15+ Senior Accountant Resume Examples, Templates & Design

To land a senior accountant job, you need to have analytical, critical, communication, and meticulous skills. Companies typically require 2-3 years of experience as a staff accountant to advance to the senior level.

Your senior accountant resume is your fighting tool to prove that you are qualified for the position. Once you have successfully filled the senior accountant position, your chances of moving up to a higher level will also be wide open.

According to data from ACCA Global, professional accountants are expected to play an important role in the future. Bright prospects with opportunities to enter many industries are the strengths of accountants. In addition, according to Robert Half's website, the demand for accountants will remain high despite the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

Cake can help you create an accountant resume. Not only do we provide senior accountant resume examples and templates, but we also include career paths and salary estimates for this profession.

What Are a Senior Accountant's Responsibilities?

Before writing a resume for a senior accountant, you must understand the responsibilities that come with the job that you are applying for. This will help you tailor your resume so that it emphasizes skills and experiences required for the role.

According to The Human Capital Hub, the responsibilities of a senior accountant are as follows:

• Summarize and report on financial status and transactions by collecting and verifying financial information.
• Compile and assess liability accounts, asset lists, and capital with all available information and documents.
• Assist in preparing accurate financial statements for the annual audit.
• Monitor and maintain the audit system, while socializing policies and procedures to all finance department staff.
• Assist in the training of junior accountants and other personnel requiring assistance.
• Implement plans to monitor and control the company's cash flow.

Senior Accountant Resume: Seven Important Sections

The standardized resume format, which is nearly universal across countries, helps streamline the hiring process. In every resume, there are 7 key sections that must be present for recruiters and users to understand the candidate's strengths. The first section is, of course, personal information.

1. Personal Information

Properly including personal information is crucial for both your senior accountant resume header and cover letter. This data is used by recruiters to get to know you better and to better identify your application.

However, not all personal information should be included. It is your right to privacy and should not be shared carelessly, especially if you have not been formally offered a position. In the digital age, it is important to be aware of the possibility of data leaks that could harm you.

2. Senior Accountant Resume Summary

Why is it important to write a resume summary? Sometimes recruiters can't read the entire resume. If this is not possible, they will look at your summary to see if you are a good fit for the company. To ensure your qualifications are evident, your resume summary should highlight your relevant work experience, quantifiable achievements, and the appropriate industry keywords.

To avoid overdoing it, keep your summary to no more than 4 sentences and 5 lines. Make sure that all the important information is included in your resume summary.

3. Career Objective/Resume Objective

Resume objective is used when you want to clearly state your career goals. This section is usually only 1 or 2 sentences long. This objective statement can be used to strengthen your resume summary.

When is it appropriate to use a resume objective? You can use a resume objective when you are a fresh graduate or want to change jobs, or even want to move up the corporate ladder.

4. Work Experience

Now we come to the most important part of the Senior Accountant resume. Work experience is a summary of your accomplishments, contributions, skills, and experience at previous companies. Hiring managers base their assessment on the work experience section.

Since senior accountant is not an entry-level position, you must have sufficient experience. Here are some tips for writing a strong work experience section:

• Use bullet points to keep your sentences clean, concise, and easy to read.
• Make your accomplishments measurable with numbers and percentages. This will make it easier for hiring managers to evaluate you.
• Don't forget to include details such as company name, length of employment, and position.
• Want your posts to read more strongly? Use action verbs to highlight your work experience. Some examples of action verbs are: increased, reduced, developed, decreased, created, built, etc.
• Include only the work experience that is most relevant to the position you are applying for.
• The last tip is to make sure there are no typos or misinformation in the work experience section.

5. Senior Accountant Skills Required

Senior accountant salaries are also calculated based on what skills you have. The more advanced the expertise, the more likely the company will be willing to offer a higher-than-average salary.

Soft skills (non-technical skills) emphasize your interpersonal skills in dealing with colleagues, supervisors, and clients. Mastering a range of soft skills can significantly improve your overall work efficiency and productivity as a senior accountant. With these skills, you can reduce misunderstandings that can hinder your performance.

In contrast, hard skills refer to your technical abilities and expertise. A senior accountant will also need to master financial sciences and relevant knowledge to support his or her work.

6. Education

Accountant roles are one of the few jobs that require candidates to have a specialized educational history. Companies require job seekers who want to apply to have a degree in accounting, finance, business, or taxation. 

Therefore, having an educational history on your senior accountant resume is crucial.

