Use professional field-tested resume templates that follow the exact CV rules employers look for.

Absence of statutory accountability often results in downgrade to senior accountant tier.

Structural Weaknesses That Reduce ATS Ranking

1. No Revenue or Entity Scale

Weak:

• •“Managed company accounts.”

Strong:

• •“Oversaw financial reporting for £120M turnover multi-entity group.”

Scale defines seniority.

2. No Regulatory Framework Mentioned

Weak:

• •“Prepared financial statements.”

Strong:

• •“Prepared consolidated financial statements under IFRS and UK GAAP.”

Regulatory alignment improves keyword matching.

3. Qualification Status Not Prominently Stated

Weak:

• •Qualification buried in education section.

Strong:

• •“ACA Qualified Chartered Accountant (ICAEW).”

Credential visibility directly impacts ATS scoring.

Comparative Resume Example: Weak vs Optimised

Superficially Senior but Weak for UK Screening

Chartered Accountant

• •Prepared annual accounts
• •Assisted with audit
• •Managed tax compliance
• •Worked with finance team

Why this fails:

• •No turnover scale
• •No regulatory framework
• •No consolidation evidence
• •No board reporting
• •No HMRC exposure

This reads as senior accountant rather than chartered-level authority.

Optimised for UK Chartered Accountant Screening

Chartered Accountant (ACA Qualified)

• •Led preparation of consolidated IFRS financial statements for £150M turnover group
• •Managed external audit process and liaised directly with Big Four audit firm
• •Oversaw corporation tax compliance and VAT reporting
• •Presented financial performance analysis to board and audit committee
• •Implemented internal controls framework improving reporting accuracy
• •Supported M&A due diligence for £22M acquisition

Why this passes:

• •Qualification clearly stated
• •Financial scale defined
• •Regulatory framework referenced
• •Audit leadership visible
• •Strategic finance exposure included

This aligns with UK chartered-level expectations.

High-Value Resume Example: Chartered Accountant (UK)

Benjamin Clarke, ACA
London, UK
+44 123 456 7890
benjamin.clarke@newcv.io

Professional Summary
ACA-qualified Chartered Accountant with 9 years’ experience across UK practice and industry. Proven expertise in statutory reporting, audit management, tax compliance, and financial control within multi-entity corporate environments.

Core Expertise
IFRS & UK GAAP Reporting
Group Consolidation
External Audit Management
Corporation Tax & VAT Oversight
Financial Controls & Risk Management
Board & Audit Committee Reporting
Cash Flow & Treasury Management

Professional Experience

Finance Manager / Chartered Accountant
Northbridge Holdings plc – London, UK
2020 – Present

• •Led preparation of consolidated IFRS financial statements for £180M turnover group
• •Managed annual external audit process with Big Four firm
• •Oversaw corporation tax and VAT compliance ensuring full HMRC alignment
• •Presented quarterly financial performance reports to board of directors
• •Implemented revised internal controls reducing reporting errors by 19%
• •Supported acquisition of £25M subsidiary including financial due diligence

Audit Manager
Vertex Accountancy LLP – Manchester, UK
2016 – 2020

• •Managed audit engagements for UK corporate clients with turnover up to £95M
• •Supervised audit teams of 6 professionals
• •Reviewed statutory accounts prepared under UK GAAP
• •Advised clients on financial reporting compliance improvements

Education
BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance
University of Leeds

Qualifications
ACA Qualified – ICAEW Member

Where Seniority Inflation Causes Rejection

UK recruiters frequently filter out resumes that:

• •Claim financial leadership without statutory reporting ownership
• •Present audit participation as audit management
• •Use “Financial Controller” language without full qualification

Chartered accountant screening prioritises qualification credibility and statutory accountability over general finance seniority.