Staff Accountant resume example & writing guide
- What Is A Staff Accountant Job?
- Why use this staff accountant resume example?
- How to write a great staff accountant resume
- Which key skills are relevant to a staff accountant resume?
Seeking out jobs in staff accounting? Got an eye for detail, lots of technical skills, and a work history that demonstrates a strong sense of professional integrity? Highlight all these qualities and catch the interest of hiring managers by using the resume format described below.
What Is A Staff Accountant Job?
Staff accountants are professionals who maintain a company’s ledgers, check financial statements/transactions, and throw together budget reports for senior managers. Businesses that hire staff accountants tend to have complicated finances, detailed investment strategies, or budgets that need reorganizing.
Why use this staff accountant resume example?
If you have a background in accounting and want to work in a high-level staff accounting position, chronological resumes like the one below are your best bet. The professional experience section in this template is particularly useful if you’ve got lots of prior accounting jobs and accomplishments to describe.
The resume example below also has sections that let you describe technical skills and software proficiencies - information that’s important to share if you’re applying for a job with specific requirements.
How to write a great staff accountant resume
Header. At the top of your resume, list your name followed by your contact information. Below that, list the title of the job you’re seeking (staff accountant) followed by three specific staff accounting disciplines that you’re specialized in.
Professional summary. In a single paragraph describe your strengths as a staff accountant, the methods you use in your work, and the tasks that you can reliably accomplish.
Skill list. In bullet points, describe key accounting or business skills that you’re proficient in.
Professional experience section. Here, describe your more recent accounting careers. Outline each job’s day-to-day responsibilities in one paragraph, then make bullet-point lists of special accomplishments like creating new procedures or lowering costs.
Prior professional experience section. Only add this to your resume if you want to list jobs from more than 10 years back.
Education & technical skills section. Here, list university degrees or certificates, places of learning that you attended, and any proficiencies you have in software such as QuickBooks or Microsoft Office.
Which key skills are relevant to a staff accountant resume?
For many businesses, the ideal staff accountant is hard-working, highly organized, good at time management, and has at least 2 years of experience in prior accounting jobs. Hiring managers at these businesses tend to pick applicants who understand GAAP and other professional accounting standards.
Most hiring managers like to enlist staff accountants who are skilled at
Policy implementation
Financial reporting & analysis
Variance analysis
Regulatory compliance
Due diligence & risk management
Project management
Cost containment
Strategic planning
Process improvement
Data mining
Summary example
Highly experienced Staff Accountant with broad expertise in diverse industries, including the energy and utility sectors. Long-standing track record of leading enterprise-wide accounting activities, providing oversight and direction to ensure timely, accurate completion of transactions, financial statements, journal entries, and account reconciliations. Offer proven ability to develop and implement new systems, initiatives, and programs to meet business needs, resolve issues, and mitigate costs and risk. Maintain responsibility for internal and external audits and controls, and ensure compliance with federal, state, company, and industry regulations and standards. Deliver training and coaching to teams to ensure top-tier performance.
Employment history example
Staff Accountant at TEXAS ENERGY MANAGEMENT INC., Houston, TX
2015 - Present
Oversee full-cycle accounting functions, including AR/AP processing, financial statement preparation, monthly cash-flow forecasts, general ledger reconciliations, collateral reports, and annual audits. Assess and report daily broker activity. Develop internal control guidelines, policies, and procedures for budget accounting, risk management, and cash and credit management. Ensure compliance with state and federal regulatory requirements and standards. Manage two direct reports.
Created a new process for analyzing accounting discrepancies which led to an 80% reduction in outstanding receivables and reporting errors.
Developed streamlined reporting procedure that decreased preparation time by six days per month; oversaw major project that implemented new accounting software.
Staff Accountant at ESSENTIAL POWER LLC., Princeton, NJ
2010 - 2014
Settled gross-margin items, including hedging transactions, power purchase agreements, and HRO deals. Prepared accounting entries, reconciliations, financial statement disclosures, and reports for executive managers, senior accountants, and auditors. Utilized PJM and ISO NE reports and operational data from PI system to verify settlement with Energy Manager. Served on Risk Management Committee to develop policy and procedure.
Developed new processes/procedures for settling and reporting power and gas purchases and sales for four power plants; achieved clean D&T audit opinions throughout tenure following prior record of significant deficiencies.
Created new procedures for margin recognition; recovered $500K margin from prior energy manager.
Designed new data management system to gather information from ISOs into data warehouse, resulting in improved accuracy of forecasting, settlement, and reconciliation processes.
Accountant at BARCLAYS CAPITAL, Houston, TX
2008 - 2014
Held full accountability for daily payment and reporting functions. Authorized cash payments, and managed daily reconciliation between trading and accounting systems. Settled physical and financial commodities trading transactions; researched and verified data and discrepancies. Managed end-of-day borrowing and lending transactions with New York office. Monitored receivables and communicated with clients regarding non-payment of funds and account issues.
Oversaw establishment and training of three-member US-based Cash Team during transition from London operations.
Education example
Bachelor of Science in Accounting at University of Bridgeport
Skills example
Policy Implementation
Financial Reporting & Analysis
Variance Analysis
Regulatory Compliance
Due Diligence & Risk Management
Project Management
Cost Containment
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