With executive-level job opportunities, hiring managers expect more from potential candidates, starting with your resume. Companies are making a substantial investment and they want to see clear examples of how your background and industry expertise generate value for their organizations.
To maximize your chances of landing the interview, you need an accomplishment-driven resume that captures the most compelling aspects of your career as a finance executive. This guide will provide expert tips and advice to help you translate your work history into a powerful marketing document.
Finance Director Resume Templates and Examples (Download in App)
Finance Director Resume Example
Why this finance director's resume example is strong:
This resume is accomplishment-driven, focusing on quantifiable results and strategic leadership. It highlights the candidate's ability to manage large budgets and drive financial performance with a potent blend of technical skills and certifications.
Assistant Director of Finance Resume Example
Why this assistant director of finance resume example is strong:
This resume emphasizes the candidate's leadership experience and measurable financial achievements. The focus on team management and process improvement highlights the candidate's qualifications for higher-level finance roles.
Automotive Finance Director Resume Example
Why this automotive finance director resume example is strong:
This resume stands out with its focus on the automotive industry, clearly showcasing the candidate's success in driving revenue and managing large loan portfolios. It effectively demonstrates industry-specific expertise and leadership in dealership finance.
Director of Finance and Administration Resume Example
Why this director of finance and administration resume example is strong:
This resume effectively highlights the candidate's leadership in finance and administration for a nonprofit organization. It strongly focuses on managing complex budgets, securing grant funding, and leading diverse teams. The quantifiable results and the candidate's ability to manage finance and operations make this resume stand out for finance and administrative leadership roles.
Financial Planning and Analysis Resume
Why this financial planning and analysis resume example is strong:
This resume captures the broad strokes of the candidate's experience as a finance executive. Incorporating quantifiable results, such as the $15 million reduction in annual operating expenses, helps to demonstrate the potential value they can bring to future organizations.
Vice President of Finance Resume Example
Why this vice president of finance resume example is strong:
This resume example demonstrates the candidate's exceptional leadership background at the executive level. In addition to featuring eye-catching numbers and financial figures, the applicant emphasizes their expertise in liaising with cross-functional teams, client stakeholders, and the C-suite.
Director of Finance Resume Example
Why this director of finance resume example is strong:
This finance resume example is practical in several ways. By quantifying the size of the capital budgets and cost reductions they achieved, the hiring manager immediately sees that the candidate has a strong history of success at the director level.
Finance Director Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
How To Write a Finance Director Resume
1. Write a dynamic profile summarizing your qualifications
Creating a compelling profile for a finance director’s resume is crucial for catching the attention of hiring managers. Your profile should briefly summarize your experience, focusing on the key financial management skills and accomplishments that align with the job description. Highlight your leadership in finance, budgeting, strategic planning, and managing large teams while incorporating data-driven results that showcase your success.
Strong Profile Example
A finance director with 10 years of experience specializing in financial planning and analysis (FP&A), risk management, corporate finance, and strategic planning. A proven track record of managing multi-million-dollar budgets and spearheading cost-saving initiatives. Adept at leading diverse finance teams, driving profitability, and optimizing financial processes.
Weak Profile Example
Experienced finance professional skilled in budget management, financial reporting, and team leadership. Adept at analyzing financial statements and managing financial operations.
2. Add an accomplishment-driven professional experience section
To make a lasting impression on potential employers, your professional experience must demonstrate how your financial expertise can create value for their organizations. The best way to accomplish this is by vividly picturing your most impressive achievements. Incorporate eye-catching monetary figures and complex numbers to show how your efforts have positively impacted the bottom line for previous companies.
For example, if you identified opportunities to eliminate unnecessary expenditures, draw attention to how much this saved the business annually. If you were responsible for developing large operating budgets, add a figure to establish a sense of scope for the reader. Be sure to provide appropriate context for each accomplishment, and keep your bullet points manageable with extraneous details.
