Within a short document, your executive-level finance resume must convey your achievements in budgeting, managing finances, and more. You must also show how you might fit into a company’s culture, what you can do for a hiring organization, and that you hold requisite credentials. Learn more about creating a chief financial officer (CFO) resume that does all of that below.

Most Popular Chief Financial Officer Resumes

Why This Resume Works

 

James’s resume highlights his strategic planning skills and measurable results, such as growing revenue to $7.3 million. Learn how to write impactful financial resumes here.


Why This Resume Works

 

Michael’s resume highlights cost-saving initiatives and high-impact acquisitions that demonstrate his strategic financial leadership. Learn how to write an impactful resume summary here.


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Why This Resume Works

 

Rachel’s resume emphasizes leadership and measurable achievements, including cost reductions and securing major financing. Learn how to format your resume for clarity here.


Why This Resume Works

 

Andrew’s resume showcases strong academic credentials and practical experience that align with the requirements of entry-level financial roles. Learn how to list education effectively here.


Why This Resume Works

 

Serena’s resume highlights her expertise in financial auditing and measurable improvements, such as a 20% reduction in reporting errors. Learn how to tailor your resume for QA roles here.


Why This Resume Works

 

Ethan’s resume highlights his ability to enhance financial reporting processes and ensure regulatory compliance. His quantifiable achievements, such as a 25% error reduction, add credibility. Learn more about showcasing financial skills here.


Why This Resume Works

 

Zia’s resume demonstrates her ability to generate measurable results, such as a 15% portfolio growth, and emphasizes her skills in financial forecasting and strategic planning. Learn how to list certifications effectively here.


Why This Resume Works

 

Liam’s resume showcases his expertise in international finance and includes measurable results, such as a 10% reduction in FX losses. Learn how to structure your resume for global roles here.


Why This Resume Works

 

Emma’s resume highlights her ability to manage large program budgets and ensure compliance with federal regulations. Her measurable achievements, such as improving cost efficiency by 12%, add value. Learn more about resume formatting here.


Why This Resume Works

 

Noah’s resume effectively highlights his leadership abilities and quantifiable achievements, like a 15% increase in profitability and a 20% improvement in process efficiency. Learn how to optimize your leadership-focused resume here.


Why This Resume Works

 

Grace’s resume highlights her expertise in financial reporting, emphasizing quantifiable results like a 20% improvement in accuracy. Learn how to tailor your resume for analytical roles here.


Why This Resume Works

 

Oliver’s resume showcases his ability to analyze and forecast real estate investments with measurable success, such as supporting $10 million in investments. Learn how to emphasize industry-specific skills here.


Why This Resume Works

 

Ella’s resume highlights her academic foundation and relevant internship experiences, showcasing her readiness to contribute to entry-level financial roles. Learn how to effectively list education and expected graduation dates here.


Why This Resume Works

 

Brad’s resume highlights his leadership in financial planning and measurable achievements, like mitigating $1.2 million in potential losses. Learn how to structure senior-level resumes here.


Why This Resume Works

 

Sophia’s resume emphasizes her ability to deliver cost-saving results and improve revenue cycle processes, with measurable achievements like a 12% expense reduction. Learn how to highlight industry-specific certifications here.


Why This Resume Works

 

Daniel’s resume highlights his academic achievements and internship experience, showcasing his readiness to transition into a full-time financial analyst role. Learn how to showcase entry-level experience here.


Why This Resume Works

 

Olivia’s resume emphasizes her ability to mitigate financial crime with measurable results, such as preventing $3 million in losses. Learn how to effectively list compliance-related skills here.


Why This Resume Works

 

Evan’s resume highlights his technical expertise and measurable impact, such as improving reporting accuracy by 30%. Learn how to tailor your resume for technical financial roles here.


Why This Resume Works

 

China’s resume demonstrates her ability to manage large-scale financial planning projects and deliver measurable results, such as a 15% improvement in cost efficiency. Learn how to emphasize FP&A experience here.


Why This Resume Works

 

Nate’s resume emphasizes his expertise in risk mitigation with measurable results, such as a 20% reduction in financial risks. Learn how to showcase risk management skills here.


Why This Resume Works

 

Ava’s resume demonstrates her ability to improve compliance processes, with measurable results like reducing violations by 15%. Learn how to highlight compliance expertise here.


