Finance Manager Resume Example & Writing Guide
Use this Finance Manager resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.
Finance managers oversee the financial operations of their company or department. They’re responsible for managing budgets, monitoring cash flow, and forecasting future earnings. They also help set the direction for the department as a whole by drafting budgets, creating financial plans, and monitoring progress against goals.
As a finance manager, you’ll coordinate with other departments to ensure that they have the resources they need to succeed. You’ll work with stakeholders to set realistic expectations and identify opportunities for cost savings or revenue growth. And you’ll ensure that your team has the tools they need to do their jobs effectively.
Here are some tips to help write a stellar finance manager resume that will get your foot in the door.
How to Write a Finance Manager Resume
Here’s how to write a finance manager resume of your own.
Write Compelling Bullet Points
The best bullet points are specific and descriptive. They use numbers and statistics to demonstrate your experience and accomplishments. For example, rather than saying you “managed budgets,” you could say that you “managed $10 million annual budget to achieve 15% year-over-year growth in revenue.”
The second bullet point is much stronger because it provides specific details about the project, the outcome, and the impact of your work. It also includes a quantifiable result (15% year-over-year growth in revenue).
Related: What Is a Finance Manager? How to Become One
Identify and Include Relevant Keywords
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) are used to scan resumes for certain keywords. If your resume doesn’t include the right keywords, your resume might not be seen by a human recruiter.
One way to identify the right keywords is to read through the job posting and take note of the terms that are used most often. Then, use those same terms on your resume. Here are some common finance manager keywords:
- Financial Reporting
- Financial Analysis
- Financial Accounting
- Accounting
- Internal Controls
- Financial Management
- Finance
- Variance Analysis
- Budgeting
- Forecasting
- Auditing
- Financial Modeling
- Financial Statements
- Sarbanes-Oxley Act
- Finance Operations
- Corporate Finance
- Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
- U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
- Internal Audit
- Corporate Finance Transactions
- Business Planning
- Business Strategy
- Management
- Business Planning & Strategy
- Management Consulting
- Negotiation
- Microsoft Access
- Business Development
- Strategic Planning
- Team Leadership
Showcase Your Technical Skills
The technical skills section of your finance manager resume is important because it showcases your proficiency in the use of specific programs and systems that are essential to the job. Finance managers rely on specific software programs, such as QuickBooks, to manage their finances and track their transactions. They also need to be proficient in Excel in order to create financial reports and track budget data. So if you have experience with these programs, be sure to list them in your technical skills section.
Related: How Much Does a Finance Manager Make?
Remember The Basics
As you write your resume, it’s important to keep a few basic rules in mind.
Make It Easy to Scan
There are a few things you can do to make your resume easier to read, such as left aligning your text, using a standard font type and size, and using bullets instead of paragraphs to list your experiences. You should also use all-caps and bold sparingly, and keep your bullets under two lines. Additionally, you can include some white space on the page to make the document easier to scan.
Be Concise
A resume should be no more than two pages long, unless you have a lot of experience to include. When you are deciding how much to include on your resume, remember to tailor it to the specific role you are applying for and to focus on the most relevant information. In general, you want to be concise and get your point across quickly. Font type and size, margins, and line spacing can also be tweaked to save space on a resume.
Proofread
Proofreading your resume is important in order to make sure it looks professional and error-free. Spell checking is a must, as are punctuation and grammar checks. It is also helpful to have someone else proofread your resume for you, as they may catch mistakes that you have missed. Beware of easily confused words, and make sure that your tense is consistent throughout the resume.
Consider Including a Summary
A resume summary statement is an excellent way to show potential employers that you have the skills and experience they are looking for. By highlighting your most relevant skills and experiences, you can show that you have the ability to do the job. Additionally, a well-written summary can help to show your transferable skills, which can be essential in making a switch to a new field. When creating your summary, be sure to keep it short and to the point, and make sure to target it to the specific role you are applying for.
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