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Controller Resume Example

Written by JobScoutly Career Team

Free ATS-optimized controller resume example with professional summary, experience bullets, education, and skills. Use this as a starting point and build yours free with JobScoutly.

Thomas Grant

Controller

email@example.com · (555) 123-4567 · City, ST

Professional Summary

Controller with 8 years of progressive accounting experience managing all financial operations for a $75M revenue company. Oversees team of 6 and owns financial reporting, budgeting, and compliance. Reduced close timeline by 40% and led successful ERP implementation.

Experience

Controller

Jan 2023 – Present

Precision Industrial Group · Charlotte, NC

  • Oversee all accounting operations for $75M revenue manufacturing company, managing a team of 6 (3 staff accountants, 2 AP, 1 payroll)
  • Reduced month-end close from 15 days to 9 days by redesigning close checklist and implementing automated reconciliation tools
  • Led NetSuite ERP implementation replacing legacy QuickBooks system, completing migration in 4 months with zero data loss
  • Prepare monthly financial statements, variance analysis, and board-ready reporting packages for CEO and 5-member board of directors

Accounting Manager

Jun 2019 – Dec 2022

Southeast Distribution Co. · Atlanta, GA

  • Managed team of 4 accountants handling AP, AR, payroll, and general ledger for company with $40M annual revenue
  • Designed annual budgeting process across 8 departments, achieving 96% forecast accuracy within 2 years
  • Coordinated annual external audit and tax filings, maintaining clean audit opinions for 4 consecutive years

Education

MBA — UNC Charlotte (Belk College)

2019

B.S. Accounting — Clemson University

2015

Skills

CPAFinancial ReportingTeam ManagementNetSuiteQuickBooksBudgeting & ForecastingMonth-End CloseERP ImplementationBoard ReportingGAAPVariance AnalysisAudit Coordination

Why this resume works

  • Shows the full controller scope — team leadership, financial reporting, board communication, and ERP implementation
  • Close timeline reduction (15 to 9 days) proves operational improvement, which is the top priority for controller hires
  • Progressive career path from accounting manager to controller demonstrates steady upward growth and increasing responsibility
View all Accountant resume examples

Key Skills for a Controller Resume

Include these skills on your controller resume — but only the ones you actually have. ATS systems scan for exact keyword matches from the job description.

GAAP Financial Reporting Tax Preparation Month-End Close Accounts Payable/Receivable QuickBooks SAP Excel (Advanced) Reconciliations Audit Support Budgeting CPA General Ledger Payroll

Not sure which skills to include? JobScoutly's Job Match Analyzer compares your resume to any job description and tells you exactly which keywords are missing.

ATS Tips for Controller Resumes

Over 90% of large companies use Applicant Tracking Systems to filter resumes before a human sees them. Follow these tips to make sure your controller resume gets through:

  1. Include CPA or CPA-eligible status prominently — it's the primary filter for many roles
  2. Name specific accounting software: QuickBooks, SAP, NetSuite, Sage
  3. Mention GAAP compliance and financial statement experience
  4. Quantify: revenue size of companies, number of accounts, tax savings identified

Common Controller Resume Mistakes to Avoid

  • Not listing CPA certification or progress toward it
  • Writing generic 'handled accounting tasks' without specifics
  • Omitting software proficiency — employers filter for specific platforms
  • Forgetting to mention accuracy metrics and audit results

Controller Resume FAQ

Do I need a CPA to get an accounting job?
Not always, but it significantly helps. CPA is required for many senior, audit, and public accounting roles. For staff-level positions, being 'CPA-eligible' (having the required credit hours) is often sufficient. List your CPA status or progress toward it prominently on your resume.
What accounting software should I list on my resume?
List the software you've actually used: QuickBooks, NetSuite, SAP, Oracle, Sage, Xero, and ADP are the most commonly searched by employers. Include specialized tools too — ProConnect for tax, ACL for audit, or ADP for payroll. ATS systems scan for exact software names.
How do I quantify accomplishments on an accounting resume?
Use dollar amounts (revenue size, savings identified, budget managed), counts (accounts reconciled, returns prepared, invoices processed), time (close timeline reduction, processing speed), and accuracy rates (99.5% accuracy, zero adjustments). Every bullet should have at least one number.
Should I include my GPA on an accounting resume?
Include your GPA if it's 3.5+ and you graduated within the last 3 years. For Big Four and large firms recruiting on campus, GPA matters. After 3+ years of work experience, your professional accomplishments matter far more than your GPA.
How long should an accountant resume be?
One page for accountants with fewer than 8 years of experience. Controllers and directors with 10+ years can use two pages. Accounting resumes should be precise and well-organized — verbose resumes signal a lack of attention to detail, which is the #1 skill employers seek.
What certifications are most valuable for accountants?
CPA is the gold standard for most accounting careers. CMA (Certified Management Accountant) is valuable for industry and cost accounting roles. CFE (Certified Fraud Examiner) is essential for forensic accounting. EA (Enrolled Agent) is useful for tax specialists. List all relevant certifications near the top of your resume.

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Payroll Accountant Resume Example

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Cost Accountant Resume Example

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