Chief accountant CV example
Chief accountant duties and responsibilities range from leading a team to making key decisions on financial strategy. Above all else, they’re responsible for ensuring a company’s accounts meet the required standards – of both stakeholders and financial regulations.
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As the most senior accountant within an organisation, chief accountants already have plenty on their plate. You don’t want CV writing to add to that balancing act!
With myPerfectCV, it doesn’t have to. We’ve brought together chief accountant CV samples, templates, and all the CV writing advice you could ever wish for when it comes to CV writing for the role of chief accountant. When you’re ready, you can use our proven CV examples quick and easy online builder to get started on your chief accountant CV.
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Chief accountant CV sample - image plus text CV
Hannah Taylor
24 Jones Walk
State Sheffield
(555)555-5555
hanna.taylor@example.com
Professional summary
Experienced Chief Accountant with a proven track record of managing financial operations and ensuring compliance with accounting standards. Skilled in financial analysis, budgeting, and financial reporting. Strong leadership abilities and a focus on driving efficiency and accuracy in accounting processes.
Work history
January 2023 – Current, ABC Company – London
Chief Accountant
- Managed the financial operations of the company, including budgeting, financial analysis, and financial reporting.
- Implemented and maintained internal controls to ensure compliance with accounting standards and regulations.
- Led a team of accountants, providing guidance and support to ensure accurate and timely financial reporting.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop and implement financial strategies and plans.
February 2015 – December 2022, Smith Bratton Corporation – London
Senior Accountant
- Prepared and analyzed financial statements, ensuring accuracy and compliance with accounting principles.
- Managed accounts payable and accounts receivable processes, ensuring timely and accurate processing of invoices and payments.
- Assisted in the development and implementation of financial policies and procedures.
- Collaborated with auditors during annual audits, providing necessary documentation and support.
April 2011 – February 2015, Burnex – Sheffield
Accountant
- Performed general accounting tasks, including journal entries, account reconciliations, and financial statement preparation.
- Assisted in the preparation of budgets and forecasts, providing financial analysis and recommendations.
- Managed payroll processing and ensured compliance with tax regulations.
- Assisted in the implementation of an ERP system, streamlining accounting processes and improving efficiency.
Skills
- Financial Analysis
- Budgeting
- Financial Reporting
- Accounting Principles
- Internal Controls
- Team Leadership
- Accounts Payable
- Accounts Receivable
- Payroll Processing
- ERP Systems
Education
2015, University of London London
Master of Business Administration Finance
2013, University of Manchester Manchester
Bachelor of Commerce Accounting
Chief accountant CV template
As a chief accountant, you’ll know how important it is to stay organised. That’s why a professional layout is a great way to begin. To get the best chances of success with your CV, take a look at our extensive list of CV templates that will help you get ahead of the competition.
Choosing the right format for your chief accountant CV
First things first – you’ll need to select the perfect CV format. Choosing the right structure will determine whether or not your CV suits your experience level and reads as both informative and coherent. There are many different formats for you to choose from, but when it comes to a chief accountant there is one that stands out above all others.
For a chief accountant, we’d recommend that you opt for a reverse-chronological CV. This is because a chief accountant is a senior role, and it is important that you let the hiring manager know from the outset that you have an extensive history of direct work experience to draw from. A reverse-chronological CV does just that – starting with your most recent or current role and then working backwards.
Here are some additional structural tips that you should keep in mind when building your format:
- Select a professional font such as Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri
- Send your CV as either a Word or PDF file
- Respond to the job advert, making sure that your format is perfect for their specifications
- Write your CV as one or two pages
- Break up any long bodies of text with headings, bullet point lists, and section breaks.
How to write a CV for a chief accountant
In the next sections of this page, we’re going to go deep on how to write a CV for a chief accountant. We will take you through each of the most important sections for you to include.
Keep reading for information on the following:
- Adding contact details to your chief accountant CV
- Start your chief accountant CV with a personal statement
- Chief accountant CV work experience
- Chief accountant CV skills
- Outlining education on a chief accountant CV
Adding contact details to your chief accountant CV
An important first step is to get your contact details on your document. Although this one might seem obvious, you should know that many candidates fall at the first hurdle. After all, how can a hiring manager get hold of you if they don’t have up-to-date contact details for you?
