The Practical Guide to Writing an Accounting Intern Resume

Landing that first accounting internship feels like trying to balance a ledger with missing numbers. Breaking into the field requires more than just your coursework and GPA on paper.

Are you wondering how to stand out in a sea of qualified candidates? Your resume needs to showcase your practical knowledge and eagerness to learn, even without years of experience.

Resume Target specializes in helping accounting interns translate classroom excellence into business value. We'll help you craft a resume that highlights your relevant skills and demonstrates your potential to contribute from day one.

What Does an Accounting Intern Do?

As the first step into the world of professional finance, accounting interns play a vital role in keeping businesses financially healthy by managing essential tasks like bookkeeping, financial analysis, and tax preparation support.

In this entry-level position, you'll work alongside seasoned accountants to reconcile bank statements, process accounts payable and receivable, and assist with creating financial reports that help businesses make informed decisions about their money.

Whether you're pursuing your accounting degree or exploring a career change, an accounting internship serves as your launching pad into the dynamic world of finance, offering hands-on experience that can lead to roles like staff accountant, financial analyst, or even Chief Financial Officer.

Accounting Intern Salary Guide

Let's talk about the exciting earning potential in your accounting internship journey! Your path as an accounting intern in California opens doors to valuable experience and competitive compensation, with opportunities to grow your earnings as you develop your skills and expertise in the field.

Accounting Intern Salary Ranges by Experience:

• Entry Level: $20,232
• Mid-Career: $28,706
• Professional: $37,180
• Senior Professional: $43,262
• Executive/Partner: $49,345

Figures from: ZipRecruiter

Career Advancement in Accounting Intern

Starting as an Accounting Intern opens doors to a rewarding financial career. Your internship experience combines hands-on work with networking opportunities, setting you up for future success in accounting.

Your Accounting Intern Career Timeline

• Entry-level to Junior role: Accounting Intern to Junior Accountant (1-2 years)
• Mid-level role: Staff Accountant to Senior Accountant (2-5 years)
• Senior role: Accounting Manager (5-8 years)
• Executive role: Finance Director (8-12 years)
• Top role: Chief Financial Officer (12-15+ years)

Skills That Fast-Track Your Accounting Intern Career

To accelerate your accounting career beyond the basics, you'll need to master both technical expertise and essential soft skills that set you apart in this competitive field.

- Advanced proficiency in accounting software (QuickBooks, SAP) - Tax preparation and compliance knowledge - Financial statement analysis and reporting - Strong attention to detail and analytical thinking

Getting Started as a Accounting Intern

Breaking into accounting starts with mastering fundamental bookkeeping skills and gaining hands-on experience through internships at firms where you can apply classroom knowledge to real-world financial scenarios.

Entry-Level Roles Leading to Accounting Intern

To position yourself for success as an accounting intern, you'll need to develop a strong foundation in bookkeeping fundamentals and tax preparation software, while demonstrating your ability to work both independently and as part of a collaborative team.

Essential Education and Certifications for Accounting Interns

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA): The gold standard in accounting credentials requiring 150 credit hours of education, passing a four-part exam, and meeting state-specific requirements. This certification opens doors to higher salaries and advanced career opportunities in public accounting.
• Certified Management Accountant (CMA): A prestigious certification focused on financial planning, analysis, and strategic management. Requires a bachelor's degree, two years of professional experience, and passing a two-part exam covering financial planning and analytics.
• Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA): Perfect for tech-savvy accountants, this certification validates expertise in information systems auditing, control, and security. Requires five years of experience in information systems auditing and passing a comprehensive exam.
• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting: The foundation for any accounting career, providing essential knowledge in financial accounting, taxation, and business principles. Look for programs accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

Requirements from Coursera

Where are Accounting Intern Jobs in the US?

From bustling Jersey City to sunny California, accounting firms across the US are actively recruiting future finance stars.

Top Spots Hiring Accounting Interns

• Jersey City, NJ: Highest intern-to-population ratio with just 94 citizens per internship opportunity, driven by proximity to NYC's financial district
• Fremont, CA: Tech-heavy Bay Area creates strong demand with 97 citizens per internship position
• Irving, TX: Growing business hub offering 1 internship per 150 residents, with multiple Fortune 500 headquarters

Figures from StandOut CV

How to Write an Accounting Intern Resume

Struggling to create a resume that stands out for accounting internship positions when you're just starting your career in finance and accounting? This comprehensive, section-by-section guide will show you exactly how to highlight your relevant coursework, academic achievements, and any practical experience to create a resume that catches the attention of accounting firms.

