Finance managers want your qualification status in the first line: qualified, part-qualified or studying, and with which body. Then they look at the work you own, such as month-end, management accounts or VAT, and the systems you use. This example is for a newly qualified management accountant in industry.
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Example accountant CV
A fictional person, employers and figures, to show the format. Replace every detail with your own.
Newly qualified CIMA management accountant with five years' experience in manufacturing finance. Own month-end close, management accounts and budgeting for a £40m business, using Sage 200 and advanced Excel. Known for clear commentary that helps managers act. Looking for a management accountant or finance business partner role.
Ran balance sheet reconciliations, accruals and prepayments, and quarterly VAT returns under Making Tax Digital.
Moved purchase ledger approvals online, cutting late supplier payments.
Accounts Assistant, Rea Valley Wholesale, Birmingham (Jul 2019 - Aug 2021)
Processed purchase and sales ledgers and bank reconciliations on Xero.
Education
CIMA Professional Qualification, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, 2020 - 2025. Qualified 2025
AAT Level 4 Diploma in Professional Accounting, AAT, 2019 - 2020
BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance, 2:1, Birmingham City University, 2016 - 2019
Skills
Month-end close, Management accounts, Budgeting and forecasting, Advanced Excel, Sage 200 and Xero, VAT and Making Tax Digital, Audit preparation
An accountant personal statement to adapt
Newly qualified CIMA management accountant with five years' experience in manufacturing finance. Own month-end close, management accounts and budgeting for a £40m business, using Sage 200 and advanced Excel. Known for clear commentary that helps managers act. Looking for a management accountant or finance business partner role.
Key skills for an accountant CV
Month-end and reporting - Close, reconciliations and management accounts on time.
Analysis - Variance analysis and commentary that helps managers act.
Budgeting and forecasting - Building and owning the numbers with budget holders.
Excel - Lookups, pivot tables and models others can use.
Systems - Sage, Xero, QuickBooks, SAP, Oracle or Dynamics, and any reporting tools.
Compliance - VAT, Making Tax Digital, audit and the accounting standards you work to.
Business partnering - Working with non-finance managers.
What a UK accountant CV needs
Qualification status - ACA (ICAEW), ACCA, CIMA, ICAS or AAT, and whether you are qualified, part-qualified or studying, with exams passed.
Practice or industry - Audit, tax, accounts preparation, management accounting or financial accounting.
The work you own - Month-end, management accounts, VAT, payroll, budgets or year-end.
Systems - Accounting software and ERP systems, plus Excel level.
Business size - Turnover, entities or client numbers to show the scale of your work.
Achievement bullets to adapt
The figures are invented to show the format. Use your own.
Delivered month-end close and management accounts on working day five every month.
Built a profitability model that led the board to reprice two low-margin products.
Prepared audit schedules with no adjustments raised by the auditors.
Ran quarterly VAT returns under Making Tax Digital.
Moved purchase ledger approvals online, cutting late supplier payments.
Accountant CV questions
How do I show I am part-qualified on my CV?
Give the body and how far you have got, for example "ACCA, 10 of 13 exams passed" or "CIMA, Management level", and when you expect to qualify.
Should I list exam passes?
For part-qualified accountants, yes, briefly. Once qualified, the qualification and year are enough.
What is the best accounting qualification for my CV?
It depends on your path. ACA and ICAS are strong for practice, CIMA for management accounting in industry, ACCA for both, and AAT for technician roles and as a route in.