While a bachelor's degree in a relevant field is the minimum requirement, having a master's degree or even a Ph.D. can further strengthen your qualifications and appeal to potential employers. But even if you don't, you can still include your education history on your senior accountant resume.

7. Other Information

Languages

Language can always help you, even in your career. Language skills are an asset that many employers look for. While English has become the global lingua franca in business, many companies - even local ones - also value employees with skills in additional foreign languages.

Mastering foreign languages can open up a world of opportunities for senior accountants. In fact, proficiency in multiple languages will give you a distinct advantage when applying for positions, as it will allow you to work in a variety of international environments. 

As well as making you more attractive to employers, language skills will enable you to work seamlessly with clients, partners, and colleagues around the world. This can significantly expand the pool of senior Accountant jobs available to you, both locally and globally.

Certificates and Licenses

However, there are some specialized accounting certificates that, while issued by non-governmental organizations, are widely recognized by government agencies and have international validity.

Licenses for accounting practices are issued and regulated by government agencies, such as state boards of accountancy.

How to Write a Senior Accountant Resume

Research the company you are applying to

Thorough research on a company can reveal crucial insights that will inform your decision to apply for a senior accountant role. Research helps you estimate the salary offered, what benefits you will receive, whether the company helps its employees grow, what kind of career path is offered, and more.

The desire to do research also shows that you are serious about obtaining a senior accountant position. In the eyes of HR, this is a plus. It will also make it easier for you to write your senior accountant resume because you know what kind of qualifications the company is looking for. 

An easy way to do research is to thoroughly review the company's website, social media accounts, and any employee reviews or testimonials available online. You can also search for reviews from current and former employees by entering the right keywords

Understand the difference between a resume and a CV

Resumes and CVs serve different functions. In the world of work, resumes are more commonly used. However, companies may still specifically request that applicants submit a resume.

A resume is a collection of information about your professional activities related to your work experience. Usually, a resume consists of no more than 3 sheets.

Since it is specifically for a job search, it should only include experience that is relevant to the position you are applying for. If you are applying for a senior accountant position, your resume should only include information related to accounting and finance.

On the other hand, a Curriculum Vitae (CV) includes all of your work experience and activities, whether or not the information is related.

In contrast, CVs are more commonly used in academic and research-oriented contexts, such as when applying for scholarships, research positions, or funding. The number of pages in a CV can be unlimited.

Choose the right resume format

• Chronological: The chronological resume is the most common format used by job seekers. This format lists a candidate's work history in reverse chronological order, with the most recent experience first. This format helps the hiring manager easily identify how the candidate's most recent and relevant work experience aligns with the requirements of the open position. This type of resume is suitable for those who have a linear work history from the beginning.
• Functional: The functional format is not often used when writing a senior accountant resume. This is because this format is intended for entry-level candidates with minimal experience. The functional format allows recent graduates to highlight their soft and hard skills rather than their work experience.
• Combination: The last type is the combination, which is a mix of chronological and functional resumes. This format is also not recommended for senior accountant resumes, as it is more often used for candidates with diverse work experience (e.g. freelancers). The combination resume format emphasizes a list of skills that are then backed up with work experience that matches those skills. Once you've decided on the most suitable resume format, be sure to also pay close attention to elements like font selection, font size, and layout to create a professional, visually appealing document. You can read more about this here.

Tailor your senior accountant resume by using appropriate keywords

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) select the right candidates based on the keywords entered by the user. Therefore, keyword placement is important in the senior accountant resume.

You can find the right keywords in the job description and requirements or minimum qualifications section of the job posting. Then be sure to strategically incorporate those keywords into the key sections of your resume, such as the summary, work experience, and cover letter.

Because each company has different policies and candidate needs, you will likely need to create more than one resume.

For example, Company A is specifically looking for a senior accountant, while Company B is looking for a senior accounting consultant. Although both have similar job descriptions, the use of different terms can affect the selection process.

From the example above, you can find some keywords such as Bachelor's degree in accounting, senior accountant, auditor, tax reports, and financial statements.

Senior Accountant Resume Templates and Examples

Senior Accountant Resume Example 1

Senior Accountant Resume Example 2

Senior Accountant Resume Example 3

How to Write Senior Accountant Cover Letter (Plus Sample)

We know that creating a cover is not easy. You have to find the right words to make sure that all of your skills and experience come across in an impressive way. Of course, some of you may feel that writing a cover letter is a waste of time. 

