As a highly-competitive field that’s constantly evolving, the finance industry has become a battlefield for the best and the brightest. VP of finance job offers attract many aspiring applicants looking to secure their dream job. This intense competition is further fueled by the high stakes associated with these top-tier positions, making the selection process even more rigorous.
But, there’s a silver lining! A compelling VP of finance resume can be all you need to make a strong case for your financial acumen and leadership capabilities. It will not only showcase your most prominent qualities but also position you as the ideal candidate for the role.
In this VP of finance resume guide, you'll discover:
- The most effective VP of finance resume structures and formats to impress recruiters
- Expert-driven tips on how to articulate your financial expertise and skillset across different sections
- Real-world VP of finance resume examples and templates to help you land your dream job
- Strategies to leverage education, certificates, and achievements to enhance your professional narrative.
Ready? Let's jump in.
Here are more related guides to enhance your resume-building skills:
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- Finance executive resume
How to format a VP of finance resume
A VP of finance resume must reflect precision, clarity, and strategic structuring — all of which are vital qualities in the world of finance.
The formatting of your resume is not just about aesthetics but a testament to your organizational skills and attention to detail. Strategically selected design elements enhance readability, making it easier for hiring managers to identify key information and keeping you at the top of their minds.
Creating a well-structured resume is your chance to convey your professional story at a glance, efficiently highlighting your strategic financial leadership and acumen.
Essential tips for building your VP of finance resume:
- Adopt the reverse chronological format: This resume format is ideal for showcasing your sequential career progression in finance. It highlights your most recent and relevant experiences first, demonstrating your growth and achievements in the financial sector.
- Add a header section at the top: Include a professional header with your name, contact information, and a professional photo if it aligns with the industry norms in your region. A captivating header makes your resume stand out and helps recruiters reach out easily.
- Integrate multiple resume sections: Ensure to feature sections that reflect your expertise in finance (experience, achievements, skills, projects, etc) and tailor each one of them to the job offer.
- Maintain an optimal resume length: Your aim should be to keep your resume between one and two pages at most — despite your lengthy experience. A concise resume demonstrates your ability to handle and thrive in the VP position, without wasting the recruiter’s time with trivial details.
- Save your resume in an appropriate file format: There was a time when DOC was the most used file format, due to the widespread use of the Microsoft Office Suite. But today, its popularity is decreasing in favor of the outstanding benefits offered by the PDF format. Using PDF to save your resume ensures that its layout remains intact across various platforms, reflecting the precision expected in your field.
ATS friendliness is another critical aspect to keep in mind when building your VP of finance resume. Unfortunately, there are still a lot of myths and misconceptions when it comes to ATS despite its importance. While your resume is eventually reviewed by human readers, it must first make it through an automated process of applicant tracking systems (ATS).
Different markets have specific resume formats – a Canadian resume could vary in layout.
PRO TIP
One of the most effective ways to optimize your resume for ATS is by choosing suitable fonts (such as Rubik, Lato, Montserrat, Raleway, and Exo 2) to maximize readability. There are other suitable serif and sans-serif typefaces you can use like Arial and Times New Roman. However, these are often outdated and overused, making it difficult for you to stand out from the crowd.
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The top sections on a VP of finance resume:
- Professional summary: This serves as your opening pitch, succinctly encapsulating your journey and unique value in the financial leadership landscape.
- Professional expertise: As a comprehensive narrative of your career in finance, this part spotlights your roles, key responsibilities, and notable achievements.
- Core competencies: Here, you'll list your pivotal financial skills and areas of expertise, underscoring your suitability for executive leadership positions.
- Education and certifications: This segment is crucial for reinforcing your credibility and specialized knowledge. Use it to provide a rundown of your academic qualifications and any specialized financial certifications.
- Board memberships and affiliations: In this section, you can showcase your involvement with industry groups or boards and demonstrate your extensive network in the finance realm.
What recruiters want to see on your resume:
- Proven track record in strategic financial planning and forecasting.
