How to write a bookkeeper resume: Examples and tips

For bookkeeping roles and beyond, the job market is highly competitive these days.  

Chances are good you’ll be up against a sea of applicants for whatever jobs you apply to. In light of this, potential candidates must do everything possible to get noticed. And standing out from the crowd starts with a well-crafted resume that properly showcases your skills and qualifications. 

Not sure where to begin? 

For those aspiring to enter the world of bookkeeping and finance, this guide to crafting a bookkeeper resume may be just what you need to score the role of your dreams.  

Bookkeeper resume sample template 

Are you starting from square one with your bookkeeper resume? It can be challenging even to know where to start, and understanding what hiring managers in this arena want could take hours of internet research.  

The template below hits on some essential elements to include in your bookkeeper resume—from how you might structure your contact information to how and what skills you could showcase. It might provide you with just the inspiration you need to get your resume off the ground. 

Here it is: 

Sarah Jones 

123 Main Street 

Anytown, USA 12345 

(555) 555-5555 | your@email.com 

Qualifications Profile 

Highly motivated and detail-oriented Bookkeeper with 5+ years of experience in a fast-paced environment. Skilled in all aspects of bookkeeping, including accounts payable/receivable, bank reconciliations, payroll processing, and financial reporting. Possesses strong analytical skills and the ability to identify and implement process improvements for increased efficiency. Proficient in QuickBooks, Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, Access), and Xero. 

Professional Experience 

ABC Company – Anytown, USA   

March 2019 – Present 

Full-Charge Bookkeeper 

• Managed all bookkeeping functions for a mid-sized retail company with $5 million annual revenue. 
• Processed accounts payable and receivable, ensuring timely payments and collections. 
• Reconciled bank statements monthly, maintaining accurate financial records. 
• Prepared and submitted payroll taxes accurately and on time. 
• Generated monthly financial reports, including profit and loss statements and balance sheets. 
• Streamlined accounts payable process by 20%, resulting in reduced processing time and improved vendor relations. 
• Implemented new accounting software (Xero) for increased efficiency and data accessibility. 

DEF Company – Anytown, USA   

August 2016 – February 2019 

Accounting Assistant 

• Provided comprehensive bookkeeping support to a growing marketing agency. 
• Managed accounts payable, processed invoices, and ensured timely vendor payments. 
• Assisted with accounts receivable, sending invoices, and following up on outstanding accounts. 
• Reconciled bank statements and cash accounts, maintaining accurate financial records. 
• Created and maintained spreadsheets for tracking key financial data. 
• Utilized strong communication skills to liaise with clients and vendors regarding billing inquiries. 

Educational Background 

• Associate Degree in Accounting (2016)
  Anytown Community College, Anytown, USA 

Skills 

Technical Skills 

• Financial reporting 
• Accounts payable 
• Accounts receivable 
• Bank reconciliations 
• Payroll processing 

Soft Skills 

• Attention to detail 
• Problem-solving 
• Analytical skills 
• Communication skills 
• Time management 
• Organization 

Software Proficiency 

• QuickBooks 
• Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, Access) 

Professional Certifications 

• Tax & Bookkeeping, Intuit Academy
• Certified Bookkeeper (CB), American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers 
• Certified Public Bookkeeper (CPB), National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers 

Note: This is just an example. It’s ultimately up to you to structure your resume and describe your skills, expertise and experience. You should modify the example to better reflect your own career journey. 

How to write a bookkeeping resume: What to include 

Now that you have a feel for the general format of a resume for a bookkeeper, let’s dive into the details, section by section and element by element.  

Contact information 

The personal information that belongs on the resume of a bookkeeper is similar to other industries (and self-explanatory to some extent). Here’s a quick rundown of what contact information to include: 

• Full name: This is self-explanatory, but do note that you’ll generally want to use your full name and not nicknames. 
• Street address: Include your complete address unless you have privacy concerns. If so, you could list only your city and state instead. 
• City, state, and ZIP code: This is essential for employers to locate you and potentially factor in the cost of living for salary negotiations. 
• Phone number (optional): Include your primary phone number—one you check regularly.  
• Professional email address: Use a professional email address that includes your full name or initials and the domain of your email provider (e.g., [first name].[last name]@[email domain].com). Avoid using an email address with a cutesy or irrelevant username. 
• LinkedIn profile URL (optional): Include a link to your professional LinkedIn profile. This is a way to showcase your skills and experience relevant to bookkeeping, as well as endorsements and testimonials from past and present colleagues. 

A professional summary 

Next up in your resume is your professional summary or list of skills (the section labeled Qualifications Profile in the template above). Don’t confuse this with your work history. Use this section to communicate your applicable skill set rather than present a timeline of your previous positions. Typically, your professional summary should highlight these areas: 

• Focus on achievements: Tailor your summary to highlight quantifiable achievements and relevant skills for the specific job you’re applying for. 
• Quantify your experience: Instead of saying “experienced” with bookkeeping, state the number of years you’ve worked in the field. 
• Highlight specific skills: Showcase your proficiency in core bookkeeping tasks like accounts payable (AP), accounts receivable (AR), payroll, bank reconciliations, and financial reporting. 
• Soft skills matter: Don’t forget to mention essential soft skills like attention to detail, problem-solving, analytical skills, communication (written and verbal), time management, and organization. 

