Certified Public Accountant Resume: Writing Guide with Examples

Working in any business, you might have heard the terms accountants and CPAs (certified public accountants) used frequently.

However, unlike a typical accountant, a certified public accountant meets government licensing requirements and is qualified to assist clients with tax return filings, financial planning, and further financial needs.

A certified public accountant needs to have the required education and background with the addition of passing the rigorous CPA exam. 

Whether you are a recent accounting graduate studying for your CPA exam or looking to apply for a successful CPA position, you will need to write up a professional certified public accountant resume to further develop your accounting career.

🖋 Adopt an ATS-friendly format for your CPA resume format.

With countless applications to review, the employer is likely to use ATS to process the resumes. Increase the chances of your certified public accountant resume passing the scanning by making it compatible with ATS. 

🖋 Refer to online CPA resume templates or examples.

Certified public accountant resume examples serve more purpose than telling you what a typical CPA resume should look like; they can also help you jog more ideas.

Whether you search for CPA resume examples for people looking for entry-level jobs or experienced job seekers, make sure to use them to your advantage. 

🖋 Tailor your resume for the CPA job.

CPAs are needed in a wide variety of industries and businesses. Consequently, CPA job postings have different requirements and specifications.

Make sure you include the skills or qualifications the hiring manager is looking for in your certified public accountant resume. 

🖋 Add measurable details to your CPA resume. 

Working with numbers is a crucial part of being a certified public accountant.

Prepare an extraordinary certified public accountant resume by adding numbers, such as the average net worth of clients you have helped or the high percentage of returns you have helped generate. 

🖋 Submit your certified public accountant resume as a PDF file. 

Ensure that the employer receives a well-thought-out resume by processing your certified public accountant resume as a PDF file. 

A career objective in a certified public accountant resume provides a picture of what direction you are looking to go and how well it aligns with the goal of the company. 

✅ List two to three of your proudest achievements in the workplace on your certified public accountant resume to show that you have the talent.

✅ Develop a fitting career goal to include in your certified public accountant resume to show the hiring manager that you are compatible with the CPA role.  

✅ Mention the company name and position you are applying for as it shows the employer you are making a resume specifically for the CPA position. 

A summary in a certified public accountant resume gives the hiring manager a clearer idea of your expertise and what benefits you may bring if chosen for the CPA position. 

✅ Start the summary statement of your certified public accountant resume by describing your work ethics or experience. 

✅ Filter through the list of achievements covered in your certified public accountant resume to showcase the best one.  

✅ Prove to the employer your detail-orientedness by writing an error-free summary in your certified public accountant resume. 

The skill section is what the employer will want to check out to ensure you qualify for the CPA position. Before focusing on the key skills for a certified public accountant resume, you should figure out the best way to arrange your expertise. 

1. Simple bullets

• PROS: The easiest way to arrange your CPA-related skills
• CONS: Providing no details about the skills

2. Expanded bullets

• PROS: Allows you to add on details to explain your CPA-related skills
• CONS: Limits the number of CPA-related skills you can add to your resume to 5
  

3. Integrated with work experience bullets

• PROS: Shows how the skills are applied in the workplace in your CPA resume
• CONS: Not suitable for people writing a junior certified public accountant resume with limited experience

4. A categorized skill section

• PROS: Presents broad CPA-related skills in an organized manner
• CONS: Provides no details about the skills
  

1. Although skills on your certified public accountant are helpful, you will want to select only the most relevant skills for your certified public accountant resume. 

2. For a junior certified public accountant resume, try to include more skills to show your strong knowledge; as for an experienced certified public accountant resume, try to limit the number of skills to emphasize your experience. 

3. While you might automatically think of all the core accounting technical skills for a certified public accountant resume, remember to include your soft skills as well. 

Certified Public Accounting Resume Skill Examples:

✅ Choose a fitting resume format for your entry-level certified public accounting resume.

• Chronological resume format
• Functional resume format
• Combinational resume format

✅ Write a career objective for your junior certified public accountant resume.  

Display your CPA in progress on your resume by forming a detailed objective statement for your certified public accountant resume.

✅ Highlight your education in your CPA resume. 

From schoolwork to studying for the CPA exam, there are many steps to take to reach the status of a certified public accountant. 

✅ Include a link to a portfolio of accounting-based side projects.

These additional accounting-related accomplishments further provide the employer with evidence of your passion for the CPA role. 

✅ Attach a job application letter for a certified public accountant role.  

A CPA cover letter allows you to describe your experience in further detail, which can also help show the employer your dedication to the CPA position.