- Demonstrated experience in managing mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures.
- Strong knowledge of modern financial technologies and systems integration.
- Leadership experience in capital structure management and investor relations.
- Expertise in regulatory compliance and risk management in finance.
How to write your VP of finance resume experience
The experience section highlights the most important details about your professional experience and career wins. This is where you’ll feature your previous related jobs — with details about what you achieved in each position and how you did that.
As a VP of finance, experience has the largest impact on whether your application is ignored or shortlisted for an interview. Therefore, it’s essential to use this section to demonstrate your qualities in financial management, strategic planning, and leadership.
One of the main challenges in conveying your expertise in finance is deciding which experiences to include and how to best present them. It’s not easy to showcase complex financial strategies and achievements concisely and understandably that can keep recruiters engaged.
Crafting an effective experience section for a VP of finance resume boils down to three simple principles:
- Relevant achievements: Focus on the most recent and pertinent achievements in your career and list them in reverse chronological order.
- Quantifiable impact: Use specific metrics and data to illustrate the impact of your work and contributions in the workplace.
- Action verbs: Start bullet points with dynamic verbs and action words that convey your active role in achieving positive results.
- ATS keywords: Incorporate relevant key terms, such as skills and desired results, to ensure your resume passes through automated ATS algorithms.
Examples of VP of finance experience section:
02/2015 - 11/2020 
- •Oversaw routine financial reporting and budgeting.
- •Managed a small team in the finance department.
- •Handled basic financial analysis and monthly accounting tasks.
02/2015 - 11/2020 - •Spearheaded a comprehensive financial restructuring strategy, resulting in a 24% increase in company profitability within the first year.
- •Implemented Agile methodologies, reducing project delivery times by 35% and enhancing team productivity.
- •Orchestrated cross-functional teams of 22 members, fostering collaboration between developers, designers, and marketers to align product vision with market needs.
The first example falls short because it fails to adhere to the three principles mentioned above. It merely lists basic, dull job duties without delving into the specifics or scale of the work. More importantly, it doesn’t show the candidate's unique contributions or broader impact — which is why it doesn’t capture the recruiter’s interest.
In contrast, the second example is more targeted and on-point — as it effectively showcases the candidate's leadership and team-building capabilities while quantifying their strategic initiatives. This approach not only demonstrates the applicant’s expertise in finance but also their ability to drive meaningful change and results within an organization
How to quantify the impact on your resume
Percentages, rates, and data are not just numbers on your resume. They're a testament to your ability to drive financial success and efficiency. When you quantify your accomplishments, you provide recruiters and hiring managers with a clear, measurable perspective of your impact, making your experience and skills more tangible and relatable.
Here are 10 VP of finance resume achievements with examples to inspire you when writing your resume:
- Increased Revenue: "Boosted company revenue by 30% over two years through strategic market expansion and product diversification."
- Cost Reduction: "Implemented cost-saving initiatives that reduced operational expenses by 20%, saving the company $1.5M annually."
- Budget Management: "Managed a $50M annual budget, optimizing resource allocation and expenditure."
- Financial Growth Metrics: "Achieved a 25% year-over-year growth in net income by streamlining financial processes and enhancing investment strategies."
- Debt Reduction: "Reduced company debt by 40% through effective renegotiation of financial terms and debt restructuring."
- Profit Margin Improvement: "Improved gross profit margins by 15% through cost-effective vendor negotiations and inventory management."
- Team Leadership: "Led a finance team of 15 members, achieving a 95% team retention rate and enhancing team productivity by 30%."
- Risk Management: "Developed risk mitigation strategies that decreased financial risks by 35%."
- Investment Returns: "Oversaw an investment portfolio that yielded a 20% return on investment within the first year."
- Financial Reporting Accuracy: "Enhanced the accuracy of financial reporting, reducing reporting errors by 50% through the implementation of new software and training programs."
