You want to land that dream career in finance, and it starts with a well-crafted resume. Often, you have just one chance to catch the attention of recruiters and make it past ATS software to the shortlist of potential candidates that land an interview.
If you have limited time to craft a top-notch resume, consider using a professional resume writing service.
A finance resume isn't that different from other resume types, but learning the subtle differences and appropriate finance language can help you go from a standard to a fantastic resume that lands you the job interview.
Let's walk through a finance resume, what you should include (and leave out), skills to include, and other tips to craft an eye-catching resume that delivers.
If you are ready to find a high-paying finance job, start your search on ZipRecruiter. ZipRecruiter is free for job seekers and applying for jobs is simple with their 1-Click Apply feature. Get started today!
What Is Unique About A Finance Resume?
A finance resume is geared toward individuals who are pursuing a career in finance. While a finance resume follows a similar format and contains many of the same elements as other resumes, it's specifically written to reach recruiters and hiring managers in the financial sector. From the jargon used, the skills listed, and the other little nuances, a finance resume is meant to help job seekers connect with potential employers to interview for open finance positions.
What kind of jobs are available in the field of finance? The list is almost endless. Almost every type of business hires people to manage its company finances somehow. Here are some common finance job titles you may encounter when searching for a finance job online. For more examples, check out our guide to the best paying jobs in finance.
- Accountant
- Accounting Clerk
- Accounting Secretary
- Accounts Payable
- Accounts Receivable
- Auditor
- Bookkeeper
- CFO
- Chief Financial Officer
- Claims
- Collections
- Compliance Auditor
- Controller
- CPA
- Credit
- Credit Manager
- Finance Clerk
- Financial Advisor
- Financial Analysis
- Financial Auditor
- Internal Auditor
- Investment Analyst
- Payroll Manager
- Portfolio Manager
- Purchasing
- Real Estate Analyst
- Risk Analyst
- Risk Assessor
- Tax Accountant
- Tax Specialist
- Trust Officer
Most finance positions should only require a one-page resume, but you can extend it to two pages if necessary. Create a primary finance resume to keep on hand and then customize it each time to apply for a job. Craft each resume you send out based on the company and job description for an added touch.
Related: How To Get A Job In Finance
What Should Be Included On A Finance Resume?
A finance resume should include detailed information about yourself and your education and work experience. The specific information you include may depend on the position you're applying for, so adjust as needed to fit your needs. Here are some of the resume sections to include on a finance resume.
HEADER
Start with a header at the top of your resume. The header includes your name and contact information, including your name, phone number, and email address. You can include your mailing address if desired, but it isn't necessary in most cases.
SUMMARY
Include a resume summary near the top of your resume. A resume summary is a short description of your skills and experiences related to the position you are applying for. There's no need for you to make the summary long. Showcase your career highlights and relevant information in a paragraph or two, and let your resume do the rest of the work.
WORK EXPERIENCE
One of the most important sections to include on your resume is your work experience. Start with your most recent work experiences and work backward chronologically. Include relevant finance experiences or roles whenever possible, including internships.
When listing your work experience, follow this format:
- Position title
- Company name
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- Location
- Dates of employment
Follow this information up with a bulleted list of your responsibilities and accomplishments. Try to use action words to describe your responsibilities as much as possible. Use numbers or other data that support the work you accomplished in the position.
EDUCATION
The resume education section summarizes your formal education experience. Follow reverse chronological order starting with the highest degree you’ve received, and work backward.
When listing education experiences, include the following:
- College or university name
- Location (city, state)
- Years attended
- Degree earned
- Major (if relevant)
If you're still in school, list the same information except include your anticipated graduation date instead. If you participated in any associations or clubs related to your education while attending college, you could list them here. The same goes for any educational achievements earned.
CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES
You can also include any certifications or licenses you've earned, especially if they are relevant to a finance position. Create a separate section to list your certifications. Include the certificate or license title, license number, the issuing organization, and the expiration date, if relevant.
You can also explore the best finance and accounting certifications to enhance your career! These would make excellent additions to your finance resume.
SKILLS
Another section that can prove helpful is a skills section. The skills section of a resume lists out hard skills and soft skills that you possess and have developed. Hard skills are specific skills you acquired through your education and work experience. Soft skills are general skills that can apply to almost any work environment or position, including finance. Keep your skills section short. Stick to 10 to 15 skills at the most.
What Should Be Left Off A Finance Resume?
The goal of your resume is to draw the attention of hiring managers, recruiters, and potential employers hiring for finance positions. With that in mind, survey your resume, looking for any information that isn't relevant to the position or company. Keep the majority of your resume squarely focused on your experiences and accomplishments within finance.
If you have gaps in your resume, you can include other experiences as long as they are relevant or provide context to your work ethic. In most cases, though, irrelevant experiences should be left off a finance resume.
Important Job Skills For Finance Resumes
For the skills section, your finance resume should include skills that directly apply to the finance field or are transferable soft skills that relate to the open position. Here are some of the skills you could include on your finance resume.
- Accounting skills
- Administrative skills
- Analytical ability
- Auditing
- Bookkeeping
- Budgeting skills
- Cash flow management
- Communication skills
- Computer skills
- Conflict resolution
- Control assessment
- Cost analysis
- Cost reduction
- Critical thinking skills
- Data analytics
- Data management
- Data mining
- Data processing
- Digital tools
- Economics
- Financial literacy
- Financial management skills
- Financial modeling
- Financial planning
- Financial reporting
- Financial statements
- Financial systems
- Fraud auditing
- General ledger skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Management
- Math skills
- Microsoft Excel
- Office technology
- Organizational skills
- Payroll skills
- Problem-solving
- QuickBooks
- Reconciliation
- Research skills
- Risk analysis
- Risk management assurance
- Sorting
- Tax planning
- Tax preparation
- Tax reporting
- Time management skills
Frequently Asked Questions
What do you write in a finance resume?
A finance resume should include relevant information related to landing a financial job. In addition to including your name and contact information, include a summary highlighting career accomplishments, work and education experience, and any relevant skills that pertain to the open position.
What skills should I put on my resume for finance?
You should list hard skills directly related to the position you are applying for as well as general soft skills that translate to the role too. Finance skills to list include accounting, budgeting, Microsoft Excel, QuickBooks, tax preparation, analytics, time management, financial reporting, data processing, mathematics, and other skills. Keep your skills section to fifteen skills or less.
How do you put financial experience on your resume?
The bulk of your financial experience is listed within the work and education experience sections of your resume. You can also include financial expertise in the summary section as well as certifications if you received any relevant certificates or awards.
How long is a financial resume?
In most cases, a financial resume should stick to one page unless you've had enough recent and relevant experiences to warrant two pages.
The Bottom Line
Take time crafting a winning finance resume or get help from a resume writing service. Having a solid resume can help you land your next job interview and, eventually the job you desire. ZipRecruiter can help you find the right finance job for you. The online employment marketplace features over nine million jobs. Plus, it's free for job seekers to use.
