Tax Accountant Resume Sample, Job Description & Writing Guide for 2024
Tax accountants work with businesses and individuals to do state and federal income tax returns. Many of them guide clients in gathering all their information and creating income reports that need to be filed. In general, most tax accountants have at least a bachelor’s degree. A CPA is needed to file reports so that’s another requirement.
Are you ready to craft a tax accountant resume that makes you stand out from your competitors? You want to be sure that you disclose you have excellent accounting skills and knowledge of complex tax regulations. A potential employer needs to get an idea of who you are, what you can do, and why you would be a good addition to the team.
A track record of excellence is a good start but you have to be capable of sharing that in a way that impresses a hiring manager. You need to go above and beyond what other job seekers are composing to get the same job. This might sound like a lot of pressure but it doesn’t have to be as complicated as you might assume.
As you work through this guide, you’ll have access to nearly endless tax accountant resume examples & tips. We’ll make sure you have the knowledge you need to build a document that any employer would be happy to read. If you follow our tips, you’ll be sure to craft a tax accountant resume that helps you get interviews.
Tax accountant resume writing guide: Where to start?
So where should you start when building a staff tax accountant resume? Our recommendation is to create the resume in two stages. The master resume is the first stage while the job-specific resume comes second. Making both is a huge plus since it lets you really dig into why you’re great for providing tax service to clients. We’ll start with how to build a master resume and go from there.
Master tax accounting resume
The master corporate tax accountant resume isn’t flashy and it doesn’t need to look good. This resume for a tax accountant is less of a traditional resume and more of a compilation of information about yourself. It is never going to be seen by an employer. It’s just a great way to keep all your information together so you can quickly and easily fill out applications in the future.
The basic premise here is to take down anything that might be useful for resumes down the line. You can keep a list of your most important projects, track what you accomplished at different jobs, and add dates for all your education. If it’s related to work, even if not this specific job, the master resume is where it should be collected. This prevents the issue of forgetting important things later on that you might want to share with a company.
Even if something is outdated or irrelevant, you should keep it in case it’s useful later. Log your academic and work history so you have access to it if you ever need it. Some of you may already have a master resume, which means there’s no need to make one from scratch. However, now is a good time to make sure this document is updated as you are looking for a new company to work for.
Job-specific resumes for tax accountants
You have a master resume so now you have the chance to build an excellent job-specific resume. The master resume is the source document but it’s not the only one. Have the tax accountant job description for the resume, as well. These two items will help you build a great resume and flesh it out with important information.
For instance, let’s say you want to list resume accomplishments for a tax accountant resume. Look at the job description to remind yourself what the employer is looking for. Once you have that information, you can go to your master resume and pull out the achievements that you want to list. It’s a quick and easy process.
The job-specific resume is a whole different document from the master resume. It’s the actual resume that you’ll turn in with your job application and cover letter. That means it needs to have good relevant information and it should look good. Fill it with information related to the position and then make sure the design makes an impact.
Tax accountant resume sample
This senior tax accountant resume example should give you an idea of what your own might look like. It’s a professional resume and sound judgment was used to ensure all the appropriate information is included. You can easily see where the applicant has worked and gone to school. They’ve also provided an excellent resume objective that goes over who they are and what they are capable of.
What to include in a resume for a tax accountant? Writing tips and examples
Whether you’re making a senior or junior tax accountant resume, there are several sections to include. Contact information, a resume objective, skills, education, and work experience are a must. You want to show you can work with individual clients and companies to get the job done. After you go through the sections below, you can use resume templates to finish up.
How to write a resume objective on a tax accountant resume
A tax accountant resume summary, or objective, is where you pull in the eyes of a prospective employer. This is where you prove you have a knowledge of accounting and flourish in relationships with clients. In addition, this is one of the most important parts of the resume to customize. Use the job description to decide what you want to say.
