​Resume tips for accounting, finance & business professionals

Your resume is often your first (and sometimes only) chance to impress a potential employer. But with hiring managers spending just seconds scanning each one, how do you stand out?

At Bentley Recruitment, we review hundreds of resumes every week. We know what works, and what gets skipped. Here’s how to create a resume that not only gets noticed, but lands interviews.

1. Tailor Your Resume to the Role

The best resumes are not one-size-fits-all.

Before applying, read the job ad closely. What are the key responsibilities, systems, and skills listed? Make sure your resume reflects those specifics. If you’re applying for a business services role, highlight our BAS, tax returns, or client advisory work. For a commercial accounting role, focus on budgeting, analysis, or process improvement.

Use the same language (where it fits) to match what employers are looking for.

2. Put the Most Important Information First

Hiring managers may only glance at your resume. Make the top third count.

Start with a strong Professional Summary, 3–4 lines that describe who you are, what you do, and what makes you stand out. Then, highlight key achievements in your recent roles.

Avoid: Long summaries, generic statements, or outdated objectives like "To find a challenging position…”

3. Focus on Results, Not Just Responsibilities

Don’t just say what you did, say what you achieved.

Use bullet points with action verbs and measurable outcomes:

• “Prepared and lodged 80+ tax returns quarterly, consistently meeting ATO deadlines.”

• “Reduced month-end reporting time by 30% by streamlining Excel models.”

Employers want to know you can deliver value, not just complete tasks.

4. Make It Easy to Read

Keep formatting clean and modern:

• Use consistent fonts (like Calibri or Arial)

• Stick to 1–2 pages max

• Bold your job titles and companies

• Use bullet points (not paragraphs)

• Avoid dense blocks of text

And yes, proofread carefully. A single typo can make a hiring manager pause.

5. Include Only Relevant Information

You don’t need to list every job you’ve ever had. Focus on the past 10 years and highlight the roles most relevant to where you’re headed.

Include:

Contact info
Professional summary
Key skills (e.g. Xero, MYOB, tax planning, financial reporting)
Work experience (with results)
Education & certifications
LinkedIn profile link

Optional:

• Volunteering, professional memberships, or short “career achievements” section

Final Thoughts

In a competitive market, your resume needs to show why you’re the one to call. It should be clear, concise, and customised to the role you want.

And remember: your resume doesn’t need to do everything, just enough to get you the interview