Accountant CV example
🇰🇪 Written for Kenya · Fictional candidate · Free to use as a starting point
Kenyan employers who hire accountants scan for three things first: your professional qualification (CPA(K) or ACCA), hands-on experience with KRA iTax and statutory deductions, and the systems you have used. This example puts all three on the first half of page one.
Sample CV · Classic design · ATS-safe
Read this sample CV as text
Grace Wanjiru Kamau
Accountant, CPA(K)
Nakuru, Kenya · grace.kamau@email.com · +254 712 345 678
Professional Summary
CPA(K) accountant with 5 years' experience in agribusiness and audit. Closes monthly books in 5 working days, files VAT and PAYE on time through iTax, and prepares IFRS-compliant reports that management uses for budgeting decisions.
Work Experience
Accountant, Rift Valley Fresh Produce Ltd (Mar 2023 – Present)
- Prepare monthly management accounts and IFRS financial statements for a business with KES 400M annual turnover
- Reduced month-end close from 12 to 5 working days by introducing a closing checklist and templates
- File VAT, PAYE and withholding tax returns on iTax with zero late-filing penalties since joining
- Supervise 2 accounts assistants and review all supplier payments above KES 500,000
Audit Assistant, Mwangi & Partners, Certified Public Accountants (Jan 2021 – Feb 2023)
- Audited 20+ SME clients in retail, hospitality and NGOs under senior supervision
- Prepared tax computations and returns for 35 clients each year
- Performed bank, debtor and supplier reconciliations and flagged control weaknesses to managers
Education
- Bachelor of Commerce (Finance), Second Class Upper, Kenyatta University (2016 – 2020)
- KCSE: B+, Nakuru Girls High School (2012 – 2015)
Skills
IFRS reporting · KRA iTax (VAT, PAYE, WHT) · Month-end closing · Reconciliations · Budgeting & forecasting · QuickBooks · Sage 300 · Advanced Excel · Payroll (NSSF, SHIF) · Team supervision
Certifications
- Certified Public Accountant, CPA(K), KASNEB, 2021
Why this accountant CV works
- The title and summary say “CPA(K)” straight away, so the recruiter and the ATS both find the qualification.
- Each job lists results, such as faster month-end closing and fewer penalties, not just duties.
- Software (QuickBooks, Sage, Excel) appears as separate skills, which matches how job adverts are written.
- Three referees are included, as most Kenyan employers expect.
Skills to put on a accountant CV
Accountant CV summary examples
CPA(K) accountant with 5 years' experience in manufacturing and agribusiness. Closes monthly books in 5 working days, files VAT and PAYE on time through iTax, and prepares IFRS-compliant reports for management and auditors.
Detail-focused Accounts Assistant (CPA Section 4) with 2 years in an audit firm. Experienced in reconciliations, payroll and tax returns for SME clients; looking to grow into a full Accountant role.
Tips for writing your accountant CV
- Put CPA(K) or ACCA next to your name or in your title. Recruiters often filter on it.
- Name the tax types you have handled (VAT, PAYE, WHT, corporate tax). “Handled taxes” is too vague.
- Quantify: number of suppliers, size of budget, days to close the books, penalties avoided.
- Keep it to 2 pages. Leave out your ID number, KRA PIN, marital status and photo.
Frequently asked questions
Should I include my CPA section if I have not finished?
Yes. Write it as “CPA (K), Section 4 (ongoing)” so employers can see your progress.
Do Kenyan employers want referees on an accountant CV?
Most do. Add 2–3 professional referees, ideally a former supervisor and a lecturer or client.
Start your accountant CV
Copy this sample into the editor, replace the details with yours, and watch your ATS score climb as you type.
Use this sample