15 Financial Controller Resume Examples for 2025

In this guide, we offer sound counsel and sample resumes for aspiring financial controllers. We'll outline the essentials—experience, accomplishments, and skills—a hiring manager looks for. Learn how to highlight your ledger proficiency, regulatory insight, and strategic planning abilities. Our focus is clear information, helping you craft a resume that merits attention in the finance industry.

  Compiled and approved by Marie-Caroline Pereira
  Last updated on See history of changes

  Next update scheduled for

At a Glance

Here's what the best resumes in financial oversight show.

  • Impact With Numbers: Strong resumes show clear results with numbers. Think savings in expenses, increases in revenue, dips in budget variance, and growth in ROI.

  • : Include skills you have that are also in the job description. Popular ones include financial analysis, budgeting, forecasting, Excel, and financial reporting.

  • : More resumes now show skills in financial software use. They mention tools like QuickBooks and SAP, showing firms need tech-savvy controllers.

Get your resume scored

Want to know how your financial controller resume measures up? Our tool simulates how hiring managers in the finance sector evaluate resumes. It checks for key skills, experience, and formatting that recruiters look for when hiring for controller positions.

Upload your resume now to get a free, unbiased assessment. You'll receive a score and feedback on how to improve your resume to stand out in the competitive finance job market.

...
Drop your resume here or choose a file.
English resumes in PDF or DOCX only. Max 2MB file size.
   100% privacyWe're committed to your privacy. Your resume will be scanned securely to give you confidential feedback instantly. Your resume is completely private to you and can be deleted at any time.

Education section placement

For a financial controller position, your education is an essential part of your qualifications. If you are new to the workforce or have recently obtained an advanced degree that's relevant to the role, such as a master's in finance or accounting, place your education section at the top of your resume. This will quickly show hiring managers your investment in your financial expertise.

If you have been working in the field for several years, your experience will speak more to your capabilities than your education history. In this case, lead with your experience and place your education segment towards the end of your resume. Include degrees that are specifically relevant, like accounting or business management, to show you have a strong foundation for coping with complex financial tasks.

Highlight finance certifications

For a financial officer, certifications like CPA or CMA are vital. Ensure these are easy to find on your resume. Also, showing experience with financial software can set you apart. Mention any tools you use, like advanced Excel skills, ERP systems, or financial modeling software.

Ideal resume length

For a financial controller, your resume should be precise yet comprehensive. With less than 10 years of experience, strive to fit your career highlights onto one page. This shows you can summarize key points effectively. If you have more experience, especially in complex financial roles, a two-page resume is acceptable. This allows you to detail your extensive experience without overcrowding.

Ensure your first page includes strong, relevant achievements. It's essential to display financial management, reporting acumen, and strategic planning skills here. Remember, a shorter resume does not mean less effectiveness; it means you are good at focusing on what matters most to the job at hand. Clear, concise information will make a stronger impression than an overly lengthy document.

Quantify your financial impact

Show how you have helped businesses in clear numbers. Maybe you improved efficiency and saved money, or you managed budgets effectively. Use percentage or dollar figures to make your achievements stand out. This makes it clear that you are good with numbers and adding value to your employer.

Beat the resume screeners

When you apply for a job as a financial controller, your resume may first be read by an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) before it reaches a human. To get past this step, you need to make sure your resume is ATS-friendly.

Here are some tips to help you:

  • Use keywords from the job description, such as 'financial reporting,' 'budgeting,' or 'regulatory compliance.' This helps the ATS see you as a good match.
  • Make sure your resume format is simple. Complex graphics and tables can confuse an ATS. Stick to text and bullet points.

Make your resume fit

As a hiring manager, I know how important it is for you to make your resume match what the job needs. You must show you have the skills and experience for a financial controller. It helps if you can point out where you did similar work. For example, if you managed money, write this down. It lets the person hiring see that you’re a fit for the job.

  • List any accounting software you've worked with to manage budgets and reduce costs, such as QuickBooks or SAP.
  • Show how you've led teams by giving details like 'Led a team of 10 in finance and reduced costs by 15%'.
  • If you're coming from a different job, talk about your experience with managing budgets or cutting expenses. A good example is, 'Managed a project budget of over $500,000'.

Show success, not duties

When crafting your financial controller resume, focus on your successes rather than listing job duties. You want to show employers how you made a difference in your past roles.

Before: Managed a team of accountants.
After: Led a team of accountants that improved reporting accuracy by 20%.

Before: Responsible for budgeting and forecasting.
After: Developed a budgeting process that slashed forecast variances by 15%.

Each point on your resume should highlight how you helped the company save money, make money, or improve a process. Think about times you made an impact and turn these into strong examples.

Essential skills for financial controllers

When crafting your resume, it's important to highlight the right technical skills and financial knowledge. Employers look for candidates who show they can handle the responsibilities of a financial controller. Here are skills you should consider including:

  • Financial reporting
  • Accounting principles
  • Budget management
  • Financial analysis
  • Risk management
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Taxation knowledge
  • Cost control strategies
  • ERP systems expertise
  • Advanced Excel skills

Include these skills in a dedicated section or weave them into your work experience. Remember that an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) might scan your resume, so include keywords from the job description. You don't need every skill listed. Pick those that best match your experience and the job you're applying for.

