Financial Controller Resume Sample

Financial Controller Resume Writing Guide & Tips

A resume for a Financial Controller is one focused on the details of their work or experience in finance and accounting. A Financial Controller is responsible for ensuring that the company’s finances are running efficiently, they are working with an accountant to create accurate reports, and they are also creating forecasts to predict what will happen financially. Their role is vital for the success of a company as it does not pay to have an inefficient financial department. There are certain skills that are sought after in a Financial Controller. Some skills include:

To write a perfect Financial Controller resume, you need to understand what skills and experience the employer is looking for. Having the ability to speak multiple languages and knowledge of different software applications are also highly valued. The resume needs to be well-organized, in order for it to be easy for the employer to see your work history or education, but also show your skills and abilities. It is important to use keywords that accurately describe your skills and experience. It is also beneficial to have a cover letter, as this will allow you to explain the details of your skills and experience in more depth. A resume for a Financial Controller should be one page long, and they should use bullet points to present their skills and experience.

There are numerous resources available for those looking for a Financial Controller resume template or guide.

Guide to Write Financial Controller Resume:

1. Career Objective:

A career objective is important because it informs applicants why they are applying for a position. This helps employers know what qualities they are looking for and helps the applicant know their intent. It is critical to keep this one-line summary as concise as possible. Keep it short and sweet, but exhort your potential employer to read further if you feel they need more details. Remember – make sure it informs the employer exactly what you would be able to bring to the table!

2.Skills:

An applicant should highlight the most relevant skills they have gained in previous positions. These will be the assets that will help you shine above other candidates. There are two different ways to approach this list: You can either list a bulleted list of skills you think are relevant, or if your educational background and work history have been extremely varied, it may be more appropriate to list the degrees and/or jobs chronologically with relevant skills listed under each. In either case, these skills should be communication oriented; such as “interpersonal” or “communication.

2. Education:

The education section is important for your potential employer to know where you matriculated, what degree or certificate you earned, and what major your studies were in. Be sure to include all of this information – employers are looking for an employee with intelligence and typically are drawn to candidates who have a degree from a reputable institution. If a candidate has multiple degrees and credentials, it is recommended that they be listed in reverse chronological order (most recent being first).

3. Experience:

The experience portion of your resume should be listed in reverse chronological order, beginning with the most recent job you have held. Be sure to include information about what you did and how it relates to the position for which you are applying. For example, if you worked in the stockroom of a local restaurant, it is recommended that you include information about what you did (counting inventory and stocking the shelves in preparation for opening), and how it relates to your desire for employment as Financial Controller.

4. Awards:

Be sure to list awards and honors you have received throughout your working life. Many people don’t include these on their resumes, but if you have had an exemplary career thus far, it is important that employers see this reflected in the resume!

5. Training:

If you have undergone training as a Financial Controller, be sure to include this information in your resume. If you are applying for a position in which you will act as a trainer or will train others to perform specific tasks, this information is important. These types of jobs require extensive training, and employers want to see that candidates are committed to improving themselves and learning new things!

6. Interests/Hobbies:

Many people find it difficult to include non-work-related interests and hobbies on their resumes.

List of Typical Responsibilities For a Financial Controller Resume:

• Report for payroll deadlines, budget submissions, and tax information
• Planning out the financial direction of the company
• Zeroing in on key numbers and metrics
• Managing cash flow, profitability, financial projections- formulating accurate financial statements and analyses- maintaining and monitoring financial controls, accounting systems, and fiscal policies
• Outlining the necessary steps to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations
• Communicating with a company’s auditors
• Reviewing balance sheets, financial statements, profit margins, cash flow statements, and tax returns
• Monitoring key information on financial ratios such as gross profit margin and net profit (or loss) margin
• Preparing cash flow projections

Financial Controller Resume Format & Sample:

Business letter format is ideal for financial controller resumes. Make sure to include your contact information, e-mail and street address in the header. The objective statement should appear at the top of a separate page and should clearly describe the position you are applying for. Use bullet points to list your skills, education history, and work experience related to the job. Don’t forget to include your total number of years in the workplace. Review the next steps section for details on how to get your resume reviewed.

Although there are many different formats that you may choose to use, this is an example of a financial controller resume, also called a corporate finance resume or corporate controller resume. The objective statement sets out in clear detail what you want to do. This particular format focuses on basic accounting and finance functions in a company. The financial controller resumes have the same basic format but focus on a higher level of finance such as large corporations or even accountants and bookkeepers.

