INDUSTRY STATS
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Finance Specialist positions are at a 5% growth rate, which is slower than average. With that said, there are currently 275,200 jobs in the market right now. The total number of jobs is expected to increase by 12,600 to 287,800 in the period of 2020-30.
What’s more, the median annual wage for the Finance Specialist jobs was $89,330 in May 2020. The lowest 10% earned less than $44,100, and the highest 10% more than $208,000.
Our conclusion? The Finance Specialist job market is wide open for candidates.
Top Finance Specialist sections that make the best resume
- Header
- Professional summary
- Experience (with numbers and results)
- Relevant skills
- Education
- Certifications
How to write a Finance Specialist resume experience section
Finance Specialist Resume’s Job Experience Checklist:
- Use 4-6 bullet points per job title;
- Don’t go further than a decade behind when describing your job history, unless you’re applying for an executive position;
- Combine job responsibilities as well as achievements with numbers in results when you describe your past work;
- Start each sentence with a power verb and avoid overused buzzwords;
- Use either C-A-R or S-T-A-R methodology, when describing your experience.
The work experience samples below come from real Finance Specialist resumes that got people hired at top companies. You can use them as an inspiration to build your own resume:
Work Experience
Accounting and Finance Specialist
Candor Corp
2009-2014
- Comprehensive understanding and management of the financial functions of the system specializing in Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Expense Reporting, Reconciliations and Cash Management based on the Xero Accounting system.
- Develop, implement, modify, and document record-keeping and accounting systems, making use of the current software applications, project management and analytical tools such as Asana and Fathom.
- Monthly payroll preparation with adherence to the UAE labor law for an employee base of 32.
- Developing, maintaining and analyzing budgets, create variance report and arriving at reasons for variance.
- Analyze operational trends, costs, revenues and cash flows and profitability for project businesses performance and provide advice on improvements.
- Preparation of monthly and quarterly VAT returns.
Work Experience
Equipment Finance Specialist
Monk
2015-2017
- Specialized leasing banker working closely with Relationship Managers, Assistant Managers, as well as bankers from specialized segments including Agribusiness and Health
- Completing an average of 14 documents per day including quotes, in the leasing space
- Analysing customer data, ensuring correct asset types have been created by the bankers, enabling confirmation of the bank's security against each asset
- Assisting the Equipment Finance team while working closely with colleagues to prioritize forecasted deals for drawdown and settlement
- Managing documents required for settlement and drawdown through direct liaison with customers and suppliers
- Adhering to local compliance requirements
Work Experience
Finance Specialist
Moxie Marketing
2016-2017
- Leading an Automation project to accelerate weekly forecast by 80%
- Improved volume forecast accuracy to ~0.5% variance vs actuals
- Built/Improved 6 tools to automate reporting saving 6.5 hours weekly
- Prepare Weekly Volume and Revenue Actual/Forecast reports
- Enhanced estimation reliability for Import and Export Discounts
- Manage DACH reporting for Top Management
- Identify trends and advise on optimization and strategic financial planning
- Present Analyses' results and calculate their impacts on profitability
- Manage monthly closure activities and Adhoc requests
Work Experience
Finance Specialist 2
DuBuque, Conroy and Durgan
2017-2020
- Coordinating and communicating with the case superintendent and the legal specialist, and meeting with him to discuss the case and agree on the elements of the financial study (compensation mechanism, accounting principle, etc.).
- Prepare a record of the sequence of cases under study based on chronological order and update it on a weekly basis and provide it to the Secretary of the Department.
- Prepare a letter to request any data or information regarding the lawsuit from third parties (Tadawul, brokerage firms, banks, listed companies, plaintiffs, defendants, etc.).
