Bookkeeper Resume Example & Writing Guide
Use this Bookkeeper resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.
Bookkeepers are the accountants of small business. They keep track of cash flow, reconcile bank statements, and ensure that companies stay compliant with regulations. If you have excellent organizational skills, a knack for math, and a desire to help businesses succeed, bookkeeping could be the perfect career for you.
Whether you’re looking for your first job or ready for a promotion, writing a great bookkeeper resume is a critical step in your job search. Here are tips and an example to help you write a resume that hiring managers will love.
How to Write a Bookkeeper Resume
Here’s how to write a bookkeeper resume of your own.
Write Compelling Bullet Points
The best way to make your resume stand out is to use specific numbers and statistics to demonstrate your experience and skills. So rather than saying you “managed accounts payable,” you could say that you “managed accounts payable for $10M+ annual budget, processing over 1,000 invoices per month for 20+ vendors.”
The second bullet point is much more specific and provides a clear picture of what you did and the results of your work. And that’s what hiring managers want to see—quantifiable evidence of your abilities and experience.
Related: What Is a Bookkeeper? How to Become One
Identify and Include Relevant Keywords
When you submit your resume online, it’s likely that it will be scanned by an applicant tracking system (ATS) for certain keywords. These programs search for specific terms related to the job opening in order to determine whether or not you are a good fit. If your resume doesn’t have enough of the right keywords, your application might not even be seen by a human.
The best way to make sure your resume contains all of the right keywords is to read through job postings and take note of the terms that are used most often. Then, make sure to include those same terms on your resume. Here are some of the most popular keywords for bookkeeper positions:
- Bookkeeping
- Accounting
- Account Reconciliation
- Invoicing
- QuickBooks
- Accounts Payable
- Accounts Receivable (AR)
- Financial Reporting
- Journal Entries
- Payroll
- General Ledger
- Financial Accounting
- Financial Analysis
- Financial Statements
- Financial Statements Preparation
- Auditing
- Financial Audits
- Bookkeeping Services
- Accounts Payable & Receivable
- Spreadsheets
- Bank Reconciliation
- Tax
- SAP Products
- Sage Products
- Financial Reporting & Analysis
- Customer Service
- Management
- Microsoft Access
- Sage 50cloud
- Team Leadership
Showcase Your Technical Skills
The technical skills section of your resume is one of the most important sections to focus on, as it can be the deciding factor in whether or not you get an interview. Bookkeepers are typically expected to be proficient in programs like QuickBooks, Excel, and Word, so make sure you list these programs and your corresponding level of expertise. Additionally, if you have experience with other programs or systems that are relevant to the role, be sure to list them.
Related: How Much Does a Bookkeeper Make?
Remember The Basics
As you write your resume, it’s important to keep a few basic rules in mind.
Make It Easy to Scan
There are a few things you can do to make your resume easier to read, such as left aligning your text, using a standard font type and size, and using bullets instead of paragraphs to list your experiences. You should also try to keep your bullets under two lines, use digits for numbers, and have a separate skills section. Finally, make sure you have some white space on your resume to help it look less overwhelming.
Be Concise
There is no one set length for a resume – it can be anywhere from one to two pages long. However, most resumes should only be one page long if you are a recent graduate or have less than five to eight years of professional experience. If you have more experience than that, you may need a two-page resume to adequately list all of your qualifications. When trimming down your resume, make sure to remove any irrelevant information, including filler words and personal details.
Proofread
Proofreading your resume is essential to ensuring that it looks its best. There are a few key things to watch for: spelling mistakes, punctuation mistakes, and grammatical mistakes. You should also be aware of easily confused words, such as their/there/they’re and to/too/two. Spell checking your resume is a good start, but you should also have someone else proofread it for you to catch any mistakes that you may have missed.
Consider a Summary
When it comes to your resume, using a summary statement can be extremely beneficial. It allows you to briefly explain who you are, what you’ve done, and what you’re looking for. By doing so, you can provide context for your experience and make it easier for potential employers to see how you might be a good fit for their organization. Additionally, well-crafted summaries can help to showcase your most relevant skills and experience, which can give you an edge over the competition. If you’re looking to make the most of your resume, using a summary statement is a great way to do it.
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