Finance manager CV examples

A Finance Manager CV needs to strike the right balance between professionalism and showcasing your financial expertise. It’s not just about listing qualifications – it’s about proving your ability to manage budgets, guide decision-making, and drive profitability.

These steps will walk you through writing a CV that communicates your financial skills, highlights your strategic achievements, and convinces recruiters you’re the perfect fit for their team.

Your Finance Manager CV should be as organised as the spreadsheets you master. Recruiters don’t want to search for your skills like they’re hidden in an unlabelled spreadsheet tab. Let them quickly see why you’re the right person to manage their finances.

Here’s what the structure of your Finance Manager CV should include:

• Name and contact details – Have your personal details at the very top of your CV, making it easy for potential employers to contact you. A photo is entirely optional and not usually expected for finance roles.
• Profile – Kick things off with a concise summary of your financial expertise, leadership skills, and career highlights – let a company know what benefits you’ll bring them.
• Core skills – Quickly list off your key abilities in financial reporting, budget management, and strategic planning.
• Work experience – Detail your professional history from newest to oldest, focusing on measurable outcomes and responsibilities.
• Education – Show off your academic record, stating your qualifications, professional certifications, and relevant training.
• Additional info – This optional section can include professional memberships, awards, or hobbies and interests that showcase your strategic thinking.

Your CV’s format should be as polished as your quarterly reports – easy to read and free from formatting errors. Even the most impressive qualifications can be overlooked if your CV is poorly presented, so avoid preventable mistakes.

Here’s how to format your Finance Manager CV:

• Bullet points – Use clear, precise statements to present your responsibilities and accomplishments effectively.
• Divide sections – Separate each part of your CV’s layout so the recruiter can find each section with ease.
• Use a clean font – Choose a professional and readable font which ensures your CV looks polished and approachable.
• Keep it the right length – No more than 2 pages, the perfect length to give a thorough overview of your skills and experience without overloading the reader.

Your CV profile is the opening pitch of your CV, where you give recruiters a quick snapshot of your financial expertise and leadership abilities.

Here are some tips to make sure your profile has the precision of a well-balanced ledger:

• Where you’ve worked – Make sure you note which types of industries or organisations you’ve managed finances for.
• Your top qualifications – List degrees like accounting or finance and certifications like ACCA or CIMA.
• Key skills – Include abilities like budget management, financial forecasting, and team leadership.
• Strategic impact – Reference your ability to deliver cost-saving measures or improve financial performance.
• Leadership experience – Mention managing finance teams or collaborating with senior executives.

Your core skills section is like a financial dashboard – it gives recruiters an at-a-glance view of your most important features.

For Finance Managers, this section should highlight both technical expertise and leadership capabilities. Tailor these skills to the job description to ensure alignment with the employer’s needs.

Your work experience section is where you show how you’ve turned numbers into results and budgets into business success. Highlight your achievements, responsibilities, and the measurable impact of your work.

List your roles in reverse chronological order, focusing on key contributions and results.

• Outline – Provide an overview of the organisation, your role, and the financial areas you managed.
• Responsibilities – Highlight tasks like financial reporting, budget oversight, or leading audits. Use action verbs like “analysed,” “developed,” or “implemented.”
• Achievements – Showcase measurable results, such as cost savings, increased revenue, or successful financial strategies. Include figures wherever possible to add impact.

The education section is essential for Finance Managers, as it demonstrates your foundational knowledge and professional development. Include degrees, certifications, and any relevant courses.

List your qualifications in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent.