Individuals may come to a tax accountant with the stereotypical disorganized stack of receipts or they may have everything laid out perfectly. Tax accountants employed by a corporation may be one of many working to ensure taxes are paid properly. In either case, the key necessary qualities are trustworthiness and attention to detail.
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A tax account resume that adds up to a job opportunity must highlight these qualities as well as your up-to-date knowledge of tax law.
How do you accomplish that in a one-page document? Start out by reading the tips and hints below and then choose your resources wisely. Add value with a resume service such as Resume.io, which offers resume guides and resume examples for 350+ professions and easy-to-use resume builder, and your tax account resume is bound to impress recruiters.
This resume guide, which incorporates a tax account resume example, offers advice and information on the following topics:
- What does a tax accountant do?
- Hints and ideas for writing a tax accountant resume
- The best format for a tax accountant resume
- Advice on the necessary sections of your resume (summary, work history, education, skills)
- Professional resume layout and design hints
What does a tax accountant do?
No matter whether they work for themselves, a tax preparation service, or a business, the primary responsibility of a tax accountant is, of course, tax preparation. This includes tasks such as:
- Examining and organizing financial records and statements
- Creating budgets
- Computing taxes owed or refunds
- Communicating with clients
- Inspecting accounting systems
- Preparing clients for audits
- Using their knowledge of tax law to minimize, defer, or eliminate tax payments
Tax accountants who work with individuals will be very busy leading up to tax day, April 15. Corporate accountants will have a steadier flow of work.
Tax accountant job market and outlook
Tax accountants can count on a steady rate of 6% growth in demand for their skills through the next decade. Many individuals and businesses use a tax accountant because tax law changes frequently and this detailed work can lead to errors, leading to interest and penalties from the IRS.
Depending on your experience level and whether you work in corporate or public accounting, you can expect to earn at least $50,000 annually.
Here are salaries calculated by recruitment firm Robert Half:
Corporate accounting
- Entry-level tax accountant: $56,500
- Tax accountant (1-3 years of experience): $76,000
- Senior tax accountant: $93,250
- Tax manager: $119,000
Public accounting
- Entry-level tax accountant: $50,250
- Tax accountant (1-3 years of experience): $61,500
- Senior tax accountant: $75,500
- Manager of tax services: $110,000
How to write a tax accountant resume
Organization is the friend of anyone who deals with money and numbers, so you should embrace the fact that a tax accountant resume has distinct, necessary elements. They are:
- The resume header
- The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
- The employment history section
- The resume skills section
- The education section
Now that you know what needs to be included in an application document, the next step is understanding what format will best highlight your skills and experience.
Choosing the best resume format for a tax accountant
When choosing the best resume format, once again, organization rules. The best resumes give recruiters what they want in a format they understand and that is typically reverse chronological order, in which you list your latest job first and work your way back in time. Here’s why you should use this format for your tax accountant resume:
- Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are programmed to scan and input data from your resume in this format. You will have a lot of cutting and pasting to do if you choose to go a different way.
- Recruiters will scan your contact information, your most recent position, and your skillset, so make those easy to find.
Resume summary example
How do you present yourself to new clients so that they have confidence that they can trust you with their sensitive financial information and that you will provide advice that leads to sound decisions? Use these same answers in the summary of your tax accountant resume.
Your goal here is not simply to summarize your career (although a one-sentence introduction is in order), but to entice a recruiter to offer you an interview by promoting your greatest achievement whether that be saving a company thousands of dollars or successfully representing an individual during an IRS audit.
Dedicated Tax Accountant with a proven history of success preparing and filing complex tax documentation. Talent for partnering with clients and businesses to provide expert advising on transaction, asset, and liability management. Compliance-focused expert, able to engage with organizations to ensure comprehensive alignment with regulatory and legal requirements.