Why This Resume Works

 

Lem’s resume highlights his ability to deliver tangible investment results, such as a 20% ROI and $15 million in secured assets. Learn how to present investment experience here.


Why This Resume Works

 

Sita’s resume emphasizes her ability to drive client portfolio growth, with measurable results like a 25% annual increase in portfolio value. Learn how to optimize consulting resumes here.


Why This Resume Works

 

Nick’s resume demonstrates his expertise in data-driven decision-making with tangible achievements, such as a 15% efficiency increase. Learn how to highlight data analytics skills here.


Why This Resume Works

 

Emmaline’s resume emphasizes her ability to manage large-scale cash flow operations and deliver efficiency improvements, such as a 20% reduction in process inefficiencies. Learn how to format resumes for treasury roles here.


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Chief Financial Officer Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples

  • Financial Planning Analyst
  • Budget Analyst
  • Chartered Financial Analyst
  • Junior Financial Analyst
  • Quality Assurance Financial Analyst
  • Financial Accounting Analyst
  • Financial Analyst
  • International Financial Analyst
  • Program Financial Analyst
  • Lead Financial Analyst
  • Financial Reporting Analyst
  • Real Estate Financial Analyst
  • Financial Analyst Intern
  • Senior Financial Analyst
  • Health Care Financial Analyst
  • Entry-Level Financial Analyst
  • Financial Crime Analyst
  • Financial Systems Analyst
  • Financial Planning and Analysis Analyst
  • Financial Risk Analyst
  • Financial Compliance Analyst
  • Real Estate Investment Analyst
  • Financial Consultant
  • Financial Data Analyst
  • Treasury Analyst

James Taylor, MBA
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
New York, NY 12345

Profile

Senior executive with over three years of experience managing all financial operations for a fast-growing startup. Proven expertise in strategic planning, financial forecasting, and revenue growth.

Key Skills
  • Corporate change leadership
  • Cross-functional coordination
  • Financial analysis and reporting
  • Mergers and acquisitions
  • Organizational development
  • Revenue and profit growth
  • Strategic business planning
Professional Experience

Chief Financial Officer, JNR International, New York, NY
July 2019 – Present

  • Manage all financial accounts and operations for a tech startup with 20 employees
  • Research foreign markets, analyze strategic opportunities, and present findings to senior partners
  • Develop annual budgets with rolling forecasts

Highlights:

  • Guided acquisition of four companies, increasing revenue from $2.5 million to $7.3 million
Education
  • Master of Business Administration (MBA), New York University, New York, NY
  • Bachelor of Science (BS) – Accounting, New York University, New York, NY
Certifications
  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA), New York State Board of Public Accountancy
Technical Skills
  • QuickBooks, FreshBooks, and SQL accounting software
Language
  • Fluency in Mandarin

How To Write a Chief Financial Officer Resume

1. Write a brief summary of your chief financial qualifications

The resume profile may be your first impression on a hiring committee, so make yours top-notch. Include information you think will be most relevant to the hiring organization, and tweak your profile summary for each CFO job you apply to. Highlight your tenure in leadership, finance, or business positions, and cite one or two of your top achievements to tease the rest of your resume.

Senior-Level Profile Example


CFO with over 15 years of advancement and experience. Draw on broad, deep finance knowledge to make viable budget decisions and set strategies for double-digit growth. Recent highlights include cutting department costs by 18% and financing a $40 million equipment purchase.

Entry-Level Profile Example


Senior executive with over three years of experience managing all financial operations for a fast-growing startup.

2. Showcase your chief financial experience

Companies want CFOs with strong leadership and steady progress toward broad financial and business goals. Show you’ve done that for other organizations — at all levels of your career — with results-driven bullets in your professional experience section. Quantify your achievements with data that helps employers see the difference you can make.

Senior-Level Professional Experience Example


Chief Financial Officer

FFF Solutions, Baltimore, MD | December 2017 to present

  • Guide financial interactions between clients, vendors, and company’s over 400 staff members
  • Focus on finding and pursuing cost-reduction opportunities to help raise the bottom line
  • Oversee financing of large-scale projects

Highlights:

  • Streamlined finance operations, reducing yearly expenses by 18% to date
  • Coordinated financing of a complex $40 million equipment purchase

Entry-Level Professional Experience Example


Chief Financial Officer

JNR International, New York, NY | July 2019 to present

[Innovative tech startup with 20 employees.]

