Finance Resume Examples and Writing Tips

Every good resume does the same job: showing the hiring manager that you can solve their problems and help their employer succeed in its goals. In the financial industry, this means quantifying your accomplishments to prove that you can make and/or save your company money.

When you’re applying for a job in finance, banking, or insurance, you should provide metrics—dollars and cents, percentage growth, etc., that will show you’re a person who can add to the bottom line.

To see how to translate your achievements into a resume format, take the time to review resume examples and templates.

What to Include in Your Resume

When composed thoughtfully and with attention to detail, your resume becomes an effective marketing tool that presents you in the best possible light to potential employers.

While each resume should vary based on your particular experience and the job description, there are a few things you should consider including on any finance resume.

Include Your Most Relevant Experience: List your work experience in reverse chronological experience, followed by your education and certifications. In general, include 10 - 15 years of experience, unless the employer asks for a lengthier work history. If you don't have a lot of experience, it's fine to list internships and volunteer experience.

List Your Skills: There are a number of skills that are critical to a financial job. For example, one area that is particularly important in the financial industry is software experience. Consider making a specific list of software skills on your resume.

Include Your Certifications: Many finance jobs require particular finance certifications. List these certifications in a separate section of your resume to demonstrate your expertise. That way, it will be clear to the hiring manager that you have the certifications they are seeking. If you're a CPA, a CFA, or have other financial certifications, be sure to list them.

Describe Each Company: Consider providing details on each company you have worked for. Note whether each company is public or private, its size, and net worth, if you have the details. It will help the company decide whether you have experience with similar organizations.

Tips for Writing a Finance Resume

Make a Match: Take the time to match your skills to the qualifications the employer lists in the job posting. One of the most important parts of writing your resume is to show the hiring manager that you have the appropriate credentials for the job.

Take the keywords listed in the job posting and include your most relevant skills that are a match in your resume. For example, if the job description says, "Manage the company’s financial accounting, monitoring, and reporting systems" be sure to list your similar experience on your resume.

Quantify Your Accomplishments: Financial employers want to see how you will add value to their company. Do this by showing, numerically, how you improved previous companies. Phrases like “reduced closing process by 3-5 days” or “saved company 10% in overhead costs” clearly demonstrate your accomplishments in the finance industry. Here's how to quantify your resume.

Write a Resume Profile: A resume profile or resume summary statement is a great way to concisely demonstrate why you are qualified for the job. In a few sentences, you can explain how you have added value to other companies.

How to Use Examples and Templates

Designing a document such as a resume from scratch can be time-consuming and difficult. A template helps you with the layout of your document. Templates also show you what elements you need to include in your document.

They can also give you ideas on the type of language you want to use. For example, a sample resume might show you the kind of action words you should include in your resume.

You should use a template or example as a starting point for your documents. However, you should always be flexible. You can change any of the elements of the example to fit your own needs. For example, if an example resume lacks a skills section, but you want to include one, you should do so.

In fact, you should never make your document the same as an example or template. That is because your documents should fit your individual work history and the requirements of the job for which you are applying.

Review a Sample Resume

Review a sample resume for a finance job, and see below for more resume examples.

More Banking, Finance, and Insurance Resume Examples

Take a look at resume examples for a variety of finance-related positions, including banking, finance, operations, insurance, and general finance resumes.

• Banking
• Executive
• Finance
• Health Insurance
• Marketing Analyst

Download a Resume Template

Here are free resume templates you can download to get started writing your own resume.

• Basic Resume Template
• College Student/Recent Grad Resume Template
• Google Docs Resume Templates
• Microsoft Resume Templates
• More Resume Templates and Samples