Get my plan

New to New Zealand or returning from overseas

Sample CV2 pagesFictional person

Best for

Your work history is mostly overseas, or you are on a visa. This layout explains your experience and your right to work in NZ clearly.

MARIA SANTOS

Auckland | 021 000 0002 | maria.santos@example.com | linkedin.com/in/mariasantos-example

Resident visa (work rights without conditions). Full NZ driver's licence.

Profile

Accountant with ten years in bookkeeping and financial reporting, including four years in New Zealand. Experienced in month-end close, GST returns and Xero. Looking for an accounts officer or accountant role in Auckland.

Key skills

  • Xero (certified advisor)
  • GST and PAYE returns
  • Month-end reporting
  • Accounts payable and receivable
  • Advanced Excel
  • English, Tagalog (fluent)

Work history

Accounts OfficerPacific Foods Distribution (importer, 60 staff), AucklandMar 2022 - Sep 2026

Position disestablished in a restructure.

  • Processed 300+ supplier invoices a month and reconciled accounts in Xero.
  • Prepared GST returns and month-end reports for the owner, always on time.
  • Cut the month-end close from seven working days to four by tidying supplier coding.

Senior AccountantManila Retail Group (national retail chain, 1,200 staff), Manila, Philippines2016 - 2021

  • Prepared monthly reports for 30 stores and supported the annual audit.
  • Trained and supervised three junior accountants.

Accounting ClerkRegional trading company, Manila, Philippines2014 - 2016

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science in Accountancy, University of Santo Tomas (NZQF Level 7 equivalent, NZQA assessed 2021)
  • Xero Advisor Certification, 2023
  • Short course: NZ Tax Essentials, 2024

Community

  • Volunteer tax helper, Auckland community centre, 2023 - present

Referees

Available on request. Two recent managers, contact details supplied once we have spoken.

Why it is laid out this way

  • Work rights are stated straight after your name, because employers must check them and it saves a question.
  • Overseas employers get a short description in brackets so the reader understands their size and sector.
  • Qualifications are given with an NZQF equivalent, so the level is clear to NZ readers.
  • Any NZ experience or training, including volunteering, is brought to the top.

Making it yours

  • State your visa type and expiry date. Never put your passport number or visa number on the CV.
  • Use NZ spelling and NZ date format (day, month, year).
  • You can get an NZQA assessment to compare an overseas qualification to the NZ framework. Mention it only if you have one.

Paste into Word or Google Docs, use one column and a plain font (Calibri or Arial), and save as PDF unless the ad asks for Word. Full advice in the NZ CV guide.

The people, employers and numbers here are made up. Use only your own real, checkable details. Spotted something out of date? Email help@unemployed.nz.

Next on the road

Back to the whole road on the home page