So how does a contact section work on a CV? You won’t need to use up much space, but you should always make sure to add them near the top of your document. Choose a bolder or larger font than the text in the rest of your document.
Want to know the most important details to include? Here is what you’ll need to add:
- Full name – you can leave your middle name
- Location – so the employer knows where it is you are based
- Phone number – select a mobile number so you won’t be missed!
- Email address – make sure to choose a professional work email address
Example of contact section for a chief accountant CV
Anna McDonald
195 Crown Street, London W124WB
079123456789
a.mcdonald@example-example.co.uk
Start your chief accountant CV with a personal statement
First impressions are important! This is why many CVs open with a short, snappy, personal statement. This is your chance to give an overview of your career objectives and level of experience. Also known as the professional summary, this section introduces you as a candidate and should make recruiters want to read on for more.
Since a chief accountant is a senior role, you will need to quickly explain that you have the skills and knowledge to be perfect for the role. As a rule of thumb, stick to 3-4 sentences which highlight your best skills such as reconciliation, key qualifications like ACCA certification, and personal qualities like leadership.
Thankfully, the process of writing an effective personal statement can be simplified by following an easy formula. Start with an opening sentence that introduces you as a candidate to the reader. Provide a brief overview of who you are and your career focus. You won’t need to go into detail about future career plans, as this can be kept for later. Instead, focus on your experience level so the hiring manager knows you are serious from the first line.
With your second sentence, this is your chance to use a real world stat or figure to further capture their attention. By a stat or figure, we mean something you have achieved that lends authority to your statement. For example, you may have completed a general ledger with 100% accuracy in the past – this would be your time to mention it.
Your third and fourth sentences should be reserved for highlighting any special skills or unique traits you possess. You could explain that you are ACCA certified, or that you are familiar with ERP software. Whatever you choose, make sure that it is relevant to the job advertisement you are applying for.
Here are some additional tips for your personal statement:
- Use engaging language throughout, including action verbs and positive adjectives.
- Proofread your personal statement to make sure it is coherent and free from errors.
- Write in the third person as this sounds more professional
Example of personal statement for a chief accountant CV
Resourceful Accounting Professional with 17 years designing efficient quality control procedures and maintaining sound internal controls. Excellent eye for detail useful in audit preparation and reporting.
OR
Organised and highly efficient accounting professional with over 20 years of direct experience. Expert at compiling general ledger entries with a 100% accuracy rate. Particular skills in ERP software, account reconciliation, leadership and management.
Chief accountant CV work experience
Next up is what many would consider to be the most important section of your CV. This is especially true for a senior role such as a chief accountant. You will need to provide the employer with an extensive work history, so they know you have the experience to be effective in the role. Your work experience should wow the reader, and the more relevant experience you can add the better.
You should always respond directly to the job ad. Search for keywords and use them within your body of experience. For example, if the job ad has asked specifically for experience with ERP software, you’ll want to make sure you add this work at least once or twice.
Since we’re using a reverse-chronological format, we have a simple formula to follow when it comes to listing previous experience. Begin with your current or most recent role and list up to 6 responsibilities for it. Then, do this for all previous roles. Each responsibility should be different, so don’t repeat yourself as you work through, because that is just wasting words that you could use in a more effective way! The idea is to create a comprehensive overview of you as a candidate.
Make sure to keep the tone formal but friendly throughout. Make sure to be enthusiastic as you state your most impressive achievements. Use positive adjectives (words to describe you like “organised” or “responsible”), and action verbs (anything that can replace “responsible for”) throughout. Writing in this way will make this section more engaging for the reader.
