Finance Director Resume Sample

Finance directors are executive specialists responsible for the business's financial operations. Financial directors plan budgets, oversee financial statements preparations, analyze the market and monitor cash flow. Specific work process depends on a particular company but remains finance-related.

A good finance director resume should reflect the candidate's specialization in the industry and the ability to utilize financial resources efficiently. This guide shows how to craft a winning finance director resume. It will provide practical tips for each resume section with suitable and wrong examples of how to make a resume stand out.

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How to Format a Finance Director Resume

An appropriate resume layout directly influences interview landing. Hiring managers spend minuscule time scanning a resume. The finance director resume format should catch attention from the first glimpse.

There are three possible options for resume formatting:

  • Chronological format.
  • Reverse chronological format.
  • Skill-based format.

The reverse chronological format is most commonly accepted on the job market. The format places work experience above anything else, with the most relevant job application at the top.

Different resume examples utilize this format. We encourage you to explore different resume samples before job application. Another way to get the perfect results is to request "write my resume" from resume-writing experts.

Finance Director Resume [Sample]

The following resume sample for finance director meets the general requirements for hire on the modern job market. You can tailor it to create your director of finance resume.

John Doe

Cherry Blossom Lane, Austin.

professionalemail@mail.com

Contact phone number: +1-555-555-555

Resume Summary

Skilled and effective Finance Director. I'm proficient in leading and managing finance, business planning, marketing, and IT development teams. I overseed the work of three departments with 500 employees in total. I'm eager to cooperate on the strategic level to reach the best possible results for the company.  

Work Experience

Finance Director at ABC Company, Austin

October 2016 - November 2022

  • Planned, directed, managed, supervised, and coordinated all operations of the Finance Department.
  • Prepared quarterly financial statements.
  • Managed the financial and budgeting teams.
  • Improved annual budgeting process that increased the company's revenue by 2% yearly.

Finance Director at XYZ Company, Austin

January 2014 - October 2016

  • Produced monthly and annual financial reports.
  • Overseed and executed yearly audits.
  • Managed organizational cash flow and forecasting. Optimized the process to save 3% of the company's budget quarterly.
  • Presented the company's financial status to the CEO and board of directors.


Professional Skills

Hard Skills:

  • GAAP.;
  • Financial reporting;
  • Budget creation;
  • Cash flow forecasting;
  • Specialized accounting and reporting software (Oracle).

Soft Skills:

  • Teamwork;
  • Strategic planning;
  • Strong interpersonal skills;
  • Attention to detail;
  • Time management.

Education

Texas State University, San Marcos

Master of Science in Accounting

May 2014.

GPA: 3.8/4.

Additional Information

  • An active member of the American Academy of Financial Management.
  • Donor for the Bethel Foundation (non-profit organization).
  • Berkeley leadership certificate.

Resume Objective & Resume Summary

The finance director resume objective and summary are personal statements that show a candidate's professional value to the business. In three-four sentences, a job seeker presents their training and expertise. A well-written resume summary can significantly increase the chances of landing an interview.

It depends on the job search aim which of the blocks to use. A resume summary works best for a broader job search for numerous available positions. The resume objective shows how a candidate can contribute to a particular company.

Resume Summary [Examples]

A resume summary is a job seekers` competitive edge in the job market. They can prove their qualifications in several sentences and grab the hiring manager's attention. The following finance director resume samples show the right and wrong approach to the summary section.

Wrong

Experienced and accomplished Senior Sales Professional. I have solid business acumen, 12 years of experience, and a stable rate of revenue increase. I know how to be efficient and increase a company's income.

Right

Highly meticulous and reliable Finance Director with 5+ years of experience and an outstanding client service record. Managed up to four financial projects simultaneously. Solid market research and analysis skills. I'm adept in cash flow optimization and team project management.

Resume Objective [Examples]

The finance director resume objective demonstrates how the applicant's training can contribute to the company's performance. The best way to approach this section is to be honest. Do not boast about your achievements, and do not hide them either. It may take time and practice, and you may use a professional objective resume example to tailor to the position of your choice.

Wrong

I'm productive and efficient and have a very effective track record. I specialize in customer assistance and education by logically breaking down a product's benefits. I can provide high closing percentages and product penetration for the dealer.

Right

Highly motivated, solutions-driven professional with experience in the Medicare eligibility field. I have a clear understanding of the importance of accurate enrollment processing. I believe that my management skills, attention to detail, and efficiency in overseeing the company's financial processes will benefit ABC company.

Resume Examples [Experience]

You should concentrate on the brightest achievements and relevant job positions when you create the experience section for your finance director resume. Potential employers are interested in your contribution to the company rather than all duties that you performed in the previous job positions.

