Accounts Assistant CV Example
An accounts assistant CV should demonstrate strong attention to detail and a solid grounding in bookkeeping, invoice processing, and bank reconciliations to support the wider finance team.
Recommended template: Modern
Key Skills to Include
Quick Tips
- Highlight your accuracy and attention to detail by mentioning error rates or volume of transactions processed.
- Emphasise any AAT qualifications or progress towards them to show career commitment.
- Include experience with specific accounting software packages that are widely used in the industry.
- Demonstrate your ability to meet tight deadlines, especially around month-end and year-end processes.
Ready to build your CV?
Start with the Modern template and customise it for your accounting role.
How to Write Your Accounts Assistant CV
An accounts assistant CV should showcase your reliability, accuracy, and willingness to learn. This is often one of the first roles on the accounting career ladder, so employers are looking for candidates who can handle high volumes of transactional work while maintaining precision. Whether you are entering finance for the first time or building on existing experience, your CV should emphasise practical skills and a methodical approach to financial record-keeping.
CV Structure
Follow a reverse-chronological layout starting with your profile, then work experience, education, and skills. If you have limited work experience, consider placing your qualifications and skills sections higher on the page. Each role should include four to five bullet points covering your core responsibilities and one to two achievements. Keep the CV to one or two pages depending on your experience level.
CV Format
Use a clean, professional template that is easy to scan quickly. Avoid overly creative designs — finance recruiters prefer clarity and structure. Use consistent bullet point styles and ensure your contact details are clearly visible at the top. A PDF format is recommended for submissions unless otherwise specified.
CV Profile Examples
Experienced Accounts Assistant
Detail-oriented accounts assistant with four years of experience supporting busy finance teams in the retail and logistics sectors. Proficient in purchase and sales ledger management, bank reconciliations, and month-end processing using Sage 50 and Xero. Currently studying towards AAT Level 3 with a consistent record of processing over 500 invoices per month with a 99.8% accuracy rate.
Junior Accounts Assistant
Enthusiastic accounts assistant with AAT Level 2 and eighteen months of hands-on experience in a fast-paced SME environment. Skilled in invoice processing, data entry, and bank reconciliation with strong attention to detail. Eager to develop further within a supportive finance team while continuing professional studies towards full AAT qualification.
Career-Change Accounts Assistant
Organised and numerate professional transitioning into accounts from an administrative background, bringing strong data management skills and recently completed AAT Level 2. Experienced in handling financial paperwork, processing expenses, and reconciling petty cash. Keen to apply transferable skills in accuracy and process management to a dedicated accounts assistant role.
Write a brief three-sentence profile stating your experience level, key software skills, and current qualification status. Mention the volume of work you handle to give context to your capabilities.
Key Skills for Your Accounts Assistant CV
Invoice Processing
Accurately coding, matching, and posting purchase and sales invoices into accounting software within agreed timescales.
Bank Reconciliation
Matching bank statement entries to ledger transactions and investigating any unreconciled items promptly.
Purchase Ledger
Managing supplier accounts including invoice posting, payment runs, and statement reconciliations.
Sales Ledger
Raising invoices, allocating receipts, and chasing overdue customer payments to maintain cash flow.
Data Entry
Entering high volumes of financial data with speed and accuracy while maintaining attention to detail.
Accounts Payable
Processing supplier payments on time to maintain good relationships and take advantage of early payment discounts.
Accounts Receivable
Tracking customer payments, issuing reminders, and escalating overdue debts to maintain healthy receivables.
Sage 50
Using Sage 50 for day-to-day transaction processing, report generation, and ledger management.
Month-End Support
Assisting with accruals, prepayments, and journal postings as part of the monthly close process.
Work Experience Examples
Focus on the volume and type of transactions you process rather than generic descriptions. Mention specific software, the number of invoices handled, and any accuracy metrics. Include at least one achievement per role — even small wins like reducing a backlog or catching duplicate payments demonstrate initiative and attention to detail.
Accounts Assistant
Reynolds Distribution Ltd
Supported the finance team of a £12M turnover logistics company, handling day-to-day transactional processing for 200 supplier and 150 customer accounts.
Responsibilities
- Processed an average of 600 purchase invoices and 350 sales invoices per month, coding and posting to the correct nominal accounts in Sage 50.
- Performed weekly bank reconciliations across three company bank accounts, investigating and resolving discrepancies promptly.
- Managed the purchase ledger including statement reconciliations, supplier payment runs, and query resolution.
- Assisted with month-end procedures including posting accruals, prepayments, and journal entries under supervision.
- Maintained the petty cash float, reconciling weekly and preparing expense reports for management approval.
Achievements
- Reduced invoice processing backlog by 40% within the first three months by implementing a daily batch processing routine.
- Identified and recovered £6,200 in duplicate supplier payments through careful statement reconciliation checks.
Junior Accounts Assistant
Greenway Retail Group
Provided accounts support across two retail branches, managing sales ledger entries and assisting the finance manager with reporting tasks.
Responsibilities
- Raised and posted sales invoices, tracked payments, and followed up on overdue customer accounts.
- Reconciled daily till receipts against bank deposits for both branch locations.
- Filed VAT-related paperwork and assisted with quarterly VAT return preparation.
- Maintained an organised digital filing system for invoices, receipts, and bank statements.
Achievements
- Improved debtor collection times by two weeks through consistent follow-up calls and email reminders.
- Earned recognition from the finance manager for zero errors during the year-end audit preparation.
Education & Qualifications
List your AAT qualification status first, including the level achieved and any papers in progress. Follow with GCSEs or A-levels, highlighting maths and English grades. If you have a degree, include it but prioritise your AAT credentials for relevance.
AAT Level 2
Foundation-level accounting technician qualification covering basic bookkeeping and accounting principles.
AAT Level 3
Advanced bookkeeping qualification demonstrating competence in accounts preparation and ethical practices.
AAT Level 4
Professional-level qualification covering management accounting and financial statement preparation.
GCSE Maths (Grade B or above)
Demonstrates the numerical competence that employers expect for entry-level accounting roles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I put on my CV if I have no accounting experience?
How important is software experience for an accounts assistant CV?
Should I mention my AAT studies on my accounts assistant CV?
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