Entry Level Accountant Resume Template
Today's entry-level accountant resumes and cover letters are evaluated not just on coursework but on proficiency with tools like Excel, QuickBooks, and ERP s...
Reviewed by Yuvraj Bajwa, Founder, Resumae.
Alex Johnson
Entry Level Accountant
alex.johnson@email.com
312-555-0198
Chicago, IL
https://linkedin.com/in/alexjohnson
Professional Summary
Detail-oriented accounting graduate with hands-on experience in accounts payable, financial reconciliation, and general ledger maintenance. Proficient in QuickBooks and Excel, with a track record of improving process efficiency and reducing discrepancies. Known for Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable expertise, practical problem solving, and dependable communication. This ATS-optimized summary foregrounds quantified accomplishments and role-specific keywords so hiring managers and parsing software see immediate fit for finance accounting roles.
Experience
Accounting Assistant
2022 - Present- Reconciled over 200 accounts monthly, reducing discrepancies by 15% within the first quarter aligned to finance accounting standards and ATS-readable formatting.
- Processed 50+ invoices per week, ensuring 98% on-time payment and accuracy.
- Assisted in month-end close procedures, cutting closing time by 10% through streamlined data entry.
- Maintained general ledger entries and supported audit preparation, resulting in zero findings.
Finance Intern
2021 - 2022- Audited expense reports for 30+ departments, identifying $12,000 in erroneous charges.
- Assisted in preparing quarterly financial statements with 100% accuracy aligned to finance accounting standards and ATS-readable formatting.
- Implemented a new invoice tracking system, increasing processing speed by 20%.
- Supported accounts receivable by following up on 150+ overdue accounts, improving collection rate by 12%.
Skills
Core Skills: Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, General Ledger, Bank Reconciliation, Financial Reporting, QuickBooks, Microsoft Excel, Data Entry, Attention to Detail, Time Management, Invoicing, Audit Support
Education
Bachelor of Science in Accounting
2021University of Illinois at Chicago
What Entry Level Accountant hiring managers look for
How Finance & Accounting resumes get screened
Finance and accounting resumes are screened for credentials, systems, and regulatory exposure, then read closely for whether your numbers are plausible and specific.
Writing a stronger Entry Level Accountant resume
01
Give the size of what you controlled
Portfolio value, budget owned, monthly close volume, or transaction counts. Reconciling ten accounts and reconciling four hundred are different jobs with the same title.
02
Name systems and regulatory frameworks
SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, QuickBooks, Workday, Hyperion, alongside SOX, GAAP, IFRS, or the tax codes you apply. Both are filtered on directly.
03
Show close cycle and accuracy improvements
Days to close, restatement or audit findings avoided, or variance reduced. Speed and accuracy are the two things finance leaders are actually buying.
Mistakes to avoid
- Using percentages with no base, so a "40% improvement" cannot be evaluated
- Omitting the ERP, which is often a hard filter in the applicant system
- Listing certification as "in progress" without the exam sections passed or a sitting date
Entry Level Accountant resume questions
What skills should an Entry Level Accountant resume include?
Lead with the skills the job posting names, which for an Entry Level Accountant usually start with Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, and General Ledger. This example lists 12 in total, grouped so a reader can take them in at a glance, and every one of them is backed up somewhere in the experience section. Skills that appear in your list but nowhere in your history are the first thing an interviewer probes.
How do I get an Entry Level Accountant resume past an ATS?
Finance and accounting resumes are screened for credentials, systems, and regulatory exposure, then read closely for whether your numbers are plausible and specific. For an Entry Level Accountant specifically, mirror the posting's exact wording rather than paraphrasing it, keep the layout to a single column so the parser reads it in the right order, and put Accounts Payable, and Accounts Receivable where they appear in the first third of the page.
What experience do employers expect from an Entry Level Accountant?
Employers look for a clear progression and evidence of outcomes, which this Entry Level Accountant example shows by moving from Finance Intern to Accounting Assistant across 2 roles. Its 8 bullets describe results rather than duties, which is the difference that decides most screens. If you have less history than this, keep the same structure and let projects or coursework carry the relevant evidence.
What certifications help an Entry Level Accountant get hired?
CPA, CFA, CMA, ACCA, EA, or exam progress, plus the accounting standards you work under such as GAAP or IFRS. List them where they are read in the first pass rather than at the foot of the page, and include the issuing body and date so nobody has to ask whether they are current.
Matching cover letter
Entry Level Accountant cover letter example
Pair this resume with a cover letter written for the same role.