You’ll notice that there are keywords in the job description that indicate what an employer wants from a worker. Your resume objective is your first chance to show you match those desires. Use this space to sell yourself and show how great you’d be in this position. At least part of the objective should focus on accomplishments, particularly if they are similar to what you might do at the new company.
One of the things that make the resume objective challenging to write is how short it is. It’s generally accepted that it should be anywhere from two to four sentences long. Since there is limited space, every word needs to mean something. Use action verbs and numbers to quantify what you can do.
In addition to achievements, you can talk about other things. Speak about skills related to the job, the education you have, and similar things. You can even talk about what you hope to do in the position you want. However, don’t go overboard and take up more space than normal.
Skills to list on a tax accountant resume
The second section that has a huge impact on your resume is a list of skills. When you view a seasonal tax accountant resume sample, you’ll notice that most people include this. About five to 10 skills are typically included. In most cases, you’ll want a mixture of soft skills (like communication skills) and hard skills (like knowledge of tax laws).
Each skills list should be customized based on the position you’re applying for. As an example, one position might have a huge focus on creating flawless financial statements while another might highlight the need to do lots of individual tax returns. Weave your skill list based on what is needed for the position.
Listing skills isn’t the only part of this process, though. If you look at the example from earlier, you’ll see that each skill has a level of competency associated with it. This is an additional part of your skills that will be appreciated by managers. For instance, you might list client communication as something you’re an expert at and time management skills as something you’re experienced with.
While your list of skills will vary, we still want to provide you with a list that you can use to get your creativity going. Consider adding relevant items to your own resume or choose others based on the position you hope to gain. A few of the most common skills for tax accountant resumes include the following:
· Accounting principles
· Annual reports
· Bank statements
· Bookkeeping software
· Corporate tax return
· Financial planning
· Financial reports
· Income tax returns
· Tax compliance
· Tax issues
· Tax planning
· Tax preparation
· Tax preparation software
· Tax reports
How to write work experience on a tax accountant resume
Professional experience in tax accounting is crucial. Having relevant experience puts you a step ahead of those who do not. And if you don’t have a ton of experience, you can still prove you’re a great candidate with your skills and education. Another option is to list a set of special projects so an employer can see exactly what you can do.
We mentioned relevant experience and it means exactly that. All of your education entries need to tie into the position you want. That doesn’t mean they have to be identical or even in the same field. It does mean that you need to find a way to tie things together and show that your experience had an impact on making you good at this new job.
So prioritize positions similar to this one and add others if you have room for it. It’s alright to leave gaps on your resume as long as you can explain that when you get an interview. The resume is all about putting your best foot forward so make sure you add useful information that makes you seem like a top candidate.
Those who have less experience can add in things like internships, volunteer opportunities, and similar experiences. As you list experience, put it in reverse-chronological order. This means you use your most recent experience first and then move backward.
You have the info you need and can craft a resume that anyone would be interested in. Before you send off that job application, make sure your resume has a gorgeous design. When you use templates from CVMaker, you can choose a look and style that appeals to you. Check out your options today!
Key takeaways
An excellent tax accounting resume shows your in-depth knowledge of returns for individuals and businesses. When you use the tips and tricks in this guide, you’re in a great place to share who you are and why you deserve an interview. Take a look at the final tips below and good luck with your application!
Resume tips for tax accountants:
· If you’re making an entry-level tax accountant resume, consider including internships and volunteering experiences to beef up your work experience section.
· Always read through the resume at least once when it’s done. This is the time to uncover typos and misspellings and take care of them. You want your resume to be a breeze to read.
· In addition to sharing your skills with accounting services, you can’t discount soft skills. Since you’ll work with other people at times, showing that’s easy for you is a plus.
· Your resume should look and read as professional. Make sure you haven’t been too casual or used wording that is overly technical.
· Consider reading the resume out loud when it’s done. This can give you an idea of how it flows and give you a chance to make final changes.
· Once the resume is complete, be sure you’ve also penned a cover letter. You can go into more detail here about who you are and why this position is a good one for you.
Next steps?
