Finance Resume Examples: 5 Best Samples & Why They Work

Finance professionals work with money, investments, and assets. When looking for a new job in this field, many people struggle with highlighting relevant skills, like attention to detail, organization, and excellent communication.

It’s important to draw attention to education that showcases your math and finance talent, and be specific in your work history.

When you spotlight the details, you’ll stand out among the other applicants and be more likely to get a call for an interview.

There are many positions in the field of finance. With that variation in mind, these resume examples give you a solid foundation to customize your education, skills, and work history.

Finance Resume Examples

You can apply for many positions in the finance field, so check out these samples for entry-level, senior, analyst, director, and controller resumes.

Each has a different focus because applicants need to highlight their education, work experience, or professional certifications to stand out.

Once you understand the role you’re applying for, you’ll know how to ensure your resume stands out. These examples are jumping-off points to format your document.

After you follow the general templates, go back to the job description and enter some of the terminologies in your skills section and work history. This approach helps your resume best align with the position.

As you read about each job type, you’ll get an idea of how you can highlight your skills, experience, and education to best suit the role.

After you take in the details included in the sample, you’ll read about why the resume works for the position. You’ll have a chance to quiz yourself on what seems necessary and why it’s effective.

When you see the progression of education, skills, and professional certificates from role to role, you’ll also know how to upskill your resume.

Understanding how additional education can improve your job prospects is a game-changer. You can also use those certificates to change your career path and show employers that you’re always willing to learn.

Entry-Level Finance Resume Example

Most entry-level positions are for people who have just graduated from college.

When you apply for an entry-level job, the hiring manager doesn’t expect you to have as much detailed experience as someone applying for a more senior position.

You can also highlight your education to show that you’ve worked toward this job throughout your schooling.

If you’re changing careers, present your existing skills in a way that relates to the position. You can use history in retail to show your experience handling money.

You can also highlight soft skills that would make you a valuable team member.

Work Experience 1: Financial Intern at Unity Financial

• Collaborate with financial analysts to run data reports
• Research economic trends to understand various investment strategies
• Analyze investment patterns to inform risk assessment
• Draft investment plans for three clients
• Project interest rates on different types of accounts for customers

Work Experience 2: Loss Prevention Manager at Global Drugstore

• Reduced asset lost by 20% by tracking items with higher risk
• Created financial reports for purchasing department to show asset accrual
• Analyzed inventory to stock shelves with profitable items
• Studied shrink trends to reduce loss of profits
• Trained cashiers to eliminate costly errors

Project Experience

• Served as treasurer for the Sigma Chi chapter at State University for three years

Skills

• Cash flow management experience
• Customer service skills
• Database reporting experience
• Microsoft Office Suite expertise
• Technology proficiency

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Financial Management, State University

Licenses & Accreditations

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) from the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA)

Why This Resume Works

This resume works because the applicant showcases their education and project experience, which relate to the financial world.

Though they just graduated with their Financial Management degree, they already passed the CPA exam, which shows dedication. Potential employers will also see this as a go-getter attitude that shows the applicant is willing to learn.

Though the applicant has limited work experience, they display an ongoing interest in finances. Even their first job had a focus on helping a business take control of its finances in an interesting way.

Their intern experience also demonstrates how they’re willing to work as part of a team to help others.

The skills seem generic, but the applicant most likely acquired them during their education.

They’re skills that are necessary for the finance field, especially in the standard entry-level positions that require a lot of data entry and report creation.

Senior Finance Resume Example

When you have some finance experience under your belt, you might choose to apply to a more senior position.

To have your resume stand out from other professionals, write detailed lists about what you accomplished at each job. Showing specifics from two or more positions will help solidify your resume as an ideal candidate.

Try to relate your skills and project experience to the financial sector. When hiring managers see your work experience, they’ll easily understand how your chosen skills relate to the field.

