11 Senior Finance Manager Resume Examples for 2025

When creating your resume for a senior finance manager position, it's important to focus on key skills like financial analysis, budgeting, and leadership. In this article, you'll find proven resume examples and strategic advice to help you highlight your experience and achievements. You'll also learn how to tailor your resume to meet industry standards and what hiring managers look for in top candidates.

  Compiled and approved by Jason Lewis
  Last updated on See history of changes

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At a Glance

Here's what we see in the best resumes for senior finance managers.

  • Show Impact By Using Numbers: The best resumes show impact with clear metrics. Look for metrics like increased revenue by 15%, reduced costs by 10%, improved cash flow, and decreased financial discrepancies.

  • Include Relevant Skills: Include skills you have and are mentioned in the job description. Popular ones are financial modeling, budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and risk management. Choose those mentioned in the JD.

  • Highlight Strategic Thinking: Senior roles need strategic thinking. Show how you designed financial plans or developed business strategies. Use terms that reflect strategy.

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Ordering your education

Place your education section near the top if you have recently completed significant coursework, such as an MBA or finance-related certification. This helps potential employers understand recent gaps in your work history.

If you have ample work experience and your educational accomplishments date back several years, place the education section after your professional experience. This keeps the focus on your most relevant qualifications.

Showcase your compliance knowledge

Demonstrate your familiarity with financial regulations and compliance standards. Mention any specific laws or guidelines you have worked with.

Include certifications or training in compliance, such as SOX or AML. This shows employers you are prepared to uphold their ethical and legal standards.

Ideal resume length

As a senior finance manager, you should aim for a resume that is no more than two pages. Your years of experience and the detailed nature of your work mean you need a bit more room than other candidates might. However, it's crucial that your resume is concise and only includes the most relevant information.

Focus on strong results and key achievements from your past roles. Make sure to highlight any big budgets you've overseen or complex financial strategies you've implemented. These specifics are more valuable than a long list of day-to-day tasks. Ensure your first page captures the most impactful information since this is where hiring managers will look first. Use a clear format to present your experience, so it is easy to read and understand at a glance.

Highlight risk management skills

In finance, showcasing your risk management experience is essential. Highlight any roles where you assessed financial risks or developed strategies to mitigate them.

Include specific tools or software you have used for risk analysis. Employers value candidates who are adept at using industry-standard programs for financial forecasting and risk evaluation.

Beat the resume screeners

When you apply for a senior finance manager role, your resume often goes through an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) before a human sees it. An ATS can sort out resumes that don't meet specific criteria. So, it's key to make yours ATS-friendly.

Here are things you can do:

  • Include keywords from the job description. For a senior finance manager, words like 'budgeting,' 'forecasting,' 'financial reporting,' and 'strategy' are often important.
  • Use a clean format with clear headings. Have sections like 'work experience,' 'education,' and 'skills.' This helps the ATS find the info it needs.

Make your resume personal

To help you land that senior finance role, a resume that speaks directly to the job is key. Show us you’ve got what it takes with details from past jobs. Use simple words that pack a punch. Be bold in stating exactly how you drive success with money matters.

  • Point out your skill with numbers by listing financial reporting or budget management accomplishments using percentages or dollar figures to show your impact.
  • Show leadership by mentioning teams you have guided. Say how big they were or how your leadership improved their work.
  • If you are moving into finance management, connect your past experience to this role. Maybe you improved a process at your last job that saved money. Tell us about it.

Key skills for finance management

As you prepare your resume for a senior finance manager role, it's important to focus on relevant hard skills. These should be tailored to the specific job you're applying for and reflect your expertise in financial management.

  • Financial analysis
  • Budgeting and forecasting
  • Financial reporting
  • Cash flow management
  • Accounting principles
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Risk management
  • ERP systems
  • Advanced Excel
  • Strategic planning

When listing these skills, place them in a dedicated section on your resume to ensure they are easily found. This makes it easier for hiring managers and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to see your qualifications. Remember, ATS often scans for specific keywords related to the job, so include the skills you truly possess and are relevant to the role you want.

Don't feel pressured to include every skill listed. Focus on those you excel at and that match the job description. For roles focused on compliance, for example, emphasize your knowledge in regulatory compliance and risk management. If the job leans more towards strategic growth, highlight your strategic planning and financial analysis capabilities. This targeted approach will help you stand out as a strong candidate for the senior finance manager position you seek.

Show leadership and growth

When you apply for a senior finance manager role, it's important to show how you have grown and led teams in the past. Below are ways to highlight your leadership and promotions on your resume:

  • List any roles where you have managed a team, specifying the size of the team and the scope of your management duties. For example, 'Managed a team of 10 finance professionals, overseeing all budgeting and forecasting activities.'
  • Include any promotions you have received, with the title of each role and the dates you held them. This can show a clear trajectory of your career growth. For example, 'Promoted from finance manager to senior finance manager within 2 years due to strong performance in leading cost-reduction initiatives.'

You can also describe any leadership training or certifications you have completed. This can be a good way to show your dedication to leading effectively in a finance team. Think about projects or tasks where you took the lead and delivered results. Use simple phrases like 'Led a project team' or 'Directed annual budget planning.' Remember to include specific results, like how much money you saved the company or how you improved a process.

Quantify your financial impact

As a senior finance manager, you should show your impact with clear numbers. This helps you stand out to hiring managers. Here’s how to do it:

  • Think about how you have saved money. For example, you might have cut costs by 10% through better vendor negotiations.
  • Consider any revenue you have helped to grow. Maybe you have increased sales by 15% with a new pricing strategy.
  • Reflect on your budget management. Perhaps you have overseen a budget of $500,000 and found ways to reduce expenses, leading to a 5% decrease in overall spending.
  • Have you improved financial processes? Show how you have shortened the monthly close cycle by 3 days.
  • Have you managed a team? Mention the size of your team and any improvements in productivity, like reducing report preparation time by 25%.
  • If you have implemented new financial systems or tools, share how this increased efficiency. Maybe you have reduced data entry errors by 20%.
  • Look at how you have reduced risk. You might have improved financial controls that resulted in 30% fewer audit findings.
  • Finally, if you have raised capital or managed investments, quantify it. You could highlight an investment portfolio you managed worth $1 million.

Use these ideas to think about your own experience. Even if you are not sure of the exact numbers, estimate them. Just be ready to explain how you got these numbers in an interview.

Tailoring your resume for company size

When you apply for a senior finance role, knowing your target company's size can guide how you present your experience. If you aim for a role at a smaller firm like a startup, show how you can wear multiple hats and adapt. For example, you might say, 'Led a small team to manage all financial operations, adapting strategies to meet rapid growth demands.'

For larger companies, such as JPMorgan Chase or Goldman Sachs, focus on your ability to handle complex, large-scale financial operations. You could write, 'Managed financial portfolios exceeding $500M, optimizing for long-term strategic growth.' In both cases, be clear about the scale and scope of your past work to match the company's needs.

  • For small companies, highlight versatility and direct impact.
  • For large corporations, emphasize specialized skills and experience with significant figures.
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