Work Experience
Finance Specialist
Cipher Publishing
2017-2020
- Responsible for cash positions on critical dates in month
- In charge of management reporting and project analysis
- Protected the company from currency exposure risk
- Internal processes management (e-racuni, Confluence, Zoho Vault, Department budgeting, ZOPI, office relocation)
Work Experience
Finance Specialist II
Zeal Wheels
2018-2020
- Performed monthly consolidation, business unit review, analysis, and projection for the financial performance of the commissary (i.g., variance and trend analysis, pricing, inflation, monthly outlook, etc )
- Standardized the P&L and Budget reporting and presentation materials
- Assisted in annual budget preparation, from assumption formulation, distribution, deployment, discussion to finalization
- Provided cost-benefit analysis to determine the financial viability of new capital expenditure projects using payback period, NPV, and IRR
- Built the Gross Profit Plan Simulation Report as the initial model for the POC presentation of Anaplan, a cloud-based planning software
- Created various reports and models customized to different users and business objectives and requirements
- Completed compliance services for tax incentives eligibility for new facilities
- Partnered with production, supply planning, account management, IT, and core business group for cost optimization, revenue enhancement, and process improvement initiatives
- Compiled large amounts of data for various projects, ranging from tax impact computations, material standardization to expense optimization
Work Experience
Finance Specialist | Investment Analyst
Moxie Marketing
2019-2021
- Average monthly return consistently above 10%+, with 95%+ of all months being profitable, outperforming both the S&P500 and most day traders in ROI at a considerably lower risk level, while also being in the top 0.5% of users at the largest sports trading platform in the world.
- Using numerical and analytical ability to analyze Excel spreadsheets and software in order to invest my personal money into the sports trading market.
- Working independently and using problem-solving and creative skills to implement best practices and processes in order to increase profit margins.
- Other tasks include cash management, risk management, financial management, financial administration, etc.
Work Experience
Investment Analyst | Finance Specialist
Techbia
2016-2017
- Average monthly return consistently above 10%+, with 95%+ of all months being profitable, outperforming both the S&P 500 and most day traders in ROI at a considerably lower risk level, while also being in the top 0.5% of traders at the #1 sports trading platform in the world.
- Using numerical and analytical ability to analyze Excel spreadsheets and software in order to invest my personal money into the sports trading market.
- Working independently, using problem-solving skills and creative skills to implement best practices and processes in order to increase profit margins.
- Weekly tasks also include financial analysis, cash management, risk analysis, financial management, and more.
Work Experience
Personal Finance Specialist
Smash Tech
2009-2014
- Contributed to +90% BES Average
- New Hire Trainer
- GEM Coach
- Branch Supervisor
Work Experience
Risk and Finance specialist
Hintz, Emmerich and Swaniawski
2017-2018
- Working in the field of Forex and Online casinos
- Reviewing new customers' accounts, monitoring transactions flow for abnormal activities on daily basis
- Monitoring suspicious patterns in customer's accounts and reporting fraud/abuse behavior to the team leader, risk management or relevant department
- Suggesting fraud refunds to prevent potential charge-backs.
- Auditing of customer's withdrawal requests on daily basis
- Constantly processing KYC documentation and monitor whether compliance requirements for the particular trading platform are met
- Checking for incoming charge-backs, retrievals, reversals in the credit card merchants and sending re-presentment for arbitration if needed Generating reports for net deposits
- Monitoring affiliate traffic for potential CPA abuse
- Handling of the Risk and Finance mail boxes and skype chats
- Escalating system faults and glitches to the relevant tech support teams and handling any other tasks assigned by the team leader or management
Work Experience
Senior Finance Specialist
Cogent Data
2012-2014
- Evaluated the performance of the team and manage to ensure 15% growth in their performance
- Acted as a main developer for the CRM and created the vision for the finance panel in the system
- Defined the training needs of the department, ensured and provided trainings to the team
- Analyzed the incoming calls in the department and managed to lower them with 35%
- Optimised the process of locating incoming bank transfers, saving over 6 hours of work per week
- Optimised the workflow in the department creating a positive and effective environment in the department
- Acted as an account manager to 20 partners of the company
- Created process maps for the finance procedures and optimised the process in the department
- Created a new task system towards the finance department and ensured its implementation
- Created KPI system and kept track of the effectiveness of the team
- Act as first point of contact and problem solver for any significant issues with partner and colleagues
- Act as main contact for an affiliate in Germany
- Insured the end of the year for an affiliate in Germany
Work Experience
Finance Specialist
Cipher Publishing
2015-2017
- Part of the process of establishing an affiliate in Germany and ensuring its well-being
- Developed procedures in the finance reports for maintenance service
- Assisted in developing the finance procedures in maintenance serive
- Money flow accounting and direct customer invoicing for company's partners
- Provided trainings for Finance Basics to the departments in the company
- Direct management, invoicing and reporting for corporate partners direct customer liabilities
- Inter company money flow optimization and financial consulting
- Credit control of individual clients accounts
- Monitoring and control of corporate receivables, direct connection to enterprise partners;
Work Experience
Senior Finance Specialist
Innovation Modular
2009-2014
- Preparing market, financing and financial risk management related presentations for company management (F/X Risk Coverage and exposure through use of derivatives (forward, swap, hedge), Bank Limit-Risk Information, Interest-Balance Agreements, Financial Statements, Export Commitments, Bank Guarantees, Conducting Credibility Cheques of Customers),
- Monitoring the cash & non-cash credits; corporate & investment credits, Letter of Credit (L/C), End-term Interests, Letter of Guarantee,
- Daily financial operations & daily management of cash flow and treasury operations; Monitoring of Payables & Receivables (AP&AR) (customers, vendors, tax, SGK etc.) Preparing bank instructions and payment orders in line with the relevant weekly payment plan(with aging studies), following up the necessary documentations in a timely manner, preparing & sharing day-end realization report,
- Managing the bank relations. Providing information that requested by the banks in accordance with the financial analysis / limit allocation studies carried out for the company and sharing with the bank,
- Closely monitoring the month-end financial closing & reporting,
- Improving ERP infrastructure and automation of finance processes.