How to list your hard skills and soft skills on your resume
Skills on a VP of finance resume are a decisive factor in getting you noticed and hired for the job. A well-articulated skills section can catch a recruiter's eye, demonstrating that you possess the comprehensive skill set necessary to navigate the complex financial landscape.
There are two types of skills to enhance your resume: hard skills and soft skills.
Hard skills encompass quantifiable technical abilities and knowledge specific to the finance sector. They’re usually acquired through formal education and practical experience — both of which are crucial for thriving in a VP of finance role. Core skills in this category include financial reporting and analysis, budgeting and forecasting, risk management, as well as compliance and regulatory knowledge.
Soft skills refer to interpersonal attributes that influence how you interact, manage, and work with others in a corporate setting. They play a significant role in how you navigate the complexities and dynamics of the corporate environment. For a VP of finance, these may include leadership, team management, strategic thinking, effective communication, and adaptability.
Best practices for listing your VP of finance skills:
- Start with a comprehensive list of all your skills: Create a list of all the soft and technical skills you possess. (You can always shortlist it later and only keep the most relevant ones.)
- Prioritize skills by relevance: Tailor your skills to the job description, highlighting the most relevant and sought-after talents for the VP of finance role specifically.
- Maintain a balanced mix of talents: Ensure that your list is balanced, featuring both hard and soft talents to promote you as a well-rounded candidate.
- Be precise in your expression: Instead of generic terms and vague words, stick to specific skills that clearly define your financial expertise.
PRO TIP
It's crucial to align your skills precisely with the language used in the job offer. For instance, if the job ad specifies "financial analysis," ensure your resume includes this exact term rather than any other variation. This direct matching approach ensures your skills are accurately recognized by ATS systems and increases the relevance of your resume to the specific job requirements.
Best hard skills for your VP of finance resume
- Financial modeling and forecasting
- Strategic financial planning
- Advanced Excel skills
- ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle)
- Budget development and oversight
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Capital allocation strategies
- Financial analysis and reporting
- Cash flow management
- Corporate taxation expertise
- Treasury management
- Risk management tools
- GAAP and IFRS standards
- Cost accounting and analysis
- Investment portfolio management
- Debt financing strategies
- Performance metric creation
- Knowledge of fintech platforms
- Regulatory compliance and reporting
- Capital market operations
Best soft skills for your VP of finance resume
- Strategic leadership
- Communication and presentation skills
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Team management
- Decision-making under pressure
- Ethical judgment and integrity
- Analytical and critical thinking
- Negotiation skills
- Adaptability to change
- Conflict resolution
- Stakeholder management
- Time management and prioritization
- Emotional intelligence
- Continuous learning mindset
- Building and nurturing relationships
- Delegation and empowerment
- Visionary thinking
- Influencing and persuasion skills
- Resilience and stress management
- Initiative-taking and decisiveness
How to list education and certificates on your resume
Despite the ongoing online trend pushing for a focus on practical knowledge over formal education, a university degree remains a crucial criterion when hiring VPs of finance. After all, education doesn’t only reflect mastery of financial principles but also signifies a commitment to continuous learning and professional development.
For a VP of finance position, hiring companies often require a degree in relevant fields such as finance, accounting, business administration, or economics. Advanced degrees like an MBA or a Master's in Finance are particularly valued, as they demonstrate a deeper understanding of complex financial concepts and strategic thinking.
So, how should you list education on a VP of finance resume?
- Start with the highest degree first: List your most advanced degree at the top, followed by other degrees in reverse chronological order.
- Include the name of the institution, degree, and graduation year: This information is sufficient to convey your educational background.
- Mention honors (if applicable): If you graduated with honors or other distinctions, it's worth mentioning them.
PRO TIP
While the primary focus for a VP of finance role is on practical experience, briefly including relevant coursework or details about your degree might be valuable. This is particularly true if the coursework is directly relevant to the role or demonstrates specialized knowledge in areas critical to the position.