Previous professional experience 

Here’s where you’ll run down your work history and educational background. If you’re like most, deciding what to include and leave out in this section can be challenging. You want to ensure you tell enough of a story to make yourself an attractive candidate, and you also want to keep your resume short. Hiring managers won’t want to read a several-page resume. These days, longer resumes may not even make it through companies’ applicant tracking systems (ATS).  

A short yet comprehensive recap of your prior work experience is what you want. Focus on these core elements:  

• Use reverse chronological order: List your work experience starting with your most recent position. 
• Use action verbs and achievements: Use strong action verbs to describe your responsibilities and accomplishments. Quantify your achievements whenever possible. Did you improve efficiency by a certain percentage? Reduce errors? Save the company money? 
• Focus on specifics: Instead of listing generic duties, focus on specific bookkeeping tasks you performed for each position. 
• Highlight process improvements: Did you identify and implement ways to streamline bookkeeping processes? Mention these improvements and their impact (e.g., reduced processing time, increased accuracy). 
• Showcase technology skills: Highlight the accounting software programs you used in each position. 

Educational background 

In this section, be sure to emphasize all relevant degrees. Include the degree name, major, and the institution’s name and location. It’s generally best to keep it simple and avoid lengthy descriptions unless a particular course of study is particularly relevant to the job you’re pursuing. 

List of skills 

Within the skills section, create separate categories for technical skills, software proficiency, and soft skills. This will improve readability and allow you to highlight the specific software programs (QuickBooks, Xero, etc.) in which you’re proficient. 

Professional certifications 

The next focus area for an impactful bookkeeper resume should be your professional certificates. These are any industry accreditations or skill workshop graduation certificates you’ve gained throughout your career. 

Again, this may be an area where it’s tempting to include everything you’ve ever accomplished and straying into the weeds. To help keep things short and sweet, consider focusing only on your most relevant certifications, such as any bookkeeping or accounting certifications you hold. For instance, you might highlight your Certified Bookkeeper (CB) or Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designations if you have them. If you’re interested in gaining additional certifications and education, check out Intuit Academy. 

Finally, remember that the details matter—particularly for a detail-oriented profession like bookkeeping. So, be sure to include the issuing organization for each certification you list. 

Resume writing best practices 

On top of bookkeeping-specific resume tweaks, you’ll also want to ensure your resume is generally strong. As mentioned earlier, most companies today use ATS platforms to filter through the thousands of applications they receive. These best practices can help you grab the attention of the ATS—significantly increasing your odds of getting noticed: 

• Use keyword matching: Carefully review job descriptions and identify key skills, qualifications, and experience they mention. Use these keywords throughout your resume, particularly in your professional summary and experience descriptions. 
• Quantify your achievements: Don’t just list responsibilities. Use numbers and metrics to showcase the impact of your work. For example, instead of saying “processed invoices,” say “processed an average of 200 invoices per day, reducing processing time by 15%.” 
• Focus on relevant skills: While showcasing your range of skills, prioritize those most relevant to the specific job. Tailor your experience descriptions to highlight the skills and experience directly mentioned in the job description. 
• Use action verbs: Use strong action verbs to describe your responsibilities and accomplishments. Words like “managed,” “implemented,” “increased,” “streamlined,” and “reduced” demonstrate initiative and achievement. 
• Keep it concise and readable: Use language and formatting that’s concise and easy to read. Ideally, keep your resume to one or two pages. Use clear, straightforward language, avoiding jargon unless relevant to the specific job and industry. 
• Proofread carefully: Typos and grammatical errors can leave a negative impression. Proofread your resume meticulously before submitting it. Consider using spell-checking software and having someone else review it for clarity and typos. 

Update your resume to apply to bookkeeping jobs 

These strategies for crafting an impactful bookkeeper resume are simple, actionable tactics that can help you stand out from the rest of the job-seeking crowd. 

Once you finalize your resume, come check out Intuit. Join our Talent Community today or search for exciting remote bookkeeping opportunities, including QuickBooks Live Bookkeeping Experts. Professionals in these roles help small businesses thrive while enjoying flexible schedules from the comfort of home. 

Explore our current openings below.

QuickBooks Live Bookkeeping Expert (Remote/Year Round)

• 3+ years of bookkeeping and/or accounting experience
• 3+ years of QuickBooks Online experience
• Required Credentials/Certifications: QuickBooks Online Certification (QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor)
• Experience supporting Payroll, Sales Tax, or Tax Preparation is a plus
• Strong customer service skills for professional, friendly interaction through video and audio tools

QuickBooks Live Sr. Associate (Remote/Year Round)

• 1-3 years of bookkeeping and/or accounting experience
• Minimum 1 year of QuickBooks Online experience
• Required Credentials/Certifications: QuickBooks Online Certification (QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor)
• Strong customer service skills are essential for interacting through video and audio tools in a reassuring manner