Work Experience 1: Finance Manager at Unity Financial

• Produced monthly financial reports to facilitate quality investments
• Provided strategic plans and operational decisions for management
• Streamlined vendor setup and payment into an automated online program
• Decreased inventory expenses by 15% annually by reviewing areas with lost profit
• Managed operational expenses and account reconciliations for human resources

Work Experience 2: Finance Specialist at First City Bank

• Prepared monthly statements for the branch’s investment department
• Served as a customer service liaison to streamline the loan application process
• Increased monthly interest income by 7% with account management software
• Audited, balanced, and reconciled payroll for over 20 employees
• Delivered quarterly financial updates to management

Project Experience

• Oversaw three students in the academic intern program at Unity Financial

Skills

• Budget management
• Business development expertise
• Financial analysis
• KPI management
• Risk assessment

Education

• Bachelor of Science in Finance from State University
• Associate Degree in Finance from Community College

Licenses & Accreditations

• Certified Financial Planner (CFP) from the Financial Management Association (FMA)
• Certified Management Accountant (CMA) from the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA)

Why This Resume Works

This resume works because the applicant clearly showcases what experiences in their work history make them an ideal candidate for a more senior position.

They also stand out because of the leadership role in their project experience, relating to an internship program. This factor also shows that they can work with others and take on work beyond their job duties.

Though the applicant earned a Bachelor’s degree, they also listed their Associate’s degree since it’s in the relevant field. This type of education history shows how invested the applicant is in the finance industry.

Listing additional accreditations also helps show how devoted the applicant is to the field. Two distinct certificates make this person a valuable candidate for a senior role.

Not only do they have past experience, but they prove that they’re willing to continue learning to be the best employee possible.

Finance Analyst Resume Example

A finance analyst works with an organization to assess their entire financial status and ensure everything works smoothly.

They need to pay attention to detail, so they don’t overlook a certain thing that is costing money. The analyst needs to be critical of the business’s mission to ensure they’re meeting goals without unnecessary expenditure.

You can show you’re the ideal candidate for a finance analyst position by highlighting your accomplishments in previous roles.

Since finance analysts track data, giving specific numbers and percentages aligns with your intent in the field.

Work Experience 1: Financial Analyst at City Financial Group

• Provided financial guidance to the business department to increase profits by 13%
• Monitored industry trends to advise the most profitable investments
• Analyze debt patterns and moved funds to increase revenue by $1.1M
• Managed financial statements focusing on cash flow analysis
• Adopted an automation tool that decreased manual inputs by 40%

Work Experience 2: Financial Analyst at First City Bank

• Created monthly expense reports to help guide investment approaches
• Met with clients to give insight into interest rate trends and risk management
• Monitored equity investments, valuations, and risk ratings
• Digitized back documents to give a complete scope of the bank’s financial tracking
• Transition to a streamlined online database that improved efficiency by 17%

Project Experience

• Serve as volunteer accountant for the Woodland Elementary Parent Teacher Organization

Skills

• Analyze tax rates
• Asset management
• Financial analysis report creation
• Managerial accounting
• Risk management

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Financial Analysis, State University

Licenses & Accreditations

• Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) from the Financial Management Association (FMA)
• Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) from the Institute of Management Accountants

Why This Resume Works

This resume works because the applicant has detailed information about their experience as a financial analyst.

They have specific percentages to show how they improved efficiency and decreased costs, which makes them stand out to the hiring manager. Any time you can include hard data, you’re going to make a good impression.

The applicant’s volunteer experience also helps show their full scope of financial involvement. Not only are they volunteering time to an external organization, but they prioritize their skills in budgeting and expenses to make a big difference.

They have a Bachelor’s degree in the financial field and continue building their education with professional certificates.

The willingness to learn about investments on top of their general financial background also shows that they can be flexible within their role, making them more valuable to potential employers.

Finance Director Resume Example

A finance director is a senior executive in the field. They need to have a calm demeanor and logical thought processes because they make high-stakes decisions throughout the day. A finance director will oversee operational funds and can impact other strategic roles in an organization.

Without the ideal experience and education, a finance director won’t know how to assess a business’s financial health and strive to improve it.

Instead of just increasing funding, a finance director should also understand how to cut costs and improve the profit margin.