10/2008 - 09/2010 Certifications can be a testament to your expertise in specific areas of finance, such as risk management or financial analysis — which makes them a highly valuable addition to your resume. They not only demonstrate your commitment to ongoing professional development but also show that you are proactive and up-to-date with the latest practices in finance.
Here are a few tips on how to list certifications on your resume:
- Reverse-chronological order: Be sure to organize certifications in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent ones.
- Relevance: Focus on certifications that are most relevant to the role to ensure that your resume is tailored to the specific job.
- Certificate details: For each certification, you can mention the name of the certification, the organization that awarded it, and the year you received it.
Best certifications for your VP of finance resume
How to write your VP of finance resume summary or objective
The resume profile is a brief introduction at the top of your resume page, serving as a personal statement outlining your professional background and aspirations. It can take the form of either a summary or an objective,
A resume summary is a concise overview of your field expertise and professional skills. It's tailored to reflect your key accomplishments in finance and job-specific talents like strategic planning or financial analysis. It can also feature additional qualifications such as your educational background and certificates.
A resume objective, on the other hand, focuses more on your career goals and how they align with the opportunities the hiring company is offering. It's often an excellent option for entry-level applicants and experienced candidates in the middle of a career change.
Given the demanding nature of your job role, a resume summary is more appropriate. It allows you to showcase what you can bring to the table in a nutshell, setting the tone for the remainder of your resume sections.
Let’s see a couple of examples of a VP of finance summary:
There are a few key principles for crafting an engaging resume summary that turns recruiters' heads. The previous example falls short because it fails to achieve what a persuasive summary should — which is the following:
- Strong start: Your summary must begin with a compelling statement that captures your professional essence. This is key to keeping recruiters interested in your resume.
- Direct language: Use assertive and direct language in your summary to demonstrate the cause-and-effect relationship between your actions and their results.
- Key talents and achievements: Highlight your most significant skills and achievements, particularly those related to finance and leadership, to showcase your suitability for the role.
- ATS-keywords: Incorporate industry-specific keywords that align with the job description to ensure your resume is optimized for ATS.
After implementing these changes, let’s see what an improved summary should look like:
Optimize your resume summary and objective for ATS
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Additional sections for a VP of finance resume
Additional sections offer an opportunity to strengthen your resume by adding depth and context, making it more engaging for potential employers. In other words, a hiring manager who has just read 20 resumes before getting to yours won’t be bored as soon as they see the same resume outline over again.
Also, this practice allows you to distinguish yourself from a pool of similarly qualified applicants. You can use additional sections to showcase aspects of your professional and personal journey that might not be evident in the standard parts of a resume.
Best additional resume sections to have on a VP of finance resume:
- Strengths: Highlights personal strengths that enhance your professional capabilities, such as analytical thinking, decisiveness, or resilience.
- Achievements: Details specific, quantifiable achievements outside of your regular job responsibilities. This could include successful projects you led, process improvements you initiated, or any significant contributions to your field.
- Awards: Includes any relevant awards or recognitions you've received, either in your professional field or in related areas. Use this to demonstrate external validation of your expertise and accomplishments.
- Languages: Showcases all the additional languages you speak fluently. This is particularly valuable in global companies or roles that require international interaction.
- Projects: Features the significant projects you've worked on, especially those that had a substantial impact on the company's success. It’s important to focus on projects that demonstrate strategic financial management and innovation.
Key takeaways
Crafting an exceptional VP of finance resume involves several essential strategies and tactics. Here are the most important points to remember:
- Read the job description closely and tailor your resume accordingly to make it more relevant to your target position.
- Use the reverse-chronological layout to best display your career progression and highlight your latest achievements in finance.
- Be sure to quantify your accomplishments in finance using numbers and data — so you can clearly show your impact to recruiters.
- To showcase your comprehensive abilities effectively, you must include a mix of soft skills to technical abilities throughout different parts of your resume.
- Add your educational degree and certifications to emphasize your specialized knowledge and ongoing professional development.
