Navigating the intricate compliance regulations inherent in the finance sector can be a daunting CV challenge, often requiring a delicate balance of showcasing both analytical skills and strict adherence to legal standards. By following our guide, you'll learn the art of effectively highlighting your expertise in regulatory frameworks and risk management, thereby crafting a CV that stands out in the competitive financial job market.
- Applying the simplest CV design, so that recruiters can easily understand your expertise, skills, and professional background;
- Ensuring you stand out with your header, summary or objective statement, and a designated skills section;
- Creating your CV experience section - no matter how much expertise you have;
- Using real life professional CV examples to enhance the structure and outline of your profile.
If you still have no muse to write your professional CV, find some more industry-leading examples.
How complex should the format of your finance CV be?
Perhaps, you decided to use a fancy font and plenty of colours to ensure your finance CV stands out amongst the pile of other candidate profiles. Alas - this may confuse recruiters. By keeping your format simple and organising your information coherently, you'll ultimately make a better impression. What matters most is your experience, while your CV format should act as complementary thing by:- Presenting the information in a reverse chronological order with the most recent of your jobs first. This is done so that your career history stays organised and is aligned to the role;
- Making it easy for recruiters to get in touch with you by including your contact details in the CV header. Regarding the design of your CV header, include plenty of white space and icons to draw attention to your information. If you're applying for roles in the UK, don't include a photo, as this is considered a bad practice;
- Organising your most important CV sections with consistent colours, plenty of white space, and appropriate margins (2.54 cm). Remember that your CV design should always aim at legibility and to spotlight your key information;
- Writing no more than two pages of your relevant experience. For candidates who are just starting out in the field, we recommend to have an one-page CV.
One more thing about your CV format - you may be worried if your double column CV is Applicant Tracker System (ATS) complaint. In our recent study, we discovered that both single and double-column CVs are ATS-friendly . Most ATSes out there can also read all serif and sans serif fonts. We suggest you go with modern, yet simple, fonts (e.g. Rubik, Lato, Raleway) instead of the classic Times New Roman. You'll want your application to stand out, and many candidates still go for the classics. Finally, you'll have to export your CV. If you're wondering if you should select Doc or PDF, we always advise going with PDF. Your CV in PDF will stay intact and opens easily on every OS, including Mac OS.
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Use bold or italics sparingly to draw attention to key points, such as job titles, company names, or significant achievements. Overusing these formatting options can dilute their impact.
The top sections on a finance CV
- Professional Summary highlights your finance expertise and objectives.
- Work Experience shows your relevant finance career progression.
- Education and Certifications demonstrate your foundational finance knowledge.
- Key Skills section showcases your finance-related abilities and proficiencies.
- Achievements in Finance underscores your contributions and successes in finance roles.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Highlight your quantifiable achievements in finance, such as assets you managed, percentages by which you increased revenue or reduced costs, or how you outperformed market benchmarks.
- Demonstrate your financial modelling and analytical skills, ensuring to include any proficiency with industry-standard software like Excel, Bloomberg Terminal, or specific financial platforms relevant to the role.
- Emphasise your understanding of financial regulations and compliance, and if applicable, any experience you have in navigating the complex regulatory environment effectively.
- Include industry-specific certifications such as CFA, ACCA, or CIMA, as these are often required or favoured for finance roles and exhibit a strong professional dedication.
- Use finance-specific language and acronyms only where appropriate and ensure they’re widely recognised within the industry to show your insider knowledge and effective communication skills.
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What information should you include in your finance CV header?
The CV header is potentially the section that recruiters would refer to the most, as it should include your:
- Contact details - your professional (non-work) email address and phone number;
- Professional photograph - if you're applying hinting at the value you bring as a professional.
Many professionals often struggle with writing their finance CV headline. That's why in the next section of this guide, we've curated examples of how you can optimise this space to pass any form of assessment.
Examples of good CV headlines for finance:
- Financial Analyst | CFA Level II Candidate | Data Modelling Expertise | 5+ Years in Investment Analysis
- Senior Accountant | ACCA Qualified | Tax Compliance Specialist | Financial Reporting | 10 Years’ Experience
- Risk Management Officer | FRM Holder | Strategic Risk Assessment | Capital Markets | 7 Years in Banking
- Treasurer | CPA Certified | Cash Flow Optimisation | Corporate Finance | Over 12 Years’ Seniority
- Junior Portfolio Manager | Investment Strategy | Equity Research | FINRA Series 7 & 63 | 3 Years’ Practice
- Chief Financial Officer | MBA Finance | Corporate Governance | Mergers & Acquisitions | 15+ Years’ Leadership
Your finance CV introduction: selecting between a summary and an objective
finance candidates often wonder how to start writing their resumes. More specifically, how exactly can they use their opening statements to build a connection with recruiters, showcase their relevant skills, and spotlight job alignment. A tricky situation, we know. When crafting you finance CV select between:
- A summary - to show an overview of your career so far, including your most significant achievements.