Are you worried that you don’t have the chops to describe your cost accounting experience on a resume? Not everyone is wired to create amazing resumes and there’s nothing wrong with that. CVMaker offers a selection of Resume Writing Services to help you land the job. Visit our site to learn more about your options.
FAQs
Should I list certifications on a tax accountant resume?
A tax CPA resume has a lot of information from your contact information to a recounting of your skills, education, and experience. But where do certifications come in? If you want to show you can handle complex tax returns, certifications can be an additional way to show what you can do.
There are two methods to add certifications to your resume. The first is to add them to your education section. However, you can also choose to create a special section for certifications. This is a good idea if you have several of them to share.
How do you write a good summary for an accountant resume?
Looking at tax accountant resume objective examples can give you an idea of how yours should look. The important thing is to share some of your largest accomplishments in the resume objective. However, make sure they fit what the job position involves. For instance, you might want to quantify your comprehensive tax preparation experience.
Resume objectives are short so make sure you pack them with powerful information. You only have a maximum of four sentences to make an employer interested in you and what you are capable of. Be sure to sell yourself and make it clear you’d be a huge asset.
What skills should I list on my tax accountant resume?
Tax accountant resume skills are a crucial part of the document. But what kind of skills go best on a sales tax accountant resume? The short answer is relevant skills. Everything you include should pertain to the position that you want to get. If something doesn’t, it should be removed and replaced.
Your list should include both hard skills and soft skills. You can browse the job description to determine what an employer is looking for. Make a note of the listed skills that you have and make sure to include them. This makes it clear you’d be a good choice for the position.
What kind of wording should be used on a tax accountant resume?
As an experienced tax accountant with a resume, there are all sorts of things you want to share with a hiring manager. Going into detail about how experienced you are with financial reporting or audits is up there. However, the way you word the resume also plays a part in whether you get an interview.
Being casual with your resume is generally considered a bad choice. Instead, be as professional as possible. You want to show respect for the employer who might consider bringing you onto the team. Avoid using slang or going overboard on jargon for the best results.
How long are tax accountant resumes?
In short, most tax accountant resumes are going to be one to two pages long. Going longer than that can make your document a slog to get through. If you can’t fill a single page, that may also make an employer wonder why. Thankfully, most people won’t have an issue staying within the typical resume length constraints.
For junior accountants who might be working on tax filings, a one-page resume is just fine. Those who have over a decade of experience should consider moving to a two-page resume if there is relevant information to fill it. However, this is just a general idea of whether one or two pages is better for your situation.
How to format a tax accountant resume?
You know all about balance sheet accounts and journal entries, but crafting an amazing resume could be new. The good news is that it’s a lot easier than you might think. Once you have a great layout and structure, formatting should only take a few minutes.
Before submitting your resume, think about things like font type, content types, font size, and even spacing between sections. Make sure that the format you choose doesn’t make the resume too short or too long and you’ll be on your way to success.
Which layout is best for a tax accountant resume?
Part of a tax accountant resume is showing you offer effective communication and can handle complex issues. Your layout should do this so that the document is easy to read and understand. Putting things in a specific order can help with this. In most cases, this means an objective followed by education or work experience.
Putting things in the right order is only part of the process, though. Consider whether you want a single-column or two-column resume. The choice can have an impact on how simple it is to take in the information on the document. Consider trying both before you make a final decision.
Which sections should be included in a tax accountant resume?
When it comes to the proper tax accountant resume structure, some information is more important than other forms. You want to show that you can provide accurate records and be a crucial part of the team. The most important sections include the following:
· Contact information
· Resume objective
· Work experience
· Education
· Skills
That doesn’t mean you can’t further customize your resume for the position. Things like references, hobbies, languages, and achievements can be other sections you include. It comes down to what you want to highlight on the resume to position yourself as the best candidate.
Now that you’ve had time to read our guide, it’s time to create a tax accountant resume that you can be truly proud of. Make sure it shines by using one of CVMaker’s resume templates. Choose from an assortment of styles and colors!