Graduate accounting CV example

Writing a CV can be daunting, especially if you’ve got little to no experience. This guide breaks down every section of your CV, helping you present your education, internships, and key financial skills in a way that’s easy to read and makes an impact. 

Whether you’re applying to an accounting firm, a corporate finance team, or an entry-level analyst role, this guide ensures your application is audit-proof and ready to impress.

Recruiters aren’t auditors – they won’t waste time hunting for missing details. Much like a well-prepared financial report, a great CV needs structure and precision. If recruiters can’t quickly find your qualifications, software skills, and relevant experience, they won’t take the time to dig deeper.

Here’s the layout your CV should follow:

• Name and contact details – Make sure your personal details are clearly displayed so employers can reach you.
• Profile – Begin with a concise summary of your academic background, key skills, and career aspirations in accounting.
• Core skills – Briefly highlight your top technical abilities, from financial analysis to accounting software proficiency.
• Work experience – Talk about your internships, placements, and part-time roles, with a focus on transferable finance skills.
• Education – Mention your degree, any finance-related coursework, and relevant professional qualifications.
• Additional info – Optionally, include software expertise, awards you’ve earned, relevant hobbies, and professional memberships.

A good format isn’t just about looking neat – it’s about making sure your key strengths stand out immediately. Attention to detail is critical in accounting, so your CV format needs to be just as polished as your calculations: a well-presented document shows employers you’re capable of handling important financial data.

Follow these formatting tips:

• Bullet points – Keep responsibilities and achievements short and clear.
• Divide sections – Break your CV into distinct sections with clear headings for smooth navigation.
• Use a clear and readable font – A simple, professional font ensures readability while keeping the layout polished and tidy.
• No more than 2 pages – This gives you the length to detail your experience while keeping it concise enough to respect the recruiter’s time.

Your CV profile is your introduction to employers, summarising your qualifications, skills, and career goals in a few lines. This is your opportunity to show that you’re more than just a graduate – you’re a future finance professional ready to add value to an organisation.

As a junior candidate, you would benefit more from a longer, more detailed personal statement, along with a tailored and personalised cover letter alongside your CV.

Here’s what to include:

• Accounting background – Mention your degree, relevant coursework, and any specialisations.
• Technical skills – Highlight your experience with financial reporting, auditing, or tax preparation.
• Software proficiency – List any accounting tools you’ve used, such as QuickBooks, SAP, or Excel.
• Analytical thinking – Show you can interpret financial data and provide meaningful insights.
• Career ambition – Demonstrate your enthusiasm for the field and where you see your career heading.

A strong skills section gives recruiters an instant snapshot of your abilities. As a graduate, this section should highlight your most valuable technical competencies, ensuring you present yourself as a well-rounded and capable candidate.

Since different accounting roles focus on different aspects of finance, tailor this section to match  the job description, ensuring it aligns with what employers are looking for.

Avoid generic soft skills like “working in teams” or “attention to detail” – that’s the sort of CV mistake that costs your roles. Instead, focus on the specific, tangible things recruiters are actually looking for a candidate to do.

Your education is one of the most important sections on a Graduate Accounting CV, as it proves you have the foundational knowledge needed for the role.

List your degree and any relevant coursework, including financial accounting, auditing, taxation, or business finance. If you’ve completed additional training or started working toward professional qualifications, mention that too.

Expand on specific modules and projects which instilled especially useful skills, and relate them to jobs you’re applying for.

Example education sections

What to include in your education section

For each qualification, add the following info:

• Qualification & organisation – Say the name of each qualification and the school, university, or training body where you earned it.
• Dates studied – Give the start and end (or expected end) date for every one.
• Extra details – For modules which relate particularly well to the role you’re applying for, feel free to expand a bit and showcase the specific skills you picked up through the course.

Even if you haven’t worked in a full-time accounting role yet, your experience section should show that you’ve developed relevant skills. Whether through internships, university placements, or part-time jobs in reverse order, highlight any tasks that required problem-solving, data handling, or financial accuracy.

If you lack direct accounting experience, focus on transferable skills such as data entry, financial reporting, or working with spreadsheets.

• Outline – Briefly describe the company, department, or financial tasks you were involved with.
• Responsibilities – List key duties, such as assisting with financial reports, auditing processes, or tax calculations. Use action words like “analysed,” “prepared,” and “reviewed.”
• Achievements – Highlight any measurable results, like improving data accuracy, reducing processing time, or supporting a key financial project.

Candidates with less experience should take a little extra space to flex any additional skills and information which might help to sway a recruiter.

Focus on relevant and impressive things like hobbies and awards, or software you’re particularly adept with.

Good additional info for Graduating Accounting

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