JobHero has the internet’s widest selection of finance resume examples, ranging from analyst to budgeting to trading roles. Whatever job title you’re looking for, you should find great ideas from this page plus pro-writing tips to help you create a resume that stands out.

JobHero’s top-searched resume in this field is for financial analyst. Observe from this example a great way to organize your resume and discuss your work history.

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Job Outlook

Employment for financial analysts is expected to grow 5% by 2029 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

That’s encouraging news, but if you want to land your dream job in finance, it’s going to require that you submit a resume that tops your job competition.

Follow JobHero’s professional resume-writing tips to ensure that you’re putting your best self forward in the hiring process so that doors open for you.

3 Tips for Writing Finance Resumes

Choose the right format for your resume

In finance, numbers reign supreme — that’s why before you can write your resume, you need to crunch your stats, and analyze what you’re working with experience-wise.

There are three main-types of resume formats and which one you should use depends on the number of years’ experience you have for the job you want to apply to.

If you’re a finance vet and have more than five years’ experience performing the job that you’re applying to, you should use a chronological format.

Chronological formats are best for people with lots of experience because they focus on career successes that you’ve had, performance benchmarks you’ve set and financial specialties you’ve established.

They tell a story. For instance, if you started ten years ago as an assistant trader and worked your way up the ladder to a successful futures trader, the chronological format is going to sell the story of your career and impress your potential for growth.

There are other options: If you’re newer to the industry, you should choose a different format that is better suited to your experience level.

Functional formats put greatest emphasis on your skills and education — this detracts from your lack of paid experience. If you’re fresh out of business school or have less than two years in the finance sector, this should be your format.

A hybrid format is a mix of the functional and chronological formats and gives a more even balance between your work history and skills.

This format is ideal for finance professionals who have between two and five years’ experience for the role they’re applying for.

Furthermore, it’s also perfect for candidates trying to level up from their current position. For instance, if you’ve been a forecasting analyst for three years and you’re looking to take on greater responsibility as a project controller, a combination resume would serve you well.

Promote your skills

The skills needed by a tax examiner might differ greatly than those needed by a bond trader — but there are skills that have appeal across the spectrum of finance jobs.

Include six-to-eight key skills that you possess on your resume.

Some finance-useful skills to consider including are:

  • Analytical thoroughness
  • Financial reporting
  • Attention to detail
  • Interpersonal skills
  • GAAP
  • Performance focused
  • Value-driven
  • Growth focused
  • Commercial acumen
  • Industry trend aware
  • Cost reduction
  • MS Excel expertise
  • Quantitative data analysis
  • Tax filing
  • Decision-making
  • Forecasting
  • Risk analysis
  • Valuations
  • Recognizing roadblocks
  • Financial modeling
  • Knowledge of Hyperion, SQL or QuickBooks
  • Translating data
  • Project management
  • Compliance
  • Investment principles
  • Performance measuring
  • Stress management
  • Tax law expertise

Review the job ad or post with careful attention — try to echo back some of the important keywords and performance needs that the employer mentions using the same phrasing.

This is the best indication that you have as to exactly what an employer wants to hear.

Use a template to make sure your resume looks amazing

For a job as traditional as finance, you show up to the interview dressed to the max — you’ve got to do the same thing for your resume by using a template.A template is a preformatted document created by a professional designer that will take the appearance of your resume to the next level.

All you have to do is select one that you like and input your personal information. Then you can save it in any desired format and you’re ready to apply for jobs — it’s that easy.

JobHero has some great resume templates which are well-suited for the finance industry.

Even better, JobHero features a Resume Builder that allows you to choose from a selection of templates and takes the automation a step further.

The builder suggests pre-written phrases to best describe your work history designed by our career experts. They’re even custom-tailored to the job that you’re applying for whether it be tax preparer, credit manager or senior budget analyst — you’re covered.

Using JobHero’s Resume Builder is like getting a custom-designed resume and having a finance expert guide you every step of the resume-writing journey.

FAQ

How much does a job in finance get paid?

The median salary for financial analysts in 2019 was $81,590; for securities, commodities and financial services sales agents it was $62,270.

Careers in this industry tend to pay more than the average for most industries, which is why if you’re serious about securing a job in finance you should use our Resume Builder.

More important than the ease with which a builder will help you create a resume, a builder will give a professional look to your application documents.

What should I put on my resume for the finance industry?

Finance is a numbers game, so it makes sense that the best way you’re going to impress an employer is buy including flattering numbers that describe your career accomplishments.

Try to include as many quantifiable metrics as possible in your skills and work experience sections. Those are the main spaces where you have to show employers that you’re the right person for the job.

Numbers will grab the attention of potential employers and get them looking at your resume more seriously — they will also do a better job of describing the scope of your work than descriptions alone.

For example, a tax preparer could include statistics like this throughout their resume:

There’s an old saying: “numbers never lie” and neither should you. While you want to use numbers on your resume that flatter you, don’t embellish or lie on your resume. It will only backfire.

How do I list education on a finance resume?

Most jobs in the finance industry will expect you to have some degree or advanced education. Plus, it’s standard practice to include education on any resume, so you should include an education section.

List any education you’ve had. But if you attended college, you don’t need to list high school or anything prior.

When you include education, give the name of the school, its city/state and the degree you earned (if applicable) with your major.

It might look something like this:

Bradley University Peoria, IL

BA, Finance

While it used to be expected that you include the year that you graduated, it’s become discouraged to mention dates because it gives an indication of your age.

Hinting at your age can lead to potential hiring bias, unfortunately. So, only include the dates you attended if you did not complete the degree.

If you have gone on to earn any finance-related certifications outside of college, such as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Financial Planner (CFP) recognition, you should most definitely include them on your resume.

However, instead of including them in your education section, create a special section for them titled “Certifications and Licenses” where you can list this information.

What kind of work experience should I put on a finance resume?

Keep all the work experience you include in a resume focused on your finance experience, if possible.

The more similar the work you’ve performed is to the finance job that you’re applying for, the more likely you are to be given serious consideration.

So, really consider what you’ve done and include details about your previous roles that you believe will be put to use for the position that you’re applying to.

If you’re new to the finance industry, it’s completely acceptable to include any unpaid finance experience that you have including internships and low-level positions.

Try to avoid mentioning work from other industries unless that experience touched upon financial responsibility such as bookkeeping, business reports, presentations or negotiating deals.

Should I include a cover letter with my finance resume?

Yes, include a cover letter with your resume even if there isn’t specific mention in the job post or ad.

First of all, finance is a traditional industry that still has professional expectation that you include a cover letter.

More importantly, a cover letter doubles the space you have to talk more about your career, motivation and special skills.

It’s a chance to tell a story about your financial career’s greatest successes.

Talk about what makes you excited to be a derivatives trader or how you saved a company loads of money through your detailed analysis of their finances. It will bring to life the flat details of your resume and hopefully, engage the hiring manager.

To help you get you started, check out JobHero’s finance cover letter examples page. You’ll see how other finance professionals have advertised their skills, and it’ll help you get inspired.

If you need more on the how-to side, JobHero also has a step-by-step guide on how to write a cover letter that goes over each component of a cover letter to make sure you nail it from start to finish.