For a financial controller, it's also good to show you can use financial software and data analysis tools. These are often key parts of the job. If you've worked with specific tools, like SAP or Oracle, make sure to list them. It shows you can jump into the role with less training.

Show leadership and growth

When you apply for jobs, it's key to show how you've grown in your career. For a financial controller, this may mean including any leadership roles or times you moved up in a company. Think back to any projects where you led a team or initiatives where you made big decisions. This will show employers you're ready for responsibility.

Here are ways to describe your leadership or promotion history:

  • Include job titles that show progress, like 'Junior Accountant' to 'Senior Accountant' before becoming a financial controller.
  • List any awards or recognition for leadership or excellent work.

Any time you had more responsibility or managed more money or people, make sure to include that. Think about times you trained new staff or when you were the point person for audits. These are good signs of leadership.

Quantify your financial impact

As a financial controller, showing your impact with clear numbers can set you apart. You might not have exact figures for everything, but you can often estimate. Think about the budgets you've managed, cost savings you've identified, or revenue increases you've helped achieve. Here's how to use metrics to highlight your effectiveness:

  • Estimate the size of budgets you've overseen by rounding to the nearest thousand, million, or billion dollars, if precise numbers aren't available.
  • Calculate the percentage of cost reductions you've achieved in operations through improved financial strategies or renegotiations with vendors.

For example, if you've streamlined processes, estimate the time savings in percentages. If it saved your team 10% of their time, that's a strong point to make. If you've improved financial reporting accuracy, mention the decrease in errors, like a reduction from 12% to 2%. Consider these metrics:

  • Percentage increase in cash flow
  • Reduction in audit completion time by days or weeks
  • Decrease in tax liabilities by a certain percentage
  • Growth in revenue or profits year-over-year as a percentage
  • Efficiency improvements leading to cost savings, expressed in percentage
  • Number of financial policies implemented or revised
  • Reduction in financial discrepancies or errors by percentage
  • Time taken to close monthly, quarterly, or yearly books reduced by days or weeks

Remember, these are just ideas. Look at your own experience and pick the metrics that best show your impact. Use them to make your resume stand out.

Showcasing leadership on your resume

As you prepare your resume for a financial controller role, you should show any leadership roles or promotions you've had. This tells hiring managers that you are ready to take charge and that you've been trusted with more responsibility in the past. Here's how you can do it:

  • Include titles of leadership roles held, such as 'Senior Accountant' or 'Team Lead', and the dates you held these positions. This simple method shows a trajectory of growth and the trust your previous employers placed in you.
  • List specific projects where you led a team, managed a budget, or oversaw financial operations. For example, 'Led a team of 5 in creating a new annual budget process, resulting in a 10% cost saving.'

Remember that even if you're unsure about your experience, think about times when you had to step up. Maybe you trained new staff or were the point person for your department's financial reporting. These are good examples of leadership, too.

  • Think about any temporary leadership roles, such as 'Acting Financial Controller' during a superior's absence, and be sure to list these experiences.
  • Even if you haven't had a title change, showing increased responsibility, like managing more complex accounts over time, is also a sign of professional growth.

Show leadership and growth

As a financial controller, showing that you have grown in your role is key. You want to make sure you highlight any leadership roles or promotions you've had. These can show that you are ready to take on more responsibility and that you have been recognized for your good work.

Think about times when you:

  • Led a team or project
  • Were given more responsibility
  • Trained new team members
  • Helped improve a process or save money

Here are two ways to show this growth:

  • "Promoted to lead the financial reporting team, resulting in a 20% increase in reporting efficiency."
  • "Managed a budget reduction project that saved the company $50,000 annually."

Show leadership and growth

When applying for a financial controller position, it's crucial to show evidence of your leadership abilities and career growth. Think about the steps you've taken on your career path that have led to increased responsibility. Have you moved up the ranks? Remember, it's not just about job titles, but the scope of your work and the impact you've made.

Here are ways to show your leadership and promotions on your resume:

  • Detail any roles where you've managed a team, specifying the size of the team and the scope of your management duties. For example, 'Managed a team of 5 accountants, overseeing all financial reporting and compliance duties.'
  • Highlight instances where you've led projects or initiatives that resulted in cost savings or increased efficiency. For example, 'Led a budget restructuring initiative that reduced annual expenses by 15%.'

If you're unsure if you've had leadership experience, think about times you've taken the lead on a project or were given responsibility over a task or a group of people. Even if it wasn't a formal promotion, showing that you've been trusted with more complex tasks is valuable.

Show leadership on your resume

When you apply for a job as a financial controller, showing that you have led and moved up in your career is key. You can do this by highlighting any leadership roles or promotions you've had. Think about times when you took charge of a project or were given more responsibility.

  • Managed a team of 5 accountants, leading to a 20% reduction in reporting errors
  • Promoted from senior accountant to financial controller in less than two years due to strong performance and leadership skills

Even if you aren't sure if you've been in a leadership role, consider moments when you guided a team or made an important decision. These are good examples of leadership too.

  • Acted as the lead on the year-end audit, coordinating with external auditors and internal staff to ensure timely and accurate financial reporting
  • Implemented a new financial software system, training staff and streamlining the budget process
Need more resume templates?

Quick links

Samples


Insights