Writing a CV or resume for a Comptroller position can be a challenging task. It’s about striking the right balance between showcasing your financial expertise and demonstrating your ability to manage and lead. This article is designed to guide you through the process of creating a compelling Comptroller CV or resume.
We’ll cover the essential elements to include, tips for highlighting your experience and skills, and how to format your document effectively. Additionally, we’ll provide real-life examples to help you understand how these principles can be applied in practice. Whether you’re a seasoned Comptroller or stepping into this role for the first time, this article will provide you with the tools you need to create a resume that stands out.
Contents
Read The Job Description / Advert
The first step is, of course, to read the job description. We need to know what the firm is looking for so that we can properly highlight these characteristics in our CV. So read back over the job description and try to pinpoint the important points. A lot of times a firm will call things “required”; if you see this, you need to make sure you include that in your CV. Similarly, if certain things are repeated throughout the advert, this indicates they are of high importance, so we will want to make sure our CV shows that as well.
When performing this analysis, take care to copy the ‘exact’ words and phrases that are being used by the hiring manager. We will want to pepper these into our CV later.
Comptroller Job Description Example
Comptroller Position Available
We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Comptroller to oversee our company’s financial operations. The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker with a strong background in financial management and a proven track record of success in a similar role.
Key Responsibilities:
- Oversee the operations of the accounting department, including the design of an organizational structure adequate for achieving the department’s goals and objectives.
- Manage all aspects of financial reporting, budgeting, and forecasting to ensure the accuracy and timeliness of financial statements.
- Implement and maintain a system of internal controls that will ensure company assets are adequately safeguarded and that all financial reporting is prepared in compliance with all financial policies, GAAP, and relevant financial legislation.
- Coordinate and lead the annual audit process, liaise with external auditors and assess any changes necessary.
- Monitor debt levels and compliance with debt covenants.
- Advise on long-term business and financial planning.
- Establish and maintain strong relationships with senior executives to identify their needs and seek a full range of business solutions.
- Provide leadership and direction to the accounting team, ensuring professional growth and development.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance; MBA and/or CPA highly desirable.
- Minimum of 10 years of experience in a senior financial managerial position with a proven record of success.
- Strong understanding of GAAP, financial reporting, budgeting, and forecasting.
- Experience with corporate governance and risk management.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Proficiency in financial management software and advanced Excel skills.
This is an excellent opportunity for a finance professional looking to advance their career in a dynamic and challenging environment. We offer a competitive compensation package and a collaborative work environment where your skills and expertise will be valued and nurtured.
If you are a motivated individual with a passion for finance and the skills to match, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity.
Research The Company
Time to put on your detective hat and do some research on your target company. Look at their website, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and other platforms. You are looking for any piece of intel that will give you the leg up.
- Find out about recent work/projects they have undertaken or will be embarking on (highlight your experience in these areas on your CV)
- Find out what software/processes they use and make sure you include your proficiency in them in your CV
- Learn what interview questions you might expect should you make it that far
See if you know anyone who works there and/or connect (LinkedIn) with people ahead of the interview. A little nepotism could never hurt, and you might be able to glean more information about the role/hiring process in the meantime.
Find A Good CV Template
When selecting a CV template, it’s essential to opt for a simple design and structure. Not only are straightforward layouts more compatible with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), but they also make it easier for recruiters and hiring managers to quickly identify and understand key details. A clutter-free and organized CV ensures that your most important information stands out, facilitating a smoother review process for potential employers.
This is the CV template that we recommend (click here)
Write 2 Or 3 Bullet Points As A ‘Professional Summary’
A handy approach is to craft three sentences: the first highlighting your qualifications and experience, the second showcasing your biggest professional achievement, and the third detailing your most recent experience.
Comptroller Professional Summary Example
- With over 12 years of experience in financial management and control, hold a Master’s in Finance and a CPA certification. Specialize in strategic financial planning, risk management, and regulatory compliance, with extensive knowledge in using SAP and Oracle for financial reporting.
- Most notable achievement includes leading a successful financial restructuring project at a major corporation, resulting in a 30% increase in operational efficiency and a 25% reduction in costs over two years, largely attributed to the implementation of advanced data analytics and cost-control strategies.
- Recently focused on enhancing financial reporting and compliance at current organization, successfully integrating the latest version of SAP S/4HANA for real-time financial processing, which improved reporting accuracy by 40% and streamlined the audit process.
Detail Your Employment History
Begin by listing your employment history in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent role. This allows potential employers to see your recent experience upfront, which holds greater value. Keep in mind that brevity is key.
