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Resume keywords for Accountant jobs

The skills accountant job postings actually ask for, as the share of the 513 newest postings we track that mention each one (out of 4,295 live accountant jobs). More than half mention Excel, Reconciliation and Auditing.

Live data · computed 2 November 2026 · refreshed daily

Top hard skills and tools

  1. 1ExcelData56%
  2. 2ReconciliationFinance & Accounting53%
  3. 3AuditingFinance & Accounting50%
  4. 4Financial reportingFinance & Accounting36%
  5. 5GAAPFinance & Accounting34%
  6. 6ERPOperations & Logistics32%
  7. 7Process improvementProject delivery25%
  8. 8General ledgerFinance & Accounting24%
  9. 9Month-end closeFinance & Accounting21%
  10. 10Accounts payableFinance & Accounting21%
  11. 11NetSuiteFinance & Accounting18%
  12. 12BudgetingFinance & Accounting18%
  13. 13Accounts receivableFinance & Accounting15%
  14. 14SAPFinance & Accounting14%
  15. 15PayrollFinance & Accounting14%
  16. 16IFRSFinance & Accounting13%
  17. 17ForecastingFinance & Accounting13%
  18. 18ProcurementOperations & Logistics12%
  19. 19QuickBooksFinance & Accounting9%
  20. 20Customer serviceOperations & Logistics8%
  21. 21SaaSSales & Marketing7%
  22. 22Data analysisData6%
  23. 23Project managementOperations & Logistics5%
  24. 24KPIsProduct4%
  25. 25SQLLanguages4%
  26. 26Power BIData4%
  27. 27SalesforceSales & Marketing4%
  28. 28Stakeholder managementOperations & Logistics4%

Certifications postings mention

  • CPA38%
  • ACCA8%

Often listed as a plus rather than a requirement. List only the ones you hold, with the year.

Soft skills and education in the requirements

  • Communication59%
  • Attention to detail42%
  • Collaboration26%
  • Problem solving26%
  • Leadership18%
  • Mentoring13%
  • Bachelor's degree54%
  • Accounting degree46%

Counted only in duties and requirements. Show soft skills through a bullet ("led", "presented", "partnered with"), not as a list.

Example accountant resume bullets using these keywords

Examples written by our team to show the pattern (action, keyword, result), not taken from real candidates. Replace each X with your own number, and only keep a keyword if you really did it.

  • Owned the month-end close for X entities under US GAAP, cutting the close from X to X days.
  • Prepared X balance sheet reconciliations a month in NetSuite and cleared $X in aged items.
  • Supported the annual external audit, preparing X schedules with no adjustments proposed.

How to use this list

Accounting ads name the standard (GAAP or IFRS), the ERP and the close. State the close you owned, how many entities or accounts you reconciled, and any audit you supported.

Only add skills you've really used, in the group your CV already has for them, and show the important ones in a bullet too. The percentages tell you what's common across the market; the job you're applying to is what matters, so check your CV against it.

How we count: the newest live postings whose title matches the role, re-posts removed, description only. Each skill counts once per posting, with common synonyms (k8s = Kubernetes); benefits and legal text are ignored; soft skills only count in the requirements. The role's own name is left out.

Live Accountant jobs

Frequently asked questions

What are the ATS keywords for an accountant resume?

The terms employers' applicant tracking systems are searched with are the skills in the job ad. Across 513 live accountant postings we track, the most common are Excel, Reconciliation, Auditing, Financial reporting, GAAP, ERP, Process improvement, General ledger, Month-end close and Accounts payable. Use the ones you really have, spelled the way the ad spells them, in your Skills section and in your bullets.

What skills should an accountant put on a resume?

The ones most postings ask for and that you really have. Across 513 recent accountant postings we track, the most-mentioned are Excel (56%), Reconciliation (53%), Auditing (50%), Financial reporting (36%) and GAAP (34%). Put each one you've used in your Skills section and in a bullet that shows how you used it.

Which accountant skills are must-haves?

Excel, Reconciliation and Auditing appear in more than half of the postings, which makes them close to a baseline for the role. Everything else varies by company, so check each ad.

Which certifications do accountant job postings ask for?

Across 513 live accountant postings we track, the certifications mentioned most are CPA (38%) and ACCA (8%). Many ads list them as a plus rather than a requirement, so read each ad, and only list certifications you hold, with the year.

How is this list calculated?

We take the newest live accountant postings from employers' applicant tracking systems, remove re-posts, and count the share whose description mentions each skill (synonyms count, each posting counts once). Benefits and legal boilerplate are ignored. It refreshes daily, and no AI is involved.

Should I add every keyword on this page to my CV?

No. Add only the skills you can discuss in an interview, using the same name the job ad uses. Stuffing in skills you don't have is easy to spot and backfires in interviews.

This page is built from public job postings only. It doesn't need your CV and collects nothing about you. The CV check is separate: we delete your CV from it within 24 hours. See our privacy policy.