How to write a finance CV

Very often the first communication between you and a potential new employer, your CV plays a critical role in getting your next job. Whether you are looking for a step up the ladder or move into something more rewarding, you have only one chance for your CV to work its magic. In this article on how to write a finance CV we will give you pointers to optimise that first impression.

Focus your finance CV to your target role

There are an immense variety of roles within finance. From accountants and financial analysts to accounting technicians and chief finance officers. Make sure your finance CV is targeted to the specific role you are applying for. This is particularly important in the professional profile at the beginning. Align this to your target jobs to maximise engagement from the outset.

Punch and impact

Less than 30 seconds is spent on average reading a CV. Therefore, use a two-page format and aim for about 750 words. There is simply no point including lots of detail that will not be read. Use as few words as possible to make your points. If a bullet point is more than two lines long, it’s failing in its duty! Keep your finance CV brief, to the point and focus on your most recent roles.

Let each employment tells its own story

It is not enough to simply describe the duties of your role. After all a financial controller is a financial controller, right? Though the principal areas of responsibility may be similar in certain finance jobs, the actual experience and achievements will be completely unique to your own experience. Make sure you tell your own story within each employment.

Think: achievements, facts and figures

In writing a finance CV it is vital to show the business benefits you have brought. Focus on specific achievements and support these with facts and figures. Whether you have improved visibility through management reports, implemented a new piece of technology or achieved some kind of compliance, most achievements will have a fact or figure as an outcome. This could be hours saved, costs or risks reduced. Including facts and figures gives the CV a sense of concreteness.

Do you write a different CV to apply for one of the ‘big four’?

Absolutely not. Although it may feel like a big deal if applying for a role in one of the big consultancies, there is no reason why your CV should look or say anything different. You apply for a specific role, not a type of organisation. The recruitment processes tend to be similar for many organisations so match your finance CV as far as possible to the job description and person specification.

When writing a finance CV, it is vital you focus it to your target role and clearly highlight your achievements. Including facts and figures will give your CV that extra lift and help in making a decision on calling you to interview that much easier.

This article is written by Neville Rose, Director of CV Writers. Please do connect with me via LinkedIn.

Check out our CV writing service with details of our packages that include LinkedIn profiles, cover letters and more. You can get things started with a Free CV review. I am also a qualified career counsellor and provide Career Counselling services for people looking to change career paths.