Additional Financial Controller Resume Tips:

1. Provide enough detail to cover all the key aspects of your business life. It is wise to show all your education and qualifications in a separate section before you move on to your actual work experience, particularly if you have extensive education and qualifications.
2. Include all the different skills and attributes that you have which can be used in the job you are applying for. This can include anything from a track record of success to being a good team player, or even being innovative.
3. As much as possible, ensure that your resume contains accurate information. If your resume does contain errors, it will only make it hard for any reader to believe what you have said in your CV.
4. Ensure that your resume focuses on the skills that you have, rather than the company you worked for or the role you performed.
5. Keep your resume brief, but use the space to show how good a good team player or account manager you are. You may also want to mention social contacts and modi operandi in a separate section at the end of your Financial Controller Resume if these can be used to support your career aspirations.
6. Be sure to have a friend or family member read your resume to ensure that it is clear and easy to follow. If you are posting your resume online, it should be error-free.
7. If you have an accounting background, then use the “skills” section of the resume to show your strengths in dealing with numbers and figures. Similarly, if you have a marketing background, include sections of your resume which highlight this aspect of your ability.

Top 14 Must-have Financial Controller Skills:

1. Business Analysis – the ability to understand the financial, technical, and operational aspects of a business
2. Financial Accounting and Reporting – the ability to prepare, analyze and interpret financial information for use in business decisions
3. Cost Accounting – knowledge of cost accounting principles and techniques used to identify, measure, assign and report costs
4. Accounting Information Systems – the application of computer-based information systems within an organization for the purpose of improving control over its operations
5. General business skills – the ability to understand and solve problems, make decisions, deal with working in a team and communicate effectively both verbally and in writing
6. MIS – knowledge of financial accounting principles and techniques used to identify, measure, assign and report costs
7. Management Accounting – application of financial accounting principles to help decision-makers achieve economical value creation for an organization
8. Procurement – knowledge of the laws governing government funding mechanisms for goods and services
9. Project Management – Knowledge of project management principles and techniques
10. Time Management – the ability to manage time effectively; ability to prioritize and manage time effectively
11. Financial Analysis – the application of financial accounting principles for decision-making purposes
12. Finance – knowledge of the laws, rules, and regulations governing financial and finance-based aspects of an industry
13. Economic Events – knowledge of the macroeconomic environment in which an organization operates; understanding of economic factors that affect business operations
14. Financial Modelling – the ability to use mathematical techniques such as multivariate statistical analysis to carry out financial analyses

Tips to write a Financial Controller Resume Summary:

• Keep it brief. Make sure your resume summary is short, sweet, and highlights the skills, education, and accomplishments that are relevant to the role you are applying for.
• Focus on skills that directly relate to the position you are applying for. The closer a skill is to a job’s requirements, the more weight it will get during the hiring manager’s review.
• Stay focused on your career goals. Summaries should be written in relation to where you want your career to go and how your background can help make that happen.

How to write a Financial Controller Cover Letter:

• Start out your cover letter by thanking the hiring manager for taking the time to review your resume.
• Let them know you were impressed with their resume and you felt that it was a great fit for your job opening.
• If possible, use their resume as an example of how to write and format a professional resume because they have some very specific requirements in their marketing materials.
• If you have worked previously with the company, use that as a reference to state why you fit this job opportunity.
• Close the cover letter with a statement of confidence that you are right for the job and how you can benefit them as their employee.
• Do not forget to sign and date your cover letter!
• Always be sure to format your cover letters just as your resume is formatted and include contact details on professional letterhead since these are just business documents and nothing less!
• To re-iterate your skillset, indicate what you have worked on in your previous jobs and how you will benefit the hiring manager with the new position.
• An excellent closing is letting them know that you are looking forward to hearing from them!
• You can also use a cover letter to suggest more specific job duties or to give examples of how you have performed tasks that would now be required for the job opening.

Key Takeaways:

• A good Financial Controller resume should be specific and focused on your skills and experience, as well as what you can do for the company.
• Companies that have a high demand for Excel skills always want to see an applicant’s ability to work with spreadsheets.
• The most important section of any resume is “Work Experience,” where you detail all prior positions you have held and the skills and duties you had at each.