Start with a Powerful Accounting Intern Resume Summary

If you're like most aspiring accounting professionals, trying to write a compelling resume summary feels as challenging as mastering complex Excel formulas on your first try.

While you may have impressive academic achievements and relevant coursework in accounting principles, translating these foundational skills into a concise summary that catches a hiring manager's attention requires a strategic approach that showcases both your technical knowledge and eagerness to learn.

Questions to help write your Accounting Intern Resume:

How would you describe your current blend of accounting coursework, technical skills, and any practical experience that makes you stand out as an accounting intern candidate?

Reason: This helps frame your academic foundation while highlighting relevant technical abilities, creating a comprehensive snapshot of your preparedness for an accounting internship role.

What aspects of accounting and financial analysis most interest you, and how do these align with the type of internship experience you're seeking?

Reason: This question helps you articulate your professional direction and demonstrate genuine interest in the field, showing potential employers that you've thought carefully about your career path.

How would you characterize your understanding of accounting principles and software, combined with your soft skills like attention to detail and analytical thinking?

Reason: This enables you to showcase both your technical knowledge and essential soft skills that are crucial in accounting, providing a well-rounded picture of your potential value as an intern.

Resume summary examples

• Detail-oriented and analytical professional with 2 years of experience as an Accounting Intern. Oversees accounts payable processing, month-end reconciliations, and financial statement preparation for a $50M revenue organization while streamlining documentation workflows. Partners with senior accountants, external auditors, and cross-functional teams to reduce processing time by 35% and maintain 99.9% accuracy in financial records.
• Methodical and results-driven professional with 1.5 years of experience as an Accounting Intern. Manages general ledger entries, expense report auditing, and accounts receivable monitoring for multiple business units with combined transactions of $25M annually while implementing automated reconciliation processes. Collaborates with finance managers, compliance officers, and department heads to optimize cash flow management and reduce outstanding receivables by 40%.

List Your Key Skills as an Accounting Intern

As an aspiring accounting professional, you'll need to demonstrate both your foundational knowledge of accounting principles and your practical experience with essential tools and software.

Your skills section should balance technical abilities like proficiency in Excel and QuickBooks with fundamental accounting competencies such as accounts payable/receivable processing, bank reconciliations, and data entry accuracy.

Accounting Intern resume skills examples

• QuickBooks Proficiency
• Attention to Detail
• Microsoft Excel Advanced Functions
• Financial Statement Preparation
• Account Reconciliation
• Accounts Payable/Receivable
• Cross-functional Team Collaboration

How to Organize Work Experience on an Accounting Intern Resume

Showcase your budding accounting career by organizing your internship experience into three powerful sections: a concise role overview that sets the stage, measurable achievements that demonstrate your impact, and core responsibilities that highlight your growing expertise in financial operations.

Highlight Your Impactful Accounting Intern Achievements

Many accounting interns struggle to demonstrate their value when they have limited professional experience and few completed projects to showcase. Transform your internship experiences into powerful achievements by connecting your daily tasks to measurable improvements in accuracy, efficiency, and bottom-line impact.

How to write accomplishments for a Accounting Intern resume:

• Quantify Your Achievements: Include specific numbers and percentages to demonstrate impact. Example: "Reconciled 200+ monthly accounts with 99.8% accuracy"or "Processed 75+ expense reports weekly, reducing processing time by 35%"
• Add Context: Follow the situation-action-result formula to provide clear value. Describe the challenge, your specific actions, and the positive outcome to show problem-solving abilities and impact on the organization
• Start Strong: Begin accomplishments with powerful action verbs. Use "Analyzed financial statements to identify discrepancies,""Streamlined accounts payable processes,""Implemented new Excel macros for reporting,""Collaborated with senior accountants on audit preparation,"and "Developed automated solutions for month-end closing"
• Use the Right Tense: Write current internship accomplishments in present tense and previous experiences in past tense. Maintain consistency throughout each entry to demonstrate progression of responsibilities

