A CV for the UK usually has no photo, runs to 1–2 pages and is printed on A4 paper. The 10 designs below suit chartered accountants and open in the free builder with our sample chartered accountant CV filled in, and the checklist further down shows what to change before you apply in the UK.
A UK CV is usually two sides of A4, opens with a short personal statement and lists experience in reverse chronological order. British employers do not expect a photo, date of birth or marital status, and most prefer that you leave them out. Use British spelling throughout, mention your right to work if it is not obvious, and send the file as a PDF or Word document unless the advert asks otherwise.
Each design below opens in the free builder with our sample chartered accountant resume, Megha Agarwal, Financial Controller, already filled in. The list further down takes that sample section by section and shows what to change before you send it to an employer in the UK.
Why the sample works: Megha’s close-cycle line gives a before-and-after figure, from 12 working days down to 5, which tells a hiring CFO exactly what improvement to expect. Both resumes separate audit, tax and reporting work into distinct bullets, so a reader looking for GST or Ind AS strength can find it within seconds.
10 designs that suit chartered accountants and the UK
About applicant tracking systems: Some older applicant tracking systems read two columns out of order, so pick a single-column design for large company portals and use a two-column one when a person reads your resume first.
No photo, except for acting, modelling or presenting roles. None of the designs below has a photo slot.
Length
Two sides of A4 is the norm; one page suits graduates and school leavers.
Paper size
A4 paper size with sensible margins, not US Letter. Pick A4 in the builder before you download.
Personal details
Name, phone, email, town or city and LinkedIn; no date of birth or marital status.
Dates
Month and year for each role, most recent first.
Spelling
British English: organise, colour, programme, licence (noun), CV rather than résumé.
Section names
Call it a CV. The usual order: Contact details, Personal statement, Key skills, Employment history, Education and qualifications, Training and certifications, Additional information, Interests.
File
PDF or Word document, named with your full name and “CV”.
The sample chartered accountant CV, adapted for the UK
Header
Put Megha Agarwal as the heading (no “Curriculum Vitae” above it), with one mobile number, email, a UK town or city and a LinkedIn or portfolio link. Drop the photo, date of birth and marital status, and add a right-to-work line if sponsorship could be a question.
Personal statement
“Chartered Accountant with eight years across Big-firm assurance and industry finance, now controlling accounts for a consumer goods manufacturer. Runs month-end close, statutory audit coordination, GST and direct tax compliance, and board MIS.” In the UK this becomes a personal statement of three to five lines, tailored to each advert by echoing its job title and two or three of its requirements.
Key skills
Month-end close, SAP FICO, Ind AS reporting, Working capital, Budgeting and MIS, GST compliance, Internal controls, Team leadership.
Employment history
Financial Controller, Consumer goods manufacturer with three plants: “Reduced month-end close from 12 working days to 5 by standardising journals, accrual schedules and plant-level reconciliations in SAP. Lead a finance team of nine covering accounts payable, receivables, fixed assets, costing and statutory compliance across three plants.” Earlier: Assistant Manager, Finance and Accounts, Listed specialty chemicals company. Give job title, employer, town and month-and-year dates, then four to six achievement bullets; roles from more than ten to fifteen years ago shrink to one line.
Education and qualifications
Chartered Accountancy, Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. Experienced candidates put education below employment. Follow an overseas qualification with a short UK equivalent where you know it.
Training and certifications
Associate Member, ICAI (ACA); ICAI Certificate Course on Indirect Taxes; ICAI Certificate Course on Ind AS.
Additional information
An “Additional information” section holds right to work, English, Hindi, Bengali with an honest level, and a full UK driving licence if the role involves travel.