However, hiring managers are often happy to spend a few seconds or minutes reading your senior accountant resume. It's because a cover letter is a place for information that can't be included in a resume. Hiring managers can also see the extent of your potential, whether there is an opportunity to develop your skills, whether you will fit into the company's work culture, and so on. The letter you write can also demonstrate your communication style for future colleagues.

So why miss the opportunity to promote yourself by not writing a cover letter?

Before learning what steps are required when writing a senior accountant cover letter, you need to understand that one cover letter may not work for all applications.

The reason is that companies have different needs. Maybe company A needs you to emphasize Skill 1, while company B prefers to focus on Skill 2. But hang in there! Cake is here to help!

Let's break down the cover letter format that will impress hiring managers below:

1. First, write the important information as a self-introduction. Include your full name, address (just your city), phone number, active email account, and finally your LinkedIn account. This information is usually located in the top left corner.
2. Next, enter the date you wrote the cover letter in the format mm/dd/yy.
3. Just below the date, write the salutation. There are two common formats: "Dear Hiring Manager" and "Dear [insert hiring manager's name]". 
4. Next, open the paragraph by introducing yourself. You can include your name, position at your previous company, accomplishments, and the position you are applying for.
5. Next, write the second paragraph, which focuses on your experience, skills, and contributions. IMPORTANT TIP: Put numbers to your accomplishments so that they are easy for recruiters to read and understand.
6. You can fill out the next paragraph by discussing why you're applying to the company. Or you can explain things that are not listed on your resume, such as letters of recommendation or why there are gaps in your work experience.
7. When you feel that your senior accountant cover letter has covered all the important information, it's time to write a call to action. This is where you show that you are truly interested in the position.
8. Finally, don't forget to include a closing statement. This will make your cover letter complete and usable.

For more accounting cover letter, check our latest article here!

FAQs

What are the career paths in accounting?

Careers in accounting are vast and have the potential to continue to grow. The career path is also long, so working as an accountant is suitable for those who want to stay on the same path. However, some job seekers may still be uncertain about where to start.

• Staff Accountant: This is an entry-level position that focuses on managing the company's financial and business transactions.
• Senior Accountant: You can get this position if you have worked as a Staff Accountant for more than 2 years (trust me, two years is fast enough to get to a senior position). As a senior cccountant, you will be given the responsibility of managing several staff members.
• Accounting Supervisor: As a supervisor, you'll be responsible for ensuring that all accounting reports are in order and running properly.
• Accounting Manager: Do you have more than 7 years of experience as an accountant? This is a sign that you can start exploring opportunities to become an Accounting Manager. This time your responsibilities will be greater, as you'll also be dealing with revenue, profit, loss, cash balance, and more.
• Director of Accounting: This is the top position you can reach with about 10 years of experience. The Director of Accounting is the decision maker, director, and also the most responsible for the accounting affairs of a company.

What is the average salary for a senior accountant?

Senior accountant salaries can vary depending on the level of experience, expertise, educational background, minimum wage of a country, and other factors. In the United States, the average senior accountant salary is $82,294 per year.

While in Australia, the figure is slightly higher. The average senior accountant's salary is $110,216 per year. In Singapore, the figure is between SGD 60,000 and SGD 72,000.

What qualifications do I need to become a senior accountant?

Senior accountant is a highly skilled role. Therefore, it is important to have a number of certificates that can add value to you. According to Franklin University, different degrees hold varying levels of value for a senior accountant role:

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Average salary: US$86,400
• Certified Internal Auditor (CIA). Average salary: US$100,200
• Certified Management Accountant (CMA). Average salary: US$74,600
• Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). Average salary: US$86,400
• Enrolled Agent (EA). Average salary: $89,000
• Certified Information System Auditor (CISA). Average salary US$116,100
• Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM). Average salary US$70,400
• Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA). Average salary US$69,900

Key Takeaways

1. The senior accountant role is a mid-level position with at least 2 to 3 years of experience as a staff accountant. Obtaining an accounting certification can further increase your chances of being selected for this role.
2. The senior accountant role provides a strong opportunity to advance to an Accounting Supervisor position, which typically requires at least 7 years of experience.
3. A good senior accountant resume consists of the right keywords, effective sentences, quantifying achievements, and a cover letter.
4. A senior accountant cover letter can help you explain information that cannot be included in your resume. Including this type of information in your cover letter can help support your candidacy for the senior accountant role.

The senior accountant resume examples and templates above can serve as a guide to help you get through to the interview stage. If you need more tips about the world of work, Cake has hundreds of articles that you can access for free. Join us today!

— Originally written by Erika Rizqi —