How Do You Write a CV for an Accounting Manager Role?

A professionally written CV is your most powerful tool for securing an interview for an Accounting Manager position. Based on our assessment experience, a CV that effectively showcases your leadership in finance, technical accounting skills, and quantifiable achievements can significantly increase your candidacy. This guide provides a step-by-step framework, complete with a template and an example, to help you craft a CV that meets the high standards of recruiters and hiring managers.

What is an Accounting Manager CV?

An Accounting Manager CV is a detailed document that highlights your qualifications, professional experience, and skills specific to managing accounting functions. For a mid-to-senior level role like this, recruiters use the CV to conduct an initial candidate screening process, assessing your fit for the leadership responsibilities and the organization's culture. The ideal CV prioritizes extensive experience and a balanced mix of hard and soft skills, demonstrating your readiness to oversee financial operations, lead a team, and ensure compliance.

How Do You Structure Your Accounting Manager CV?

A clear, logical structure is non-negotiable. Follow these steps to build a compelling CV that is easy for hiring managers to scan and evaluate quickly.

1. How Do You Present Your Contact Information and Professional Summary?

Begin with your essential contact details at the top: full name, phone number, professional email address, and city/state. A link to a polished LinkedIn profile is highly recommended.

Your professional summary is a critical elevator pitch. In 2-3 sentences, it should concisely state your years of experience, key areas of expertise (e.g., financial reporting, internal controls, team leadership), and a notable achievement. Incorporate keywords from the job description, such as "IFRS knowledge" or "ERP system implementation," to immediately align your profile with the role's requirements. For example: "Seasoned Accounting Manager with 10+ years of experience streamlining month-end close processes and leading teams to improve reporting accuracy."

2. How Do You Detail Your Work History and Key Skills?

List your professional experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent position. For each role, include your job title, company name, dates of employment, and location.

• Use bullet points to describe your responsibilities and, more importantly, your accomplishments.
• Quantify your results wherever possible. Instead of "Managed the budget," write "Managed an annual operating budget of $5M, identifying cost-saving measures that reduced expenses by 8%."
• Use strong action verbs like "Spearheaded," "Implemented," "Analyzed," and "Optimized" to begin each point.

Your key skills section should be a mix of technical (hard skills) and interpersonal (soft skills). Tailor this list to the Accounting Manager role. See the table below for common examples.

3. How Do You List Your Education and Certifications?

Conclude with your educational background. State your highest degree first (e.g., Bachelor of Science in Accounting), the institution name, and your graduation year. Include any relevant certifications, such as CPA (Certified Public Accountant) or CMA (Certified Management Accountant), which are highly valued for this position and demonstrate a commitment to the profession.

What Does a Winning Accounting Manager CV Example Look Like?

Jonathan Carter (555) 123-4567 | jonathan.carter@email.com | Chicago, IL | LinkedIn Profile Link

Professional Summary Results-driven Accounting Manager with over 8 years of experience in corporate finance and accounting. Expertise in financial analysis, process improvement, and leading cross-functional teams. Successfully implemented a new ERP system that reduced month-end closing time by 25%.

Professional Experience Accounting Manager | TechGrowth Inc., Chicago, IL | June 2018 – Present

• Directed all accounting operations for a department with an annual budget of $10M.
• Led a team of 5 accountants, providing mentorship and improving team productivity by 15%.
• Developed and implemented new financial controls that decreased audit discrepancies by 40%.
• Prepared and presented monthly financial statements to senior executives and the board.

Senior Accountant | Innovate Corp., Chicago, IL | July 2014 – May 2018

• Managed accounts payable/receivable and reconciled complex general ledger accounts.
• Assisted in the annual budgeting and forecasting process, improving forecast accuracy by 10%.

Skills

• Technical: GAAP/IFRS, Financial Modeling, Advanced Excel, SAP, QuickBooks
• Interpersonal: Strategic Leadership, Client Relations, Analytical Thinking, Effective Communication

Education & Certifications

• Master of Business Administration (MBA), Finance, University of Chicago, 2014
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Illinois State Board of Accountancy, 2015

To maximize your chances, follow these final tips:

• Proofread meticulously: A single error can undermine the perception of your attention to detail.
• Be consistent: Use a clean, professional font and uniform formatting throughout the document.
• Save as a PDF: This preserves your formatting when sent to recruiters.

Please note that none of the companies, institutions or organisations mentioned in this article are affiliated with ok.com.