100 Examples of Role Responsibilities for a Resume for an Accountant
- nicolejessicacoggan
- Jun 2
- 4 min read

If you’re writing a resume for an accounting role, one of the biggest challenges is getting your role responsibilities right. Employers want more than just a list—they want to see clear, relevant experience that shows what you’ve done and how you’ve added value. Whether you're applying for a junior accountant job, a CPA role, or a financial controller position, having strong, tailored role responsibilities on your resume will help you stand out.
In this post, we’ll share 100 examples of accounting role responsibilities you can use or adapt in your resume. These are ideal for Accountants, Bookkeepers, Financial Analysts, and Auditors across public practice, commercial, and government sectors.
✅ Core Accounting Role Responsibilities
Prepare and lodge BAS, IAS and PAYG statements
Maintain general ledger and reconcile balance sheet accounts
Process accounts payable and accounts receivable
Conduct monthly bank reconciliations
Prepare end-of-month financial reports
Support external audits and prepare requested documentation
Reconcile intercompany accounts
Monitor cash flow and banking activities
Assist with budget preparation and forecasting
Ensure compliance with ATO regulations and tax legislation

📊 Financial Reporting & Analysis
Prepare P&L and balance sheet statements
Analyse financial performance and variances
Develop monthly, quarterly, and annual reports for management
Prepare commentary for financial statements
Use Excel and Power BI for financial modelling
Collaborate with business units to track budgets vs actuals
Support business case development with financial inputs
Identify cost-saving opportunities through data analysis
Maintain fixed asset registers
Review depreciation schedules and adjust as required
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🧾 Taxation & Compliance
Prepare and lodge individual and company tax returns
Conduct tax planning and advise on tax minimisation strategies
Liaise with the ATO and manage correspondence
Ensure compliance with FBT, GST and income tax laws
Complete ATO audit responses and documentation
Assist in preparing payroll tax reconciliations
Review financial statements for tax compliance
Keep up to date with changes in tax legislation
Assist clients with Superannuation Guarantee obligations
Submit TPAR reports annually

👥 Payroll & Employee Entitlements
Process weekly, fortnightly or monthly payroll
Maintain employee records and leave balances
Calculate superannuation and ensure on-time payments
Process terminations and calculate final payouts
Interpret modern awards and EBAs
Prepare PAYG summaries and STP reporting
Handle payroll queries from employees
Ensure payroll compliance with Fair Work requirements
Run payroll audits and correct discrepancies
Reconcile payroll liabilities with the general ledger
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🧮 Bookkeeping & Daily Transactions
Process invoices, credit notes, and payments
Match purchase orders with supplier invoices
Reconcile petty cash and corporate cards
Allocate expenses to the correct cost centres
Maintain accurate and up-to-date records
Set up new suppliers and customer accounts
Manage aged debtor reports and follow up outstanding payments
Manage inventory accounts and reconciliations
Support BAS agent with transactional data
Maintain and reconcile accounting software databases
🛠️ Systems & Software
Use MYOB, Xero, or QuickBooks for daily processing
Integrate accounting software with POS or CRM systems
Set up chart of accounts in accounting software
Train junior staff on system use and shortcuts
Resolve system errors and liaise with IT where needed
Assist in ERP system upgrades (e.g. SAP, NetSuite)
Upload payroll data to ATO portals via STP
Generate financial reports using cloud software
Automate recurring transactions and journal entries
Manage user access and data permissions

👨💼 Client-Facing & Advisory
Meet with clients to review financials
Provide business advisory services to SMEs
Assist in structuring business entities for tax purposes
Present financial reports to board members
Guide clients on cash flow management
Prepare client documentation for loan applications
Offer cloud accounting solutions and migration
Conduct quarterly business health checks
Onboard new clients and gather compliance documentation
Manage a portfolio of BAS/Tax clients
📁 Audit & Risk Management
Assist with internal audits and control testing
Evaluate internal controls and recommend improvements
Prepare working papers for external audit
Document audit findings and recommendations
Ensure company records meet audit standards
Review transactions for fraud risk
Monitor adherence to internal financial policies
Maintain compliance checklists for internal audits
Participate in ISO or QMS audits
Assist in annual risk reviews and reporting
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📈 Strategy & Budgeting
Assist in setting annual financial targets
Monitor KPI trends and highlight underperformance
Prepare capital expenditure reports
Analyse business drivers impacting margins
Support financial feasibility studies
Forecast revenue and cost trends
Work with business leaders to align budget plans
Create dashboards for financial tracking
Identify underutilised resources for cost recovery
Coordinate rolling budgets and reforecasts
🗂️ Team Leadership & Collaboration
Supervise junior accounts staff
Review and approve journal entries
Support team development and training
Lead month-end close processes
Allocate workloads and monitor deadlines
Contribute to cross-departmental projects
Act as the finance contact for key stakeholders
Resolve escalated issues within finance team
Delegate routine tasks to maintain workflow
Promote a culture of accuracy and accountability
Final Tip: Tailor Your Resume
This list gives you a strong foundation, but always match your resume responsibilities to the job ad. Use keywords from the employer's description and include results where possible—think accuracy rates, cost savings, or timeframes improved.
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