- Incorporate sections like projects, strengths, or languages to enhance your connection with recruiters and make your resume more engaging.
VP of Finance resume examples
By Experience
Junior VP of Finance
- Captures attention with compelling achievements – A standout Junior VP of Finance resume immediately engages readers by weaving in powerful quantifiable results, such as cost-saving initiatives or successful team leadership, enabling hiring managers to envision the candidate as a proactive problem solver who makes a genuine impact within the organization.
- Showcases robust expertise and strategic acumen – The resume demonstrates depth by clearly outlining advanced financial competencies, from complex budgeting and forecasting to compliance oversight and ERP system integrations, instilling confidence that the applicant possesses not just technical foundation but also strategic vision aligned with executive expectations.
- Employs crisp layout with deliberate visual hierarchy – Exceptional resumes in this arena use ample spacing, bold section headers, and concise bullet points, presenting information in a balanced and digestible manner that draws the eye smoothly through the document, ensuring that core qualifications and leadership experiences receive immediate focus.
Senior VP of Finance
- Initial impression signals executive credibility – A standout Senior VP of Finance resume immediately conveys authority and achievement, with executive roles and quantifiable successes featured prominently and formatted for maximum readability. The strategic placement of high-impact financial leadership results assures hiring teams of the candidate’s suitability for a top-tier role overseeing complex fiscal operations.
- Driving purpose is crystal clear – A compelling resume articulates not just qualifications but a genuine enthusiasm for the company’s mission and financial challenges. Motivations for seeking the role should go beyond generic ambition, instead reflecting well-researched alignment with corporate values and a clear intent to elevate financial governance and contribute to organizational growth.
- First sentence creates instant relevance – The opening line pulls immediate attention with a powerful summary, blending years of finance leadership with headline-worthy achievements—such as spearheading multimillion-dollar turnarounds or leading transformative mergers. This sets the stage for the entire document, assuring the reader that the candidate brings precisely the expertise and drive that the organization needs at the senior executive level.
By Role
VP of Finance and Strategy
- Effective use of space and clarity for easy review – A standout VP of Finance and Strategy resume makes strategic use of white space, concise bullet points, and clearly labeled sections. Well-organized information aids hiring committees in quickly locating key qualifications, while ample spacing and consistent font choices ensure the document is both approachable and professional. This considered visual structure signals attention to detail and respect for the reader’s time—crucial traits in financial leadership.
- Articulates a compelling differentiator beyond credentials – Rather than simply listing past roles and responsibilities, the resume foregrounds a distinct value proposition; for example, it may feature impactful results like leading successful M&A negotiations or orchestrating large-scale capital optimization. By highlighting these achievements alongside cross-functional strategic experience and visionary leadership, the candidate demonstrates not just expertise, but truly differentiated impact in the finance domain.
- Provides tailored content illustrating insight into company context – The resume becomes even more memorable when the candidate weaves in references to the organization's industry, market challenges, or recent strategic initiatives. Citing alignment with the company’s mission or showcasing specific experience relevant to its business model signals invested interest and preparation, painting the applicant as a solution-oriented partner who is ready to bring immediate value.
VP of Finance and Operations
- Showcasing advanced financial leadership and operational strategy – An outstanding VP of Finance and Operations resume draws attention with quantifiable achievements in optimizing budgets, streamlining workflows, and leading cross-functional teams toward business growth. Deep expertise in complex financial modeling, M&A, forecasting, and process automation, paired with a history of transformative operational decisions, highlights unwavering technical acumen essential for this dual-role executive position.
- Conveying vision and inspiring confidence through storytelling – The resume captivates by weaving a narrative of results-driven leadership—balancing fiscal prudence with a people-first mentality. Through the use of active verbs, compelling summaries, and selective anecdotes, it demonstrates how the candidate motivates teams, collaborates with stakeholders, and navigates high-pressure environments, leaving the reader with a sense of both competence and integrity.
