Finance Resume Examples & Writing Guideline

Finding a good job in finance isn’t as easy as it looks. For finance positions, there's an estimated 900,000 openings every year this coming decade. So with the playing field so wide open, how do you get yourself noticed for that ideal finance position?

A solid finance resume is the first step, guaranteeing you an excellent first impression and a good chance of getting that interview. There‘s a ton of different professions in the field, and they mostly involve similar responsibilities, such as financial planning, predicting economic scenarios and untangling financial issues.

Learning how to tailor your finance resume to the right job will be the key to success. This guide will help you go over all the tools you'll need to produce that winning finance resume.

What Hiring Managers Look for in a Finance Resume

A finance specialist manages and analyzes financial data to guide an organization's decision-making. They are responsible for budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting, as well as ensuring compliance with financial regulations.

When HR reviews a resume for a finance job, they are looking for a candidate with financial expertise and successful money management for clients or organizations. Highlighting your strengths as a finance professional, such as effective communication and experience with financial data, is definitely a good idea. Quantified achievements, like increasing revenue or reducing costs, can also help make your profile stand out by demonstrating the direct impact of your work.

How to Write a Finance Specialist Resume

Begin with a Clean Resume Header

Everyone should have their full details at the beginning of their resume, as specified below. Make sure that this information is accurate, up-to-date, and easily accessible:

1. Full name. If you have a hard-to-pronounce name, consider including your English name or a phonetic spelling in brackets.
2. Professional title. Make sure to align this title with the one you're applying for.
3. Email address. While using an email address you have since college is okay, make sure that it looks (or sounds) professional.
4. Phone number. If you cannot be reached via phone number, remember to mention your preferred contact method in your cover letter.
5. Location information. This information can opt-out if you're applying for remote work, or you can mention the country instead of the city you're in.

Introduce Yourself with a Resume Headline

A resume headline, often referred to as a resume title, is a basic summary of you and your career. Typically placed at the very top of your resume, the resume headline gives hiring managers an introduction to you as a candidate.

The key here is to keep it short and to the point. Aim to have the resume title in one line or a maximum of two lines and highlight the required skills or experience for the job to which you are applying. An engaging resume title can be the deciding factor for recruiters whether to read further.

Here are 3 finance resume headline examples: 

Indicate Your Ambitions with a Resume Objective

A strong finance resume objective indicates your long-term career aspirations. This section helps HR understand your career objectives and determine whether you’re a good match for the job.

Typically 2 to 3 sentences long, the resume objective includes info about your years of finance experience as well as indicating your personality traits (detail-oriented, problem-solving). It is recommended to tailor your career goals here to match the opening job. And above all, make it clear and concise—one to two sentences should do the trick.

The career objective can replace the resume headline or resume summary section if warranted. If so, just make sure to highlight your experience and skills in this section.

Here are some examples of finance resume objectives:

Create an Exceptional Work Experience Section

The work experience section is an integral part of a finance resume because it directly lays out your hands-on experience and accomplishments in the real world.

This section must detail your abilities in finance to analyze data, perform effective budgeting, produce financial forecasting and reports, as well as show regulatory compliance. Employers will be looking for specific examples of projects you worked on, systems used, and the impact you made.

Moreover, your work experience demonstrates your familiarity with industry best practices and problem-solving. A well-written work experience section for finance jobs should make sure to use strong, action words and indicate how you possess the skills and experience related to the applying job.

Here are some examples of well-composed work experience sections for finance resumes:

Key skills to highlight in your finance resume template

The skills section of a finance resume is critical. Employers want to know the specific software and analytic skills you possess, or you won’t be a good fit.

When listing many skills, consider grouping them for more clarity (e.g., software skills, financial analysis skills). For more experienced candidates, it’s okay to leave off certain skills if they are expected at all levels (e.g., Excel). Consider listing the ones required for the job you are applying for or ones that would really impress future employers.

Here are different sets of skills you can list on your finance resume.

Listing Your Finance Education

A formal education, such as a degree in Finance or related fields is a strong foundation for a finance resume. While employers will usually focus on practical experience, it is still important to present your educational background in a clear and organized manner—-especially if you are a recent graduate.

In addition, having relevant educational credentials can signal to recruiters that you have a solid base of knowledge and will be able to ease in to the company work life.

Here’s an example of how to write an education section on your resume:

If you haven't graduated yet but are still pursuing a degree, you can adapt the education section on your resume to reflect your current academic status. Here's a guide on how to do that:

Certifications that make a difference in finance resumes, including financial analysis

Having a financial certification is good currency in the finance sector. Certifications show your ambition and tenacity and will make you a more competitive candidate. Many finance positions require certifications, so be sure to check before applying.

If you have multiple certifications then create a separate section and list them together. Otherwise, if you only have one or two, then you can include them with your education.