Work Experience
Assistant Finance Specialist
Cipher Publishing
2019-2021
- Last step on credit control and approval process at all vehicle types. Managing and reporting this process to inside of the company,
- Dealer communication management at before & after sales procedures,
- Monthly checking and reporting collateral structures in all credit types,
- Controlling and reporting of financial operation process,
- Preparing the monthly trend analysis and matching reports of operation productivity.
Work Experience
Senior Personal Finance Specialist
Aexie Swarm
2012-2014
- Conducted financial counseling and debt management services for members to create effective financial plans and established account modifications to prevent future delinquencies
- Calculated payments programs for debt and negotiate to extend, refinance, or restructure credit terms and conditions for debt repayment
- Assist with making decisions and recommendations within authorized limits, including approving/decline account extensions, reduced interest, and refinances
PRO TIP
The person reading your Finance Specialist resume will be busy, make sure you never waste their time with fluff.
Action Verbs for your Finance Specialist Resume
At Enhancv, we went through countless Finance Specialist resumes and uncovered which are the unique words people use to spice up their resumes. Forget about buzzwords - use these power words instead to make your experience section shine.
Recommended reads:
Finance Specialist Resume Skills’ Tips & Tricks to Impress Recruiters
Resume Skills Section Checklist:
- Ensure your hard skills section (including technologies) are exactly matching the job description.
- Don’t simply list your soft skills. Apply the “show, don’t tell” principle - let your job achievements speak for themselves.
- Find a way to showcase your skills beyond the skills section.
- Your resume’s skill section is important to ATS systems - so don’t skip it.
Top Skills for your Finance Specialist resume
HARD SKILLS
- Microsoft Office
- SAP
- Excel
- Salesforce
- Data Entry
- Quickbooks
- Project Management
- Customer Service
- CRM
SOFT SKILLS
- Communication
- Negotiation
- Critical thinking
- Problem solving
- Collaboration
- Flexibitly
- Resilience
- Dedication
- Empathy
PRO TIP
Add a Talent Section to your resume, where you can pick your top 3 soft skills and describe how you used them to complete a project or balance departmental communication.
Recommended reads:
Finance Specialist Resume Header: Tips, Red Flags, and Best Practices
CHECKLIST For Your Finance Specialist Resume Header
- Your name and surname in a legible and larger resume font
- The job title you’re applying for or your current job title as a subheading to your name
- Link to your portfolio or online profile, such as LinkedIn
- Address (City and State for the US; just your city for rest of the world)
- Email address
- Headshot (required or welcomed in the EU; not required and sometimes frowned upon in the US)
Stick to popular email providers such as Gmail or Outlook. And use these professional formats to create your username:
- first.last@gmail.com
- last.first@gmail.com
- firstlast@gmail.com
- f.last@gmail.com
- first.l@gmail.com
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
Some companies, states, and countries have policies about identifying information like photos on your Finance Specialist resume. Be sure to check all the relevant rules before submitting yours. If you’re in doubt, you can always try contacting the company’s HR department to ask for their policy.
Finance Specialist Resume Summary Best Practices
Checklist: What to include in your Finance Specialist resume summary:
- Years of experience;
- Highlight top 3 skills and proficiencies;
- One big professional accomplishment you’re most proud of, that you can tie with the aforementioned skills;
- Use short, direct sentences - but no more than three - to keep the HRs interested.
Resume Summary Formula:
Resume Summary Formula:
[Adjective] [job title] with [number] years of experience in [industry], a proven ability to [relevant, measurable skills], and a strong background in [relevant context of your work experience] seeks a position as [the job title you’re applying for].