The tax accountant resume summary below offers a starting point, but if you would like more examples, refer to our:
- Finance-director resume example
- Senior-accountant resume example
- Bank-teller resume example
- Loan-officer resume example
- Loan-processor resume example
- Bookkeeper resume example
- Auditing-clerk resume example
- Banker resume example
- Compliance-officer resume example
- Investment-banker resume example
- Financial-analyst resume example
- Financial-advisor resume example
Employment history sample
The summary offers the big picture and the employment history section of a tax accountant resume follows that with the details of your career. It is here that you offer examples of the skills you use and how you apply them to achieve your goals.
We know you like numbers, so use them generously here. Instead of stating that you prepare taxes, tell your prospective employer how many clients you serve per tax season. Or better yet, how much money you have saved your current employer and how you did it.
Tax Accountant, Tax'R'Us, Sarasota, FL
January 2020 - July 2023
- Consulted with clients to analyze financial records, conducting deep investigations into all statements and documentation to identify benefits or tax breaks.
- Leveraged tools to generate refund or taxes owed information, ensuring accuracy and optimal financial outcomes for customers.
- Collaborated with customers to prepare for IRS audits by managing and preparing a wide range of documentation.
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge of all emerging tax regulations and laws, delivering effective tax management for diverse client needs.
Tax Accountant, Costa Coffees, Sarasota, FL
May 2017 - December 2019
- Partnered with accounting and payroll team to prepare tax documentation, managing a wide range of data to ensure accurate tax filings.
- Advised leadership on potential tax write-offs and determined taxes owed.
- Leveraged deep legal insight to reduce and defer tax payments, supporting business financial planning and strategy.
CV skills example
Assess the greatest skills you possess that match the requirements of the job you want. Then, list your top 4-7 within the skills section of your tax accountant resume. This quick hit may be the first place a recruiter looks – and the last if you don’t choose correctly.
You have skills you probably don’t think about on a day-to-day basis. A good way to recognize a broader range of abilities is to brainstorm a list of everything you do as part of your job and every attribute you have. Ask friends and colleagues to describe your professional personality and assets to help compile this list. Then, you can easily choose the right skills for each different application.
- Tax Accounting
- Asset & Transaction Advising
- Tax Filing
- Legal & Regulatory Compliance
- Rebate & Credit Discovery
- Refund & Taxes Owed Calculations
Don’t neglect soft skills
While your hard skills such as tax knowledge, financial analysis, and expert Excel skills are important, your bread and butter are honesty and communication. Those soft skills, and others such as organization and problem solving, can differentiate your application from others.
Resume education example
Tax accountants must have bachelor’s degrees to qualify to become certified public accountants (CPAs). Those degrees are typically in accounting, economics, finance, tax law, or a related field. Within the education section of your tax accountant resume, simply list these degrees in reverse chronological order.
CPAs also must pass the Uniform CPA Examination to become licensed. List your license here, or if you have more than a couple of certifications and the space within this document, you may create a certifications section.
University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee Campus, Master of Science in Accounting, Sarasota, FL
September 2014 - May 2016
University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee Campus, Bachelor of Science in Economics & Accounting, Sarasota, FL
September 2010 — May 2014
Resume layout and design
Tax accounting is a serious business, so keep your resume layout and design simple and professional. Yes, you want to be memorable, but in a positive way. That means keeping color to a minimum, if you even use any, and choosing a muted tone.
To maintain readability, choose common fonts and a point size of at least 11 for your body text. One-inch margins are best, but if you want to fudge it a bit, leave at least ½ an inch all around to avoid the appearance of cramming your information in.
Create a pleasing header that highlights your name, contact information, and any relevant social media URLs. You can get a head start by choosing one of our customizable and expertly-designed resume templates.
Key takeaways for a tax accountant resume
- Your main goal is to demonstrate that you can be trusted with sensitive financial information, you have an eagle-eyed focus on detail, and that you stay current with all tax law.
- Apply your great number sense to the detailed descriptions within your employment history section.
- Highlight your accounting expertise, but don’t neglect your soft skills.
- Make a professional first impression by keeping the design of your tax accountant resume straightforward and easy to read.