Work Experience 1: Finance Director at Book Publisher

• Transitioned to a paperless accounting system that reduced printing costs by 80%
• Introduced a new repayment system that decreased human error, saving the company over $1M in three years
• Revamped the budget to increase revenue by 60% after three quarters of the financial year
• Created a training program that allowed mid-level finance employees to learn the advanced accounting software
• Led internal audits to reduce auditing fees by 50% annually

Work Experience 2: Vice President of Finance at Software Company

• Managed payroll for over 2,000 employees worldwide
• Launched an online expense tracking program that cut expenses by $50M in five years
• Digitized all financial documents to increase access and accountability
• Supervised a team of ten mid-level finance employees
• Streamlined the accounts payable process to reduce error and improve efficiency by 25%

Project Experience

• Established intern program for Community College and processed applications each semester

Skills

• Attention to detail
• Budgeting and forecasting
• Communication and negotiation
• Project management
• Teamwork skills

Education

• Master of Science in Finance, State University
• Bachelor’s Degree in Investment Strategy, State University

Licenses & Accreditations

• Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) from the CAIA Association
• Chartered Market Technician (CMT) from the CMT Association

Why This Resume Works

This resume works because a finance director needs to have an extensive financial education.

This applicant has both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in various fields of finance. The distinct degrees show that the applicant has a solid foundation of understanding the industry.

The skills outlined in the standalone section show how effective this person is as a director. Project management is crucial, but attention to detail and teamwork skills also present a full picture of how effectively they can take on this role.

When you combine education, job history, and skills, you can see how this resume sets up the applicant as a knowledgeable leader.

Though you want to focus on specific details within each section, you should also step back and ensure your resume presents the overall big picture of someone who is an ideal employee.

Finance Controller Resume Example

A finance controller is a detail-oriented manager who needs to have the ability to take in a lot of information at once.

The job requires them to oversee the company’s entire financial history while also projecting future growth. Then they have to figure out how to help the company reach that goal.

With these requirements in mind, the ideal finance controller applicant will have a high-stakes job history that shows they’re a trustworthy employee. Their skills should prove that they’re able to handle different aspects of the company’s financial standing.

Work Experience 1: Financial Controller at Tech Company

• Recouped vendor overpayments by $1M and lowered costs to third-party suppliers
• Decreased the repayment system turnaround time from five days to two days
• Processed over 500 financial transactions monthly, company-wide
• Introduced an online claim system and trained employees on proper record-keeping
• Started a mentoring program for junior finance employees to increase internal promotions by 37%

Work Experience 2: Financial Controller at Newspaper Business

• Helped the industry transition to a paperless accounting system
• Digitized over ten years of back documents to accurately create financial graphs
• Reduced inventory expenses by 25% annually, increasing profits by $1.3M
• Managed a team of five analysts, including scheduling shifts and delegating work
• Streamlined the work processes to improve efficiency by 40%

Skills

• Account management
• Budget and cost accounting
• Cash flow management
• Financial accounting
• Internal and external audits

Education

• Master of Business Administration, Harvard University
• Bachelor’s Degree in Financial Reporting, State University

Licenses & Accreditations

• Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) from the American College of Financial Services
• Certified Fund Specialist (CFS) from the Institute of Business and Finance

Why This Resume Works

This resume works because the applicant values education. They have a Bachelor’s degree in one area of finance and a Master’s degree in another.

Their experience with business administration makes them an ideal candidate for companies who want to change their financial standing because the applicant clearly understands that role.

Professional accreditations also help the applicant stand out. They show that the applicant continues to learn by exploring different aspects of the financial industry.

Together, the degrees and certificates give this applicant a lot of knowledge that will serve them well working for various businesses.

The skills listed are very specific to the financial world and position the applicant as someone who has plenty of experience in the industry.

They use terms that are most likely found in the job description and will jump out to the hiring manager as technical jargon. If this resume went through an applicant tracking system, it would pass with flying colors.

Common Skills & Action Verbs To Include on a Finance Resume

You can use these detail-focused skills in the standout skill section of your resume and also pepper them into your work history and project experience. They help the hiring manager see that you’re familiar with the financial industry.

