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Accounting consultant skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Kathi Mettler,

Thomas King

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical accounting consultant skills. We ranked the top skills for accounting consultants based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 14.8% of accounting consultant resumes contained cpa as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills an accounting consultant needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 accounting consultant skills for your resume and career

1. CPA

Here's how accounting consultants use cpa:

Tutored students in Accounting, Finance, and CPA Exam prep (also tutored Spanish and Music Theory students).
Use QuickBooks Pro software to provide bookkeeping and accounting support to small businesses, individuals and CPA's.

2. GAAP

Here's how accounting consultants use gaap:

Assisted privately-held company with necessary GAAP Financial Statement Conversion and SEC reporting in preparation for public filing.
Generate highly detailed GAAP financial reports requiring precision and rapid turnaround.

3. Reconciliations

Here's how accounting consultants use reconciliations:

Led several projects which successfully automated monthly account reconciliations for over 330 equity and 35 International Premium Tax General Ledger accounts.
Performed various duties as assigned including reconciliations of major accounts, inventory verification and creating Standard Operating Procedures for multiple functions.

4. ERP

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is computer software used by major corporations and organizations for conducting their management and accounting tasks efficiently. ERP systems bind different business processes with each other allowing smoother flow of data between them resulting in swift project assessment and completion.

Here's how accounting consultants use erp:

Designated as Principal Consultant responsible for reviewing accounting practices and leading post-implementation and integration of ERP and CRM systems.
Reviewed their accounting systems, researched ERP systems and recommended a replacement to their current outdated and outsourced accounting system.

5. Shared Services

Here's how accounting consultants use shared services:

Selected to direct domestic and global team of 17 for monthly close of Shared Services department.
Reported monthly financial findings to the Director of A/P and the AVP of Shared Services.

6. SOX

Here's how accounting consultants use sox:

Collaborated with accounting department in monthly closing process and development of internal controls to support SOX requirements.
Worked with governance and internal audit team ensuring SOX compliance during monthly & quarterly reviews as well as the annual audit.

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7. Balance Sheet Reconciliations

Here's how accounting consultants use balance sheet reconciliations:

Prepared numerous Balance Sheet reconciliations.
Generated international cash flows, consolidated balance sheet reconciliations and ad hoc financial analysis.

8. Close Process

A close process is the necessary closing steps required to prepare the accounts for recording the transactions of the next period. Its purpose is to reset or close the temporary account balances on the general ledger, and the accounting system for a company's financial data including income statement and accounts payable.

Here's how accounting consultants use close process:

Ensured all accounting systems Assisted with quarterly and monthly close process including monthly consolidation.
Manage the monthly and quarterly close process, including close calendar and PBC schedules for external auditors.

9. Internal Controls

Here's how accounting consultants use internal controls:

Examined and evaluated financial and information systems, management procedures, and internal controls to ensure accuracy of records and controls.
Organized and corrected financial reporting and developed internal controls and procedures to improve quality, accuracy and compliance.

10. Senior Accounting

Here's how accounting consultants use senior accounting:

Promoted from accounting manager to senior accounting manager in accounting center support department in recognition of past performance and increased responsibilities.
Promoted through multiple positions beginning with initial hire as Accounting Manager and culminated as Senior Accounting Manager.

11. External Auditors

Here's how accounting consultants use external auditors:

Acted as liaison between accounting department and external auditors to assist with expectations and preparation of proper work paper documentation.
Facilitated successful fixed asset testing by intercepting and updating files requested by external auditors from cost accounting dept.

12. Accruals

Here's how accounting consultants use accruals:

Performed general accounting function including general ledger maintenance, monthly accruals, payroll accounting, bank account and general ledger reconciliation.
Analyze and record transactions including the amortization of prepaid and accruals and income statement allocation.

13. Real Estate

Real estate is land that has buildings on it. This kind of property consists of permanent improvements either natural or man-made, which include, houses, fences, bridges, water trees, and minerals. There are 4 types of real estate namely; residential real estate, commercial real estate, industrial real estate, and vacant land.

