For a financial controller resume to be more reliable than a blue chip stock, you must invest much time and effort to make it presentable. I’ll show you exactly how.
Certified Professional Resume Writer, Career Expert
Thanks to you, the cash flows. But still, your job search process has stalled, and it seems nobody wants to give you the benefit of the doubt. After all, to put someone in charge of their financial statements, you must foster lots of trust.
You won't get hired if companies don’t see that in you as a candidate. Fortunately, our guide to the perfect financial controller resume is your ticket to success.
In this guide:
A financial controller resume sample that gets jobs.
How to ace your financial controller job description on a resume.
How to write a resume for a financial controller that gets the interview.
Expert tips and examples to boost your chances of landing a financial controller job.
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My previous resume was really weak and I used to spend hours adjusting it in Word. Now, I can introduce any changes within minutes. Absolutely wonderful! George
Results-driven financial controller with 10+ years of experience leading all financial accounting and reporting aspects for mid-sized companies. Expertise in financial statement preparation, budgeting/forecasting, internal controls, and ensuring compliance with GAAP/SOX regulations. Led a team of 5 finance professionals, providing mentorship and guidance in financial reporting and analysis.Seeking to develop processes that maximize operational efficiency at Coursedog.
Experience
Financial Controller
Rohlig USA, Portland, ME
June 2016 – December 2022
Implemented cost-saving measures that resulted in a 15% reduction in operational expenses.
Designed and implemented internal controls to safeguard financial assets and support SOX compliance.
Identified process inefficiencies and led projects to streamline workflows, reducing annual costs by $75K.
Prepared monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements for management and the Board of Directors, improving accuracy and efficiency by 20%.
Collaborated with the executive team to develop and execute strategic financial plans, contributing to a 10% revenue growth.
Senior Accountant
Anthropic, Friendly, MD
October 2012 – May 2016
Managed all general ledger accounting, financial reporting, accounts payable, and payroll functions.
Assisted with annual audits, tax filings, and preparation of financial statements.
Developed budgets and cash flow projections to support business planning.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Finance
King’s College, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
2006
Skills
Financial Analysis
Budgeting & Forecasting
GAAP
Financial Reporting
Strategic Planning
Team Leadership
Cost Reduction
SOX Compliance & Auditing
Process Improvement
Microsoft Excel
ERP Software (e.g., SAP, Oracle)
Professional Affiliations
Member, American Institute of CPAs (AICPA)
Member, Financial Executives International (FEI)
Volunteer Activity
Treasurer for the Maine Business Roundtable since 2018, responsible for managing the organization’s finances, budgeting, and grant funding.
Participated in Bands Behind the Barn, raising $12,000 for the Hearts and Horse Equestrian Therapy Center.
A financial controller oversees an organization’s financial operations, ensuring reporting, budget management, and compliance accuracy. Their responsibilities range from economic analysis to strategic planning, and all need to be highlighted on your financial controller resume to succeed.
This is how you make a great financial controller resume:
1. Pick the Right Resume Format for Financial Controllers
As a financial controller, you know the importance of organizing data in a clear, logical format to identify and analyze critical information quickly. The same principle applies to your resume. A well-structured resume efficiently highlights your most relevant qualifications, controls, and accounting experience to potential employers.
Some essential tips to optimize the layout of your resume:
Use a simple, easy-to-read resume font like Arial or Calibri. We don't want any confusing variables interfering with the readability of your resume.
The reverse chronological resume format is most effective for financial controllers. This layout puts your most recent roles and achievements first, giving recruiters a quick snapshot of your progression in the field. Think of it as a trial balance—the newest entries take priority!
Keep your resume margins at 1 inch for a clean appearance.
Divide the resume into sections: contact info, professional summary, work experience, education, and skills. Segmenting the data allows for efficient scanning.
Export the resume as a PDF. We all know the risks of different systems reading formatted documents inconsistently. A PDF preserves the intended layout.
Following these best practices will create an optimized resume, streamlining the hiring manager’s review process.
2. Shine Light on Your Best Achievements in the Financial Controller Resume Summary or Objective
Recruiters and financial markets aren’t that different. Both move quickly and don’t wait for uncertain investments. If you want to stand out from the stack of resumes, you’ve got to captivate them right from the start.
The first thing other than your name that the recruiter looks at on your resume should always be the resume profile. Here is a breakdown of how to write an excellent resume summary as an experienced financial controller:
Start with a powerful adjective like “results-driven” or “analytical.”
Follow that up with your job title—“Financial Controller.”
Then, highlight your years of experience in finance.
Express how you can add value to the hiring company. Something like “Ensure accurate financial reporting and strategic insights.”
Recall moments demonstrating your impact, and quantify them with numbers—“Reduced accounting errors by 20%.”