In the work experience entry, a candidate should mention the position title, company name, and employment time. The best way to demonstrate a job seeker's work accomplishments is to show quantifiable results. A general formula follows an action verb, task completed, and possible results. You can find the scheme implementation in the director of finance resume sample above.

How to make a Perfect Education Section

The education section of a finance director resume should be straightforward. Mention your academic degrees in reverse chronological order, from the highest to lowest. In each entry, include the degree, the year of acquiring, and the institution's name. If you have any honorable awards or other academic achievements - you should mention them too.

Finance Director Resume Examples [Education]

A specific education section is a solid background for career growth. Recruiters need to see that a candidate possesses the necessary academic background to perform the job. The following finance director resume examples demonstrate the right and wrong approach to the education section.

Wrong

Business Administration
Southwestern University

2010 - 2011

  • Acquired a degree

Right

Arizona State University Phoenix, AZ

2014 - 2015

  • Master of Science in Finance.
  • GPA: 3.8/4

Western Washington University Bellingham, WA

2010 - 2014

  • Bachelor of Science in Finance
How many mistakes are acceptable on a resume? Are you at risk?

Skills on a Resume for a Finance Director

The career field of finance directors includes many vectors. IT development, entertainment, trading business - different enterprises require a qualified finance director to plan budgets and oversee the cash flow. The finance director resume skills should reflect a candidate's proficiency in the industry as well as the ability for accurate budgeting.

The best way to approach the skills section in a resume for a finance director is to divide skills into soft and hard groups. Additionally, a job seeker may point out the area of specialization where these skills can be applied.

Most popular skills for a finance director:

  • Accounting;
  • Preparation of financial statements;
  • Teamwork;
  • Market forecasting;
  • Budgeting;
  • Interpersonal and negotiation skills;
  • Specialized accounting software;
  • Attention to Detail.

Finance Director Resume Examples [Skills]

The skills section of a finance director resume, like the rest of the document, should be straightforward and precise. Vague descriptions or irrelevant skills that do not fit occupations of the career field should be avoided. The following Professional Finance director resume examples demonstrate the right and wrong approaches to the section.

Wrong

Professional skills:

  • Accounting;
  • Quickbooks;
  • Auditing.

Right

Specialization: Project management and Budgeting

Hard Skills:

  • Budgeting;
  • Accounting;
  • Financial reporting;
  • GAAP;
  • Specialized accounting software.

Soft Skills:

  • Risk mitigation;
  • Attention to detail;
  • Time management;
  • Leadership skills;
  • Planning.

Western Washington University Bellingham, WA

2010 - 2014

  • Bachelor of Science in Finance

You may explore another professional resume example to learn how to put the skills section.

How to Raise a Resume Above Competition

Many finance director resumes use tips, layouts, and content for the resume sections. Recruiters see dozens of similar documents per day and choose only the most interesting. What is the secret? The additional information part of the resume is distinct from other finance director resume sections. It allows recruiters to see a persona behind professional achievements and decide to interview or even hire a candidate more eagerly.  

Finance Director Resume Examples [Other Sections]

The other section implies the inclusion of some personal information. Yet, a professional Finance director resume should not provide irrelevant information. The other sections of a resume for Finance jobs may include honorable awards, post-graduate certifications, and activities that help a candidate uphold professional qualifications.

Wrong

I like long walks, action movies, and relaxation in the fresh air. I easily find a common language with new people and become valuable to any team.

Right

  • Led and mentored 12 committee members.
  • Planned and organized 25 department-wide events.
  • A career coach certificate in Finance and management.

Use Finance Director Resume Keywords

Many recruiting firms use automated applicant tracking software (ATS bots). These bots scan resumes and cover letters for the right keywords, and if they don't find any, the bots discard resumes. Many excellent resumes do not reach hiring managers because of poor ATS optimization.  

Usage of the right keywords in a resume will increase its chances of reaching a hiring manager:

  • Financial Planning;
  • Forecasting;
  • Market analysis;
  • Financial management;
  • Financial Reporting;
  • Budgeting;
  • General accounting practices;
  • Compliance;
  • Accuracy;
  • Strategic Planning;
  • Financial Statements;
  • Accountable;
  • Innovation;
  • Communication Skills;
  • Certified Public Accountant;
  • Teamwork;
  • MBA;
  • Attention to detail,

You can put some of these words in your Finance director resume to optimize it for the ATS search. Application to professional resume writers is another excellent way to make your resume ATS-friendly.

Bottom Line

There are several vital tips on How to write Resume for a Finance Director. A resume should have a short, efficient summary to catch the recruiter's attention, and the work experience section must only show the most relevant positions and accomplishments. A clear divide in professional skills will help determine a candidate's qualifications.

Managing all of these nuances in a 1.5-page document may be challenging. You may submit your resume for professional resume editing and receive perfect results with satisfaction guarantees.

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