Here's how accounting consultants use real estate:

Provided consultant services for Wells Real Estate Funds-Northeast Regional office and BlackRock Realty Advisors-Portfolio Operations.
Provided accounting consultancy to Wells Real Estate Funds-Northeast Region Accounting and BlackRock Realty Advisors-Portfolio Accounting.

14. Payroll Processing

Here's how accounting consultants use payroll processing:

Support payroll processing by preparing and reviewing weekly information.
Certified Public Accountant Manager Manage the preparation of compilations, reviews, payroll processing, quarterly and year end payroll reports.

15. General Ledger Accounts

A general ledger account is a practice to keep a record of a company's total financial accounts. The accounts included in a general ledger lists the assets, liabilities, owners' equity, expenses, and income or revenue. It forms the basis of reporting a business's financial statements.

Here's how accounting consultants use general ledger accounts:

Assist with external audit by analyzing and scheduling general ledger accounts; providing information for auditors.
Reviewed all non-inventory invoices to ensure proper coding to appropriate departmental general ledger accounts.

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What skills help Accounting Consultants find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on accounting consultant resumes?

Kathi Mettler

Director, Graduate Accounting Programs, Instructor of the Practice, Accounting, Fairfield University

Completion of the CPA Exam (passing all four parts before starting to work) is a significant competitive advantage. Analytics is really important now, which is why our Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) Program allows students to tailor their experience by choosing a specialization in either assurance, business analytics, or taxation. Additionally, a student may pursue a Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) with an accounting or taxation specialization. An accounting or taxation specialization is offered in our MBA and MSF programs as well. Another skill important for success is being an effective communicator. In this day and age, accountants no longer hide in the office and crunch numbers; they are at the clients' site and must possess strong people and interpersonal skills. The importance of effective communication (written and verbal) and soft skills is why we have created a new graduate course, "Effective Communication for Accounting Professionals".

What soft skills should all accounting consultants possess?

Thomas King

Department Chair, Director, Master of Accountancy Program, Professor, Accountancy, Case Western Reserve University

The ability to develop working relationships with a wide range of colleagues who have diverse skills.

What hard/technical skills are most important for accounting consultants?

Thomas King

Department Chair, Director, Master of Accountancy Program, Professor, Accountancy, Case Western Reserve University

The ability to extract information from unfamiliar data sets and then explain conclusions reached in a clear, persuasive manner.

What accounting consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Gary P Braun

Professor, California State University - Chico

Technology, technology, technology - there are different forms of this, but the intersection of data analysis and technology seems like the place that has the most bang for the buck. Perhaps I am overstating it here, but in my 35-plus years in the accounting world, there has been a continuous march toward the use of computer technology tools. My advice would be to either do a graduate program that has a focus on technology or to pick up certifications in specific tools. Another option would be to find free resources on these topics (MOOCs, for example). Also, for students wanting to be certified, I would say another great use of time is to get the hours needed to sit for the exam and to take the exam ASAP.

What type of skills will young accounting consultants need?

Delvin Grant

Associate Professor, DePaul University

The ability to problem solve, which requires an understanding of the problem and a structured approach towards the solution. The ability to apply concepts learned in one discipline to another. Quite often, students are unable to see how a concept translates from one domain to another, and this stifles innovation.

Do you want to know more?

List of accounting consultant skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for an accounting consultant resume and required skills for an accounting consultant to have include:

CPA
GAAP
Reconciliations
ERP
Shared Services
SOX
Balance Sheet Reconciliations
Close Process
Internal Controls
Senior Accounting
External Auditors
Accruals
Real Estate
Payroll Processing
General Ledger Accounts
Gap Analysis

Internal Audit
Pivot Tables
Account Reconciliations
Process Reengineering
Ledgers
Process Improvement
Financial Data
Fixed Assets
Balance Sheet Accounts
PeopleSoft
Variance Analysis
Sarbanes-Oxley
Revenue Recognition
Financial Analysis
Bank Reconciliations
Income Statement

Tax Returns
A/P
Credit Card
Management Reports
Bank Accounts
Sales Tax
ACH
LLC
Forensic Accounting
Financial Transactions
Sap Fi
Quickbooks Pro
Bank Statements
Financial Statement Preparation
Account Analysis

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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