ATS keywords for an accountant resume
Many employers keep applications in an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), where recruiters search and sort them by the skills the role needs. Use these terms where they honestly describe your experience, so your resume is easy to find and easy to read:
Key skills to highlight
- ▸Month-end and year-end close
- ▸Statutory and management reporting
- ▸BAS, GST and tax compliance
- ▸Reconciliations and general ledger maintenance
- ▸Budgeting, forecasting and variance analysis
Credentials Australian employers screen for
- ▸CPA Australia or Chartered Accountant (CA ANZ) status, or progress toward it
- ▸Bachelor of Commerce / Accounting (name the institution)
- ▸Named accounting software (Xero, MYOB, SAP, NetSuite) with proficiency level
- ▸Registered Tax/BAS Agent status where relevant
Common mistakes to avoid
- ▸Not stating CPA/CA status or study progress, it is a primary screening filter.
- ▸Listing software generically instead of the specific systems in the job ad.
- ▸Duties without numbers ('prepared reports') instead of scope and impact.
- ▸One resume for every role rather than mirroring each job ad's compliance language.
Accountant CV example: before and after
One experience entry, written twice. The numbers are illustrative, the structure is what matters.
Before
Accountant, 2021 to present. Responsible for day to day accounting, preparing reports and assisting with month-end. Process invoices, reconcile accounts and help with tax and compliance obligations. Liaise with clients and support the finance team as required.
There is no CPA or CA ANZ status for the screening filter to catch and no named software, so an ATS searching for 'CPA', 'Xero' or 'BAS' scores this at zero, and a finance manager cannot tell whether you have owned a close or only assisted with one.
After
Accountant | CPA Australia, full member 0XXXXXX (admitted 2023) | Registered BAS Agent 000XXXXXX
Mid-tier accounting firm, business services division of about 40 staff | February 2021 to present | Full time
- ▸Owned month-end close for a portfolio of 22 SME entities with combined turnover of approximately $85M, reducing average close time from nine working days to five.
- ▸Prepared statutory and management financial reporting, including annual financial statements and monthly board packs with variance analysis against budget and forecast.
- ▸Prepared and lodged quarterly BAS and GST reconciliations and annual income tax returns for companies, trusts and partnerships, supporting the partner review process.
- ▸Ran general ledger maintenance and balance sheet reconciliations across Xero and MYOB, and migrated 14 clients from MYOB to Xero with no loss of comparatives.
- ▸Supported external audit for three larger clients, preparing workpapers and lead schedules and clearing all queries within the audit timetable.
Same accountant, same client book. The rewrite states CPA status in the title line, names the actual systems the job ads search for, and gives the close a portfolio size and a before and after time.
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Frequently asked questions
Should I put CPA or CA on my accountant resume if I'm still studying?
Yes, state it as in-progress, e.g. 'CPA candidate (3 of 6 subjects complete)'. Australian employers screen on professional qualification status, so showing active progress keeps you in the pool.
Which accounting software should I list?
List the specific systems named in the job ad first (commonly Xero, MYOB, SAP or NetSuite), with your proficiency. ATS keyword-matches on exact software names, so 'accounting software' alone won't score.
How do I quantify accounting experience?
Use scope and outcomes: number of entities or ledgers managed, reporting cycle ownership, reduction in close time, value of reconciliations or audits supported. Numbers separate you from duty-list resumes.
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