7 Finance Executive Resume Examples for 2024

Crafting a resume as a finance executive involves more than listing your past jobs. A winning resume showcases your leadership in managing assets, steering corporate finance, and driving growth. Here, learn to highlight your strategic financial insights and fiduciary expertise with examples and tips tailored to the sector. This guide offers the know-how you need to present your background in a way that resonates with hiring managers in the financial industry.

  Compiled and approved by Steve Grafton
  Last updated on See history of changes

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At a Glance

Here's what we see in the most effective finance executive resumes.

  • Showing Impact With Numbers: Top resumes show results with numbers. You should include metrics like revenue growth percentage, cost reduction figures, budget management efficiencies, and capital raised amount.

  • Skills Matching The Job Description: Include skills on your resume that you have and are mentioned on the job description. Popular ones are financial modeling, risk management, regulatory compliance, strategic planning, and data analysis.

  • Trends In Finance Resumes: Resumes now often show digital skills with phrases like automation efficiency and financial software proficiency. Knowing digital finance tools is key.

Where to list education

For a finance executive, your education is crucial, but experience often takes the front seat. You should list your work history before your education unless you recently completed a major advanced degree like an MBA. If you just finished such a program, put this education at the top. It explains a gap in your employment and emphasizes your fresh knowledge. For all others, work history comes first, showing a trajectory of growth and achievement in the finance field.

Show leadership abilities

Finance executives must lead teams and drive change. Use your resume to highlight experiences where you have managed teams or projects. Explain how you have guided financial planning or handled complex deals. Your ability to lead, especially through financial challenges or restructures, will set you apart in this field. Share examples like overseeing mergers or navigating market changes to show strong leadership skills.

Ideal resume length

A good length for a finance executive's resume typically extends to two pages, especially for those with extensive experience. Two pages allow you to detail significant achievements and roles that show your capability for leadership and strategic financial management. For less experienced candidates, aim for one page, concentrating on relevant finance skills and roles that have prepared you for this executive level.

Highlight strategic impact

In your resume, it is important to show how you have made a strategic impact. Detail specific instances where your financial leadership resulted in cost savings, efficiency improvements, or revenue growth. Mention key metrics or outcomes, like a percentage reduction in expenses or an increase in profitability, to demonstrate your ability to shape financial strategy effectively.

Beat the resume screeners

When applying for a finance executive role, your resume might first be read by an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) before a hiring manager sees it. To make sure your resume stands out, follow these tips:

  • Use keywords like 'financial strategy' and 'budget management' that match the job description. This helps the ATS recognize that you have relevant experience.
  • Include specific financial software names you are skilled in, such as 'Oracle' or 'SAP', to show you can use important tools.

Keep your work history clear and well organized. List your roles and what you did in each one in a way that is easy to understand. This helps the ATS and the hiring manager see your good fit for the job.

Make your resume job-specific

When applying for a finance role, you need to show that you are ready for this job. Make sure to include the skills and experiences that match what the job asks for. Show your past work in a way that makes sense for a finance exec. Use examples that talk about money, leadership and big decisions you've made.

  • For a senior role, give examples of teams you've led. Say things like Managed a team of 10 finance professionals so they can see your leadership level.
  • Show your skill in making big money decisions. Use examples like Oversaw a budget of over $5 million.
  • If you are coming from a different job, highlight money skills that are important for finance execs. For example, if you've managed budgets before, even in a different role, make sure to say that.
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