Examples of accomplishments for an Accounting Intern resume

• Streamlined accounts payable process by implementing digital filing system that reduced processing time by 40% and eliminated paper waste, resulting in annual savings of $3,000 in supplies and storage costs
• Reconciled over 200 vendor accounts within first month, identifying and correcting $15,000 in billing discrepancies while maintaining 99.9% accuracy rate in data entry and documentation
• Developed automated Excel spreadsheet templates for monthly financial reporting that reduced preparation time by 5 hours per week and were adopted as department standard for future interns

Highlight Your Responsibilities and Duties on Your Accounting Intern Resume

The responsibilities section demonstrates how you contributed to accounting operations beyond basic data entry. It's crucial to explain technical accounting tasks in clear terms that hiring managers can understand, showing how your work supported the company's financial accuracy and compliance.

How to write an Accounting Intern responsibilities section:

• Keep It Short and Sweet: Each responsibility should be concise and focused, typically 2-3 lines maximum. This helps hiring managers quickly scan and understand your contributions during your internship.
• Stick to the Point: Focus each bullet point on one specific accounting task or responsibility. For example, describe how you assisted with accounts payable processing or helped reconcile bank statements.
• Start Strong: Begin each bullet point with powerful action verbs like "Reconciled,""Processed,""Analyzed,""Documented,"or "Assisted."These verbs immediately show your hands-on involvement in accounting tasks and make your experience more impactful.

Examples of Accounting Intern responsibilities:

• Financial Processing: Execute accounts payable and receivable transactions using QuickBooks, ensuring accurate recording and timely payment processing to maintain vendor relationships
• Data Management: Reconcile bank statements and credit card transactions against internal records, identifying and resolving discrepancies to maintain 99% accuracy in financial records
• Report Generation: Compile monthly financial reports and balance sheets using Excel, supporting senior accountants in creating comprehensive financial analyses for stakeholder review
• Audit Support: Assist in internal audit preparations by organizing financial documentation, updating digital filing systems, and preparing preliminary audit schedules to ensure compliance

List Your Education and Certifications

As an aspiring accounting professional, your educational background and relevant certifications demonstrate your foundational knowledge and commitment to the field. Prioritize your accounting-related coursework, academic achievements, and any professional certifications you've earned, even if you're still working toward your degree.

• Bachelor of Science in Accounting | State University | Expected May 2024
• Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor | Intuit | March 2023

Customizing Your Accounting Student Resume for Job Descriptions

Now that you've created a strong foundation using Resume Target's proven resume writing guidelines, you're ready to transform your resume into a powerful tool for landing accounting internships and entry-level positions.

While many accounting students focus solely on customizing their cover letters, tailoring your resume for each specific accounting role or firm is equally crucial for standing out in this competitive field.

A customized accounting student resume not only helps you clear ATS screening systems by incorporating relevant keywords, but it also demonstrates to hiring managers that you've done your homework and understand exactly how your academic achievements and early career experiences align with their needs.

Ready to turn your accounting resume from good to outstanding? Let's make every application count by crafting a perfectly tailored resume that speaks directly to each opportunity!

How to customize your Accounting Student resume to fit your target job

• 1. Read the Job Description Carefully: Focus on the responsibilities and qualifications sections where key accounting skills and requirements are listed. Look for specific software requirements (like QuickBooks or Excel), accounting principles knowledge, and desired coursework or certifications. Pay attention to repeated terms like "account reconciliation,""financial reporting,"or "accounts payable/receivable"as these indicate core requirements.
• 2. Highlight the Skills in Your Core Competencies: Include relevant accounting skills in your core competencies section, such as "Financial Statement Preparation,""Journal Entries,""Microsoft Excel,""Data Analysis,"and any accounting software you've learned in school. Make sure these align with what the internship or entry-level position requires.
• 3. Reflect Skills in Your Responsibilities Section: Use bullet points to describe how you've applied accounting skills in class projects, internships, or part-time work. For example: "Completed month-end closing procedures simulation using SAP in Advanced Accounting course"or "Prepared trial balances and financial statements for class projects."
• 4. Include Accomplishments that Demonstrate these Skills: Highlight academic achievements and project successes that show your accounting abilities. For example: "Achieved 98% accuracy in reconciling 100+ practice accounts during Advanced Accounting coursework"or "Maintained 3.8 GPA in accounting major courses while serving as Accounting Club treasurer."
• 5. Use Keywords from the Job Description: Incorporate accounting-specific terminology throughout your resume, matching the language used in the job posting. This helps your resume pass ATS screening and shows recruiters you understand the role's requirements. Include terms like "GAAP,""account analysis,""variance analysis,"or other relevant accounting concepts mentioned in the posting.

