Writing a CV for a Finance Officer job doesn’t have to be hard. Whether you’re new to the game or an old hand, your CV is what talks for you before you get the chance to do it yourself. In this article, we’re going to show you the ins and outs of putting together a CV that’ll get you noticed. We’ve got easy tips and real examples to make things super clear. Let’s get started and make that CV shine!
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.
Finance Officer Job Description Example
Join Our Team: Seeking a Diligent Finance Officer
Unlock the next chapter of your career by joining our dynamic team as a Finance Officer. We are a forward-thinking company, committed to innovating within our industry and providing exceptional service to our clients. Our team is the heartbeat of our success, and we’re excited to welcome a new member to our family.
As our Finance Officer, you will navigate through the financial seas, ensuring our company sails smoothly towards its financial goals. Your role will involve managing financial planning, budgeting, and reporting, ensuring our financial resources are maximized efficiently. You will be the guardian of our financial compliance, ensuring all practices are in line with statutory legislation and regulations.
Your day-to-day will involve overseeing our financial operations, from managing budgets and forecasting to conducting detailed financial analysis to guide our financial decisions. Your strategic thinking, leadership, and expert financial management will be key in steering our company towards financial success.
Key Responsibilities:
- Manage and oversee financial operations, ensuring accuracy and compliance with relevant legislation.
- Develop and implement financial strategies, including budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting.
- Conduct detailed financial analysis and prepare detailed financial reports and statements.
- Ensure adherence to financial policies and compliance with all financial regulations.
- Collaborate with management on development and execution of financial strategies.
What We’re Looking For:
- Proven experience in a similar financial role.
- A degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field.
- Strong analytical, strategic planning, and problem-solving skills.
- Proficiency in financial software and various financial management tools.
- Exceptional communication and leadership skills.
What’s in it for You:
- A competitive salary, commensurate with your experience and skills.
- A supportive and collaborative work environment.
- Opportunities for professional growth and development.
- A role where your contributions are valued and recognized.
If you’re ready to bring your financial expertise to our team, steering us towards continued success and innovation, we’re eager to hear from you. Let’s build, innovate, and grow together, ensuring a prosperous future for our team and our clients.
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 Finance Officer 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.
Finance Officer Professional Summary Example
- With a solid foundation of 10 years in the financial sector and fortified with an MBA in Finance, I have meticulously honed expertise in financial management, planning, and strategy development, navigating through various financial landscapes, from budget management to financial analysis, ensuring fiscal health and compliance within the organizations I’ve served.
- Recognized for successfully managing and reallocating a $10M budget for a large-scale technology integration project, I implemented cost-saving strategies and negotiated with vendors, ultimately saving the company 20% in projected expenses without compromising on the quality or timeline of the project, showcasing adept financial management and strategic planning capabilities.
- In my most recent role as a Senior Finance Officer at a multinational corporation, I led a team of 15 in the Financial Planning & Analysis department, where we successfully identified and mitigated financial risks, optimized investment portfolios, and implemented a new financial modeling strategy that enhanced forecasting accuracy by 30%, contributing to informed decision-making and financial stability in a volatile market.
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 you’re jotting down your duties as a Finance Officer on your CV, don’t just stick to a plain list of tasks. Instead, turn them into stories of your achievements. So, instead of writing “Managed company budgets”, try something like “Oversaw a company budget of $3M and cut costs by 15% by negotiating with vendors and implementing cost-saving strategies”. This way, you’re not just saying what you did, but you’re also showing how well you did it, giving a clear picture of your skills and impact. Remember, it’s not just about what you did, but how you made a difference!
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.
Finance Officer CV Tips – Recap
1. Highlight Your Quantifiable Achievements 🎯
When detailing your work experience, focus on your achievements that can be measured or quantified. Instead of just listing your duties, showcase your impact by providing numbers. For example, mention the size of the budgets you managed or how much you helped save through cost-cutting strategies.
2. Tailor Your CV to the Role 📌
Ensure your CV is tailored for a Finance Officer position. Highlight relevant skills and experiences, and use keywords found in the job description. This not only shows your suitability for the role but also helps your CV get through any Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
3. Showcase Your Technical Proficiency 💻
Finance Officers often use various tools and software. Mention your proficiency with financial management software, data analysis tools, and any other relevant platforms. This demonstrates to employers that you can seamlessly integrate into their workflow.
4. Detail Your Strategic Impact 🚀
Showcase instances where your strategic input made a significant impact. Discuss how your financial planning, analysis, and decision-making contributed to the financial health and growth of the organizations you worked for.
5. Include Relevant Certifications and Qualifications 🎓
Ensure to list any relevant qualifications and certifications that showcase your knowledge and expertise in the field. This might include degrees in finance or accounting, and certifications from recognized financial institutions or bodies.
6. Be Mindful of CV Length and Clarity 📄
Keep your CV concise and to the point. Ideally, limit it to two pages to ensure that the hiring manager can quickly scan through and pick up on your key achievements and skills.
7. Use Action Words to Demonstrate Impact 🎬
Start your bullet points with action verbs like “managed”, “implemented”, or “reduced” to convey your contributions actively and dynamically.
Finance Officer 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.