This structure is optimized for applicant tracking systems that scan for resume keywords and reject or accept resumes. The steps above will get you to the top of the right pile.
However, if you’re transitioning from a related field, write a resume objective instead, where you focus on transferable skills rather than specific roles. Emphasize your analytical abilities, attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and experience communicating complex financial concepts.
Expert Hint: Many finance graduates become financial analysts with aspirations to become financial controllers later. If you’re a newcomer to the field, head on over to our Financial Analyst Resume Guide to see how to get started on your career path to becoming a financial controller the right way!
3. Show Them Exactly How You’ll Succeed in the Financial Controller Experience & Skills Sections
Your resume’s work experience section carries much weight regarding your perceived employability. It’s best to treat it as if you were presenting quarterly reports to the C-suite—you only have a limited amount of time to show how your profitability can play out in the long term.
Here’s a checklist to follow before sending every resume:
Start by scrutinizing job postings and identifying skills and keywords they mention.
Then, think back to previous jobs and draw from examples where you used those same skills.
Use 4–6 bullet points per role and highlight your professional accomplishments in quantified metrics. Start these descriptions with resume power verbs for increased impact.
If you are transitioning from another field or have graduated recently, lead your business pitch with elements from your education, such as any related class, projects, or volunteer work.
Regardless of your career background, recruiters will also need to see a good handful of marketable resume skills for financial controllers. But don’t think listing 25 skills off the top of your head means you get the corner office at JP Morgan.
Instead, reduce the list of skills to just 5–10 core ones. Include proficiency in software, systems, or technologies they explicitly mention.
Here are 30 excellent financial controller skills if you need additional inspiration:
Skill Examples for Strong Financial Controller Resume
Financial Analysis
Budgeting and Forecasting
Financial Reporting
Cost Management
Strategic Planning
Variance Analysis
Risk Management
Cash Flow Management
Internal Controls
Taxation Knowledge
Audit Preparation
Financial Modeling
Profit and Loss Analysis
Balance Sheet Reconciliation
Cost Accounting
Process Improvement
Financial Statement Interpretation
Compliance Management
Data Analysis
Investment Analysis
Revenue Recognition
Business Performance Metrics
ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) Systems
GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles)
IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards)
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4. Make the Most out of the Financial Controller Education Section
Don’t underestimate the power of your educational background on your resume, especially if you’re light on work experience. At best, they’ll think it’s a heavy-handed mistake. At worst, they might think you’d quickly leave out critical financial data from an investment report
Your education section doesn't need to be an extensive financial prospect for a seasoned financial controller. Instead, opt for the concise approach and focus on essential details:
Graduation date
School name and location
Degree earned
In other cases, adding more to your education section can lead to significant benefits. Examine your academic achievements and include the best ones. If your GPA shines above 3.5, flaunt it like a stock with stellar growth potential. Relevant coursework, extracurricular activities, and diploma honors also work wonders and reflect your value.
Show Your Passion in the Miscellaneous Sections
Sometimes, it’s about more than just crunching numbers. Separating yourself from the pack by adding extra resume sections is an excellent way of showcasing versatility. Diversifying your portfolio, if you will.
Extra sections allow you to demonstrate your skills outside of the skills section. Since we established a one-page resume is the most effective, squeezing every last drop from the limited space at your disposal is crucial for success.
To impress recruiters, think about adding these to your resume:
One last thing: a targeted cover letter helps connect the dots between you and the role. Practice writing one that highlights your top qualifications and motivations, and it will undoubtedly pay off like a well-studied investment plan.
Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.
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Key Takeaways
For a financial controller resume optimized for success, do the following:
Utilize an appropriate resume format, ensuring proper margins, fonts, and a reverse chronological layout.
Begin with a compelling resume profile that concisely summarizes your relevant experience.
List quantifiable achievements in your work experience section that highlight your significant contributions.
Include skills matching the job profile to show why you’re the perfect candidate.
Utilize extra sections to leverage miscellaneous details and turn them into advantages.
Submit a tailored cover letter that addresses any potential inquiries and showcases your fit for the position.
Thanks for reading. If you encounter any challenges while composing your financial controller resume or have any questions or feedback regarding this article, please share them in the comments section below!
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At ResumeLab, quality is at the crux of our values, supporting our commitment to delivering top-notch career resources. The editorial team of career experts carefully reviews every article per editorial guidelines, ensuring our content's high quality and reliability. We actively conduct original research, shedding light on the job market's intricacies and earning recognition from numerous influential news outlets. Our dedication to delivering expert career advice attracts millions of readers to our blog annually.
Caio is an expert in professional development and holds a certification in resume writing. He has accumulated 4+ years of experience in this field. His approach is to merge entertainment concepts with resumes, thus making your application more captivating.