How to Write an Entry-Level Accounting Student Resume

Don't let a lack of professional experience hold you back from landing your dream accounting position! Your journey into accounting can start strong by showcasing your academic achievements, relevant coursework, and hands-on experience from class projects or internships.

Focus on highlighting your knowledge of accounting principles, proficiency with accounting software, and analytical skills developed through your coursework. For more detailed guidance on crafting the perfect entry-level resume, check out our Student Resume Writing Guide.

Write a Strong Entry-Level Accounting Student Resume Summary

Your resume summary is your chance to showcase your academic excellence, internship experiences, and technical skills that make you stand out as an aspiring accounting professional.

Focus on highlighting your relevant coursework, accounting software proficiency, and any hands-on experience from class projects or volunteer work to demonstrate your readiness for the role.

Example of an Accounting Student entry-level resume summary:

"Detail-oriented and analytical Accounting student with comprehensive academic training and practical experience through university projects and volunteer tax preparation. Proficient in QuickBooks, Excel, and basic ERP systems, maintaining a 3.8 GPA while completing advanced accounting coursework. Demonstrated strong mathematical aptitude and attention to detail through successful completion of 150 tax returns during VITA program. Seeking entry-level accounting position to leverage strong academic foundation and growing technical expertise in a professional environment."

Detail Your Accounting Education

Now's your chance to showcase the valuable accounting knowledge and skills you've gained through your academic journey!

Don't just list your degree - highlight relevant coursework like Advanced Financial Accounting or Tax Law, and feature impactful projects such as financial statement analyses or tax return simulations that demonstrate your practical abilities.

The common courses for an accounting degree were identified from the search results.

Entry level Accounting Student resume education

Relevant Coursework: Financial Accounting | Managerial Accounting | Business Law | Taxation | Auditing Principles | Advanced Cost Accounting

Key Projects:

Financial Statement Analysis Project: Led a comprehensive analysis of a Fortune 500 company's financial statements to evaluate its financial health and investment potential.

• Applied ratio analysis techniques to assess liquidity, profitability, and solvency metrics across three fiscal years
• Developed Excel-based financial models to project future cash flows and evaluate growth trends
• Created a detailed report with recommendations based on GAAP compliance and industry benchmarks

Internal Control System Design: Collaborated with a team of four to design an internal control framework for a simulated retail business.

• Implemented segregation of duties and authorization protocols to prevent fraud and ensure accuracy
• Developed flowcharts and documentation for accounts payable and receivable processes using Visio
• Coordinated with team members to integrate automated control measures into existing accounting software

Customize Your Accounting Student Resume Skills

Transform your academic achievements and internship experiences into compelling skills by highlighting your coursework expertise, software proficiency, and practical accounting knowledge gained through classroom projects and hands-on learning.

Examples of Entry Level Accounting Student Skills:

• QuickBooks and Microsoft Excel
• Basic Bookkeeping and Journal Entries
• Financial Statement Analysis
• Accounts Payable/Receivable Processing
• Basic Tax Return Preparation
• General Ledger Reconciliation
• Data Entry and Documentation
• Basic Internal Controls

As an accounting student, your foundation in these essential skills positions you well for entry-level accounting roles, internships, and a promising career path in financial services or public accounting.

Partner with the Experts in Accounting Student Resume Writing

Starting your accounting career journey can feel overwhelming when you're trying to showcase your potential without much work experience - especially when you're competing against seasoned professionals for those coveted internships and entry-level positions.

At Resume Target, we specialize in crafting powerful entry-level accounting resumes that highlight your academic achievements, relevant coursework, and transferable skills.

Our expert team has helped countless accounting students land prestigious internships at Big 4 firms and Fortune 500 companies by showcasing their true potential.

With internship recruitment season approaching fast, don't let an underwhelming resume hold you back - connect with Resume Target today to create a resume that opens doors to your dream accounting career.

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