  • Manage all financial accounts and operations
  • Research foreign markets, analyze strategic opportunities, and present findings to senior partners
  • Set annual financial budgets that include a rolling forecast

Highlight:

  • Helped guide the acquisition of four companies in the past three years, taking annual revenue from $2.5 million to $7.3 million

3. Include chief financial-related education and certifications

While the bulk of a CFO resume is typically the experience section, include all your relevant education and certifications in an easy-to-read list. The following templates and examples will help you format these details on your resume.

Education

Template

  • [Degree Name]
  • [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]

Example

  • Master of Business Administration
  • The University of California, San Francisco, CA | 2011

Certifications

Template

  • [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]

Example

  • CPA, New York State Board of Public Accountancy, 2010

4. Make a list of your chief financial-related skills and proficiencies

When hiring executive leadership, organizations tend to look for someone who is a good cultural fit and with the right skills to shore up the existing team. Always check the job listing for the specific position to learn more about the skills required — and if possible, talk to people in your network who might have insider information on the position. When you have skills and knowledge matching the company’s needs, highlight them on your resume using key phrases such as those below.

Key Skills and Proficiencies
Budget forecasting and management Building teams
Collaboration Cost management
Financial reporting Financial software
Forecasting Funding
Leadership Management
Mergers and acquisitions Problem-solving
Project management Regulatory compliance
Risk assessment

How To Pick the Best Chief Financial Officer Resume Template

When applying for an executive position, your resume must be as polished and professional as possible. Choose a template that matches your career level. While the focus should still be on content about your experience, accomplishments, and skills, a small and tasteful design flourish or two is not out of the question for a high-level resume. Remember that many application tracking systems convert resumes to digital formats, so ensure it’s easy to copy/paste the important elements or that optical character recognition (OCR) software can scan your resume.

Frequently Asked Questions: Chief Financial Officer Resume Examples and Advice

What are common action verbs for chief financial officer resumes?-

The CFO of any organization must be a person of action who can consider data and make fast, accurate decisions. They must also be leaders who can delegate tasks and inspire others to follow through on requirements. It can be hard to fully convey that you’re an action-based leader who confidently steps into work, so it’s important to include action verbs throughout your resume.

These verbs help position you as someone who does things — and when combined with your accomplishments, you create a narrative that demonstrates you do things well. Some action verbs you may want to try include:

Action Verbs
Build Champion
Conduct Conceive
Create Decrease
Develop Enhance
Generate Forecast
Implement Improve
Increase Launch
Lower Manage
Mentor Raise
Reduce Spearhead
How do you align your resume with a job posting?-

When putting yourself forward for a leadership position, demonstrate that you’re the right person for the job. Aligning your resume with a job posting helps show how well you fit a hiring organization’s culture, mission, and needs. Look closely at the job posting to find key phrases and skills you have and highlight those on your resume. You can also look at the tone of the hiring organization’s messaging and match that in your resume when appropriate.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that job opportunities for top executives, including CFOs, are growing at an average rate compared to other opportunities, making this a competitive market. Taking these extra steps can help you stand out from other candidates.

What is the best chief financial officer resume format?-

Most CFO candidates find the reverse-chronological format works best. It lets you show your growth in leadership and other critical skills over time and helps employers understand more about your background. Stand out with this format by including a robust professional summary and ensuring your education and certifications are easy to find when someone first scans the document. Because CFO resumes tend to include much experience and data, use bullet points, subheadings, and white space to make the document easier for talent teams to review.

How long should I make my chief financial officer resume?-

A one-page chief financial officer resume is the best option for most candidates, as it ensures clarity and brevity. If you have significant achievements or over 10 years of experience, extending to two pages is fine—but only if the content is tailored and directly supports your application. Focus on impactful accomplishments and key skills that relate to the job.

Include your most recent 10 to 15 years of work experience. Older roles should only appear if they provide unique insights or align closely with the job requirements. Keeping your resume concise and relevant will maximize its impact.

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Expert Advice
Include a cover letter with your resume
Once you polish your resume in response to a job posting, combine it with a tailored cover letter that adds more information and builds rapport with the hiring organization. You can start with our executive cover letter example if you need inspiration.
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