How to write a great accounts receivable CV

Accounts receivable staff need to be strong communicators with excellent organisation and a keen eye for detail — all skills that you can showcase on your CV. Writing a good CV is an important step in your job search and will help you secure an interview for your next role.

This guide will show you:

• What to include in your accounts receivable specialist CV
• An accounts receivable CV template to help structure your CV
• Key CV writing tips to create the perfect CV

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Your professional CV should convey your understanding of accounting principles and strong recordkeeping skills. Hiring managers will be keen to hear about any experience with bookkeeping, auditing, account reconciliation, cash flow management and customer accounts management.

You should also highlight your proficiency with dedicated software for spreadsheets and financial reporting. Focus on the skills and responsibilities stated in the job description and tailor your CV accordingly.

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The structure of your accounts receivable CV will vary depending on your chosen CV format. There are three options:

• Chronological — This format emphasises work experience.
• Functional — This format focuses on skills.
• Combination — This format balances skills and work experience.

The chronological format is the preferred format of most hiring managers. It’s also the format we use with the accounts receivable CV sample below. No matter the format, your CV will have these sections:

Contact Details

 Add your contact information to the CV header. This includes your:

• Full name
• Professional email address
• Phone number
• City and postal code
• Professional profile link, such as your LinkedIn profile

Present this information clearly so that the recruiter can easily contact you.

Professional summary or career objective

The professional summary or career objective provides a brief overview of your skillset. A professional summary covers your key skills and experiences. A career objective does the same but also states your career goals. If you already have a few years of experience in accounting, then a professional summary will work best.

Skills

Use the skills section to tailor your CV to the role’s needs. Read through the job description and pick out some desirable skills to include in this section.

 Soft skills linked to the role of accounts receivable officer include:

• Communication (written and verbal) 
• Time management 
• Organisational skills
• Problem-solving 
• Interpersonal skills

Your main focus should be on role-specific hard skills, such as:

• Data entry
• Bookkeeping
• Budgeting
• Invoice processing
• Software skills, such as Microsoft Excel and QuickBooks

Work history

The work experience section helps contextualise your skills. List all previous job titles held within the last ten years in reverse chronological order. For each position, list the tasks and responsibilities most relevant to the role you’re applying to as bullet points.

Keep your sentences concise. Use action verbs (e.g., “Managed,” “Implemented”) and include real-life examples from your previous jobs. For instance, you could quote key performance metrics such as your Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) or Collection Effectiveness Index (CEI).

Education

List your highest academic achievement here (e.g., a master’s or bachelor’s degree in accounting). You may also include relevant certifications in this section.

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Whether you’re applying for an entry-level role or a senior position, these CV writing tips will help you create the best CV possible.

Do:

• Tailor your CV to the job description. For each new role you apply to, adapt your professional summary and skills sections. Reference some of the essential skills stated in the job description.
• Quantify your accomplishments. Use industry-specific KPIs to actively demonstrate your achievements in the work history section.
• Use a CV builder. Our CV Builder is packed with professional templates that you can use for free to create a stunning CV.

Don’t:

• Include your grades. Unless you graduated with honours like cum laude or summa cum laude, avoid including your grades.
• Use passive language. Action verbs like “created,” “collected” and “organised” demonstrate authority and communicate your achievements in the most positive way possible.
• Forget to proofread. The smallest mistake with spelling, grammar, or formatting could lead the hiring manager to discard your application.

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