Finance

Chief accountant CV: example and template

This example is for chief accountants and heads of accounting at trading, manufacturing and service companies and in public sector bodies, and for independent accountants being promoted.

The board and the finance director want to see scale, the team, timely closes and work with the auditor. We show you how to describe this on your CV.

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Example CV: chief accountant

All the details in this example are fictional. Treat it as a model of layout and wording, and replace the content with your own experience.

Bożena Zawisza

Chief accountant

Lodz +48 123 456 789 bozena.zawisza@example.com

Professional profile

Chief accountant with 14 years of experience in accounting, for the last 6 years leading a team of 8 at a manufacturing company with revenue of PLN 250 million. I am responsible for closes, the financial statements, taxes and work with the statutory auditor. I cut the month-end close from 10 to 5 working days.

Work experience

Chief accountant

03.2020 - present

Manufacturing company, revenue PLN 250 million, Lodz

  • Leading an accounting team of 8.
  • Cutting the month-end close from 10 to 5 working days.
  • Financial statements audited with no qualifications for 5 years.
  • Corporate tax, VAT and transfer pricing, working with the tax adviser.
  • Introducing KSeF and electronic document workflow.

Independent accountant, deputy chief accountant

05.2014 - 02.2020

Trading company, Lodz

  • Keeping the books and monthly closes.
  • Preparing tax returns and JPK files.
  • Standing in for the chief accountant and coordinating a team of 3.

Education

Accounting, master's degree

2006 - 2011

University of Lodz

Skills

  • Leading an accounting team
  • Financial statements
  • Accounting policy
  • Taxes: CIT, VAT, transfer pricing
  • Working with the auditor
  • KSeF and accounting automation

Certificates

  • Accounting certificate of the Accountants Association in Poland, chartered accountant level
  • Annual training in year-end close and tax changes

Languages

  • English: B2

Additional information

  • ERP system experience

I hereby consent to the processing of my personal data for the purposes necessary to carry out the recruitment process, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 (GDPR).

How to write a chief accountant CV

Professional summary

Give your years of experience, the scale of the company, the size of the team and your main results, such as faster closes or audits with no qualifications. It shows that you run a department, not just the books.

Independent accountant with 8 years of experience, deputy chief accountant at a service company. I run closes, prepare the financial statements and coordinate a team of 3. I am looking for a chief accountant role.

Experience: duties and achievements

Describe your scope of responsibility, team, timeliness and audit results. Add projects, such as introducing KSeF or a new system, because they show that you develop the department.

Weaker: Running the department.

Better: Leading an accounting team of 8 at a company with revenue of PLN 250 million.

Weaker: Month-end closes.

Better: Cutting the month-end close from 10 to 5 working days.

Weaker: Audit of the statements.

Better: Financial statements audited with no qualifications for 5 years in a row.

Skills worth listing

List the areas of accounting and tax and your systems. Under personal skills, show team leadership and responsibility.

Professional skills

  • Financial accounting
  • Financial reporting
  • Taxes
  • Accounting policy
  • ERP systems
  • Internal control in accounting

Personal skills

  • Leading a team
  • Responsibility
  • Timeliness
  • Working with the board
  • Keeping up with changing rules

Certificates

List your highest accounting certificate, for example chartered accountant level, and regular training in the rules. In the public sector, check the requirements of the public finance act.

Your first chief accountant role

If you are an independent accountant or deputy, describe the tasks you are already taking over: closes, the financial statements, contact with the auditor, coordinating the team.

Show one project that improved the department's work. For the board, it is the best proof that you can handle the responsibility.

Tailoring your CV to the job offer

A manufacturer looks for cost accounting and inventory, a group for consolidation and group reporting, and a public body for public sector accounting. Move what the offer is about to the top.

The most common mistakes on a chief accountant CV

Questions and answers

What should a chief accountant put on a CV?

The scale of the company, the team, scope of responsibility, closes, financial statements, taxes, audit, systems, certificates and training.

What are the requirements for a chief accountant in the public sector?

In Poland they are set by the public finance act, including education and accounting practice. Check the job ad and list the qualifications that meet them.

How do I show a chief accountant's results?

With shorter closes, audits with no qualifications, systems introduced and improvements in the department.

Is a CV for a female chief accountant any different?

No, the layout and content are the same. In Polish only the form of the job title changes.

Create a chief accountant CV in the builder

In the CV Majster builder you enter your details step by step and see right away what the document looks like. You can copy the wording from this page and adapt it to yourself. The finished CV as a PDF costs a one-off PLN 5, with no subscription, and you see the preview before you pay.

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See also

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