is to showcase your relevant academic qualifications and achievements that demonstrate your knowledge and skills in bookkeeping. In most cases, academic background is especially important for freshers who have little work experience to highlight. It can show your potential employers that you have the necessary education and training to perform the bookkeeping tasks.

This section is only recommended in the early stage of your career. If you have more than 10 years of experience, it might be best to opt-out, unless you have a Master’s degree, or PhD, or if you are applying for academic roles. This is because your work experience and accomplishments will be more relevant and impressive than your education.

Other sections

Awards: This section can help you stand out from other candidates by highlighting your recognition and achievements in the bookkeeping field. For example:

Certifications: This section can show your employers that you have the credentials and qualifications to perform the bookkeeping tasks. You can include any certifications, licenses, or memberships that you have obtained or are pursuing in the bookkeeping field. You should mention the name of the certification, the organization that issued it, and the date of completion or expiration.

Projects: The projects can demonstrate your practical skills and experience in bookkeeping. You can include any projects, assignments, or case studies that you have completed or are working on in the bookkeeping field. For example:

Tips for Writing a Bookkeeper Resume

Here are some tips to help you write a great bookkeeper resume:

Customize your resume to meet Applicant Tracking System (ATS)

One of the most important tips for writing a bookkeeper resume is to customize it for each job application. You should carefully read the job description and pinpoint the keywords and phrases that outline the skills, experience, and qualifications sought by the employer. 

You should then use these keywords and phrases throughout your resume, especially in your resume summary, work experience, and skills sections. This will help you demonstrate your fit for the position and increase your chances of passing the applicant tracking system (ATS), which is a software that scans resumes for relevant keywords and filters out unqualified candidates.

Choose the right resume format

The resume format is the way you organize and present your information on your resume. Chronological, functional, and combination are main types of resume format that you can consider when writing a bookkeeper resumes.

1. A chronological resume format is suitable for bookkeepers who have a steady and consistent work history.
2. A functional resume is suitable for bookkeepers who have gaps in their employment or are changing careers, which focuses on your skills and achievements.
3. A combination resume combines elements of both chronological and functional resumes, highlighting both your skills and your work experience. 

Quantify your results and achievements

Another tip for writing a bookkeeper resume is to quantify your results and achievements whenever possible. This means using numbers, percentages, or other metrics to show the impact and value of your work as a bookkeeper. 

For example, instead of saying “Reconciled bank statements with financial records”, you could say “Reconciled bank statements with financial records for 50+ accounts on a monthly basis”. This will help you showcase your skills and abilities, and make your resume more specific and impressive.

Resume Examples

To give you some inspiration, here are three resume examples for bookkeepers in different position levels. You can take them as a reference when writing bookkeeper resumes.

Junior/Entry-Level Bookkeeper Resume Example

Senior-Level/Manager Bookkeeper Resume Example

Freelance Bookkeeper Resume Example