Finance Resume Examples
Years of Experience
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- 10+
Rebecca Rebel
(222) 333-4444
[email protected]
222 Second Street, New Haven, CT 22222
Profile
An attentive and well-educated financial professional who has two years’ experience. Works well on teams and independently. Combines mathematical and analytical skills with written and verbal communication ability. Capable of identifying cost-saving opportunities, then recommending and implementing them.
Key Skills
- Communicating in meetings and through channels such as Microsoft Outlook and Teams
- Explaining high-level financial concepts for managers, executives and stakeholders
- Use of Microsoft Excel, Oracle Essence and Jirav business-planning software
- Report generation
Education
Bachelor of Business Operations
Durham Business University, Durham, NC, September 2012 – June 2016
Master of Science in Financial Data
Connecticut School of Finance, New Haven, CT, September 2016 – June 2018
Professional Experience
Junior Finance Specialist, Tri-State Solutions, New Haven, CT
July 2018 – Present
- Identify and cancel redundant subscription services, resulting in $250 of monthly savings so far
- Support project managers by analyzing and revising budgets
- Research current market conditions and identify potential disruptions
- Pay vendors and reconcile client accounts
- Prepare finance-focused after-action reports for senior employees at the conclusion of projects
Financial Intern, Hartford Industries, Hartford, CT
March 2018 – May 2018
- Completed the company’s shadowing program, which involved assisting a financial analyst
- Messaged and followed up with clients to inquire about payments
- Researched different financing options for a $2,000,000 real estate purchase
- Modeled impact of proposed local tax changes
- Reviewed income statements and identified discrepancies
Certifications
- Certified Excel Specialist, Microsoft Training University, 2019
Jason Harrison
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
789 New Street, Orlando, FL 12345
Profile
Driven financial specialist with over 9 years of experience in managing the finances of multi-million dollar businesses. Excellent record-keeping, relationship-building, and analytical skills. Proven track record of successfully optimizing frameworks and building cohesive teams that are able to exceed financial goals. Fluent in Spanish and English.
Professional Experience
Finance Manager, ABC Tech, Orlando, FL
September 2016 – Present
- Produce quarterly financial reports to assist senior management in making strategic plans
- Consistently review vendors to secure preferred pricing which led to annual savings of $450,000
- Execute core financial processes such as vendor setup and payment
- Work with senior management to develop annual expense plan goals
- Evaluate competitor data to develop business investment strategies to drive growth
Assistant Finance Manager, Core Tech, Miami, FL
June 2012 -September 2016
- Prepared monthly billing reports for 50 executive portfolios
- Decreased monthly expenditure by 27% by effectively reviewing financial reports and identifying problems
- Audited and reconciled payroll for over 300 employees
- Trained 20 new employees in invoice processing
Education
Bachelor of Science in Finance
The University of Miami, Miami, FL September 2006 – June 2010
Master of Business Administration
The University of Miami, Miami, FL September 2010 – June 2012
Key Skills
- Budget Management
- Ability to work under pressure
- Financial Planning
- Meet deadlines
- Customer Service
- Problem Solving
Rebecca Rachelson
(111) 111-1111
[email protected]
111 First Avenue, Arlington, VA 22222
Profile
Forward-thinking financial analyst with over a decade in the field. Humble enough to adjust to new data and approaches but confident enough to deliver in executive-level meetings. Proven track record of improving the financial outlook of organizations. An eager learner who is well versed in industry-standard software.
Professional Experience
Senior Financial Analyst, Fairfax Mortgage Group, Fairfax, VA
December 2015 – Present
- Evaluate financial strengths and weaknesses of large-scale commercial mortgage applicants, leading to 10% fewer defaults since joining the organization
- Analyze changes in market conditions to predict updated default likelihoods of lendees in various business sectors
- Deliver efficient updates to final decision-makers, including those on the executive level
- Provide recommendations on financial angles of the organization’s long-term strategy
- Identify tax-break opportunities, resulting in a 13% reduction in corporate tax burden to date
Junior Financial Analyst, Arlington Business Associates, Arlington, VA
July 2010 – November 2015
- Determined the financial potential of distressed assets, such as vacant commercial buildings
- Recommended early-payment discount program that cut down on account delinquency by 20%
- Supported a $2 million acquisition project by handling due diligence
- Forecasted financial performance of the organization’s current commercial lendees
Education
Bachelor of Science in Accounting
Arlington College of Business, Arlington, VA, September 2004 – June 2008
Master of Science in Financial Analysis
Baltimore Financial School, Baltimore, MD, September 2008 – June 2010
Key Skills
- Market research
- QuickBooks Enterprise, FinancialForce and Microsoft Excel software
- Verbal and written communication
- Budgeting
Certifications
- USA Financial Professionals Certified Financial Analyst, 2019
Common Key Skills and Action Verbs for Finance Resume
Hiring managers and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) look for key skill words and action verbs when assessing resumes, so it’s important to highlight them. An ATS scans each resume and evaluates it based on the number keywords and phrases that are included that match the company’s needs. High scoring resumes are forwarded to the hiring manager for further analysis. This means the more key skill words you include, the greater the chance the hiring manager will see your resume and invite you for an interview.