- Closing with a compelling promise and invitation – Instead of simply listing references or ending abruptly, a standout resume concludes by articulating a forward-looking statement. This final section reaffirms the value the executive brings and extends a confident invitation to discuss how their unique blend of financial stewardship and operational insight can drive transformative results in the target organization.
VP of Finance and Risk Management
- Track record of transformative results – Demonstrating quantifiable financial achievements, such as leading cost-saving initiatives, optimizing cash flow, or successfully steering risk mitigation projects, immediately signals an ability to generate real value aligned with executive financial oversight responsibilities.
- Expert grasp of complex financial and risk frameworks – Highlighting advanced technical competencies, like proficiency in regulatory compliance, mastery of risk modeling methodologies, and adeptness with enterprise financial systems, assures recruiters that the candidate can adeptly navigate and fortify both financial operations and risk environments typical of the VP level.
- Progression reflective of executive readiness – Showing a continuous career trajectory that moves through roles of escalating scope within finance and risk functions, such as advancing from audit or treasury into leadership overseeing broad organizational risk profiles, demonstrates a strategic alignment between past experience and the demands of a VP of Finance and Risk Management position.
VP of Finance and Treasury
- Hooking the reader with a compelling introduction – A standout VP of Finance and Treasury resume launches with a sharply crafted opening line that immediately signals the candidate’s grasp of advanced financial leadership, quantifiable impact, or industry-relevant expertise, setting a confident and authoritative tone from the start.
- Projecting a unified executive brand across platforms – Consistency between resume details and the executive’s LinkedIn profile is critical, reflecting a cohesive narrative of achievements, leadership style, and professional values that reinforce the candidate’s credibility as a top-tier financial strategist across multiple formats.
- Leaving a lasting impression with a results-driven close – The most effective resumes wrap up with a purposeful final statement, clearly summarizing the value the candidate brings and prompting further engagement, such as an invitation for discussion, which keeps the reader’s focus on the tangible benefits of bringing the executive on board.
VP of Finance and Business Development
- Demonstrates a compelling drive behind the application – A standout resume showcases a crystal-clear sense of purpose by articulating how the candidate’s passion for advancing both financial performance and strategic partnerships aligns with the organization's goals, offering specific examples of initiatives they’re eager to champion in the new role.
- Reflects a unified and distinctive professional persona – Exceptional resumes maintain a distinct voice and consistent messaging across both the document and corresponding online profiles, weaving together achievements, leadership qualities, and industry expertise in a way that paints the applicant as a trusted authority in finance and business growth.
- Connects professional track record to targeted responsibilities – The best VP of Finance and Business Development resumes draw direct links between prior leadership roles, proven deal-making ability, and transformative financial strategies—making it evident how these experiences enable the candidate to fulfill and excel in the high-level expectations attached to the position.
VP of Finance and Tax
- Impact-driven conclusions that prompt follow-up – An effective VP of Finance and Tax resume distinguishes itself by concluding with high-impact statements that underscore the candidate’s strategic vision and readiness for executive leadership. Phrases that invite discussion about value creation and organizational transformation, combined with a clear call to action, prompt employers to move forward with the next steps in the hiring process. This ensures the reader is left with an impression of both confidence and accessibility.
- Use of advanced, specialized financial vocabulary – Standout resumes in this field incorporate terminology directly tied to taxation and financial strategy, such as “transfer pricing,” “cross-border compliance,” “tax optimization structures,” and “enterprise resource planning integration.” This precise language signals deep industry fluency and assures the hiring committee that the candidate can navigate complex regulatory and financial landscapes with expertise.
- Past roles tailored to executive finance leadership – The most compelling applications connect prior achievements to the nuanced demands of a VP of Finance and Tax position. Highlighting experience with multinational tax planning, regulatory audits, and fiscal policy development demonstrates a direct trajectory toward the responsibilities of the role, reassuring employers of a seamless transition and immediate value add.