Strong Professional Experience Example
Finance Director, Tech Innovators Inc., San Francisco, CA | March 2018 – present
- Oversee a finance department comprised of over 30 staff, develop and manage a $26 million operating budget, and spearhead initiatives to eliminate outsourcing and improve vendor contracts, resulting in a 12% reduction in annual expenses
- Lead the transition to a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, improving financial reporting accuracy by 25%
- Collaborate with senior leadership and C-level executives to develop financial strategies in alignment with long-term corporate objectives
Weak Professional Experience Example
Finance Director, ABC Corporation, New York, NY | July 2016 – present
- Managed the company’s financial operations
- Conducted financial reporting for the organization
- Led financial planning and budgeting initiatives
3. Include relevant education and certifications
Your education and certifications are vital for validating your qualifications as a finance director. A strong education section should include degrees in finance, accounting, or related fields and advanced degrees like an MBA. Also, feature industry certifications to demonstrate further your finance professional expertise, such as the CPA and CFA credentials.
Education
Template
- [Degree Name]
- [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]
Example
- Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Finance
- New York University, New York, NY | 2010
Certifications
Template
- [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
- [Description]
Example
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA), AICPA, 2012
- Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), CFA Institute, 2015
4. List pertinent key skills
In the key skills section, list specific finance and leadership skills relevant to a finance director role. Display complex skills demonstrating your expertise in managing financial operations, budgeting, and strategic financial planning. It also includes interpersonal skills such as executive leadership, team management, and cross-functional collaboration. This ensures your resume is properly optimized for applicant tracking systems (ATS).
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Accounting | Business administration |
| Business intelligence | Client relations |
| Data-driven decision making | Executive leadership |
| Financial analysis | Financial modeling |
| Financial reporting | Financial strategy |
| Forecasting | FP&A |
| Generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) | Growth strategy |
| Investment strategy | Mergers and acquisition (M&A) |
| Project management | Risk management |
| SAP | Statistical analysis |
| Strategic planning | Variance analysis |
How To Pick the Best Finance Director Resume Template
When selecting a resume template for a finance director role, prioritize organization and professionalism. Use a clean and structured template that emphasizes your key accomplishments and leadership in financial management. Avoid templates with excessive graphics or colors, as these can detract from the professional image you must convey.
Frequently Asked Questions: Finance Director Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for finance director resumes?-
Incorporating a mix of intense action verbs is a great way to enhance the impact of your bullet points. Using proactive language also helps hiring managers better understand your contributions.
That said, it's essential to diversify your verbiage, as repeating the same three or more verbs may cause your content to appear stale and repetitive. We've compiled a list of action verbs you can use to craft your finance director resume:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Analyzed | Balanced |
| Budgeted | Collaborated |
| Conducted | Coordinated |
| Created | Developed |
| Drove | Evaluated |
| Forecasted | Implemented |
| Improved | Led |
| Managed | Optimized |
| Oversaw | Planned |
| Reduced | Restructured |
| Spearheaded | Supervised |
How do you align your resume with a finance director job description?-
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, finance director roles are expected to grow by 17% over the next decade. Despite the increasing demand for skilled financial executives, tailoring your resume to each job description is essential. Higher-level positions are far more competitive, so carefully align your content with what potential employers seek.
For example, if a company is targeting a finance director with a strong knowledge of ERP, provide specific examples of you implementing enterprise resource planning software to enhance financial reporting and reduce operating costs. If an organization seeks a candidate with exceptional leadership traits, emphasize how you've built and managed high-performing finance departments throughout your career.
What is the best finance director resume format?-
The best format for a finance director's resume is the reverse chronological. This format lets you present your most recent and relevant experience at the top, clearly showcasing your career progression and accomplishments. Combination and functional resume formats aren't viable options for senior-level professionals, as they tend to prioritize skills and certifications over your work history.
Including a tailored cover letter with your resume is crucial when applying for a finance director role. Your cover letter lets you expand on your most relevant experience and demonstrate why you fit the job. It also lets you highlight your enthusiasm for the company and the position. Make sure to personalize your cover letter for each application, focusing on how your financial expertise can directly benefit the organization. For more insights, view our finance cover letter guide.
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