PRO TIP
Your summary section should act as a brief but informative introduction to your experience section. In this section you should go into more depth about what you have done, and how you did it.
Recommended reads:
Listing Your Education, Certifications and Courses
Resume Education Section Checklist:
- Ensure your hard skills section (including technologies) are exactly matching the job description.
- Don’t simply list your soft skills. Apply the “show, don’t tell” principle - let your job achievements speak for themselves.
- Find a way to showcase your skills beyond the skills section.
- Your resume’s skill section is important to ATS systems - so don’t skip it.
Top Certifications for your Finance Specialist resume
Business Accounting & Finance for Non-Specialist Managers
Understand business finance and the effect it has on business operations
Introduction to Finance, Accounting, Modeling and Valuation
Learn Finance & Accounting from Scratch by an Award Winning MBA Professor, Ivy Grad, worked @ Goldman & VC
The Complete Finance Manager Course 2022
Financial Management, ERP systems, Accounting, Capital budgeting, Presentation design, Management, and Negotiation
Accounting & Financial Statement Analysis: Complete Training
Accounting & Financial Ratio Analysis made easy. Learn important accounting skills that will get your foot in the door!
Finance for Non-Finance: Learn Quick and Easy
Obtain Suplemental Skills to Get a Raise, Better Job or Improve Your Own Business
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
There are dozens of certifications that you can claim as a Finance Specialist. But, some are more effective than others. That’s why you mustn’t include every certificate other applicants might have. Try instead to earn and list a few of the difficult ones.
Finance Specialist Resume: Additional Writing & Formatting Tips
There are three basic resume formats you can choose from:
- Reverse-chronological resume format;
- Functional resume format;
- Hybrid (or Combination) resume format;
The most optimal format for your particular case will depend on your years of experience, as well as whether you’re switching industries or not.
Reverse chronological resumes are best suited for experienced individuals who are sticking to their industry. The experience section takes a central place, and its bullets contain your responsibilities and achievements, coupled with numbers and results.
Functional resumes are used by less experienced jobseekers or career changers. Note that it’s not a format that recruiters prefer, as most are used to the classic chronological alignment. Instead of a list of job titles, functional resumes focus on your skills, and through what experiences you gained them.
Hybrid resumes are great for both experienced and entry-level candidates, as well as career changers. They combine the best of both worlds - most often in a double column format, where one side of the content is focused on your experience, whereas the other - on your skills, strengths, and proudest moments.
Finance Specialist Resume Summary best practices
Here are more resume tips regarding your layout and style:
- Clear and legible 12p resume font size;
- Use 10’’ resume margins - that’s default for a great resume design;
- Use a one-page template resume length if you’ve got less than 10 years of experience; otherwise, opt for a two-page resume;
- Save your resume as PDF before sending it to the recruiter.
To take it a step further, check out how your resume can stand out without leaning too much on the creative side.
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
Sometimes you’ll want to go after a job which requires more experience than you have. Instead of using a typical Finance Specialist resume layout, you can use a creative layout. Getting noticed is the most important challenge and a creative resume layout might help you get invited for an interview as most of other accountants have boring resume designs.
Other sections to include in your resume
Depending on the type of company (corporation or start-up; innovative or traditional), job seniority level and your location, you may want to include more sections to your Finance Specialist resume:
Finance Specialist Resume: How to Make Yours More Creative & Stand Out
When you send your resume to a potential employer, chances are it's the fiftieth one they've seen that day. That's why you need to make your Finance Specialist resume stand out for the right reasons. That means showing your personality, not just your professional experience. Employers are far more likely to remember a candidate who seems like a genuine person and not a robot. Do this by including your passions (which is also a great place to demonstrate skills on a resume), share your favorite books, or even what your usual day looks like.
What Makes a Great Finance Specialist Resume: Key Takeaways
- Choose a resume layout that sends the right message across and fits your current career situation;
- Create a resume header that shows your desired job title, and easy to find contact numbers;
- Be specific about your experience, accomplishments and future goals in your summary;
- Feature detailed metrics and specific examples that show the impact you made in your previous roles when describing your experience;
- List soft skills backed by examples;
- Add all of your technical skills and certifications that you have and match the job description;
- Show off a dash of personality in your resume that will demonstrate your culture fit and the right mix of hard and soft skills.
Volen Vulkov
8 minute read
Updated on 2022-03-25
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