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Accountant CV example

Accounting ads list software, reporting cycles and qualifications, and screen hard on all three. This accountant CV example puts them where a recruiter looks, with bullets that show accuracy and time saved.

Written for New Zealand, with notes for Australia · Checked

Free. Then compare it with a real Accountant job ad.

The example

A Accountant CV, start to finish.

Daniel Kim is made up, and so are the employers. The layout and the wording are what New Zealand employers expect: no photo or date of birth, the most recent job first, and every bullet showing what was done and what came of it.

Daniel Kim

Chartered Accountant, business advisory

Auckland · 021 555 0189 · daniel.kim@email.com

Profile

Chartered accountant with five years in business advisory, preparing year-end accounts and tax returns for small and medium businesses. Confident in Xero and MYOB, careful with detail, and good at explaining the numbers to clients.

Skills

Year-end financial statements · GST and income tax returns · Xero and MYOB · Management reporting · Client relationships · Process improvement

Experience

Senior Accountant, Kauri Advisory

Auckland · 2023 to now

  • Manage a portfolio of 60 small business clients, from year-end accounts to tax returns
  • Prepare quarterly management reports and walk clients through them
  • Moved 20 clients from spreadsheets to Xero, cutting month-end work
  • Review graduate accountants' work before it goes to the manager

Graduate Accountant, Kauri Advisory

Auckland · 2021 to 2023

  • Prepared GST returns and year-end workpapers for small businesses
  • Reconciled bank and supplier accounts in Xero and MYOB

Education

Bachelor of Commerce, Accounting, University of Auckland

2020

Other details

Membership
Chartered Accountant, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand
Work rights
New Zealand citizen

Referees

Available on request

Daniel wrote a cover letter to go with it. Read the accountant cover letter

Skills and keywords

What accountant job ads look for.

Use the ad's own words where they're true of you. An ATS, and a recruiter skimming, both look for them.

  • Year-end accountsThe core of most practice roles.
  • GSTNew Zealand ads ask for GST returns by name.
  • XeroThe most asked-for software. Name every package you use.
  • Management reportingShows you can go beyond compliance.
  • CA ANZSay whether you're a member or working towards it.
  • Client relationshipsAdvisory roles want people clients trust.

Bullet points

8 strong lines to borrow from.

Each says what was done, how, and what came of it. Swap in your own facts: a line is only strong if it's true.

  1. 1Managed a portfolio of 60 small business clients, from year-end accounts to tax returns
  2. 2Prepared quarterly management reports and walked clients through the results
  3. 3Moved 20 clients from spreadsheets to Xero, cutting month-end work
  4. 4Reviewed graduate accountants' work before it went to the manager
  5. 5Prepared GST returns and year-end workpapers on time through busy season
  6. 6Reconciled bank and supplier accounts in Xero and MYOB
  7. 7Found and corrected a recurring coding error that had misstated a client's expenses
  8. 8Trained two graduates on the firm's year-end process

Common mistakes

What costs accountant CVs interviews.

  • Leaving out the software you use.

    Name every accounting package. Many ads filter on Xero or MYOB.

  • "Responsible for accounts" with no scale.

    Say how many clients, what size, and which returns and reports you prepared.

  • Hiding your professional status.

    Say whether you're a chartered accountant or working towards it, and with which body.

New Zealand and Australia

What changes across the Tasman.

New Zealand

Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand covers both countries, so membership carries across the Tasman.

New Zealand CV format

Australia

Australian roles ask about BAS and GST under Australian rules; say which country's tax you've worked with. Australian employers usually say resume rather than CV, and expect about two pages.

Australian CV format

Sources: Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.

FAQ

Questions, answered.

Something else on your mind? Email support@smartcvs.ai and a person will reply.

Should I list every client?

No. Describe the portfolio: how many clients, what size and what industries.

Do I need to be chartered to apply?

Not for every role. Many ads accept someone working towards it; say where you're up to.

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