A real resume example showing how we transform audit and financial management experience into proof employers trust
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A CPA resume must prove both technical accounting expertise and strategic financial leadership. Hiring managers scan for audit experience, GAAP/IFRS compliance, financial planning capabilities, and industry-specific knowledge. This sample demonstrates progression from Big 4 audit to corporate finance management with valuation and M&A expertise.
Most cpa resumes get rejected not because of ATS software, but because they don't prove you're better than the other 29 applicants. Generic bullets like "managed construction projects" don't differentiate you — quantified achievements do.
See how we transform generic statements into interview-winning proof:
Shows cross-functional collaboration, technical system knowledge, and business impact. Demonstrates ability to lead initiatives beyond basic accounting tasks.
Quantifies volume (15+ analyses, 10+ impairment reviews), shows technical standards knowledge, and demonstrates senior-level valuation expertise.
Shows team leadership (2-10 auditors), multi-standard expertise (GAAP, French GAAP, IFRS), and measurable impact (10+ companies improved).
Professional resume writers transform cpa resumes by analyzing job postings for required keywords, extracting specific achievements through targeted questions, quantifying impact with dollar values and percentages, and positioning you as the solution to employer problems.
We identify exactly what hiring managers search for:
Our 1-on-1 interview uncovers:
We find the numbers that prove ROI:
Your resume proves you solve employer problems:
Hear how our writers extract achievements from certified public accountants.
The cpa resume you need depends on your career stage:
Collaborated with the IT department to implement and enhance the SAP loan module, ensuring accurate calculations and compliance.
Established a robust accounting system for a new loan program, improving accounting accuracy and reporting capabilities. Reviewed the monthly closing process and journal entries, improving accounting practices and enhancing transparency.
Every bullet on this resume was created through this same process.
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See how our interview process uncovered achievements and turned them into interview-winning proof.
Get Your Resume Transformed
A complete cpa resume is typically 2 pages and includes a professional summary, core competencies, detailed work experience with quantified achievements, education, and certifications. Here's both pages of an actual resume created through our interview process.
The cpa resume you need depends on your career stage:
Your resume needs to prove readiness for CPA-level responsibilities including audit leadership, financial analysis, and compliance oversight.
Your resume needs to differentiate you through strategic impact, client management, and leadership contributions.
To write a cpa resume that gets interviews, focus on four key sections: a professional summary with your project value range and specialty, a skills section matching your target job postings, work experience with quantified achievements using the Problem-Solution-Result format, and relevant certifications like PMP, OSHA 30, or LEED.
Most CPA resume guides give you generic templates. We interview you to extract the specific achievements that prove your value - like managing 6 audit engagements simultaneously or delivering 15+ valuation analyses.
Your summary must signal both technical expertise and strategic capability immediately.
Include years of experience, specialty areas (audit, tax, advisory), industry focus, and key standards expertise (GAAP, IFRS). Lead with your most impressive scope metric.
For those completing CPA certification, emphasize exam completion and relevant experience.
For experienced CPAs, emphasize leadership scope and strategic contributions.
Skills must demonstrate both technical mastery and business acumen.
Lead with technical competencies (GAAP, IFRS, audit methodology) and include strategic skills (financial planning, risk management, stakeholder engagement).
Technical skills establish credibility - show depth in core CPA competencies.
Strategic skills differentiate senior CPAs - include leadership and advisory capabilities.
Show progression from technical execution to strategic leadership.
Lead with engagement scope (client count, team size, revenue). Quantify findings, improvements, and business impact delivered.
Demonstrate growing responsibility and technical depth.
Demonstrate leadership impact and business value creation.
Credentials signal expertise level and commitment to professional development.
Include CPA license with state and number, relevant degrees (Accounting, MBA), and additional certifications (CMA, CISA, CFE). This resume shows CPA, MBA, and Financial Modeling certification.
CPA completion and supporting education demonstrate commitment.
Advanced credentials and continuing education show ongoing development.
Skip the guesswork — let our expert resume writers ask these questions for you.
Schedule Your Resume InterviewA professional resume interview extracts cpa achievements by probing into specific projects, uncovering the goals you were trying to achieve, documenting the systems and processes you implemented, and surfacing challenges you overcame. This structured approach reveals accomplishments you'd never think to include.
Include projects that demonstrate scope, stakes, and significance. We probe to understand the project value, team size, and your specific role in making it successful.
Connect your work to business outcomes by documenting the company's objectives and how your contributions achieved them. We help you quantify that impact.