| Key Skills & Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Accounting | Accounting software |
| Analytical ability | Budgets |
| Business savvy | Cash flow management |
| Data management | Decision making |
| Detail oriented | Financial planning |
| Financial reporting | Financial statements |
| Interpersonal skills | Management experience |
| Market knowledge | Mathematical skills |
| Organization | Problem-solving |
| Resilience | Risk analysis |
| Strategic thinking | Tax preparation |
| Team work | Time management |
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Analyze | Budget |
| Collaborate | Communicate |
| Decide | Innovate |
| Lead | Manage |
| Negotiate | Organize |
| Persuade | Prepare |
| Report | Solve |
| Strategize | |
Tips for Writing a Better Finance Resume
Emphasize your finance education
The finance sector has numerous regulations, processes, and standards that govern practices in the industry, and employees want to be assured that your education gave you this knowledge. Your education section should detail all your finance education and training, including the name of the course, the school, and the year you completed it. You can also mention specific coursework, projects, or educational experiences you have, especially if it’s relevant to the position or you’re just entering the industry.
Example #1
Good
Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance
DAVENPORT UNIVERSITY, Grand Rapids, MI, September 2015 – June 2019
Specialization in Financial Planning
Relevant Coursework:
- Portfolio Management
- Financial Plan Development
- Retirement Planning and Employment Benefit
Bad
Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance
DAVENPORT UNIVERSITY, Grand Rapids, MI, September 2015 – June 2019
Example #2
Good
Bachelor of Science in Finance
GWYNEDD MERCY UNIVERSITY, Gwynedd Valley, PA, September 2012 – June 2016
Master of Finance
MIT SLOAN SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, Cambridge, MA, September 2018 – June 2020
Concentration in Corporate Finance
Thesis topic: The Impact of Venture Capital Investment on Shaping a Company’s Future Decisions
Bad
Bachelor of Science in Finance
GWYNEDD MERCY UNIVERSITY, GWYNEDD VALLEY, PA, September 2012 – June 2016
Master of Finance
MIT SLOAN SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, CAMBRIDGE, MA, September 2018 – June 2020
Quantify your financial experience
Finance is about numbers, and providing specific numbers can help hiring managers understand your skills and abilities. When writing the bullet points in your professional experience section, quantify as many points as possible, showing how your actions led to a positive outcome. Think about questions that ask, “how much?” or “how many?” and include the answers. For example:
- How much did the business save?
- How many clients did I advise?
- How big was the increase in investments?
Example #1
Good
Managed a portfolio of 80+ clients with more than $85 million in assets
Bad
Managed investments for clients
Example #2
Good
Reviewed long-term vendors and negotiated preferred pricing, resulting in $50,000 in annual savings
Bad
Negotiated with company vendors to secure savings
How to Align Your Resume with the Job Description
Companies use job descriptions to list the skills and experience they’re looking for in a candidate. You can use this to ensure you include the most relevant skills in your resume. Including attributes that are listed in the job description can be a key element in getting your resume noticed by the hiring manager.
To determine which skills and experiences to feature, start by reading the job description closely. The most important requirements for a successful applicant are generally listed first or mentioned multiple times. Make a list of these key priorities and make sure your resume demonstrates how you can meet the company’s needs. A generic resume may be overlooked, so focus on your biggest accomplishments and most notable attributes.
Example Finance Job Description
KJ Consulting is looking for a financial officer to manage the financial health of our company. You will be responsible for managing financial procedures and accounting operations to meet legal requirements. This will include planning budgets, preparing invoices, participating in audits, and monitoring transactions. The successful candidate will have experience with financial policies and systems. We are also looking for someone with strong communication, analytical, and time management skills.
Responsibilities:
- Create and implement financial policies and procedures
- Oversee the preparation and planning of budgets
- Keep accurate records of daily transactions and reconcile bank statements
- Prepare all financial reports
- Participate in financial audits
- Perform financial analysis to identify and resolve problems
- Update internal systems with financial data
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or economics
- CPA will be highly regarded
- Excellent analytical and numerical skills
- Knowledge of financial laws and regulations
- Experience planning and preparing budgets
- Expertise in financial and accounting procedures
- Experience using financial software
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
The job description shows that the ideal candidate will have the following skills and experience:
- Financial and accounting knowledge
- Financial policies and procedures
- Financial reports
- Financial audits
- Planning and preparing budgets
- Record-keeping
- Communication
- Analytical skills
- Financial laws and regulations
Take the list of key priorities you identified in the job description, and ensure your resume includes skills and experience that match. See below for an example of how best to incorporate them into your resume:
Finance Work Experience Example
Financial Officer
PRT Industries, May 2015 – Present
- Use knowledge of finance and accounting to develop financial policies and procedures for a new company, ensuring laws and regulations are followed
- Oversee the preparation and planning of budgets and financial audits conducted both internally and externally
- Keep accurate records of daily transactions and prepare a variety of financial reports to help ensure the financial health of the company
- Regularly analyze the company’s financial position to detect problems, communicate results to executives and other departments, and recommend and implement solutions