Here are several certifications that may be worth listing on your finance resume:

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
• Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
• Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
• Certified Financial Planner (CFP)
• Financial Risk Manager (FRM)
• Certified Treasury Professional (CTP)
• Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA)
• Certified Fund Specialist (CFS)
• Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA)
• Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA)
• FINRA Series 7
• FINRA Series 63
• FINRA Series 65
• FINRA Series 66

8 Tips for Crafting a Good Finance Resume

1) Start with the Right Format

Be aware of the three different resume formats and choose the one that suits your needs:

• Chronological Resumes: The chronological resume is the most commonly used resume type where you list your work experience in reverse chronological order, from the most recent to the least recent. If your past several work experiences align with the position for which you are applying, then go with this format.
• Functional Resume: A functional resume highlights your skills rather than your chronological experience in your resume. This resume format is highly suitable for recent graduates with limited work experience or people changing careers. It's important in a functional resume to provide examples of how you have applied these skills in your previous experiences.
• Combination Resume: A combination resume also focuses on skills but uses work experience as a supplement to support skills. This is great for people who are switching careers, and much of their work experience might not be relevant.

2) Use keywords from the job description

It’s important to use keywords from the job description, as many large companies use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) for hiring. An ATS is a software used by employers to scan, rate, and organize resumes submitted for their positions. It scans applications looking for keywords, specific skills, and experience that are important to the job.

Those keywords are usually mentioned in the job listing, sometimes more than once, so applicants should take note of which ones to include on their resumes for a high-rated ATS.


Consider the following steps when incorporating keywords:

1. Read the job description Example: “Seeking a Junior Analyst to support investment decision-making through data analysis and market research; proficiency in Python required, with strong analytical and communication skills.”
2. Analyze the keywords mentioned. Keywords: investment decision-making, data analysis, market research, Python, analytical and communication skills.
3. Craft your sentences using the keywords.After analyzing, here's how you should craft your resume:

By incorporating these specific keywords into your resume, you increase the likelihood of your application successfully navigating through ATS filters.

3) Create a profile by summarizing your finance qualifications and experience

Present a concise yet compelling overview of your professional background, skills, and achievements. This text can be used as a summary at the top of a resume, as a header on LinkedIn, or as an introduction for a company’s hiring website.

Highlight key qualifications such as relevant degrees, certifications, and technical skills, along with your experience in financial analysis, budgeting, or investment management. Emphasize any accomplishments or projects that demonstrate your unique abilities.

4) Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results and impact

A good finance professional should be good with numbers. So finding places in your resume to show off these abilities will set you apart from the field.

Using numbers in a finance resume is crucial for demonstrating the tangible impact of your work and quantifying your contributions. For instance, instead of simply stating that you handled financial forecasting, you could note that you improved forecasting accuracy by 15%.

Here’s a list of places where you can potentially quantify results and show off your financial chops to impress your future employers:

• Revenue Growth
• Cost Reductions
• Financial Forecasting Accuracy
• Profit Margins
• Investment Returns
• Budget Management
• Cash Flow Optimization
• Compliance
• Debt Management
• Project Success Rate

5) Use action verbs to begin each bullet point

Using action words in a finance resume is essential for making your accomplishments stand out. Words like "analyzed," "optimized," and "generated" emphasize the proactive role you played. Action verbs help demonstrate your ability to drive results, whether through improving profitability, reducing costs, or enhancing processes.

Try out some of these action words: managed, analyzed, created, developed, improved, increased, reduced, streamlined and optimized.

6) Highlight your promotions, leadership, and financial analysis skills

It’s important to demonstrate your growth, influence, and expertise within the field. Promotions show that your contributions have been recognized and your career is advancing. Leadership experience emphasizes your ability to manage teams and guide financial strategy.

Additionally, strong financial analysis skills showcase your abilities in making data-driven decisions for the company's overall financial success. These elements combined make your resume more compelling to potential employers — so consider including to your work experience or to your resume summary.

7) Keep your resume concise and easy to read

Hiring Managers often review tons of applications, and a clear, well-organized resume allows them to quickly identify your key qualifications. A to-the-point resume emphasizes your most impactful skills without overwhelming the reader, making it more likely that your accomplishments will stand out and resonate with potential employers.

8) Avoid clichés and overused phrases

Overused phrases on a finance resume can shut the door to an interview. These generic terms can make your resume blend in with others, failing to showcase your unique skills and accomplishments.

Instead of phrases like "results-driven" or "detail-oriented," use specific examples and quantifiable achievements, such as "improved forecasting accuracy by 15%" or "managed a $5 million portfolio.” Or instead of using the term “team player,” try “led a cross-functional team to integrate a new ERP system.”

Eliminating these phrases can really differentiate your resume from others and show off your uniqueness.

Financial Resume Examples

Entry-Level Finance Resume Example #1

Financial Analyst Resume Example #2

CFO Resume Example #3

Investment Banking Analyst Resume Example #4

Risk Management Resume Example #5

Conclusion

The perfect finance resume is easy to put together using the above tips. For each part of your resume and follow the examples provided and write down what makes you unique to the finance world. By using clear language and organizing your finance skills and experience, your resume will go to the top of the pile and land that dream finance job you always wanted.

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— Originally written by Michael Reid —