As you go further back in time, reduce the level of detail to ensure your CV doesn’t exceed two pages. Employers are less likely to read lengthy CVs.
When writing about your responsibilities on your CV, focus on how you’ve excelled in those roles, especially as a Comptroller. Instead of simply stating “Managed financial reporting,” you could say, “Enhanced the financial reporting process, reducing report generation time by 30% while maintaining 100% accuracy.” This not only shows that you handled financial reporting, but also demonstrates your ability to improve efficiency and accuracy. It’s about turning a basic duty into a story of success and skill.
Detail Your Education History
Keep your CV concise, aiming for a two-page limit. The education section can often be streamlined.
Highlight the most relevant qualifications. For instance, if you have a degree, your A-levels become less significant. Similarly, if you’re in the U.S., having an MBA overshadows your high school GPA.
Unless an older educational milestone is crucial for the job or highly pertinent, focus on showcasing your Bachelor’s degree, post-graduate studies, or professional certifications. If you lack these, mention your latest qualifications. Remember, having a Master’s suggests you’ve finished school, so no need to state the obvious. Only include your educational background if it’s pertinent to the job.
CV Structure
Tactically structure your CV to the ‘most wanted’ attributes of the job description. For example, if the job description values “qualified”, then place your qualifications first; if they want someone with RECENT experience, put your last job up top. If they want multiple years of experience, highlight your tenure.
We always recommend that you have a Professional Summary up top (after your name/contact info), as it will be the first thing that anyone reads. As discussed earlier, this should be tailored towards the job advert and showcase your experience and skills in what the employer is looking for.
A fairly typical structure would go:
- Name and contact info
- Professional Summary
- Current (or most recent employment)
- Education & Professional Qualifications
- Employment History
WHAT NOT TO DO
Now that we’ve discussed what you should be including in your CV, let’s look at some things that you should avoid doing.
- Do not include personal history or likes. Employers are not going to care about your hobbies, so unless you have some inside information that the hiring manager only hires people who play a particular sport, for example, then leave your extracurricular activities off your CV. This does not extend to things like volunteer or charity work. Definitely include that if you have the space.
- Do not list your skillset and the tools/applications you have experience with. It takes up valuable space and is often obvious (Skilled in Excel…?). Instead, include these in your achievements section (Example: “Used Asana to manage and coordinate tasks for a remote team of 25 members”).
- Do not include references or “references available on request”. If employers want a reference, they will ask you for them; otherwise, this is just wasted space on your CV.
- Do not include a photo of yourself unless specifically asked. In many countries, including the UK and US, you should not include a photo of yourself on your CV/resume. Companies don’t want you to do it, as it opens them up to liability, and there is absolutely nothing for you to gain by doing so – plus, you are making it easier for firms to discriminate against you, either implicitly or explicitly.
- Do not use any fancy graphic or artistic CV format. Most CVs come in a standard format, allowing Application Tracking Software, recruiters and hiring managers to easily pick out the key pieces of information they need quickly based on their experience. If you throw them a CV in an artistic format, they are more likely to get annoyed and throw your application away. This is not a situation where standing out is good. You want your skills/experience to be noted, not your CV format.
- Do not include your previous salaries. This will severely impact your negotiation abilities down the line.
Comptroller CV Tips – Recap
Let’s recap what we’ve discussed so far:
Understand the Role of a Comptroller A Comptroller is key in financial management. Know that your CV should reflect skills in budgeting, auditing, and strategic planning. ?
Highlight Relevant Qualifications Include your degrees, certifications (like CPA), and any relevant training. Education is crucial in finance roles. ?
Showcase Your Experience Detail your past roles with specifics. Mention the size of budgets managed, types of financial systems used (like SAP or Oracle), and any significant achievements. ?
Quantify Your Achievements Use numbers to demonstrate your impact. For example, “Reduced expenses by 20% through strategic cost management.” Numbers make your contributions tangible. ?
Mention Leadership and Teamwork If you’ve led teams or collaborated across departments, highlight these experiences. Leadership is a key trait for a Comptroller. ?
Be Clear and Concise Use simple, straightforward language. Avoid jargon that might confuse recruiters outside of finance. ?
Tailor Your CV for the Job Customize your CV for each application. Align your skills and experiences with the job description. ?
Proofread Thoroughly Ensure there are no errors in your CV. Accuracy is vital in finance roles. ✅
Comptroller CV Sample
Below is an example CV from someone with a number of years experience in the field. For an editable .DOCX version, click here.