Document the specific systems, processes, and strategies you implemented. This is where your expertise becomes visible and differentiates you from other candidates.
Describe challenges you faced and how you solved them. Problem-solving examples prove you can handle the obstacles in your next role.
No cookie-cutter calls. Your interview length matches your career complexity. We ask the questions you can't ask yourself.
CPA jobs are moderately competitive, averaging 30 applicants per position. With most job seekers applying to 20+ roles, you're competing against approximately 600 candidates for the same jobs.
Data based on LinkedIn job postings, updated December 2025. View full job market data →
Here's the math most job seekers don't do:
Your resume needs to stand out against 600 other accounting professionals.
Most of them list the same projects. The same certifications. The same responsibilities.
What makes you different is the story behind the projects.
Accounting Professionals We've Helped Are Now Working At
From general contractors to specialty trades, our clients land roles at top accounting firms across North America.
80% of accounting positions are never advertised. Get your resume directly into the hands of recruiters filling confidential searches.
When you purchase our Resume Distribution service, your resume goes to 400+ recruiters specializing in accounting — included in Advanced & Ultimate packages.
Nationwide
Tampa, FL
| Agency | Location |
|---|---|
RH Robert Half |
Nationwide |
KF Kforce Finance |
Tampa, FL |
HR Hays Recruitment |
Nationwide |
RA Randstad |
Nationwide |
AD Adecco |
Nationwide |
A CPA resume should include your license number and state, audit or advisory experience, industry specializations, and technical standards expertise (GAAP, IFRS). Highlight engagement scope, team sizes managed, and specific achievements like control improvements or cost savings identified.
Focus on engagement variety and leadership progression. Include number of clients served, team sizes managed, industries covered, and promotion timeline. Quantify your impact with metrics like audit hours managed or process improvements implemented.
CPA positions average 30 applicants per job, which is lower than general accountant roles due to the certification requirement. However, senior CPA roles in corporate finance or Big 4 firms remain highly competitive.
Yes. Include "CPA" after your name in the header (e.g., "John Smith, CPA"). This immediately signals your credential. Also include your license number and state in the certifications section.
Emphasize transferable skills: financial analysis, internal controls, compliance expertise, and stakeholder communication. This resume shows a transition from audit to finance management, highlighting business valuation and strategic planning capabilities.
Include ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite), financial reporting tools (Hyperion, HFM), Excel advanced functions, and data analytics capabilities. This sample showcases SAP, CaseWare, and Hyperion Financial Management expertise.
A resume interview uncovers hidden achievements by asking targeted questions about your projects, goals, systems, and challenges. Most professionals dismiss their best work as "just doing my job" — our writers probe to surface metrics you didn't track, impact you forgot, and value you delivered.
"Tell me about the SAP implementation you mentioned. What was your specific role?"
"I collaborated with IT to implement and enhance the SAP loan module for a new loan program. We needed to ensure accurate calculations and compliance from day one."
"What was the impact on the accounting operations?"
Collaborated with the IT department to implement and enhance the SAP loan module, ensuring accurate calculations and compliance.
Established a robust accounting system for a new loan program, improving accounting accuracy and reporting capabilities. Reviewed the monthly closing process and journal entries, improving accounting practices and enhancing transparency.
"You mentioned valuation work. What types of valuations did you perform and how many?"
"I delivered more than 15 purchase price allocation analyses for financial reporting. I also did comparable company analyses for various business combinations."
"What standards did you follow and what was the complexity involved?"
Successfully delivered more than 15 purchase price allocation analyses, along with comparable company analyses, for financial reporting purposes.
Played a key role in the preparation of over 10 Goodwill impairment analyses in line with FASB ASC 350 and IAS 36, ensuring accurate financial reporting.
"Tell me about the audit teams you've managed. What was the scope?"
"I managed audit engagements for industrial and shipping companies - three of each. I oversaw teams of 2 to 10 auditors depending on the engagement."
"What standards were involved and what did you achieve?"
Managed audit engagements for three industrial and three shipping companies, applying local GAAP, French GAAP, and IFRS standards for legal compliance and consolidation purposes.
Oversaw a team of 2 to 10 auditors, ensuring rigorous standards and efficiency throughout the process. Diagnosed accounting control deficiencies for over 10 companies, resulting in substantial process enhancements and increased operational efficiency.
With 9+ years of accounting experience, you have stories worth telling.
Our interview turns them into proof that gets you hired.
Book your interview and get your first draft in 3 business days.
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