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How to Write a Winning CV as a Part-Qualified Accountant

Whether you’re halfway through your ACCA, CIMA, or ACA qualification, being a part-qualified accountant is a valuable position that opens doors to numerous opportunities...However, capitalising on those opportunities starts with one critical tool: a well-crafted CV. Your CV isn't just a list of previous roles — it’s a strategic marketing document. It's your chance to demonstrate to employers that although you're not yet fully qualified, you already deliver tangible value and have the potential to grow into a fully-fledged finance professional. Based on experience within the demanding and fast-growing part-qualified market, here are five essential elements your CV must include to stand out.1. Lead with a Powerful Personal StatementThis is the first impression — and one of the most important parts of your CV. A strong personal statement should make hiring managers want to read more. Your personal statement should cover: Your current qualification status (e.g., “ACCA part-qualified with 7 out of 13 exams completed”). Your professional ambitions and what drives you. Key strengths developed so far (e.g., process improvement, analytical thinking, stakeholder collaboration). Areas you’re eager to grow in. Tailor this section for each role you apply to. Show your enthusiasm for the specific opportunity and highlight relevant experience. Crucially, mention where you've added value — perhaps by streamlining a process, supporting a new project, or exceeding performance targets.2. Showcase Your Professional Experience with ImpactThe experience section is your chance to back up your personal statement with evidence. Avoid vague job descriptions. Instead, go into detail: Describe key processes you’ve worked on (include figures or financial details where possible). Highlight your role in cross-functional teams or collaboration with senior stakeholders. Focus on contributions you've made — especially in process improvements, efficiencies, or data-driven decisions. Rather than just listing duties, emphasise achievements. What did you deliver? What changed as a result? Who benefited from your input? Remember: employers in the part-qualified market want to see your potential and how you've already added value. 3. Highlight Transferable Skills and Tailor for Each JobIt’s easy to fall into the trap of sending the same CV to every job. Don’t. Tailoring your CV to each opportunity shows initiative and relevance. Start by thoroughly reading the job description. Identify what the employer is really looking for — and match that to your skills and experience. For example, if the role emphasizes SOX compliance, IFRS, or UK/US GAAP reporting standards, and you’ve had exposure to these, make it clear. If a job involves partnering with non-finance departments, highlight any experience communicating with cross-functional teams or presenting financial insights. Mention transferable skills such as: Problem-solving Analytical thinking Use of ERP systems Forecasting and budgeting support This shows you’ve not just read the job description — you understand what the company needs and the transferable skills and experience you have.4. Don’t Just List Technical Skills — Demonstrate ThemHiring managers don’t just want to see a list of accounting systems and tools you’ve used — they want to understand how you’ve used them. For each system (e.g., SAP, Sage, Excel, Power BI), include: What you used it for (e.g., “automated monthly reporting using Excel macros”). Any efficiencies or improvements achieved through its use. If you implemented or helped roll out a system or process, explain your role and the outcome. Example: "Developed a reporting dashboard in Power BI that reduced manual month-end reporting time by 30%, allowing the team to focus on variance analysis and forecasting." This showcases your technical ability and your contribution to the wider team.5. Include Key Achievements or Case Studies Using STAR In a competitive job market, including 2–3 concise achievements or mini case studies can elevate your CV. Use the STAR Method to structure them: Situation – What challenge or context were you working in? Task – What was your role or responsibility? Action – What steps did you take? Result – What was the outcome? Quantify it if possible. For Example: Situation: Month-end reporting was consistently delayed due to data inconsistencies. Task: Identify the bottlenecks and improve the workflow. Action: Collaborated with the data team to build an automated reconciliation process. Result: Reduced reporting time by 2 days and improved data accuracy, enabling earlier board review. Including achievements like this gives your CV personality and provides excellent talking points during interviews. Final ThoughtsBeing a part-qualified accountant isn’t a limitation — it’s a launchpad. The right CV will not only reflect your current abilities but also show employers your drive, value, and potential. To recap: Craft a compelling personal statement tailored to each role. Highlight achievements and value-adds, not just responsibilities. Tailor your CV to every application — make your skills match the role. Showcase your technical experience with real examples. Include 2–3 achievements using the STAR method to give your CV depth. With these elements, your CV won’t just get you through the door — it will set the tone for your progression toward full qualification and a thriving finance career. Visit Our Candidate Advice Pages HereLooking for your next career move in finance or accountancy? At Sharp Consultancy, our expertise lies in matching your potential with the perfect temporary, interim, or permanent position. With a well-established presence in Leeds and Sheffield, our seasoned team of consultants extends their services across Yorkshire and beyond. Don't wait for opportunity to knock, reach out to us TODAYand let's chart your career path together.

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I’m searching for a new role and I want to make sure I make the right decision about my next move – what should I be considering to ensure that my next company is right for me?

This is such an important part of the job search process and one, which if overlooked, can end up turning what initially looks like a dream job into a wrong move.

It’s very easy when you are caught up in the excitement of the prospect of a new role to somewhat ignore some of the red flags or warning signs which can appear at different stages of the journey. And whilst finding – and securing – the right role is difficult; you shouldn’t overlook how important it is to opt for an organisation where the culture and values align with your own.

During the interview process, potential employers will be looking to hire candidates that will flourish in their corporate culture, and it is essential that you also use this as an opportunity to evaluate whether or not the company, your new colleagues, the leadership team and your boss will be right for you.

So what should you be looking for? An organisation’s culture will be based upon the ideas and beliefs that the company has, and this will – or should – run all through the business and every aspect of its operations to shape how it does business and the way in which its employees behave.

Ensuring the right cultural fit is important both from an employee and employer perspective; individuals are most likely to thrive when they are in an environment that they feel comfortable in and are able to operate and express themselves confidently. Whilst there will be slightly different approaches, each member of the team needs to be on the same page and working towards the same operational goals, particularly as your own professional growth and progression are likely to be entwined with surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals and a team that you can get along with.

There’s no right or wrongs when it comes to determining if an organisation has a ‘good’ culture as it is very much down to individual characters and personalities; for example a highly driven and sales focused environment may suit someone who thrives in that atmosphere whereas for another person, a business that is built around collaborative team working might be more suitable.

How to gain an insight into an organisation’s culture:

1.Do your research. Take a look at the company’s website, follow them on social media, read articles in various media titles to help you build a picture of how they are looking to present themselves.

2.If you are attending the interview in person take a good look around. Does the environment seem formal or more relaxed? Look for clues such as the layout of the office, how members of the team are interacting with each other – is there seem to a lot of communication between them or is the workplace more subdued – what is the dress code, are the senior management working alongside other members of the team or are they in separate offices?

3.Read between the lines. During your interview ask key questions about the aims and objectives of the organisation and how they plan to achieve these – listen carefully to the answers they share to get an indication of how much emphasis they place upon the various factors needed to reach success.

4.Show an interest in the person who is interviewing you and their experience of the company. How long have they been with the organsiation, what training and development opportunities have they benefited from, what is their management style, do you feel motivated and inspired by them?

5.Talk to others. Ask if there is an opportunity during the recruitment process to meet the team you would be potentially working with to see if these are people that you could gel with.

Sharp Consultancy specialises in the recruitment of temporary, interim and permanent finance and accountancy professionals. With offices in Leeds and Sheffield our highly experienced team of consultants recruit for positions throughout Yorkshire and beyond. CONTACT US today for expert advice on your next career move.

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