- An objective - to show a conscise overview of your career dreams and aspirations.
Find out more examples and ultimately, decide which type of opening statement will fit your profile in the next section of our guide:
CV summaries for a finance job:
- With over 10 years of progressive experience in investment banking, a masterful command of mergers and acquisitions, and a proven track record of growing a client portfolio by 200% over five years, I am poised to deliver exceptional financial analysis and strategic planning services.
- Eager to bring seven years of equity trading expertise, including a deep understanding of Asian markets and a history of surpassing trading targets by 30%, to a thriving financial team seeking deep market insights and risk management acumen.
- Accomplished sales professional with a decade's tenure transitioning to asset management, wielding expert analytical skills, comprehensive knowledge in portfolio diversification, and a dedication to achieving rigorous financial objectives in a new industry vertical.
- Highly successful IT project manager seeking to leverage extensive background in project budgeting and cost control to transition into a dynamic finance career, backed by a strong acumen for numbers and unparalleled organizational skills.
- As a recent finance graduate, I aim to apply my academic knowledge of financial modeling and my passion for stock market analysis to a career that allows for continued learning and growth within the financial sector.
- Seeking an entry-level position in the finance industry, I am keen to utilise my recent Master's degree in Finance, strong analytical skills, and enthusiasm for understanding market trends to contribute effectively to a team committed to financial excellence.
Best practices for writing your finance CV experience section
If your profile matches the job requirements, the CV experience is the section which recruiters will spend the most time studying. Within your experience bullets, include not merely your career history, but, rather, your skills and outcomes from each individual role. Your best experience section should promote your profile by:
- including specific details and hard numbers as proof of your past success;
- listing your experience in the functional-based or hybrid format (by focusing on the skills), if you happen to have less professional, relevant expertise;
- showcasing your growth by organising your roles, starting with the latest and (hopefully) most senior one;
- staring off each experience bullet with a verb, following up with skills that match the job description, and the outcomes of your responsibility.
Add keywords from the job advert in your experience section, like the professional CV examples:
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Quantified achievements with figures and percentages to illustrate the impact of your financial strategies and decisions, showcasing your ability to add value.
- Detailed knowledge of financial regulations and compliance achievements to demonstrate your adherence to industry standards and legal requirements.
- Highlighted proficiency in financial software and analytical tools, specifying your expertise in platforms like Excel, QuickBooks, or specialised finance industry software.
- Listed experience with budget development and forecasting, providing examples where you've successfully managed and optimised financial resources.
- Emphasised strong attention to detail through the successful identification and rectification of financial discrepancies or errors in accounting records.
- Described instances of cross-functional team collaboration, demonstrating your ability to work with other departments to achieve financial objectives.
- Included examples of custom financial modelling or reports you've created to support management decision-making or investor relations.
- Outlined contributions to financial strategy planning, including any involvement in mergers, acquisitions, or fundraising activities.
- Presented any successful negotiations of terms with banks, investors, or clients that have resulted in favourable financial outcomes for the company.
- Spearheaded the restructuring of the financial planning process, incorporating more robust forecasting tools which increased forecasting accuracy by 25%.
- Led a team in the successful roll-out of a company-wide expense reduction initiative, resulting in a 15% reduction in operating expenses.
- Managed a multi-million dollar portfolio, achieving an average annual return of 10% while mitigating risks through strategic diversification.
- Streamlined internal audit procedures to improve financial controls, which decreased discrepancies by 40% and enhanced compliance with regulatory standards.
- Oversaw the successful negotiation and integration of a $50M acquisition, expanding the company's market share and product offerings.
- Implemented a new ERP system to better manage financial transactions, which improved reporting time by 30% and reduced errors.
- Led a cross-functional team in a company-wide budget overhaul which trimmed departmental budgets by 20% without compromising on key deliverables.
- Collaborated on the development of a new financial model for predicting revenue streams, which has since become the standard across the company.
- Chaired monthly financial review meetings presenting analytics and recommendations to executive leadership, influencing decision-making processes.
- Managed financial operations for international projects worth over $200M, optimizing spending and saving the company 5% in projected costs.
- Developed and trained a team of 15 financial analysts, creating a more efficient workflow and increasing department productivity by 35%.
- Established a risk management plan that insulated the company from volatile market shifts and protected profits in a tough economic climate.
- Authored detailed financial reports for stakeholders that presented insights on key performance indicators, leading to more informed strategic decisions.
- Pioneered the use of advanced analytical tools which increased data analysis efficiency and provided deeper insights into market trends.
- Orchestrated a debt refinancing strategy that cut interest expenses by 8% annually, freeing up capital for investment in growth opportunities.
- Enhanced the company's cash flow management procedures, which stabilized cash reserves and reduced the need for external financing.
- Initiated a partnership with IT to develop a custom financial dashboard, improving real-time decision making with up-to-date metrics.
