You’ve got a brain for numbers and you’ve made it into the world of accountancy. If you’re ready to take things to a new level in your career, you've come to the right place. Let’s kick things off by taking a look at a Junior Accountant job description from Payscale:
Junior Accountants provide a vital service to various companies by accurately recording corporate finances. Typical daily job duties include reconciling company bank accounts, balancing financial records, and preparing monthly reports. They generally work with a team of other accountants and report to a senior accountant. The level of confidentiality and discretion required of Junior Accountants is great because they work with private company information and are given access to secure accounts.
If you think you have what it takes to fulfill the demands of the job role, you need to write a Junior Accountant resume that turns heads. This guide is full of useful tips and tricks you’ll need to write a compelling Junior Accountant resume. There’s even a Junior Account resume sample that you can use as inspiration.
How to write a resume
Start by getting the format right
First, you need to make sure that the format of your resume is on the mark. Hiring managers expect a specific structure when they are reviewing resumes. It’s smart not to stray from this as doing so could mean that the applicant tracking system can reject your application before the human hiring managers have had a chance to properly look at it.
With that in mind, your document should include:
Contact information
Resume header
Summary
Core competencies
Professional experience
Education section
Shortly, we will share our Junior Accountant resume sample and you can see how the above looks in practice. Including these sections – usually in this order – means that you will have a well-structured resume that is easy to read. That is good news for the hiring manager. At a mere glance, they will be able to see what experience and skills you have.
Learn how to write each resume section
Now that you know which sections you should include, let’s talk about what to write in each of them. If it’s been a while since you last applied for jobs, you may not be sure where to start. That’s okay – we have the advice you need.
Check out some key advice in these articles:
Learning what to write in each section puts you ahead of the rest. Many people approach resume writing in a haphazard manner. Don’t make that all too obvious mistake. Take the time to learn what you should be putting in each part to accentuate your real value.
Tailor your Junior Accountant resume to the job description
Different accountancy firms will have different clients, goals, and values. If you want to make sure that you’re a shoo-in for a vacancy, one of the easiest things you can do is tailor your resume to the role you want to land. Ahead of doing that, you will need to gather some information by dissecting the job description.
The next step is ensuring that your Junior Accountant resume meets the demands of the company. Review your application and see whether it aligns with their needs. Edit any parts that aren’t quite right for this particular business. By taking this approach, you are certain to create a resume that suits the employer in question.
Expert Tip
Optimize your resume for the ATS
An Applicant Tracking System, or ATS is software that filters incoming resumes. Before the hiring manager even looks at your application, it has to get past this gate. The program scans resumes looking for specific keywords and phrases. The more matches it finds, the more likely your resume is to “pass” through the system and into the employer’s inbox.
To beat the bots, you need to make sure your resume contains the right keywords. Go back to the original job advert and look for any words that stand out to you. Weaving these into the narrative of your resume gives you the best chance of getting past the ATS.
Use the right tone in your resume
The tone that you use in your Junior Accountant resume matters. You want to show that you are not just about the numbers – you have a personality too. While you want to take a formal approach to your writing, include engaging language that will pique the hiring manager’s interest. They will be tired of reading loads of dull and boring resumes. If you make yours more interesting to them, it will be like a breath of fresh air and you’re bound to land yourself an interview.
Junior Accountant resume example
Before you start writing your application, you need to know how it should look. You already know what sections you need to include, but let’s take things a step further. Take a peek at our Junior Accountant resume sample below for the creative inspiration that you need:
Name
Title
City, State or Country if international
Phone | Email
LinkedIn URL
JUNIOR ACCOUNTANT PROFESSIONAL
A highly talented Junior Accountant professional with demonstrated experience in reconciliations, AP/AR, reporting, P&L analysis and the management of general accounting functions. Superior analytical skills with an expertise in transaction/workflow details in support of process and profit improvement. Collaborate effectively with business managers to resolve variances, refine forecasts, and identify opportunities for improvement. Thrives in fast-paced environments handling numerous deadlines and projects while ensuring high-quality execution. Excellent communicator, presenter and works well with individuals at all levels of a corporation. Out-of-the-box thinker with the ability to integrate technology and best practices to increase accuracy and efficiency of accounting practices.