Example of work experience for a chief accountant CV
Chief Accountant | Wright Manufacturing – Islington
10/2023 – Current
- Led accounting team of 12 for 3 years
- Increased accuracy of cost analysis by 40% by introducing effective standard costing system
- Reviewed monthly reports and consulted with 5 senior stakeholders to maintain long-lasting working relationships
Accounting Manager | A-com Distribution – Slough
02/2018 – 09/2023
- Maintained cash flow by monitoring bank balances and cash requirements
- Tracked all expenses and inventory purchases against budget guidelines
- Oversaw comprehensive preparation and documentation of client accounts
Chief accountant CV skills
Next up, you’ll need to give an overview of the skills you possess. The skills section of your CV is how you can give the reader a better understanding of your specialisms. So what should you include in your skills section?
Try to add up to 12 skills in total, mixed between hard and soft skills. Hard skills are anything that you have learned on the job or through education. For example, you might have data analysis skills or knowledge of accounting software. Soft skills can be thought of as positive character traits, anything that shows what you are like as part of a team or as a solo worker.
In short, no chief accountant CV sample is complete without the right skills. Take a look at the lists below to see which hard and soft skills recruiters are looking for:
Must-have skills for your chief accountant CV
- Excellent numerical skills
- Data analysis
- Knowledge of accounting software
- ICAEW or ACCA certified
- Report writing
- Monthly and annual accounting activities
Soft skills to make you the perfect fit
- Leadership
- Clear communication
- Time management
- Problem solving
- Ability to work under pressure
- Specific industry knowledge
Outlining education on a chief accountant CV
The last big section to add to your CV is an education section. This is going to be your chance to explain your educational background, letting the manager know about all of your most impressive qualifications. So, what is important for a chief accountant?
You’ll want to include your highest qualifications first, including any professional training you have completed or membership to official bodies. For an accountant, you’ll need to mention your ACCA or ICAEW certification, as this is often a prerequisite for a lot of positions.
Leave out any incomplete or bad grades you have got over the years, instead focus on qualifications that show the best of your academic career. For example, your undergraduate degree (or masters, if you have one), is a great choice for the next important qualification for you to add. Many accountants have a background in economics or accounting as a field of study. Here are some of the most important things to include when listing your academic achievements:
- The name of the educational institution
- Start and end dates of your academic course
- Official title of the field of study
- Qualification level you achieved
- Qualification outcome or result
Example of education for a chief accountant CV
ACCA
Chartered Certified Accountant
2023
University of Birmingham – Birmingham
Bachelor of Science: Economics
2020
Your chief accountant CV questions answered
What is a chief accountant?
A chief accountant is typically the most senior accountant within an organisation, with the exception of a chief financial officer (CFO). That said, it’s quite rare for companies to employ both of these roles, given how much they overlap.
What is the role of a chief accounting officer?
The role of a chief accounting officer is primarily to develop a company’s financial strategy and make key decisions on
expenditure and investments. They’re also typically required to lead an accounting team and oversee month-to-month duties like reconciliations and record-keeping.
What are the four main responsibilities of a chief accountant?
Broadly speaking, the four main responsibilities of a chief accountant are:
- Keeping their organisation compliant with tax laws and any other relevant regulations.
- Managing the accounting team and overseeing their day-to-day and month-to-month duties.
- Setting a strategy to improve a company’s financial position or progress towards agreed goals.
- Making key decisions when needed to put that strategy into practice.
What is the qualification for a chief accountant?
The main qualification for chief accountants is certification from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) or the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).
How to become a chief accountant?
The most common route to become a chief accountant starts with a degree in in mathematics, economics, or accounting to hone your foundational skills. That’s followed, as above, by ACCA certification, which can be worked towards as part of your degree or gained through a placement following graduation. You’ll typically need to work your way up through junior and mid-level roles before reaching the role of chief accountant.
Chief accountant CVs made easy
Writing a CV to apply for the role of chief accountant doesn’t have to be stressful and time-consuming. Using myPerfectCV’s builder, you can access a choice of pre-made CV examples and CV templates and fill them with polished content that’s tailored to chief accountant duties and responsibilities.
Use our chief accountant CV sample as inspiration for any parts you’re unsure about. Then download your CV as a Word Document, PDF or a choice of other file types. Put our online builder to the test today!
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