Ensure you use action verbs that demand attention instead of flat words like “did” or “had.” The terms on this list relate to the financial world to show how efficiently you’ve worked in the field.

Common Skills for Finance Resumes

• Accounts receivable and payable
• Cash handling
• Collaboration skills
• Communication skills
• Computer skills
• Debt management
• Financial analysis experience
• Financial report creation
• Flexibility in job duties
• Interpersonal skills
• Investing experience
• Management experience
• Microsoft Office Suite proficiency
• Problem-solving skills
• Risk assessment experience
• Time management skills

Common Action Verbs for Finance Resumes

• Account
• Calculate
• Certify
• Claim
• Depreciate
• Examine
• Finance
• Justify
• Reconcile
• Resolve
• Schedule
• Tax

Tips for Writing a Better Finance Resume

General resume tips will help you create a rough draft of your document.

You want to stick to the right number of pages to ensure the hiring manager doesn’t immediately discard your resume as too long-winded. You also need to choose a format and font that is easy to read.

In addition to including contact information at the top of the document, these tips will help you write a better finance resume that leads to job interviews.

Write a Career Objective

A career objective or summary is the first thing the hiring manager will see on your resume that tells them a bit about you as a person. This section is your chance to give some general information about your experience and what you’re looking for in a new position.

If you have years of experience, you can mention it here to ensure the hiring manager doesn’t overlook your job history. You can also explain why you’re applying for a job that doesn’t seem to align with your past.

It’s also the ideal section to highlight a few key skills, like language fluency or customer service, so the hiring manager can imagine how you’d fit in with the team.

Be Specific

The job search is no time to be bashful about your accomplishments. You need to use specific details to show the hiring manager what you’ve accomplished in each role.

For example, if you lower operating costs for a small business by 25%, you should mention that. Concrete numbers and data will stand out to your potential employers.

You can also specify the details you include relating to your education and projects. If you had an impressive GPA throughout your schooling or earned an academic scholarship, list it.

If you took on a leadership role in a project, write about it. Your resume is a place where you can share all these positive attributes without bragging about yourself.

Include Various Skills

You might not think certain soft skills are relevant to the job description, but hiring managers like to know about your personality, and soft skills can help them understand.

You can include information about how well you collaborate with others, how your time management skills help you meet deadlines, and how you have patience and stay calm under pressure.

If you think back over your work history, you can probably think of several instances where these skills made you a better employee.

Working with people, completing work on time, and making logical decisions shows that you’re a level-headed employee that would benefit the company.

Use Industry Terms

When you’re naming your skills and focusing the spotlight on your work history, use terms that stand out in the financial industry.

You’re applying for a job where the hiring manager will understand these phrases, so don’t worry about sounding too technical. The more specific industry terms you use, the more you’ll come across as a professional.

You can also check the job description and see what words the employer used. Adding these terms naturally into your resume will demand the hiring manager’s attention and help you get past any applicant tracking systems.

Frequently Asked Questions

You’ve seen five stellar finance resumes and learned tips to ensure yours stands out from the crowd. If you need more information, check out the answers to these frequently asked questions.

Similar Resume Types to Reference

This article includes five sample resumes for positions in the finance industry. However, you might consider applying to relevant jobs as well.

These similar positions will help you understand the possible jobs and how to ensure your resume stands out from other applicants.

• Accounting Resume: Working in a business’s accounting department or as a contractor is a great way to help with large-scale finances.
• Bank Resume: There are many distinct roles in a bank, so check out how you can polish your resume for each one.
• Investment Banking Resume: Investment banking is a high-stakes job, so you want your resume to showcase your soft skills and patience, plus your work history.

Wrapping Up

You’ve seen five solid examples of finance resumes that guarantee an interview. You have action verbs and skills to add to your draft and ensure your resume stands out from other applicants.

If this article helped you, share it with other job seekers you know.

Leave a comment if you have any tips to share about the finance industry. Insight about resumes, the application process, and interview skills help applicants level up and secure the job of their dreams.

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