- Played a crucial role in the quarterly financial forecasting, aligning company resources with projected revenue and market conditions.
- Served as a key member of the strategic planning committee, directly contributing to a 12% year-over-year increase in company profitability.
- Initiated process improvements in the procure-to-pay cycle, which shortened the cycle time by 20% and improved supplier relationships.
- Negotiated a major credit line with a consortium of banks, enhancing the company's liquidity and enabling the launch of a new product line.
- Oversaw financial due diligence for mergers and acquisitions, enabling the company to expand its portfolio while maintaining a strong financial position.
- Managed quarterly earnings reporting, conveying complex financial information in an accessible manner that increased investor confidence.
- Implemented a company-wide cost control plan that reduced unnecessary expenditures by 18%, bolstering the bottom line.
- Supervised and mentored a finance team, enhancing their professional development which led to a 50% reduction in staff turnover.
- Conducted in-depth market analysis resulting in the divestiture of underperforming assets and reinvestment in high-growth opportunities.
- Improved the month-end financial close process, reducing the timeline from 10 to 6 days, thereby enabling faster strategic adjustments.
- Managed the investment strategy for a portfolio exceeding $1B in assets, consistently outperforming benchmarks by 5%.
- Developed a risk assessment protocol that improved the identification of financial risks associated with new initiatives.
- Introduced sustainability and social responsibility metrics into the financial evaluation process, which attracted a new segment of socially conscious investors.
What to add in your finance CV experience section with no professional experience
If you don't have the standard nine-to-five professional experience, yet are still keen on applying for the job, here's what you can do:
- List any internships, part-time roles, volunteer experience, or basically any work you've done that meets the job requirements and is in the same industry;
- Showcase any project you've done in your free time (even if you completed them with family and friends) that will hint at your experience and skill set;
- Replace the standard, CV experience section with a strengths or achievements one. This will help you spotlight your transferrable skills that apply to the role.
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If you have experience in diverse fields, highlight how this has broadened your perspective and skill set, making you a more versatile candidate.
Mix and match hard and soft skills across your finance CV
Your skill set play an equally valid role as your experience to your application. That is because recruiters are looking for both:
- hard skills or your aptitude in applying particular technologies
- soft skills or your ability to work in a team using your personal skills, e.g. leadership, time management, etc.
Are you wondering how you should include both hard and soft skills across your finance CV? Use the:
- skills section to list between ten and twelve technologies that are part of the job requirement (and that you're capable to use);
- strengths and achievements section to detail how you've used particular hard and soft skills that led to great results for you at work;
- summary or objective to spotlight up to three skills that are crucial for the role and how they've helped you optimise your work processes.
One final note - when writing about the skills you have, make sure to match them exactly as they are written in the job ad. Take this precautionary measure to ensure your CV passes the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment.
Top skills for your finance CV:
Financial Analysis
Financial Reporting
Budgeting
Accounting
Corporate Finance
Financial Modelling
Risk Management
Tax Planning
Data Analysis
Strategic Planning
Analytical Thinking
Problem Solving
Attention to Detail
Leadership
Communication
Time Management
Adaptability
Teamwork
Initiative
Integrity
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If there's a noticeable gap in your skillset for the role you're applying for, mention any steps you're taking to acquire these skills, such as online courses or self-study.
Education and more professional qualifications to include in your finance CV
If you want to showcase to recruiters that you're further qualified for the role, ensure you've included your relevant university diplomas. Within your education section:
- Describe your degree with your university name(-s) and start-graduation dates;
- List any awards you've received, if you deem they would be impressive or are relevant to the industry;
- Include your projects and publications, if you need to further showcase how you've used your technical know-how;
- Avoid listing your A-level marks, as your potential employers care to learn more about your university background.
Apart from your higher education, ensure that you've curated your relevant certificates or courses by listing the:
- name of the certificate or course;
- name of the institution within which you received your training;
- the date(-s) when you obtained your accreditation.
In the next section, discover some of the most relevant certificates for your finance CV:
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Use mini case studies or success stories in your CV to demonstrate how your skills have positively impacted previous roles or projects.
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Key takeaways
What matters most in your finance CV-writing process is for you to create a personalised application. One that matches the role and also showcases your unique qualities and talents.
- Use the format to supplement the actual content, to stand out, and to ensure your CV experience is easy to comprehend and follows a logic;
- Invest time in building a succinct CV top one third. One that includes a header (with your contact details and headline), a summary or an objective statement (select the one that best fits your experience), and - potentially - a dedicated skills section or achievements (to fit both hard skills and soft skills requirements);
- Prioritise your most relevant (and senior) experience closer to the top of your CV. Always ensure you're following the "power verb, skill, and achievement" format for your bullets;
- Integrate both your technical and communication background across different sections of your CV to meet the job requirements;
- List your relevant education and certificates to fill in gaps in your CV history and prove to recrutiers you have relevant technical know-how.
