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finance
Accounting Controller
Resume Example
4.5 / 5
Emily Wong
Senior Accounting Controller
[email protected] | +1 (555) 987-6543 | linkedin.com/in/emily-wong | emilywong.com | San Francisco, CA
Professional Summary
Accounting Controller with 6+ years of experience leading month-end close, financial reporting, budgeting, and audit preparation for growing technology companies. Reduced monthly close time by 4 days, strengthened variance analysis, and improved forecast accuracy by partnering with operations and leadership teams. Skilled in SAP Financials, Oracle Cloud, Workday Financials, QuickBooks Online, Power BI, and Excel financial modeling.
Work Experience
Senior Accounting Controller
01/2022
Tech Company Inc
San Francisco, CA
•
Reduced monthly close from 10 days to 6 by standardizing reconciliations, close checklists, and review ownership across accounting teams.
•
Prepared monthly financial reporting packages for leadership, improving variance explanations and giving budget owners clearer spend visibility.
•
Built automated forecast and cash-flow dashboards in Excel and Power BI, saving 40 hours per month in manual reporting work.
•
Coordinated audit schedules, account support, and compliance documentation, helping complete the annual audit without material post-close adjustments.
Accounting Controller
06/2020 - 12/2021
Startup Firm LLC
San Francisco, CA
•
Implemented a scalable accounting setup for a new business unit, including chart of accounts, approval workflows, and core financial statements.
•
Improved budget tracking and variance review routines, helping department leaders stay within 90% of approved operating plans.
Accountant
12/2018 - 05/2020
Finance Solutions Corp
San Francisco, CA
•
Processed reconciliations and journal entries for high-volume accounts, reducing recurring posting errors by 50%.
•
Partnered with finance and operations colleagues to streamline monthly accruals and close tasks, saving 15 hours per month.
Skills
SAP Financials, Oracle Cloud, Workday Financials, QuickBooks Online, Tableau, Power BI, Excel Financial Modeling, Automated Reporting Tools
Education
Bachelor of Science in Accounting
09/2013 - 05/2017
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA
Projects
Financial Dashboard for Personal Budgeting
Developed a custom financial dashboard using Power BI to manage personal expenses and investments, resulting in better financial planning and savings.
Automated Tax Filing System
Created an automated system for tax filing using Python scripts to gather and submit necessary documents, saving significant time during tax season.
Certifications
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
06/2023
Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
10/2024
Why This Template Works
This resume format is designed specifically to optimize the presentation of an Accounting Controller's career highlights for both human readers and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). By including relevant keywords such as accountant, financial analyst, and budget management in a clear, concise manner, it enhances the visibility of your skills and experience. The structured layout with sections like Summary, Experience, Education, Skills, and Certifications ensures that every piece of information is easily digestible for ATS software while also providing a comprehensive overview to hiring managers.
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How to Write This Resume
Expert guidelines and best practices for each section of your resume.
01
Contact
Contact
First Name Last Name City, State, Zip Code Phone Number | Email Address LinkedIn Profile URL | Portfolio URL (Optional)
General Guidelines
Your contact information is the first section recruiters see. Keep it concise and professional. Ensure your email address is appropriate (e.g., [email protected]). Include your LinkedIn profile for a comprehensive view of your professional journey. A portfolio or personal website is recommended for creative, technical, or design roles.
Avoid This
Do not include your full physical address (street number/name) for privacy reasons. Avoid including personal details like marital status, age, photo, or social security number unless specifically required in your country. Don't use unprofessional email addresses.
Real Examples
See clear examples of how to format contact details effectively.
