Check your accountant CV against the job advert
Accountancy adverts start with your qualification status, then look for the specific work: month-end, management accounts, statutory accounts, tax. Name each one plainly.
Start with your advert
Every accountant advert is different. The list below is what adverts for this job usually ask for, not what yours does. So start with your advert:
- Read the advert and copy out every "must have" or "essential" line, then the "desirable" ones.
- For each one, find the line in your CV that proves it. If you can't point to a line, that's a gap.
- Fill the gap with something true: a duty, a setting, a qualification or a result you really have. If you don't have it, say what you have that's closest, or leave it out.
Our guide to matching your CV to a job description goes through this in more detail.
What accountant adverts usually ask for
Qualification status
Why they askAdverts usually ask for qualified, part-qualified or studying ACA, ACCA or CIMA (or AAT for junior roles).
How to show itPut your status, the body and the year (or exams passed and remaining) at the top.
Example lines: fill the gaps with your own facts- [ACA / ACCA / CIMA] qualified, [year].
- Part-qualified [ACCA / CIMA]: [number] of [number] exams passed, studying [next papers].
Month-end and management accounts
Why they askIndustry roles revolve around the monthly close and reporting to the business.
How to show itSay what you produced, for whom, and on what timetable.
Example lines: fill the gaps with your own facts- Prepared monthly management accounts for [entity or business size], including accruals, prepayments and reconciliations, by working day [number].
Statutory accounts, audit and standards
Why they askMany roles need year-end accounts and audit support under UK GAAP (FRS 102) or IFRS.
How to show itName the standards and your part in the year-end.
Example lines: fill the gaps with your own facts- Prepared year-end statutory accounts under [FRS 102 / IFRS] and was the main contact for the external auditors.
Tax and compliance
Why they askVAT returns, corporation tax and other compliance work appear in many adverts, especially in practice.
How to show itList what you've prepared or reviewed.
Example lines: fill the gaps with your own facts- Prepared VAT returns under Making Tax Digital and [corporation tax / other] computations for [number] clients.
Systems and Excel
Why they askAdverts often name the accounting system and ask for strong Excel.
How to show itName the software and your Excel skills.
Example lines: fill the gaps with your own facts- Used [Sage / Xero / SAP / Oracle / NetSuite] and Excel ([lookups, pivot tables, models]) for reporting and analysis.
Business partnering
Why they askMore senior roles want accountants who help managers understand the numbers.
How to show itGive an example of advice or analysis that helped a decision.
Example lines: fill the gaps with your own facts- Prepared [budget / forecast / variance analysis] for [department] and explained results to its managers.
Only use a line if it's true for you. Swap each [gap] for your own detail: the setting, the number, the tool or the result. If you can't fill a gap honestly, cut that part of the line.
Mistakes that cost accountant applications
- Hiding your qualification status or exam progress.
- "Responsible for finance function" without listing the work.
- Not naming systems.
- Practice and industry CVs that read the same. Tailor the language to the advert.
Questions
How should a part-qualified accountant list exams?
State the body, how many exams you've passed out of the total, and what you're studying next. Some people list the papers by name.