Bookkeeper CV example

A complete example CV for a bookkeeper in South Africa, then the bullets that make it work, rewritten from weaker versions with the reason for each change.

A fictional example. Nomvula Sithole is not a real person, and the employers, dates and numbers are made up to show the shape of a good CV. Use your own facts: never copy someone else's.

Nomvula Sithole

Bookkeeper (to trial balance)

Polokwane, Limpopo · Cell: 0XX XXX XXXX · nomvula@example.com

Profile

Bookkeeper with five years keeping the books for small businesses to trial balance on Sage and Xero, including VAT and payroll returns on SARS eFiling.

Skills

Sage Business Cloud Accounting
Xero
Bank and creditor reconciliations
VAT201 and EMP201 returns on SARS eFiling
Payroll on SimplePay
Microsoft Excel

Work experience

BookkeeperJan 2022 to present

Accounting practice, Polokwane

Keep the books for 14 small business clients to trial balance each month.
Prepare and submit VAT201 returns every two months on SARS eFiling, all on time in 2025.
Run monthly payroll for three clients (60 employees) and submit EMP201s.
Reconcile bank accounts and creditors before the 10th of each month for the accountants' review.

Accounts clerkFeb 2020 to Dec 2021

Hardware store, Polokwane

Captured supplier invoices and payments and followed up 30-day debtors.

Education and qualifications

Bookkeeping qualification through the ICB (Institute of Certified Bookkeepers), 2021
National Senior Certificate (matric) with Accounting, 2018

Languages

English, Sepedi, Xitsonga

Licence

Code 08 (B)

References

Available on request

Before and after: the bullets that make it work

Before: ~~Did the books for clients.~~
After: Keep the books for 14 small business clients to trial balance each month.
Why: "To trial balance" tells an accountant exactly how far you go; the client count shows your load.
Before: ~~VAT returns.~~
After: Prepare and submit VAT201 returns every two months on SARS eFiling, all on time in 2025.
Why: Names the return and the system, and shows you meet SARS deadlines.
Before: ~~Payroll experience.~~
After: Run monthly payroll for three clients (60 employees) and submit EMP201s.
Why: Scale and the return you file make the skill concrete.

South African details to get right

Give each qualification its NQF level: matric (the National Senior Certificate) is at level 4, and employers use the levels to compare qualifications. If you're unsure of a level, the institution or SAQA can tell you. Source: SAQA: NQF level descriptors.
If you belong to a professional body (ICB, SAIPA), give your membership number so an employer can check it.
Leave out your ID number, date of birth, marital status and a photo unless the advert asks for them. Contact details, your area and your work history are enough to be shortlisted.
Keep it in one column with plain headings (Profile, Skills, Work experience, Education). Tables, text boxes and two-column templates often confuse the software that reads CVs first.

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