Don't
John Doe 1234 Random St, Apt 56 New York, NY 10001 [email protected] github.com/aliciacode Single, 28 years old
Do
John Doe New York, NY (555) 123-4567 | [email protected] linkedin.com/in/johndoe | johndoe.com
Quick Tips
- Use a professional email address (firstname.lastname format)
- Ensure your voicemail is set up and professional
- Double-check your phone number and email for typos
- Make your LinkedIn URL custom (linkedin.com/in/yourname)
02
Summary
Summary
Professional Title
Result-oriented [Role Name] with [Number] years of experience in [Key Skills/Industries]. Proven track record of [Major Achievement]. Skilled in [Key Technologies/Skills]. Committed to delivering [Specific Value] for [Target Industry/Company type].
General Guidelines
Avoid vague finance language; each bullet should explain the action, context, and business result. Tailor the summary to the target role and keep it concise.
Avoid This
Avoid generic objectives like 'Looking for a challenging role to grow my skills.' Recruiters want to know what value you bring to them, not what you want from them. Don't use first-person pronouns (I, me, my). Keep it concise and impactful.
Real Examples
Compare a weak objective with a strong professional summary.
Don't
Objective: I am a hard-working individual looking for an Accounting Controller position where I can learn new things and advance my career.
Do
Accounting Controller with 6+ years of experience leading month-end close, financial reporting, budgeting, and audit preparation for growing technology companies. Reduced monthly close time by 4 days, strengthened variance analysis, and improved forecast accuracy by partnering with operations and leadership teams. Skilled in SAP Financials, Oracle Cloud, Workday Financials, QuickBooks Online, Power BI, and Excel financial modeling.
Quick Tips
- Quantify close-cycle, reporting, budget, audit, or reconciliation improvements when you can support the numbers.
- Show the ERP, reporting, and spreadsheet tools you used to improve accuracy, visibility, or speed.
- Connect leadership to outcomes, such as cleaner approvals, stronger controls, or better budget-owner decisions.
- Avoid vague finance language; each bullet should explain the action, context, and business result.
03
Skills
Skills
Technical Skills
- Languages: [List]
- Frameworks: [List]
- Tools: [List]
Soft Skills
- [Skill 1], [Skill 2], [Skill 3]
General Guidelines
Group your skills logically (e.g., Languages, Frameworks, Tools). Focus on hard skills relevant to the job. List skills in order of proficiency or relevance. Soft skills are better demonstrated through bullet points in your experience section rather than a bare list.
Avoid This
Do not list skills you are not comfortable using in an interview. Avoid using progress bars or percentages to rate your skills (e.g., "Java: 80%") as they are subjective and often misinterpreted. Don't include outdated technologies unless specifically required.
Real Examples
Don't
Oracle, SAP, QuickBooks; Java, Python;
Do
Advanced Financial Software: SAP, Oracle Cloud Data Analysis Tools: Tableau, Power BI
Quick Tips
- Show the ERP, reporting, and spreadsheet tools you used to improve accuracy, visibility, or speed.
- Connect leadership to outcomes, such as cleaner approvals, stronger controls, or better budget-owner decisions.
- Avoid vague finance language; each bullet should explain the action, context, and business result.
04
Experience
Experience
Job Title | Company Name | Location Month Year – Month Year
- Action Verb + Context + Result (Quantified)
- Led [Project] resulting in [Outcome]...
- Collaborated with [Team] to implement [Feature]...
General Guidelines
This is the core of your resume. Use reverse-chronological order (most recent first). Start each bullet with a strong action verb. Focus on achievements and impact, not just duties. Use numbers to quantify your impact (dollars, percentages, time saved, users affected). Show progression and increasing responsibility.
Avoid This
Avoid passive language like "Responsible for..." or "Tasked with...." Don't list every single daily task; focus on significant contributions and measurable outcomes. Avoid jargon that recruiters outside your field won't understand.
Real Examples
Practical example showing do's and don'ts for experiences
Don't
Managed the budgeting process, which involved creating spreadsheets and sending emails to stakeholders.
Do
Reduced monthly close from 10 days to 6 by standardizing reconciliations, close checklists, and review ownership across accounting teams.
Don't
Ensured compliance with financial regulations.