CORE COMPETENCIES
Accounts Payable
Balance Sheet
Technical Analysis
Accounts Receivable
Account Reconciliation
Process Improvement
P&L Analysis
Cash Flow Projections
Financial Statements
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Junior Accounting Clerk
ZipJob, New York NY | Year to Year
Responsibilities
Assist in compilation of statutory accounts up to P&L and Balance Sheet stage for all companies within the group and assist in consolidating these accounts based on AASB.
Oversee transaction and general ledger account reconciliation processes.
Update the budget model to account for significant changes in the business environment.
Support organizational process improvement activities including identification, analysis, development and documentation of process improvements.
Prepare weekly cash flow projection.
Prepare and lodge monthly BAS returns.
Prepare and lodge FBT returns.
Prepare group accounts audit pack for the half year audit.
Participate in monthly stock take with operation team.
Analyzed deficiencies and recommended improvements to senior management: numerous ideas were adopted and used as standards to improve efficiency, workflow and accuracy.
Bookkeeper Intern
ZipJob, New York NY | Year to Year
Responsibilities
Prepared journals, monthly accruals and general ledger reconciliations with extreme accuracy.
Managed revenue recognition and ensured compliance with contractual terms and conditions.
Prepared and reconciled unearned revenue and accrued revenue schedules.
Maintained asset register; reviewed expenditure accounts and identify asset acquisitions.
Reconciled fixed asset subsidiary ledger to general ledger.
Reconciled multiple bank accounts.
Prepared and lodged monthly BAS returns.
EDUCATION
Complete School Name, City, St/Country: List Graduation Years If Within the Last Ten Years
Complete Degree Name (Candidate) – Major (GPA: List if over 3.3)
Relevant Coursework: List coursework taken (even include those you are planning on taking)
Awards/Honors: List any awards, honors or big achievements
Clubs/Activities: List clubs and activities in which you participated
Relevant Projects: List 2-3 projects you have worked on
Key hard & soft skills for a Junior Accountant
Accountancy is a technical field. However, that doesn’t mean that all of your skills need to be. When you’re writing a well-rounded resume, you need to include a healthy mixture of both hard and soft skills. Your hard skills will apply directly to the role at hand.
For example, you may list “technical analysis,” “accounts receivable,” and “account reconciliation.”
However, few Junior Accountants work in complete solitude. You may be part of a small team, report to a supervisor or manager, or even work within a large department. Whatever the case, your soft skills allow you to get the job done smoothly and effectively. These are often transferable skills that can suit almost any industry.
Examples may include “excellent communication” or “interpersonal skills”. Don’t be afraid to mix things up here.
Accounts Payable
Balance Sheet
Technical Analysis
Accounts Receivable
Excellent Communication
Account Reconciliation
Process Improvement
P&L Analysis
Interpersonal Skills
Cash Flow Projections
Financial Statements
Microsoft Excel
Mathematical Proficiency
Bookkeeping
Financial Software
While you don’t need to include all of the above, you should make sure that you have a varied list of skills in your Core Competencies section. Be sure to tailor your list to the demands of the job for which you are applying. To do so, you may choose to return to the original job description and highlight any essential criteria you find there. Assuming that you do boast these specific talents, you should include them on your Junior Accountant resume.
Summary & last words
Crafting a Junior Accountant resume that wins over a hiring manager can be a challenge. However, you’re not in this alone. In this guide, you have learned the best expert-backed advice on how to write your Junior Accountant resume from scratch. If you want to make the process even easier, consider working with one of our expert resume writers now.
Searching for more job-seeking advice? We have just what you’ve been looking for. Why not head over and check out our selection of handy cover letter tips and examples? Make sure your entire application package is ticking the right boxes to boost your chance of success.
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