Do
Coordinated audit schedules, account support, and compliance documentation, helping complete the annual audit without material post-close adjustments.
Quick Tips
- Quantify close-cycle, reporting, budget, audit, or reconciliation improvements when you can support the numbers.
- Show the ERP, reporting, and spreadsheet tools you used to improve accuracy, visibility, or speed.
- Connect leadership to outcomes, such as cleaner approvals, stronger controls, or better budget-owner decisions.
- Avoid vague finance language; each bullet should explain the action, context, and business result.
05
Education
Education
Degree Name | University Name | Location Month Year – Month Year
- Relevant Coursework: [Course 1], [Course 2]
- Honors/Awards: [Award Name]
- GPA: X.X (if above 3.5)
General Guidelines
List your highest degree first. If you have significant work experience, keep the education section brief. Include your GPA only if it is above 3.5 or if you are a recent graduate. Highlight relevant coursework, academic projects, honors, or leadership roles.
Avoid This
Do not include high school details if you have a college degree. Avoid listing every single course you took; select only the most relevant ones. Don't include graduation dates from decades ago if age discrimination is a concern in your field.
Real Examples
Practical example showing do's and don'ts for educations
Don't
Bachelor of Arts | University of California, San Francisco | San Francisco September 2013 – May 2017
- Relevant Coursework: Basic Accounting Principles, Introduction to Business, Advanced Calculus, Philosophy 101
- GPA: 3.4
Do
Bachelor of Science in Accounting | San Francisco State University | San Francisco September 2013 – May 2017
- Relevant Coursework: Financial Reporting, Managerial Accounting, Taxation
- Honors/Awards: Dean's List (Fall 2014 - Spring 2016)
- GPA: 3.8
Quick Tips
- Focus on degrees that are most relevant to your current career path and omit unrelated academic achievements.
- Emphasize any honors, awards, or scholarships received during your studies as they can demonstrate academic excellence and distinction.
- If you have completed additional training or certifications in accounting after graduation, list them separately under a 'Certifications' section.
- Include only the most recent and relevant information about education unless previous degrees directly relate to current job responsibilities.
06
Projects
Projects
Project Name | Tools/Technologies Used
- Briefly describe what you created and its purpose
- Highlight specific challenges you solved
- Link to portfolio or demo if available
General Guidelines
Projects are excellent for demonstrating practical skills, especially if you lack work experience or are changing careers. Include a link to your portfolio or demo if possible. Focus on projects that show problem-solving skills and relevant tools for the target role.
Avoid This
Don't include trivial tutorials unless you significantly expanded on them. Avoid projects that are outdated, incomplete, or irrelevant to the role you're applying for. Don't just list technologies—explain what you created and why it matters.
Real Examples
Practical example showing do's and don'ts for projects
Don't
Created a basic spreadsheet using Excel for a personal budget, demonstrating basic financial management skills.
Do
Developed an automated financial dashboard in Power BI that integrates data from multiple sources to provide real-time financial insights. This project helped streamline reporting and improved financial decision-making.
Quick Tips
- Clearly define the scope of your project and its objectives.
- Highlight specific problems you encountered and how you overcame them.
- Emphasize the tools used in the project, but also explain their relevance to real-world applications.
- Include links or references that allow recruiters to see more details about your projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this role and how to best present it on your resume.
Strong accounting controllers combine month-end close ownership, financial reporting, budgeting, variance analysis, audit preparation, compliance knowledge, and fluency with ERP and reporting tools.
Use specific outcomes such as faster close cycles, fewer reconciliation errors, cleaner audit support, improved forecast accuracy, or better budget visibility. Keep metrics truthful and tied to your real scope.
Include CPA, CMA, or relevant accounting credentials when you have them. If you do not, emphasize hands-on close, reporting, systems, and audit experience instead.
Mirror the job description language around close, reporting, controls, ERP systems, leadership, budgeting, and compliance, then connect those keywords to concrete achievements.
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